Naval History and Heritage Command

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Navy Numbers

--P--

Note: Where the same abbreviation has more than one meaning, the several meanings have been arranged alphabetically. Abbreviations preceded by an asterisk (*), other than Navy numbers, may never be used singly; those preceded by the symbol for number (#) are the Bureau of Personnel Condensation Code for use in dispatch orders to personnel.

P -- First letter in the Navy aircraft designation, indicating a patrol plane

 P -- Office of Personnel (USCG)

 P -- Fixed provision for photographic reconnaissance missions (suffix to plane designation); as, F6F-5P

 P -- Pilot

 P -- Piper Aircraft corporation (Glider) (manufacturer's symbol)

 P -- Professional (Civil Service employees designation)

 P -- P-V Engineering Forum, Inc. (Helicopter) (Manufacturer's symbol)

 P -- Spartan Aircraft Co. (manufacturer's symbol)

 PA -- Attack Transport (contraction of APA)

*PA -- Panama

 PA -- Pennsylvania

 PA -- Permanent Appointment

 PA -- Philadelphia (Navy Yard)

 P/A -- Pilotless Aircraft

 PA -- Port Agency (Army)

 P&A -- Procurement and Assignment

 PA -- Public Address

 PAA -- Pan-American Airways

 PAB -- Price Adjustment Board

 PAB -- Priorities Allotment Board

*PAC -- Pacific

 PAC -- Political Action Committee

 PAC -- Program Adjustment Committee

 PacAdv -- Pacific Fleet Advance Headquarters (Guam)

 PacCall -- Pacific Fleet Calls (radio call signs)

 PacCom -- Pacific Fleet Communications Instructions

 PacFleet -- Pacific Fleet

 PacFlt -- Pacific Fleet

 PacHedPearl -- Pacific Headquarters, pearl Harbor, T.H.

 PaCorNaLog -- Pacific Coast Coordinator of Naval Logistics

 PACREP -- Port Activities Report

 PacResFlt -- Pacific Reserve Fleet

 PAct -- Acting Pay Clerk

 PACUSA -- Pacific Air Command, U.S. Army

 PAD -- Pilotless Aircraft Division

 PAD -- Pontoon Assembly Detachment

 PAGTU -- Pan-American Ground Training Unit

 PAL -- Prisoner-at-Large

 PANAIR -- Panama Air Lines

 PANDS -- Pay and Supply (USCG)

 PanSeaFron -- Panama Sea Frontier

 PAP -- Patrol Amphibian Plane

 Par -- Parsons design (ship engines)

 Para -- Parachute; Parachutist

 Para -- Paragraph

 PAREC -- Pay Record

 PAREN -- Parenthesis

 PARU -- Photographic and Reproduction unit

*PAS -- Passage(nger)

 PAS -- Physically on board as a prisoner

 PA/SO -- Port Anti-Submarine Officer

 PASU -- Patrol Aircraft Service Unit

*PAT -- Patrol

 PAT -- Physically on board for treatment; sot ship's company

 PAT -- Property and Accounting Technician (Medical)

 PatBomRon -- Patrol Bombing Squadron

 PatFor -- patrol Force

 PatRon -- Patrol Squadron

 PatSU or Patsu -- Patrol Aircraft Service Unit

 PatWing -- Patrol Wing; now, Fleet Air Wing

 PatWingLantFlt -- Patrol Wing Atlantic Fleet

 PatWingLantFleet -- Patrol Wing Atlantic Fleet

 PatWingScoFor -- Patrol Wings Scouting Force

 Patx -- Patuxent River

 PAU -- Pilotless Aircraft Unit

 PAV -- Pay Adjustment Voucher

 PAW -- Petroleum Administration for War

*PAY -- Paymaster

 PAY -- Payment

 PayMarCorps -- Paymaster, Marine Corps

 PB -- First two letters in the Navy aircraft designation, indicating a patrol-bombing plane

 PB2B-# -- "Catalina"; twin-engine Navy patrol-bomber (VPB(MS)), seaplane, manufactured by Boeing (Canada)

 PBJ-# -- "Mitchell"; twin-engine Navy patrol-bomber (VPB(MS)), manufactured by North American

 PBM-1 -- "Mariner"; twin-engine Navy patrol-bomber (VPB), manufactured by Martin

 PBM-3-5 -- "Mariner"; twin-engine Navy patrol-bomber (VPB(MS)), seaplane, manufactured by Martin

 PBM-3R -- "Mariner"; twin-engine Navy transport (VR(MS)), seaplane, manufactured by Martin

 PB2M-1R -- "Mars"; four-engine Navy transport (VR(HS)), seaplane, manufactured by Martin

 PBN-# -- "Nomad"; twin-engine Navy patrol-bomber (VPB(MS)), seaplane, manufactured by Naval Aircraft Factory

 PBO-# -- "Hudson"; twin-engine Navy patrol-bomber (VPB), landplane, manufactured by Lockheed

 P Boat -- Patrol Bomber (PBY)

 PBS -- Peninsular Base Section

 PB-1W -- "Flying Fortress"; four-engine Navy patrol plane, manufactured by Boeing

 PBY-# -- "Catalina"; twin-engine Navy patrol-bomber (VPB), manufactured by Consolidated-Vultee

 PB2Y-2-3 -- "Coronado"; four-engine Navy patrol-bomber (VPB), manufactured by Consolidated-Vultee

 PB2Y-3R -- Four-engine Navy transport (VR(HS)), manufactured by Consolidated-Vultee

 PB2Y-5 -- "Coronado"; four-engine Navy patrol-bomber (VPB(HS)), seaplane, manufactured by Consolidated-Vultee

 PB2Y-5R -- "Coronado"; four-engine Navy transport (VR(HS)), seaplane, manufactured by Consolidated-Vultee

 PB4Y-1-1P -- "Liberator"; four-engine Navy patrol-bomber (VPB), landplane, manufactured by Consolidated-Vultee

 PB4Y-12 -- "Liberator"; four-engine Navy transport (VR(HL)), landplane, manufactured by Consolidated-Vultee

 PB4Y-2-2C -- "Privateer"; four-engine Navy patrol-bombers (VPB(HL)), landplane, manufactured by Consolidated-Vultee

 PBX -- Private Branch Exchange (telephone switchboard)

 PC -- Civilian Personnel Division (USCG)

 PC -- Patrol Vessel, Submarine Chaser (173')

 PC -- Pay Clerk

 PC -- Pharmacy Corps (Army)

 PCA -- Personal Cash Allowance

 PCC -- Postal Concentration Center

 PC(C) -- Submarine Chaser (173') (Control)

 PCCNL -- Pacific Coast Coordinator of Naval Logistics

 PCE -- Patrol Vessel, Escort (180')

 PCE(C) -- Patrol Vessel, Escort (180') (Control)

 PCE(R) -- Patrol Craft, Escort (Rescue) (180')

 PCFO -- Position Classification Field Office

 PClk -- Pay Clerk

 PCmdr -- Post Commander (USMC)

 PCO -- Prospective Commanding Officer

 PCS -- Patrol Vessel, Submarine Chaser (136') (Control)

 PCS -- Position, Course, and Speed

 PCT -- Pharmacy and Chemistry Technician

 PD -- Demobilization Division (USCG)

 PD -- Port Director

 PD -- Port of Debarkation

 PD -- Priority Directive

 PDD -- Physical Damage Division

 Pdr -- Pounder (armament)

 P≈D Sec -- Pioneer and Demolition Section (Army)

 PE -- Ensiled Personnel Division (USCG)

 PE -- Patrol Vessel, Eagle (Eagle Boat)

 PE -- Pensacola, Florida

 PE -- Pistol Expert

 PE -- Port of Embarkation

 PE -- Post Exchange (USMC)

 P&E -- Procurement & Expedition

 P&E -- Progress & Expedity

 Pearl -- Pearl Harbor, T.H.

 PEC -- Production Executive Committee

 PEDC -- Personal Effects Distribution Center

 PENN -- Pennsylvania

 PEO -- Prospective Engineer Officer

#PERGRA -- Permission granted

#PERNOGRA -- Permission not granted

*PERS -- Personnel

 PersClfn -- Personnel Classification

 PersD -- personnel Department (USMC)

 PERSOF -- Personnel Officer

 PersSepCent -- Personnel Separation Center

 Pers&TraComd -- Personnel and Training Command

 PERS TRAN -- Personal Transportation

*PET -- Petroleum

 Peter -- "P" in the phonetic alphabet

 PetRes -- Petroleum Reserves

 PetSec -- Petroleum Section (Allied Force Headquarters)

 PF -- Patrol Vessel, Frigate

 PFC -- Private First Class

 PFCO -- Position Field Classification officer

 PG -- Patrol Vessel, Gunboat

 PG -- Pay Group

 PG -- Photogrammetry

 PG -- Pilottown to Galveston (routing designation)

 PG -- Post Graduate

 PGC -- Persian Gulf Command (US Army)

 PGM -- Patrol Vessel, Motor Gunboat

 PH -- Pearl Harbor, T.H.

 PH -- Plane Handler

 PH -- Purple Heart

 PH-2-3 -- Twin-engine Coast Guard patrol (VP), biplane, manufactured by Hall

"Phantom" -- Radar decoy

 Phar -- Pharmacist

 Pharm -- Pharmacist

 PHB -- Public Health Service Building

 PHIB -- Amphibian; Amphibious

 PhibCorPac -- Amphibious Corps Pacific Fleet

 PhibCorps -- Amphibious Corps

 PhibDet -- Amphibious Detachment

 PhibdetInd -- Amphibious Detachment India

 PhibEu -- Amphibious Forces Europe

 PhibFor -- Amphibious Force

 PhibGroup -- Amphibious Group

 PhibLant -- Amphibious Forces Atlantic Fleet

 PhibNAW -- Amphibious Forces Northwest African Waters

#PHIBOBS -- Amphibious Operations

 PhibPac -- Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet

 PhibsEu -- Amphibious Forces Europe

 PhibsForPac -- Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet

 PhibsLant -- Amphibious Forces Atlantic Fleet

 PhibsPac -- Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet

 PhibsUKay -- Amphibious Bases United Kingdom

 PhibTra -- Training Command Amphibious Forces

 PhibTraBase -- Amphibious Training Base

 PhibTrainLant -- Training Command Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet

 PhibTraLant -- Training Command Amphibious Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet

#PHIBTRANS -- Amphibious Transport

 PhibTraPac -- Training Command Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet

 PhibsTraPac -- Training Command Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet

 PhibTrainPac -- Training Command Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet

 PhibTrBase -- Amphibious Training Base

 PhibWarTraCen -- Amphibious Warfare Training Center

 Phil -- Navy Yard, Philadelphia

*PHIL -- Philippine

 Phila -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 PhilaGrp -- Philadelphia Group

 PhilSeaFron -- Philippine Sea Frontier

 PhM -- Pharmacist's Mate

 PhMDP -- Pharmacist's Mate, Dental Prosthetic Technician

 PHNY -- Pearl Harbor Navy Yard

 PHO -- Photographer

 PHOAC -- Photographer's Mate, Combat Aircrewman

 PhoM -- Photographer's Mate

 PHONE -- Telephone

 Phot -- Photographer

 Photo -- Photograph(ic)

 PHPC -- Post Hostilities Planning Committee

 PHS -- Public Health Service

 PHT -- Physical Therapy Technician

 PHTH -- Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii

 Phys -- Physical

PI -- Philippine Islands

 PI -- Pigeon Trainer

 PIBALS -- Pilot Balloon Reports

 PICAO -- Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization

"Picket" -- Advanced or distant radar guard ship

 PICME -- Political Intelligence Center Middle East (GB)

 Pict -- Picture

 PID -- Political Intelligence Department (GB)

 PIO -- Public Information Officer

"Pip" -- Displacement of radar trace caused by echo

 PIU -- Photographic Interpretation Unit (USMC)

 PkHow -- Pack Howitzer (USMC)

 PL -- Plain Language

 PL -- Plastic Expert

 PL -- Post Laundry (Army)

 PL -- Public Information man

 PL -- Public Law

 Plat -- Platoon

 PLC -- Platoon Leaders Class (USMC)

 PLD -- Procurement Legal Division; later, Office of General Counsel (USCG)

 PlLdr -- Platoon Leader (USMC)

 PLS -- Please

 PlSgt -- Platoon Sergeant

 PLU -- Platoon Leaders Unit (USMC)

 PLY -- Plymouth, England

 PM -- Medical Division (USCG)

 PM -- Patternmaker

 PM -- Paymaster (USCG)

 PM -- Portland, Maine

 PM -- Postmaster

 PM -- Post-Meridian

 PM -- Prime Minister

 PM -- Procurement and Material

 PM -- Provost Marshal (Army)

 PMG -- Paymaster General

 PMG -- Provost Marshal General (Army)

 PMGO -- Office of Provost Marshal General

 PMKr -- Patternmaker

 PMLO -- Principal Military Landing Offices (GB)

 PMM -- Military morale Division (USCG)

 PMSGT -- Paymaster Sergeant (USMC)

 PMSR -- Patternmaker, Ship Repair

 PMSRP -- Patternmaker, Ship Repair, Patternmaker

 PMS&T -- Professor of Military Science and Tactics (Army)

 PMT -- Medical Photography Technician

 PNNCF -- Pacific Northern Naval Coastal Frontier

 PNR -- Preliminary Negotiation Reports

 PNS&T -- Professor of Naval Science and Tactics

 PO -- Officer Personnel Division(USCG)

 PO -- Petty Officer

 PO -- Port Officer

 PO -- Portsmouth, England

 PO -- Post Office

 POA -- Pacific Ocean Areas

 POAHedPearl -- Pacific Ocean Areas Headquarters Pearl Harbor

 POATSC -- Pacific Overseas Air Technical Service Command

 POD -- Podiatrist

 POE -- Port of Embarkation

 POL -- Petrol Oil and Lubricants (GB)

 POM -- Preparation for Overseas Movements (Army)

 POOD -- Permanent Officer of the Deck (Day)

#PORICH -- To the port in which activity designated may be

 Posit -- Position

 Pot -- Potential

 POT -- Potomac

 PotAnn -- Potomac Annex (Navy Department)

 PoTelCo -- Postal Telegraph Company

*POW -- Powder

 POW -- Prisoner of War

 PP -- Public Property

 PPC -- Partial Pay Card

 PPC -- Patrol Pane Commander

 PPF -- Parti Populaire Français

 PPI -- Plan Position indicator (radar scope)

 PP&NA -- Private Plants and Naval Activities

 PPPC -- Petroleum Pool Pacific Coast

 PPPI -- Precision Plan Position Indicator

 PPPI -- Projection Plan Position Indicator

 PPS -- Polish Socialist Party

 PPSMEC -- Procurement, Precedence of Supplies, Material and Equipment Committee (JCB)

 P&PW -- Publicity and Psychological Warfare

 PQM -- Post Quartermaster (USMC)

 PR -- Parachute Rigger

 PR -- Patrol Vessel, River Gunboat

 PR -- Pay Roll

 PR -- Photographic Reconnaissance Aircraft

 PR -- Priority Regulation

 PR -- Public Relations

 PR -- Puerto Rico

 PRA -- Pay Readjustment Act (1942)

 PRA -- Reserve and Auxiliary Division (USCG)

 Prac -- Practice

 PRC -- Production Readjustments Committee (WPB)

 PR/COM -- Vessels delivered in a partially completed status

 Prd -- Period

 PRD -- Public Relations Division

#PRECOMMDET -- Pre-Commissioning Detail

#PRECOMMSCOL -- Pre-Commissioning School

*PRER -- Preparatory

 PREP -- Unique method of pulse communications developed by Federal Telegraph and Radio Laboratories

 Pres -- President

 PreSign -- Procedure Sign

 PresProc -- Presidential Proclamation

 Prev -- Previous

 PRF -- Pulse Repetition Frequency

*PRI -- Prison

 Prim -- Primary

 PrimTra -- Air Primary Training

 PrinMus -- Principle Musician (USMC)

 PRISIC -- Photographic Reconnaissance Interpretation Section (Squadron) Intelligence Center (JICPOA)

"Privateer" -- See PB4Y-2-2C

 PRLTRL&M -- Printer, Lithographer and Multilith Operator

 PRNC -- Potomac River Naval Command, Washington, D.C.

 PRO -- Personnel Relations Officer (for Shore Stations)

*PRO -- Promote(d); Promotion

 PRO -- Public Relations officer

 Prob -- Probation(ary)

 Proc -- Procurement

#PROFAGTRANS -- Proceed by first available Government transportation (not including air)

 PROIMREP -- Proceed immediately to (location of ship, commander, or station designated b group(s) immediately following) and upon arrival report for duty or purposes indicated

 Proj -- Projected

*PROJ -- Projectile

 Prom -- Promoted

 Prop -- Propeller

*PROP -- Property

 Propul -- Propulsion

#PROREP -- Proceed to (location of ship, commander, or station designated by group(s) immediately following) and upon arrival report for duty or purpose indicated

 ProSig -- Procedure Signal

*PROV -- Proving Grounds

 Prov -- Provisional

 ProvGr -- Proving Ground

#PROWDELREP -- Proceed without delay to (location of ship, commander, or station designated by group(s) immediately following) and upon arrival report for duty or purpose indicated

 PRP -- Production Requirements Plan

 PRP -- Public Relations Personnel

 PRR -- Pulse Repetition Rate

 PRSec -- Pay Roll Section

 PRTR -- Printer

 PRTRL -- Printer, Lithographer

 PRTRM -- Printer, Offset Process

 PRU -- Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (Aircraft) (USMC)

 PS -- Chlorpicrin

 PS -- Motion Picture Service Bookers

 PS -- Philippines Scouts (Army)

 PS -- Pistol Sharpshooter (Army)

 PS -- Puget Sound

 PS -- Navy Yard Puget Sound

 PSandT -- Pay, Subsistence and Transportation

 PSCLA -- Petroleum Supply Committee for Latin America

 PSF -- Panama Sea Frontier

 PSF -- Parti Social Français

 PSF -- Philippine Sea Frontier

 P&SI -- Pay and Supply Instructions (USCG)

 PSL -- Photographic Science Laboratory

 PS&M -- Division of Personnel Supervision and Management of AstSecNav's Office; absorbed into SECP, 1944

 PSNCF -- Pacific Southern Naval Coastal Frontier

 P&SNP -- Pay and Subsistence of Naval personnel (appropriation title)

 PSNSY -- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard

 PSNYd -- Puget Sound Navy Yard

 PSO -- Political Survey Officers

 PSO -- Publicity Security Officer

 PSP -- Patrol Seaplane

 PS&T -- Pay, Subsistence and Transportation

 PS&TN -- Pay, Subsistence and Transportation, Navy

 PSTO -- Principal Sea Transport Offices

 PT -- Patrol Vessel, Motor Torpedo Boat

 PT -- Portsmouth Navy Yard

 PT -- Postal Telegraph Company

 PT -- Primary Target (Army)

 PTC -- Patrol Vessel, Motor Torpedo Boat, Submarine Chaser

 PTCAD -- Provisional Troop Carrier Airborne Division

 PTO -- Port Transportation Officer (Army)

 PRP -- Training and Procurement Division (USCG)

 PTR -- Painter

 PTR -- Patuxent River

 PtrV -- Painter, Aircraft

 PTSNH -- Portsmouth, New Hampshire

 PubInfo -- Office of Public Information; formerly, Office of Public Relations

 Publ -- Publications

 Pub Wks -- Public Works

 PUC -- Port Utilization Committee

 PUC -- Production Urgency Committee (WPB)

 PUG -- Puget Sound

*PUR -- Purchase(ing)

 Pur -- Pursuant

*PUR -- Pursuit

 Purif -- Purification

 PURS -- Pursuit

 PV -- Public voucher

 PV-1 -- "Ventura"; twin-engine Navy patrol-bomber(VPB(HL)), landplane, manufactured by Vega

 PV-2 -- "Harpoon"; twin-engine Navy Patrol-bomber (VPB(ML)), landplane, manufactured by Lockheed

 PV-3 -- "Ventura"; twin-engine Navy patrol-bomber (VPB(ML)), manufactured by Lockheed

 P2V-2 -- "Neptune"; twin-engine Navy patrol-bomber (VPB(HL)), landplane, manufactured by Lockheed

 Pvt -- Private

 P&W -- Pratt and Whitney (airplane engine)

 PW -- Prisoner of War

 PW -- Public Works

 PWA -- Public Works Administration

 PWB -- Psychological Warfare Branch (AFHQ)

 PWB -- Pulling Whaleboat

 PWC -- Pacific War Council

 PWD -- Psychological Warfare Division

 PWD -- Public Works Department

#PWDEPT -- Public Works Department

 P2Y-2-3 -- Twin-engine Navy patrol, sesquiplane (VF), manufactured by Consolidated

 P4Y-1 -- Twin-engine Navy patrol plane (VP), monoplane, manufactured by Consolidated

 PWE -- Political Warfare Executive (GB)

 PWE -- Political Warfare Executive Middle East (GB)

 PWO -- Public Works Office(r)

#PWOF -- Public Works Officer

 PK -- Press

 PX -- Post Exchange (USMC) (Army)

 PXO -- Prospective Executive Officer

 PY -- Patrol Vessel, Yacht

 PYc -- Patrol Vessel, Yacht, Coastal

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Navy Numbers