NATO Joint Military Symbology

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Example Symbols
APP-6a Example2.svg
An unidentified hostile motorised anti-tank division
1 DPLeg
Military Map Symbol - Unit Size - Light Blue - 090 - Division.svg
Wyszków
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Monochrome Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Infantry (NATO APP-6).svg
Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division
of Operational Group Wyszków
3 PPCLI
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Battalion.svg
1 CMBG
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Black&White 1.5x1 Frame)- Infantry - Light Infantry (NATO APP-6A).svg
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
4 Pz
Military Map Symbol - Unit Size - Light Red - 090 - Division.svg
XXIV
Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Monochrome Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Armour (NATO APP-6).svg
4th Panzer Division of XXIV Army Corps
Military Map Symbol - Unit Size - Dark Blue - 080 - Brigade.svg
82 Abn
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Monochrome Dark 1.5x1 Frame)- Artillery - Airborne (NATO APP-6).svg
82nd Airborne Division Artillery Brigade

NATO Joint Military Symbology is the NATO standard for military map marking symbols. Originally published in 1986 as 6 (APP-6), NATO Military Symbols for Land Based Systems, the standard has evolved over the years and is currently in its fifth version (APP-6D). The symbols are designed to enhance NATO's by providing a standard set of common symbols. APP-6 constituted a single system of joint military symbology for land, air, space and sea-based formations and units, which can be displayed for either automated map display systems or for manual map marking. It covers all of the joint services and can be used by them.

History[]

The first basic military map symbols began to be used by western armies in the decades following the end of the Napoleonic Wars. During World War I, there was a degree of harmonisation between the British and French systems, including the adoption of the colour red for enemy forces and blue for allies; the British had previously used red for friendly troops because of the traditional red coats of British soldiers. However, the system now in use is broadly based on that devised by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1917. The infantry symbol of a saltire in a rectangle was said to symbolise the crossed belts of an infantryman, while the single diagonal line for cavalry was said to represent the sabre belt. With the formation of NATO in 1949, the US Army system was standardized and adapted, with different shapes for friendly (blue rectangle), hostile (red diamond) and unknown (yellow quatrefoil) forces.[1]

APP-6A was promulgated in December 1999. The NATO standardization agreement that covers APP-6A is STANAG 2019 (edition 4), promulgated in December 2000. APP-6A replaced APP-6 (last version, July 1986), which had been promulgated in November 1984 (edition 3 of STANAG 2019 covered APP-6), and was replaced in turn by Joint Symbology APP-6(B) () in 2008 (STANAG 2019 edition 5, June 2008) and NATO Joint Military Symbology APP-6(C) () in 2011 (STANAG 2019 edition 6, May 2011).

The U.S. is the current custodian of APP-6A, which is equivalent to MIL-STD-2525A.

Symbol sets[]

The APP-6A standard provides common operational symbology along with details on their display and plotting to ensure the compatibility, and to the greatest extent possible, the interoperability of NATO land component command, control, communications, computer, and intelligence (C4I) systems, development, operations, and training. APP-6A addresses the efficient transmission of symbology information through the use of a standard methodology for symbol hierarchy, information taxonomy, and symbol identifiers.

APP-6A recognises five broad sets of symbols, each set using its own SIDC (Symbol identification coding) scheme:

  • Units, equipment, and installations
  • Military operations (tactical graphics)
  • METOC (meteorological and oceanographic)
  • Signals intelligence
  • MOOTW (military operations other than war)

Units, equipment, and installations consist of icons, generally framed, associated with a single point on the map. All sorts of graphical and textual modifiers may surround them, specifying categories, quantities, dates, direction of movement, etc.

Tactical graphics represent operational information that cannot be presented via icon-based symbols alone: unit boundaries, special area designations, and other unique markings related to battlespace geometry and necessary for battlefield planning and management. There are point, line and area symbols in this category.

Meteorological and oceanographic symbology is the only set not under the standard's control: rather, they are imported from the symbology established by the World Meteorological Organization.

The signals intelligence and military operations other than war symbology sets stand apart from Units, Equipment, and Installations although they obey the same conventions (i.e., they consist of framed symbols associated to points on the map). They do not appear in APP-6A proper, having been introduced by MIL-STD-2525B.

Symbol composition[]

Most of the symbols designate specific points, and consist of a frame (a geometric border), a fill, a constituent icon, and optional symbol modifiers. The latter are optional text fields or graphic indicators that provide additional information.

The frame provides a visual indication of the affiliation, battle dimension, and status of an operational object. The use of shape and colour is redundant, allowing the symbology to be used under less-than-ideal conditions such as a monochrome red display to preserve the operator's night vision. Nearly all symbols are highly stylised and can be drawn by persons almost entirely lacking in artistic skill; this allows one to draw a symbolic representation (a GRAPHREP, Graphical report) using tools as rudimentary as plain paper and pencil.

The frame serves as the base to which other symbol components and modifiers are added. In most cases a frame surrounds an icon. One major exception is equipment, which may be represented by icons alone (in which case the icons are coloured as the frame would be).

The fill is the area within a symbol. If the fill is assigned a colour, it provides an enhanced (redundant) presentation of information about the affiliation of the object. If colour is not used, the fill is transparent. A very few icons have fills of their own, which are not affected by affiliation.

The icons themselves, finally, can be understood as combinations of elementary glyphs that use simple composition rules, in a manner reminiscent of some ideographic writing systems such as Chinese. The standard, however, still attempts to provide an "exhaustive" listing of possible icons instead of laying out a dictionary of component glyphs. This causes operational problems when the need for an unforeseen symbol arises (particularly in MOOTW), a problem exacerbated by the administratively centralised maintenance of the symbology sets.

When rendering symbols with the fill on, APP-6A calls for the frame and icon to be black or white (as appropriate for the display). When rendering symbols with the fill off, APP-6A calls for a monochrome frame and icon (usually black or in accordance with the affiliation colour). NATO symbols can also be rendered with fill off using a frame coloured according to affiliation and a black icon,[2] though this is not defined in any APP-6 standard.

Allegiance & Affiliation[]

APP-6 Colour representation[]

The concept of affiliation does not appear in the original APP-6 as these were not introduced until APP-6A. Instead, the original APP-6 described a series of "colour representations" with the purpose of distinguishing friendly and enemy elements.

  • Multi-colour representation:
    • Blue or black for friendly icons
    • Red for enemy icons
    • Green for man-made obstacles (friendly or enemy)
    • Yellow for chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear events
    • Other colours to be established in a map legend
  • tri-colour representation:
    • Blue or black for friendly icons
    • Red for enemy icons
    • Green or yellow for man-made obstacles (friendly or enemy) and for chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear events
  • two colour representation:
    • Blue, Green, or black for friendly icons
    • Red for enemy icons
  • One colour representation:
    • Single line border for friendly icons
    • double line border for enemy icons, and unbordered icons were labeled with "EN" to the lower right corner

APP-6A Affiliation[]

Affiliation refers to the relationship of the tracker to the operational object being represented. The basic affiliation categories are unknown, friend, neutral, and hostile. In the ground unit domain, a yellow quatrefoil frame is used to denote unknown affiliation, a blue rectangle frame to denote friendly affiliation, a green square frame to denote neutral affiliation, and a red diamond frame to denote hostile affiliation.[3]: 11  In the other domains (air and space, sea surface and subsurface, etc.), the same color scheme is used.

Style Friendly Hostile Neutral Unknown
Fill On Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6A).svg
Monochrome (for digital media) Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Monochrome Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Monochrome Light Diamond Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Monochrome Light 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Monochrome Light Quatrefoil Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6A).svg
Monochrome (for print media) Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Monochrome Dark 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Monochrome Dark Diamond Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Monochrome Dark 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Monochrome Dark Quatrefoil Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6A).svg

The full set of affiliations is:

  • Pending (P)
  • Unknown (U)
  • Assumed friend (A)
  • Friend (F)
  • Neutral (N)
  • Suspect (S) (assumed hostile)
  • Hostile (H)
  • Exercise pending (G)
  • Exercise unknown (W)
  • Exercise assumed friend (M)
  • Exercise friend (D)
  • Exercise neutral (L)
  • Joker (J) (exercise suspect)
  • Faker (K) (exercise hostile)

There are no "assumed neutral" and "exercise assumed neutral" affiliations.

These colors are used in phrases such as "blue on blue" for friendly fire, blue force tracking, red teaming, and Red Cells.

Battle dimension[]

Battle dimension defines the primary mission area for the operational object within the battlespace. An object can have a mission area above the Earth's surface (i.e., in the air or outer space), on it, or below it. If the mission area of an object is on the surface, it can be either on land or sea. The subsurface dimension concerns those objects whose mission area is below the sea surface (e.g., submarines and sea mines). Some cases require adjudication; for example, an Army or Marine helicopter unit is a manoeuvring unit (i.e., a unit whose ground support assets are included) and is thus represented in the land dimension. Likewise, a landing craft whose primary mission is ferrying personnel or equipment to and from shore is a maritime unit and is represented in the sea surface dimension. A landing craft whose primary mission is to fight on land, on the other hand, is a ground asset and is represented in the land dimension.

Closed frames are used to denote the land and sea surface dimensions, frames open at the bottom denote the air/space dimension, and frames open at the top denote the subsurface dimension.

Air and Space Ground Sea surface Subsurface
Friend
FRD AIR.svg FRD GND.svg FRD EQP+SRF.svg FRD SUB.svg
Neutral
NEU AIR.svg NEU GND+EQP+SRF.svg NEU SUB.svg
Hostile
HOS AIR.svg HOS GND+EQP+SRF.svg HOS SUB.svg
Unknown
UNK AIR.svg UNK GND+EQP+SRF.svg UNK SUB.svg

An unknown battle dimension is possible; for example, some electronic warfare signatures (e.g., radar systems) are common to several battle dimensions and would therefore be assigned an "Unknown" battle dimension until further discrimination becomes possible. Special Forces may operate in any dimension.

The full set of battle dimensions is, in ascending order of distance from Earth center:

  • SOF (F)
  • Sea subsurface (U)
  • Sea surface (S)
  • Ground (G)
  • Air (A)
  • Space (P)
  • Other (X)
  • Unknown (Z)

The mnemonic for this ordering is "Fuss-Gap".

The letter in parentheses is used by the symbol identification coding (SIDC) scheme — strings of 15 characters used to transmit symbols.

The space and air battle dimensions share a single frame shape. In the ground battle dimension, two different frames are used for the friendly (and assumed friendly) affiliations in order to distinguish between units and equipment. The SOF (special operations forces) are assigned their own battle dimension because they typically can operate across several domains (air, ground, sea surface and subsurface) in the course of a single mission; the frames are the same as for the ground (unit) battle dimension.[4]: 47–48  The other battle dimension, finally, seems to be reserved for future use (there are no instances of its use as of 2525B Change 1).

Status[]

The status of a symbol refers to whether a warfighting object exists at the location identified (i.e., status is "present") or will in the future reside at that location (i.e., status is "planned, anticipated, suspected," or "on order"). Regardless of affiliation, present status is indicated by a solid line and planned status by a dashed line. The frame is solid or dashed, unless the symbol icon is unframed, in which case the icon itself is drawn dashed. Planned status cannot be shown if the symbol is an unframed filled icon.

Icon placement[]

The icon is the innermost part of a symbol which, when displayed, provides an abstract pictorial or alphanumeric representation of an operational object. The icon portrays the role or mission performed by the object. APP-6A distinguishes between icons that must be framed or unframed and icons where framing is optional.[3]: 39–43  APP-6A defined a standard octagon boundary within each map symbol frame. This octagon is not actually shown when symbols are drawn or rendered but, with a few defined exceptions, all icons inside the frame would also fit inside these octagons. APP-6C modified some symbol frames from previous editions of the standard. From top to bottom, here is the symbol boundary shown inside the APP-6C frames of space elements, air elements, land units, land equipment and surface sea elements, and sub-surface sea elements.

NATO Map Symbol - Symbol Size boundary (APP-6C).svg

Unit symbols[]

Unit icon modifiers[]

Unit symbols can be used independently as well as in combinations. There are also some symbols that cannot appear by themselves, but can only be used to modify other unit symbols:

Modifier Meaning Friendly Hostile Neutral Unknown Notes
Airborne Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Modifier - Airborne (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Modifier - Airborne (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Modifier - Airborne (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Modifier - Airborne (NATO APP-6).svg In APP-6 was including Air Assault and Paratrooper forces
Since APP-6A is specifically parachute forces
Parachute Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome Opaque 1.5x1 Frame)- Parachute (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Parachute (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Parachute (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Parachute (NATO APP-6).svg Symbol used in APP-6, not used in APP-6A and later editions
Airmobile Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Modifier - Airmobile (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Modifier - Airmobile (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Modifier - Airmobile (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Modifier - Airmobile (NATO APP-6A).svg
Airmobile with organic lift Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Modifier - Air Assault (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Modifier - Air Assault (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Modifier - Air Assault (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Modifier - Air Assault (NATO APP-6A).svg
Amphibious Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Modifier - Amphibious (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Modifier - Amphibious (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Modifier - Amphibious (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Modifier - Amphibious (NATO APP-6A).svg
Motorized Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Modifier - Motorized (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Modifier - Motorized (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Modifier - Motorized (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Modifier - Motorized (NATO APP-6A).svg
Mountain Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Modifier - Mountain (APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Modifier - Mountain (APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Modifier - Mountain (APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Modifier - Mountain (APP-6).svg
Cannon or gun system equipped Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Modifier - Gun System Equiped (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Modifier - Gun System Equiped (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Modifier - Gun System Equiped (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Modifier - Gun System Equiped (NATO APP-6A).svg
Wheeled and cross-country capable Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Modifier - Wheeled CrossCountry (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Modifier - Wheeled CrossCountry (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Modifier - Wheeled CrossCountry (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Modifier - Wheeled CrossCountry (NATO APP-6).svg

Unit basic icons[]

Land unit icons require a frame.

Unit type[5] Friendly Hostile Neutral Unknown Notes
Air defence Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Air Defence (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Air Defence (NATO APP-6C).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Air Defence (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Air Defence (NATO APP-6B).svg (evocative of a protective dome)
Ammunition Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- CSS - Ammunition (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- CSS - Ammunition (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- CSS - Ammunition (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- CSS - Ammunition (NATO APP-6).svg (stylised breech-loaded, rimmed cartridge or shell)
Anti-tank Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Anti-Tank (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Anti-Tank (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Anti-Tank (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Anti-Tank (NATO APP-6).svg (representing a concentrated, piercing action)
Armour Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Armour (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Armour (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Armour (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Armour (NATO APP-6).svg (stylized tank treads)
Artillery Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Artillery (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Artillery (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Artillery (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Artillery (NATO APP-6).svg (a cannonball)
Rotary-wing aviation Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Aviation (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Aviation (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Aviation (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Aviation (NATO APP-6).svg (Blurred, spinning helicopter blades)
Fixed wing aviation Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Aviation - Fixed Wing (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Aviation - Fixed Wing (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Aviation - Fixed Wing (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Aviation - Fixed Wing (NATO APP-6A).svg (airscrew)
Bridging Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Military Engineers - Bridging (NATP APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Military Engineers - Bridging (NATP APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Military Engineers - Bridging (NATP APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Military Engineers - Bridging (NATP APP-6).svg (topographical map symbol for a bridge)
Combat service support Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- CSS - Combat Service Support (NATO APP-6A).svg NATO Map Symbol - Hostile - Combat Service Support.svg NATO Map Symbol - Neutral - Combat Service Support.svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- CSS - Combat Service Support (NATO APP-6A).svg
Combined Manoeuvre Arms Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Combined Manoeuvre Arms (NATO APP-6C).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Combined Manoeuvre Arms (NATO APP-6C).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Combined Manoeuvre Arms (NATO APP-6C).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Combined Manoeuvre Arms (NATO APP-6C).svg (Introduced in APP-6C for an organization of Infantry and Armour,
it is a hybrid of the two symbols)
Engineer Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Military Engineers (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Military Engineers (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.05x1.05 Frame)- Military Engineers (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Military Engineers (NATO APP-6).svg (stylised bridge or other structure)
Electronic ranging Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Signals - Electronic Ranging (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Signals - Electronic Ranging (NATO APP-6B).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Signals - Electronic Ranging (NATO APP-6B).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Signals - Electronic Ranging (NATO APP-6B).svg (simplified parabolic antenna)
Electronic warfare Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Electronic Warfare (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Electronic Warfare (NATO APP-6).svg NATO Map Symbol - Neutral - Electronic Warfare.svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Electronic Warfare (NATO APP-6).svg
Explosive ordnance disposal Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NATO APP-6A).svg NATO Map Symbol - Hostile - Explosive Ordnance Disposal.svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.05x1.05 Frame)- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NATO APP-6A).svg
Fuel, or
petroleum, oil, and lubricants ("POL")
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- CSS - Petroleum Oil Lubricants (APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- CSS - Petroleum Oil Lubricants (APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.05x1.05 Frame)- CSS - Petroleum Oil Lubricants (APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- CSS - Petroleum Oil Lubricants (APP-6).svg (simplified funnel)
Hospital Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Medical - Hospital (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Medical - Hospital (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.05x1.05 Frame)- Medical - Hospital (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Medical - Hospital (NATO APP-6).svg (derivative of the medical symbol below superimposed with "H")
HQ unit Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Headquarters Unit (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Headquarters Unit (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.05x1.05 Frame)- Headquarters Unit (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Headquarters Unit (NATO APP-6).svg This is the HQ unit not the HQ itself
A HQ's physical position is represented by an empty rectangle with a line extending down from bottom left.
Infantry Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Infantry (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Infantry (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.05x1.05 Frame)- Infantry (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Infantry (NATO APP-6).svg (evocative of the crossed bandoliers of Napoleonic infantry).
Maintenance Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- CSS - Maintenance (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- CSS - Maintenance (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- CSS - Maintenance (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- CSS - Maintenance (NATO APP-6).svg (stylised spanner)
Medical Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Medical (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Medical (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Medical (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Medical (NATO APP-6).svg (evocative of the Red Cross symbol)
Meteorological Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Meteorological Services (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Meteorological Services (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Meteorological Services (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Meteorological Services (NATO APP-6).svg
Missile Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Missile - Surface to Surface (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Missile - Surface to Surface (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Missile - Surface to Surface (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Missile - Surface to Surface (NATO APP-6).svg (simplified missile)
Mortar Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Mortars (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Mortars (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Mortars (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Mortars (NATO APP-6).svg (projectile with a vertical arrow symbolizing mortar's high arc trajectory)
Military police Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Military Police (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Military Police (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Military Police (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Military Police (NATO APP-6).svg
Navy Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Naval (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Naval (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.05x1.05 Frame)- Naval (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Naval (NATO APP-6A).svg (anchor)
CBRN defence Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- CBRN (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- CBRN (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.05x1.05 Frame)- CBRN (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- CBRN (NATO APP-6).svg (simplified crossed retorts, the principal elements in the insignia of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps)
Ordnance Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- CSS - Ordnance (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- CSS - Ordnance (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.05x1.05 Frame)- CSS - Ordnance (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- CSS - Ordnance (NATO APP-6).svg (derived from crossed cannon behind a disc)
Radar Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Radar (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Radar (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.05x1.05 Frame)- Radar (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Radar (NATO APP-6).svg (stylised lightning flash and parabolic dish)
Psychological operations Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Bichrome 1.5x1 Frame)- Psychological Operations (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Bichrome Diamond Frame)- Psychological Operations (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Bichrome 1.05x1.05 Frame)- Psychological Operations (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Bichrome Quatrefoil Frame)- Psychological Operations (NATO APP-6).svg (electronic schematic symbol for loudspeaker, evocative of propaganda)
Reconnaissance or cavalry Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Reconnaissance (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Reconnaissance (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Reconnaissance (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Reconnaissance (NATO APP-6).svg (inspired by the cavalry's sabre strap)
Signals Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Signals or Communication (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Signals or Communication (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Signals or Communication (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Signals or Communication (NATO APP-6).svg (simplified lightning flash, evocative of radio signals [likewise used in the radar symbol above])
Special forces Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Special Operations Force - Special Forces (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Special Operations Force - Special Forces (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Special Operations Force - Special Forces (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Special Operations Force - Special Forces (NATO APP-6A).svg
Special operations forces Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Special Operations Force (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Special Operations Force (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Special Operations Force (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Special Operations Force (NATO APP-6A).svg
Supply Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- CSS - Supply (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- CSS - Supply (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- CSS - Supply (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- CSS - Supply (NATO APP-6).svg
Topographical Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Military Geomatics - Mapping (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Military Geomatics - Mapping (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Military Geomatics - Mapping (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Military Geomatics - Mapping (NATO APP-6).svg (stylised sextant)
Transportation Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- CSS - Transport (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- CSS - Transport (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- CSS - Transport (NATO APP-6).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- CSS - Transport (NATO APP-6).svg (simplified wheel)
Unmanned air vehicle Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Hostile Unit (Solid Diamond Frame)- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (NATO APP-6A).svg Military Symbol - Unknown Aligned Unit (Solid Quatrefoil Frame)- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (NATO APP-6A).svg (flying wing silhouette)

Modified unit icons[]

Some of the most common combinations are:

Modified symbol Meaning
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Infantry - Mountain (NATO APP-6).svg Mountain Infantry examples: Italy's Alpini, Germany's Gebirgsjäger, France's Chasseurs Alpins, Poland's Podhale Rifles, US 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Infantry - Airborne (NATO APP-6).svg Parachute Infantry example: 82nd Airborne Division (United States), Division Schnelle Kräfte (Germany), United Kingdom's Parachute Regiment, Brigada de Infantería Ligera Paracaidista BRIPAC (Spain)
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Infantry - Airmobile (NATO APP-6A).svg Airmobile Infantry example: 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Jägerregiment 1
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Infantry - Mechanized (NATO APP-6).svg Mechanized Infantry example: US 3rd Infantry Division (equipment example: M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle),
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Infantry - Armoured (NATO APP-6).svg Mechanized infantry equipped with infantry fighting vehicles equipment examples: M2 Bradley, BMP-3, Kurganets-25, Dardo IFV
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Infantry - Mechanized - Amphibious (NATO APP-6A).svg Amphibious mechanized infantry example: 1st Marine Regiment (United States) when Amphibious Assault Vehicle units are attached.
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Infantry - Mechanized - Wheeled APC (NATO APP-6).svg Mechanized infantry (wheeled-"medium") equipment examples: 3rd Brigade (US 2nd Infantry Division), Stryker, ZSL-08, Patria AMV, Mowag Piranha, BTR-80, (with machine gun turrets)
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Infantry - Mechanized - Wheeled AFV (NATO APP-6).svg Mechanized infantry (wheeled-"medium") equipped with wheeled Infantry Fighting Vehicles equipment examples: BTR-90, Bumerang, ZBL-08, Freccia, VBTP-MR Guarani, (with autocannon turrets)
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Anti-Tank - Tank Destroyers - Wheeled Agile (NATO APP-6).svg Tank destroyer equipment examples: B1 Centauro, AMX 10 RC, M1128 Mobile Gun System
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Armoured Reconnaissance - Wheeled Cross Country (NATO APP-6).svg Wheeled armoured reconnaissance equipment examples: Fennek, VBL, BRDM-2, ASLAV
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Military Engineers - Armoured Engineer (NATO APP-6).svg Armoured engineers equipment examples: M60A1 AVLB, Bergepanzer BPz3.
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Military Engineers - Combat Engineers - Mechanized (NATO APP-6C).svg Combat engineers in mechanized engineer section carriers. Also engineers mounted in IFVs such as Bradley or Warrior.
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Artillery - Mechanized (NATO APP-6).svg Armoured artillery equipment examples: M109 howitzer, PzH 2000, 2S19 Msta, 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV, AS90
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Artillery - Mountain (NATO APP-6).svg Mountain artillery equipment example: OTO Melara Mod 56
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Artillery - Rocket Launchers (MulitRocket) (NATO APP-6).svg Multiple rocket launcher equipment example: M270 MLRS
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Artillery - Rocket Launchers (MulitRocket) - Wheeled Agile (NATO APP-6).svg Wheeled multiple rocket launcher equipment example: HIMARS, Pinaka, BM-27 Uragan, BM-30 Smerch, Astros II MLRS
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Air Defence - Mechanized - Close Range Guns (NATO APP-6B).svg Self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery equipment examples: FlaKPz Gepard, 9K22 Tunguska, Type 95 SPAAA
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Air Defence - Missiles (NATO APP-6C).svg Missile air defence equipment example: S-300, S-400, 9K37 Buk, MIM-104 Patriot, Roland
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Aviation - Attack (NATO APP-6A).svg Attack helicopter equipment examples: AH-64 Apache, AH-1 Cobra, Eurocopter Tiger, Mil Mi-28, Kamov Ka-50, Agusta A129 Mangusta
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Aviation - Utility - Medium (NATO APP-6C).svg Medium transport helicopter equipment examples: CH-46 Sea Knight, UH-60 Blackhawk, Mi-17 Hip
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- CSS - Supply - Petroleum Oil Lubricants - Theatre Support (NATO APP-6A).svg Theatre level fuel supply unit
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- CSS - Supply & Transport (NATO APP-6).svg Supply and transportation unit

Unit size indicators[]

Above the unit symbol, a symbol representing the size of the unit can be displayed:[4]: 57 

Symbol Name Typical no. of personnel No. of subordinate units Typical rank of leader (Commonwealth and USA)
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Region or Front.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Combatant Command[6]
Region (very rare in peacetime)
theatre (very rare in peacetime)
250,000–1,000,000+ Several army groups Commonwealth: Field Marshal
US: General of the Army
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Army Group.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Front
Army group (rare in peacetime)
Air Forces Command or Major Command
120,000–500,000 Several armies or air forces Commonwealth: Field Marshal
US: General of the Army or General
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Army.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Army
Air Force
100,000 2-4 fighting Corps (5–10 fighting divisions) and
support troops (often organized in divisions or brigades)
General
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Corps.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Corps 30,000–90,000 2-4 fighting divisions and
support troops (often organized in brigades or groups)
Lieutenant General
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Division.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Division 10,000–20,000 Nominally several brigades and/or regiments Major General
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Brigade.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Brigade
Wing (Air or Aviation)
2,000–20,000 Several battalions or Commonwealth regiments. Brigadier General
Commonwealth: Brigadier
Commonwealth Air: Air commodore
US Army:Colonel
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Regiment or Group.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Regiment
Group (some CS and CSS arms)
Group (Air or Aviation)
500–3,000 3–7 battalions (usually of the same arm) Colonel
Commonwealth Air: Group Captain
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Battalion.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Battalion or equivalent
Regiment (certain countries/arms only)
Squadron (US Cavalry)
Squadron (Air or Aviation)
300–1,000 2–6 companies, batteries, U.S. troops, or Commonwealth squadrons, etc. Lieutenant colonel
Commonwealth Air: Wing Commander
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Company or Squadron or Battery.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Company or equivalent
Artillery Battery
Squadron (some Commonwealth arms)
U.S. Cavalry Troop
60–250 2-5 platoons/troops Commonwealth Army: Major
Commonwealth Air: Squadron Leader
U.S. Captain
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Staffel (Echelon) - Germany.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Staffel[7] or echelon[8]
(level of hierarchy unique to Germany)
50-90 2 platoons/troops or 6-10 sections Captain or Staff Captain
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Platoon or Troop.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Platoon or equivalent
Troop (certain countries/arms only)
Flight (Air and Aviation)
French Army Section
25–40 3-5 squads, sections, or fighting vehicles Commonwealth: Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant
US: Second Lieutenant
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Section.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Section 7–13 2–3 fireteams Commonwealth: Corporal or sergeant
US: Sergeant or Staff Sergeant
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Detachment or Squad.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Squad 5–10 1–2 fireteams Commonwealth: Corporal or sergeant
US: Sergeant or Staff Sergeant
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Team or Crew.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Fireteam 3–5 n/a Commonwealth: Lance Corporal
US: Corporal or Sergeant

The typical commander ranks shown in the table are for illustration. Neither the actual rank designated for a particular unit's commander, nor the rank held by the incumbent commander alters the appropriate symbol. For example, units are periodically commanded by an officer junior to the authorised commander grade, yet a company under the command of a Lieutenant (U.S.) or Captain (Commonwealth) is still indicated with two vertical ticks. Likewise, some peculiar types of companies and detachments are authorised a Major, Lieutenant Colonel (personnel services companies) or Colonel (some types of judge advocate detachments); the company or detachment is nevertheless indicated with, respectively, one vertical tick or three dots.

While in Commonwealth armies, the regiment as a tactical formation does not normally exist, in some cases a regimental sized (i.e. larger than battalion and smaller than brigade) Task Force may exist where the operational requirement exists. These formations may be commanded by Colonels.

Note that, for brigades and higher, the number of Xs corresponds to the number of stars in the United States military's insignia for the typical general officer grade commanding that size unit. For example, a division is capped with XX and is usually commanded by a major general the American insignia for which is two stars.

Equipment icons[]

Equipment icons are "frame optional".

Equipment symbol (framed) (unframed) Equipment type
Ground Track - Equipment - Ground Vehicle - Engineer Vehicle - Bridge - Friendly Framed.svg Ground Track - Equipment - Ground Vehicle - Engineer Vehicle - Bridge - Friendly Unframed.svg Bridge (e.g. AVLB)

Installation icons[]

Installation symbol Installation type
Ground Track - Installation - Military Matériel Facility - Engineering Equipment Production - Bridge - Friendly.svg Bridge production

Symbol modifiers[]

APP-6A stops with field AB. MIL-STD-2525B and 2525B Change 1 add a number of other modifiers.

Positions of the various graphic modifiers around the symbol (itself field A). MIL-STD-2525B Change 1 fails to specify where to place fields AD, AE, and AF.

Graphic modifiers[]

  • Echelon (field B) Identifies command level (see Unit sizes, above).
  • Task force (field D) Identifies a unit as a task force. It may be used alone or in combination with Echelon, like so:
Combat Team or
Company Group
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Combat Team or Company Group.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Battlegroup NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Battlegroup or Battalion Group.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Regimental Combat Team or
Marine expeditionary unit (MEU)
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Regiment Combat Team.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Brigade Group or
Brigade Combat Team or
Marine expeditionary brigade (MEB)
NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Brigade Group or Brigade Combat Team.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Corps Expiditionary Force.svg
Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Unspecified or Composite All-Arms (NATO APP-6).svg
  • Frame shape modifier (field E) A short textual modifier that completes the affiliation, battle dimension, or exercise description of an object ("U", "?", "X", "XU", "X?", "J" or "K"). It is treated as a graphic modifier, however.
  • Direction of movement (field Q) A fixed-length arrow that identifies the direction of movement or intended movement of an object. It emanates from the symbol's centre except in the ground domain, where it is hooked to a short offset, straight down from the symbol's base centre (see diagram).
  • Mobility indicator (field R) Depicts the mobility of an object (see Mobility, below). It is used only with equipment.
  • Headquarters staff or offset location (field S) Identifies a unit as a headquarters, or indicates the object's actual location on the map when it has been shifted away in order to declutter the display. It goes straight down from the symbol's centre left, then angles towards the actual location (see diagram).
  • Feint/dummy (field AB) Identifies a unit intended to draw the enemy's attention away from the area of the main attack, or a decoy designed to fool enemy intelligence. It consists of a dashed chevron, placed above the frame, like the echelon graphic modifier (the standard is unclear as to how the two combine graphically). See Feints/Dummies, below.
  • Installation (field AC) Identifies a particular symbol as an installation. It sits atop the frame. See Installations, below.
  • Auxiliary equipment (field AG) Indicates the presence of a towed sonar array (used exclusively in the sea surface or subsurface battle dimensions). It sits below the frame, like field R (see Auxiliary equipment, below).
  • Area of uncertainty (field AH) Indicates the area where an object is most likely to be, based on the object's last report and the reporting accuracy of the sensor that detected it. This can take various forms, such as an ellipse, a bounding box, or lines indicating probable bearing and distance.
  • Dead reckoning trailer (field AI) Identifies where an object should be located at present, given its last reported course and speed. This can take the form of a dotted line (extending from the symbol to the dead-reckoned position) or a dotted circle (bounding the zone the object may have reached since, when the direction of movement is unknown or uncertain).
  • Speed leader (field AJ) Depicts the speed and direction of movement of an object. It is identical to the Direction of Movement indicator except that its length is variable (and there is no arrow head).
  • Pairing line (field AK) Connects two objects.

Feints/dummies and installations[]

Source:[4]: 288 

Feint/dummy Installations
FD FRD+AFD+JKR+FKR EQP+SRF.svg
FRD GND.svg
UNK INS.svg FRD INS.svg NEU INS.svg HOS INS.svg

Mobility and auxiliary equipment[]

Source:[4]: 163–164 

Wheeled
(limited
cross-country)
Wheeled
cross-country
Tracked Half-tracked Towed Railway
FRD EQP+SRF.svg
MOB 01F.svg
FRD EQP+SRF.svg
MOB 02F.svg
FRD EQP+SRF.svg
MOB 03F.svg
FRD EQP+SRF.svg
MOB 04F.svg
FRD EQP+SRF.svg
MOB 05F.svg
FRD EQP+SRF.svg
MOB 06F.svg
Snowmobile Sled Pack animals Barge Amphibious  
FRD EQP+SRF.svg
MOB 07F.svg
FRD EQP+SRF.svg
MOB 08F.svg
FRD EQP+SRF.svg
MOB 09.svg
FRD EQP+SRF.svg
MOB 10F.svg
FRD EQP+SRF.svg
MOB 11F.svg
 
  Short towed array (typ. sonar) Long towed array (typ. sonar)
  FRD EQP+SRF.svg
XTAS SRF FRD.svg
FRD EQP+SRF.svg
XTAL SRF FRD.svg

Text modifiers[]

  • Quantity (field C) Identifies the number of equipment items present.
  • Reinforced or reduced (field F) Displays (+) for reinforced, (-) for reduced, (±) for reinforced and reduced.
  • Staff comments (field G)
  • Additional information (field H)
  • Evaluation rating (field J) A letter-and-number reliability and credibility rating, assigned by Intelligence.
  • Combat effectiveness (field K)
  • Signature equipment (field L) Used for hostile equipment; "!" indicates a detectable electronic signature.
  • Higher formation (field M) Number or title of higher echelon command.
    • field M of this company symbol shows that it belongs to the 42nd Armored Infantry Battalion: APP-6a Example1 - Higher.svg
  • Hostile (enemy) (field N) "ENY" denotes hostile equipment.
  • IFF/SIF (field P) IFF/SIF Identification modes and codes.
  • SIGINT mobility indicator (field R2) "M" for Mobile, "S" for Static, "U" for Uncertain.
  • Unique designation (field T)
    • field T shows this is Alpha Company: APP-6a Example1 - Self.svg
  • Type (field V)
  • Date/time group (DTG) (field W) Indicates the symbol's date and time stamp.
  • Altitude/height/depth (field X)
  • Location (field Y) Location in degrees, minutes, and seconds (or in UTM or other applicable display format).
  • Speed (field Z) Velocity as set forth in MIL-STD-6040.
  • Special C2 headquarters (field AA)
  • Platform type (field AD) "ELNOT" (Electronic Intelligence Notation) or "CENOT" (Communications Intelligence Notation)
  • Equipment teardown time (field AE) In minutes.
  • Common identifier (field AF) Example: "Hawk" for a Hawk SAM system.

Other information[]

APP-6 organization chart of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF):

Structure of the 1st MEF (click to enlarge)

MIL-STD-2525A[]

APP-6A, Military Symbols for Land Based Systems was developed directly from MIL-STD-2525A, Common Warfighting Symbology. MIL-STD 2525A was the American standard for military symbols. The custodian of APP-6 is the United States. APP-6(A) remained unchanged as work on harmonizing it with ADatP-3, NATO Message Text Formatting System was carried out. In 1999, APP-6 was moved from the Army Service Board to the Joint Service Board. With this move, APP-6 was placed under the Information Exchange Requirements Harmonization/Message Text Format Working Group. The IERH/MTFWG then formed the Joint Symbology Panel to provide configuration management of APP-6 with the US custodian as the chairman. With the ratification and promulgation of APP-6(B) in 2008, the named was changed to NATO Military Symbology to better reflect the nature of the publication. In 2011, with the introduction of APP-6(C), the named was changed to NATO Joint Military Symbology. The US military required new symbols to support ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, so the pace of change between APP-6 and MIL-STD-2525 remained uneven until 2009. In 2009, a new chairman for DOD Symbology Standardization Management Committee was appointed, and the two configuration management organizations began to work together. The two organizations held joint meetings with full participation on both sides. The goal of both groups is to develop comprehensive joint military symbology that is common to both organizations to the greatest extent possible. APP-6(C) began the process of changing the format of the publications and introduced new symbol identification codes. MIL-STD-2525D[9] has carried that one step further with more symbols and more symbol sets derived from recent NATO and US operations. MIL-STD-2525D will serve as the base document for APP-6(D) as the two documents move closer together.

References[]

  1. ^ Hershey, Andrew (2012). "Not Just Lines on a Map: A History of Military Mapping" (PDF). Strategy & Tactics. 274: 22–27. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 7, 2014.
  2. ^ "NATO Map Symbol Programmed Instruction Package" (PDF). Canadian Forces School of Military Intelligence. Jan 2000. p. 6. Retrieved Nov 14, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Korkolis, M. (July 1986). "APP-6 Military Symbols For Land Based Symbols" (PDF). alternatewars.com. Retrieved Nov 14, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d Thibault, D. U. (September 2005). "Commented APP-6A - Military symbols for land based systems" (PDF). DRDC Valcartier. Retrieved Nov 14, 2018.
  5. ^ "US Army FM 21-30 Military Symbols" (PDF). US Army Engineers. June 1965. p. 2–5. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  6. ^ FM 1-02 Operational Terms and Graphics. US DoD. 21 September 2004. pp. 5–37.
  7. ^ APP-6C NATO Joint Military Symbology. NATO. May 2011. pp. 2–25.
  8. ^ APP-6 Military Symbols for Land Based Systems. NATO. July 1986. pp. B8.
  9. ^ Department of Defense Interface Standard: Joint Military Symbology (MIL-STD-2525D) (PDF). Washington, DC: US Government (published 10 June 2014). 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.

External links[]

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