- Kw.K.,
- Pak,
- Pjk,
- Flak and
- StuK,
Furthermore, the abbreviations are not consistent. Pak is most commonly used as an abbreviation for Panzerabwehrkanone, and Pjk is used for Panzerjägerkanone. However, for the 4,2 cm Pak 41, Pak is an abbreviation for Panzerjägerkanone. There is no rational explanation given, it's just the way it is.
Vehicle designations are not any better. The vehicle known to most as the "Kettenkrad" is designated as Kleiner Kettenkraftwagen (Sd.Kfz.2) Typ HK 101 in 1941-05-03 and as Kleines Kettenkraftrad (Sd.Kfz.2) Typ HK 101 in 1942-10-28. Both are official designations for the exact same vehicle, and in the same series of manuals from the same publisher.
The Sd.Kfz.-number system isn't left out of the madnes either. For most vehicles, the abbreviation is Sd.Kfz.[number], and the name is typically put in parantheses (see above) however for the Leichter Ladungsträger Sd.-Kfz.303, a hyphen is added, and the number is not in parantheses.
There are plenty of other examples, and the only conclusion is, that the only way one can know an actual name of a piece of German equipment is to get it from an authorative source (typically a manual), with the acceptance that it is unlikely to be the only designation.
Sources
- JENTZ, Thomas L. & DOYLE, Hilary Louis. PANZER TRACTS No.9 - Jagdpanzer - Jagdpanzer 38 to Jagdtiger. Darlington (MD) : Darlington Productions, 1997.
- JENTZ, Thomas L. & DOYLE, Hilary Louis. PANZER TRACTS No.6 - Schwere Panzerkampfwagen - D.W. to E-100 including the Tigers. Darlington (MD) : Darlington Productions, 2001.
- JENTZ, Thomas L. & DOYLE, Hilary Louis. PANZER TRACTS No.8 - Sturmgeschuetz - s.Pak to Sturmmoerser. Darlington (MD) : Darlington Productions, 1999.
- JENTZ, Thomas L. & DOYLE, Hilary Louis. PANZER TRACTS No.12 - Flak selbstfahrlafetten and Flakpanzer - Sd.Kfz.10/4 to 8.8 cm Flak auf VFW. Darlington (MD) : Darlington Productions, 1998.
- Oberkommando des Heeres. D 391 - 4,2 cm Panzerj¨gerkanone 41 - Gerätbeschreibung und Bedienungsanleitung. Berlin : Oberkommando des Heeres, 1942.
- Oberkommando des Heeres. D 624/1 - Kleines Kettenkraftrad (Sd.Kfz.2) Typ HK 101 - Gerätbeschreibung und Bedienungsanweisung. Berlin : Oberkommando des Heeres, 1942.
- Oberkommando des Heeres. D 624/2 - Kleiner Kettenkraftwagen (Sd.Kfz.2) Typ HK 101 - Ersatzteilliste. Berlin : Oberkommando des Heeres, 1941.
- Oberkommando des Heeres. D 654/10 - Leichter Ladungsträger Sd.-Kfz.303 - Gerätbeschreibung und Bedienungsanweisung. Berlin : Oberkommando des Heeres, 1943.