panzerkampfwagen 4 model H .
panzer = tank
kampf = fight
wagen = car
PzK.pfw is, as pointed out, the abbreviation for panzerkampfwagen, the literal translation being Armoured Fighting Vehicle. The Ausf is for Ausfuhrung, or Model.
The PzK.pfw designation was only given to tanks.
Sdkfz:
Sonder Kraft Fahr Zeug.
Special powered travelling thing.
Panzer doesn’t mean tank, it means armor. Tank was a ruse used by the British to disguise their new armored fighting vehicle by telling casual observers that the vehicle was a mobile water tank.
My Chevette’s license plate read “Sdkfz-1” back in the 1980s, lol. I got it as a “custom” plate.
My Uncle Ted once asked me “What–did you get the most random assortment of letters you could think of so the cops can’t remember it when they see it?” lol
LOLS!
My father-in-law wouldn’t have let you park in his driveway.
I had a little old BMW 1602 car with the plate FW-190.
Shoulda put “P-51” on my Mustang…
My VW Rabbit had a totally random license plate number SR 747. I would often get asked what type of airplane it was. I guess the SR-71 and a Boeing 747 could be combined?
I’m picturing some sort of Lockheed Skunk Works SST, like the Concorde only jet black and much more badass [;)]
Actually, it’s Special Purpose Vehicle…
Just my two cents worth.[:D]
PANZERJAGER
Sure, but mine is the literal translation of the elements of the compound word.
Tag-along question: In what order did the German Ausf (model) letters go?
I am pretty sure it was not alphabetical.
I know the Panther D was the initial model to be followed by the Panther A but were there more examples of this?
It was in most cases. The Panther and Tiger’s were more exceptions to the rule.
In the case of the Panther it was D, A and G. For the Tiger, H, E and B.
I can’t think of any others.
The Marder III (ausf ∅, H, M)
The 15cm Grille (ausf H, K/M)
There are a few books on these – the ausf designation is probably discussed in those.
Ye, forgot those ones. Thanks Roy.
On the Marder, the H Stands for “Hinter” (engine in the rear) and the M stands for “Mitte” (engine in the middle).
Same for the Grille.
As for the Panther and the Tiger,
The Panther D was sort of a “pre-production” variant, then the Panther A was actually the 1st “mass produced” variant.
The Tiger 1 was a similar situation also.
PANZERJAGER
that makes sense. Thnx – didn’t know that!
Tiger I Ausf H stood for Henschel, the manufacturer that was in competition with Porsche for the heavy tank. That’s why the version that has the suspension similar to the Elefant/Ferdinand was the Tiger I Ausf P for Porsche. The Ausf H was later standardized and given the designation Ausf E once it won the competition.