[Military 101] NATO Unit Counters - Niehorster Dialect

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--Sources--
-Websites & Links-
Niehorster - Military Organization Symbols Key
niehorster.org/000_admin/009_s...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_Jo...
--Credits & Special Thanks--
The Counter-Design is heavily inspired by Black ICE Mod for the game Hearts of Iron 3 by Paradox Interactive
forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...
--Song---
Ethan Meixsell - Demilitarized Zone (the Irony :D)

[@ThZuao]

How to remember the artillery unit symbol: Cannonball. Come on... You got the hard one that's the crossed bandoliers.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

exactly, it is complicated enough I can figure it out, too obvious stuff, nope.

[@Palermonen]

@@MilitaryHistoryVisualized For me the dot is what you see when you look into the gun. Loud end pointing to the viewer. All you see is the round barrel.

[@HaruhiisWaifu]

"So here, we have a artillery HQ unit." Yeah, I'm with you. *Throws in a wheel symbol "And here we have a transport unit." WHOA I WAS NOT TAUGHT THIS 2 SECONDS AGO, I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS 0/10

[@simonrival1613]

As a combat engineer, I can confirm it is definitely the latter of the two options.

[@helpiamstuckonthismanshead3385]

How is life there?

[@solwen]

@@helpiamstuckonthismanshead3385Can you capture ennemy buildings by entering them ?

[@helpiamstuckonthismanshead3385]

@@solwen you have to clear out the enemy then it is catered why?

[@solwen]

@@helpiamstuckonthismanshead3385 I was asking the combat engineer sorry.

[@helpiamstuckonthismanshead3385]

@@solwen maybe

[@MesserMorfeo]

I always interpreted the artillery symbol as a cannonball.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

well, and you are probably right! I guess sometimes a cannonball was not complicated enough for my perception processor :D

[@lubey111]

And the anti-aircraft symbol looks like a big 'A' to me.

[@konstancemakjaveli]

+Military History Visualized did you forget to turn off that german logic chip in your brain when you came back to Austria?

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

lol, yeah it is an A :D that is way too obvious :D

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

nope, but German logic demands that if there is an overly complicated way to do something it is still logical... ;)

[@MrMstr]

You had me laughing at "everything needs to be correct and in order" jawohl!

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

:)

[@jasonjoyce107]

Unlike the current spare parts inventory of the Luftwafe, Deutsche Marine and Bundeswehr. #don'ttellPutin

[@jeova0sanctus0unus]

"So we combine the Infantry and the Tank symbol..." me: "sooo... space marines?"

[@derrickmabbott9095]

Hi MHV, a small correction from a tea-drinker: we use the term "regiment" for battalion, and "Brigade" for regiments. Just because we can. Love your work!!!

[@peterk2455]

Regt can refer to individually named units, particularly very old County or City regiments, such as the ABC Exeter Regt, although it may only be of Bttn size. In addition Artillery units larger than Battery (equal in organisational size to a Company) are called Regiment

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

thank you! well, it really depends on the time / unit etc. : see here kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2amnZtreJhre8k

[@Xenonfastfall]

+peter kuhn that or the RTR right?

[@blakewinter1657]

The anti-aircraft unit symbol looks like a capital letter 'A' to me, which makes it easy to remember in English: 'Anti-Aircraft.' Similarly the engineer symbol is easy to remember in English, since it is an 'E' for 'Engineer.'

[@jastermereel4946]

yeah it's almost like the people who made these up were english speakers who didn't gaf about anyone else lol

[@VineFynn]

@@jastermereel4946 except both of them can be easily interpreted without letters.. I'm an english speaker and assuming they are letters is not helpful. "A" could stand for armour or artillery or amphibious.

[@Seriona1]

@@jastermereel4946 well it makes sense. At the end of WWII, all of the Allies in the west were either using US or British equipment.

[@Andy-wc5xw]

great video, well done. now we only need a symbol for war elephants

[@saltofpetra-4502]

Just add the heavy tank stripe to the cav.

[@saltofpetra-4502]

And for dragons, add in airborne symbol.

[@WildBillCox13]

Nice

[@Condobius]

Did you come from the "Battle of Zama video too? Lol

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

No, that would be pegasi. :p

[@dedvzer]

Would join the armored navy cavalry

[@QemeH]

The "navy" part would just modify the shape (would not be a box anymore) - or do you mean marine armored cavalry? That's called Amphibious Assault Vehicles and has it's own symbol ;)

[@TribuneAquila]

Amphibious/Airborne Armoured Assault Recon Engineer Btn. Or Army Group pick your fancy

[@artruisjoew5473]

So marine armored reconnaissance?

[@dedvzer]

@@artruisjoew5473 I was probably thinking about a flock of seahorses, but yes, all of these answers make definite sense.

[@TheImperatorKnight]

Fantastic guide, very helpful. The Niehorster Dialect is the better one. However, my issue with NATO counters is with the unit size indicators. Maybe it's just me, but when you look at a map with lots of NATO counters on them, it can be difficult to distinguish the unit sizes at a glance, even with the indicators present. This video's come at the perfect time as I'm currently in need of a better way of distinguishing unit sizes so that the average viewer can visually see the difference. You don't happen to have any suggestions?

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

thank you. Well, I actually mixed up the size indicator a few times myself. Since the dot takes more space than the X and I it is a bit counter intuitive, probably the best would be I, +, * (the last should be an X merged with a +) I guess that would be a bit more intuitive. Or just a long bar with several rectangles that are filled up or not. I guess the basic principle should be: more color/space means bigger size. Thus, another would be empty boxes, half filled boxed, full boxes.

[@RogerCillion]

I would say its all about the zoom / level of detail. At the devision level, there is not much need to view the batallions. But ofc there is always understrengthened divisions spread around doing various tasks... but then its a matter of who organizes what. A division is formed to work together, and not separated. Here is where SNAFU and FUBAR comes... even for an armchair general.

[@MemeMarine]

make them physically bigger

[@wojtekimbier]

Under a historical battles channel video, in the comment section, there was a person who literally asked if the video maker copied HistoriaCivilis, because he used the same symbols for units on the map *sigh*

[@wojtekimbier]

I should sent that commenter a link to this video

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

yeah, also the NATO Standard to a certain degree was used even before NATO as far as I know.

[@TribuneAquila]

All hail, the Red Square, Caesar!

[@mutantmacrophage6653]

The artillery symbol is clearly just someone standing infront of an arty barrel and staring into the dark, black abyss while the barrel also stares back.

[@simonk.6349]

Mutant Macrophage Nietzche? Is that you?

[@lbh002]

Or maybe a cannon ball?

[@maxsmodels]

I thought of the dot on the artillery unit as being a cannonball.

[@ZeAngrySnowmongol]

I have to admit, when I was in military I had a bit of trouble unterstanding this. But Sir u made same in aprox 6min that took Finnish army reserv officer school 2h+ class and I didn't get them after that either XD

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

thank you!

[@kokofan50]

Nice to understand the meaning of some the symbols on my mom and dad's old patches.

[@theodurnayne3874]

lol "not naming any names..." the question mark has a stahlhelm in it... i wonder who it is...

[@chiliprepper7678]

Theodur Nayne I had to go back and look for the Stahlhelm. 🇩🇪 good catch.

[@vdotme]

His wit and playfulness were set to max for this one. Lmao!

[@cagdas135]

I knew most of this thanks to HOI3.

[@seanshin1615]

For me HOI4

[@RexOedipus.]

@@seanshin1615 hoi doesn't use nato counters.

[@szampon.1145]

Cedie Austria You can Turyn NATO symbole im options

[@cstgraphpads2091]

The shape for tank units is something like a rectangular ellipse.

[@Toratchi888]

Yeah, lozenge or ellipse are are both feasible.

[@cade6132]

I really appreciate your videos Military History Visualized, and I acknowledge how hard it is to make these videos. Every video you make not only teaches me something, but it makes me even more interested in history.

[@leflamewolf]

HOLY CRAP FINNALY I have been on a hunt for a video like this because I've been watching a lot of history videos lately and while I know what a few of these symbols meant I needed this

[@drcommunist0074]

I love you videos! they bring a smile to my face, because I am currently going to school to get my degree in military history. They are also a good way to get my grandfather to talk about his old ww2 stories as a Fallschirmjager.

[@drcommunist0074]

+Seth Hamilton its just a name.

[@drcommunist0074]

+Seth Hamilton its just a name.

[@drcommunist0074]

+Seth Hamilton its just a name.

[@Paddy-zn4oo]

Fuck off commie. Go back to your own country.

[@drcommunist0074]

mmm ok? I was born in the United States of America. In San Antonio, Texas... so thanks for the advice and tbh with you, its just a fucking screen name that I use to play Project Reality.

[@theblekedet6467]

i really like this vid! your explanation combined with some humor really works well :D

[@RemusKingOfRome]

Those symbols remind me of the old PC game - Waterloo by Dr. Peter Turcan, where units were rectangular blocks with those symbols on top.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

yeah, one of the main problem is that nearly everyone uses the standard with slight adaptions, if you look at my early I have quite some inconsistencies. So far the only fully-documented variant that includes WW2 units is the Niehorster "dialect", which I use now, but even that has no icon for mines if I didn't miss it.

[@TheRagingStorm98]

This was really interesting. really enjoyed learning about this. It was presented simply enough so that anyone can pick up on it easily.

[@ProudToBeNoob]

Great video, superbly clear explanation! It would be awesome if you were able to do the same thing for warsaw pact counters. It has always interested me to know how they work.

[@MarcScholtemeijer]

Great video, awesome to see your channel growing this fast! :)

[@timothyhouse1622]

Anti Aircraft is an "A". Which is the letter needed to make AA. At least that is how I looked at it.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

but that is way too obvious :D

[@douglaspatterson127]

Another worthwhile video. Good work.

[@richardmyhan3369]

love your videos. please keep them coming.

[@jackofswords7]

As you may know. In British infantry units the regiment does not exist as a war fighting unit. So battalians make up a brigade. But in support arms eg artillary, engineers etc. they have no battalions. And a regiment is approximatly battalion size. Enjoyed as nearly always and the bit of humour too.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

hey, thanks, long time no see!

[@jackofswords7]

I have followed all your vids. But don't always feel knowledgeable enough to comment. But 9 X from 10 they get a thumbs up.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

thanks, good to know that you have my back :)

[@kevinesam]

As a future army officer I enjoy your channel quite a bit . Filled with great information. Thank you

[@callsignshulei229]

Did you do it?

[@SkokingProductions]

Damn right about the engineer.

[@yoandriperaza8556]

love ur videos man!!

[@tobiasbengtsson2112]

Thanks for making your videos

[@Toratchi888]

I'm going to be super nerdy and try to describe 2:20 in heraldic terms: "Party per bend sinister argent and sable." Normally heraldic *blazons* (descriptions) are italicized. The *field* is the central coloured part of the square (normally it would be a shield) where all the other "stuff" happens. The field is *divided* by a *bend* (diagonal); *sinister* means left, but from the shield-bearer's point of view, not the viewer's. *Tinctures* (colours) are mentioned only once in a blazon, and objects with the same colour are described together. The tinctures and divisions of the field start at the shield-bearer's *dexter* (right) side (viewer's left) and at the chief (top) edge, and run clockwise from the viewer's perspective (I believe). *Argent* is white or silver, *sable* is black. I believe a small, square, light flag for light-cavalry is a *guidon*. Heavy cavalry carry a *standard*.

[@jacobprotexter4593]

i would love to see a sequel to this video explaining the more uncommon and diverse insignia and symbols for other the counters

[@Slayer_Jesse]

5:51 M32 Tank Recovery Vehicley?

[@VladVlad-ul1io]

I THANK YOU for this presentation :D Very good job

[@parrot849]

Thank you for a most interesting video. A while back I was browsing through some military-related book catalog I had received in the post and came upon a selection entitled “military map symbols...etc.”. I sent away for it and when I received it was at least two inches thick!! It was a reproduction of 1960’s U.S. Army official publication. They had literally symbolized everything imaginable..., everything. After looking through this thing I don’t know how anyone could read a map if you didn’t have this army book next to you at all times. I just could imagine some squad leader in the field, under fire, trying to study his mud-splattered map and shaking his head trying to figure out what some weird obscure map symbol represented, which was the location he was receiving incoming fire.... “...well, my best guess Sarge, it’s either a reinforced band instrument repair platoon or motorized field library squad...”

[@Franz-141]

Awesome video! Keep going!

[@culturedape6087]

Nicely presented

[@williamtatcher6883]

This is literally, the channel I've always wanted. XD

[@AleraKira]

Humbug! Brit here, use our terminology! It's the only way that makes sense, right old boy? Har har! To the crumpets! Love your channel by the way!

[@Xenonfastfall]

Ask her majesty to release the shackles on Australia and Canada pls. Plssssss

[@AleraKira]

You can release them yourselves.

[@Perktube1]

I have no idea what a counter is or its function, but still found it entertaining.

[@podemosurss8316]

2:51 It also resembles a tank (without gun) looked from the air: the elipse in the middle would be the turret.

[@naylorunderwood3049]

"Joint" Chiefs of Staff. Love the subtle humor.

[@jeremysalkeld8742]

If I'm not mistaken "brigade" is used by the UK for regiment-sized units because infantry regiments can have indefinite battalions that are not required to serve in the same location, so battalions are grouped into brigades on the field.

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

Mostly because the regiment in Britain is a ceremonial classification, not an organisational one. That confused me for quite a while. Four battalions per brigade at the start of WW1, pared down to three at the end (except in Dominion expeditionary forces), three brigades per division, two or more divisions per corps, etc. The entire BEF in World War One, at its largest - probably the largest the British Army has ever been or ever will be - was never considered as more than ONE Army Group (though it should probably have been two, especially at the time of Passchendaele, when II and V Armies were up around Ypres and everyone else was somewhere else. Above Army Group, of course, is "Theatre" (European, Pacific, Western Desert, etc)... and since we have not yet fought off-planet, that's where it ends. For now, at least - see you in the year 40,000... ;)

[@Hero101010]

Great video as always! :)

[@WildBillCox13]

Another World Class (well-NATO Class) breakdown of important Military Concepts. Good work. I always viewed the ATG "V" as a split trail. Just a personal conceit.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

:D thank you!

[@MaxSluiman]

Very informative! Love your humour. Especially on cultures.

[@BloodyRedSquadron]

I do enjoy your humorous symbols and quips lol.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

thank you :)

[@robert506007]

Well Put Sir! Good video!

[@anonviewerciv]

1:08 I guess you could say that high command was suffering from blunt trauma.

[@sleepingcity85]

underrated

[@TheSonOfDumb]

Wow, I'm quite early this time. Great video as usual!

[@davidjarkeld2333]

Thank you, for such a useful video :)

[@tadeuszsa8314]

Such an awesome video

[@looinrims]

I figured the armored variants were about the tank itself, normal armor geometric shape thing (oval?) is the turret, where the SPGs line represents the fact that most SPGs are case matte, yeah? These things look so cool

[@robdmorton]

Loved this video

[@radsevstudios7665]

Very informative!

[@p_serdiuk]

Now it's time to start drawing the BEST and MOST LOGICAL organisational structures, lol :D Also, I think the assault gun symbol looks like the front of the vehicle itself. You have the upper and lower front armor and the gun barrel in the middle. Or, yeah, it's the struts supporting the gun and limiting its angles.

[@samoobrulj8289]

awsome video

[@podemosurss8316]

I remember that, when it comes to brigades, in Spain the difference between regiment and brigade is that a brigade is a bigger unit, often made out of a regiment plus one or two support battalions or, in some cases, two regiments.

[@IGfunGR]

Great video as always :) Will you be looking into more Cold War stuff? Like Soviet Motor Rifle tactics, the AirLand Battle concept etc.?

[@freedomisntfreeffs]

The track-shaped symbol (the one for tanks) is called a rounded rectangle or a 'race car track/racetrack'.

[@podemosurss8316]

2:57 It also looks like a tank turret (without the gun) if you are looking a tank from above.

[@Yogshugg]

This was quite interesting.

[@rasmuslindegaardchristense5809]

To be fair on the NATO symbols, the wavy line does not denote Marine but Amphibious. So something like a Sherman DD would be the wavy line under a tank symbol. The Anchor also exist in NATO, but denotes a Navy unit. There is also a symbol for marine units, which is SSS in the middle of the unit box. So something like a WWII LVT(A)-4 in NATO standard would be a wavy line under a tank symbol with SSS written inside the tank symbol.

[@ChocolateTerrain]

i've needed this video for so long xd

[@BRANFED]

i started to develop an adaptation of a game and developed a few of my own unit types.. Sci-fi game so i used nato, ww2, the game i based this game on , as well as made a few that are in the spirit of the nato counters

[@MikhaelAhava]

Brilliant video, glad I found this channel. Did you just mention a world of tanks player, in my eyes, that dot was a hole to a tank.

[@Nova-kq9ek]

gracias por el vide mate

[@ph5832]

1.You didn't include Glider Infantry ...even though it is obsolete ... or Air Assault (101st) 2.Also in the US the Infantry Symbol is explained as 'Cross Rifles' which is the branch insignia ... 3. Would have thought you may have included the Pioneer Units since that may be a tea and krut dringing/eating think ... just saying 4. Recommend reviewing Soviet/Russian unit structure (MRRs, ect) since the Cold War part 2 seems to be starting Great job as usual ....

[@copperhamster]

The shape you didn't know the name for on the tank symbol is in a category known as 'oblong' shapes, the 'best' term would be 'racetrack oblong'. (Oblong is a class of shapes that are longer than they are wide. Rectangles, ovals, and even egg and many irregular shapes are in the same family).

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

thanks!

[@harrywilson1660]

The name for that specific shape is a "stadium", for obvious reasons.

[@FuriKitten]

I always thought The Recon symbol, was Light Infantry / opposed to Line Infantry / Heavy Infantry. and that the AA symbol was just that An "A" Have also seen single double and triple dots for the type of motorised indicators as a means of denoting the degree of mobility / (roads only (limited general terrain)/ Some offroad capability / All Terrain )

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

some use the symbol also for light infantry. The main problem is that there are quite many version out there.

[@bellphorusnknight]

nice vid

[@Korporaal1]

I was taught that the symbol for light (recce) cavalry came from the sabre belt the cavalry men wore diagonally across their torso. Just like the two crossed ones for the infantry. Isn't that more obvious, a'la Occam's razor?

[@jamegumb880]

Ever considered a video on the different types of legions? Would be interesting to see what perks service in a (foreign) legion offered to draw people in. Today only the Spanish and French legions survive, and specifically comparing the 2 might be a very informative video of itself.

[@julien8629]

Thorouhgly interesting. Thank you!

[@eragonbaffel9518]

7:17 Würde empfehlen die kreise in das linke und rechte Dreieck zu packen da dan auf jedem kontrast das symbol besser erkannt wird.

[@jonathant2683]

Excellent video! Could you make one for Luftwaffe/contemporary air units?

[@SnjP3RDrjv3R]

I think 5:11 is inspired by the german engineers or "Pioniere" (and also some other countrys have this too ^^), which have a anchor (or some say hammer) in their symbol, so this would be an anchor ^^

[@XSpamDragonX]

The horizontal line in the assault gun symbol for me represents the horizontal direct fire of an assault gun.

[@SundiataWTF]

For the first time I think I'll be able to remember the NATO symbols. Thanks!

[@analysisofscifi6051]

cool vidoe

[@KazzoKiller3890]

the artillery emblem always reminded me of cannon shot like the napoleonic infantry emblems breast cross

[@JohnDoe-jq4re]

I served under Lt. Major Obvious at the last battle of Sarcasamlane

[@spidos1000]

I like the way you pronounce ''anchor''.

[@ExplodingBody]

"Ankör"

[@ndaver69]

I just would like to say that if I know right that the symbol of the infantry represents 2 crossed rifle, and if you think about it a lot of nations army use that crossed rifle symbol for them. And from this logic the recon units symbol represents a sword.

[@modisp]

Thanks. Great video. Never used symbols in HOI game, now I am ready to try :D

[@flapperf4237]

OMG! "Nations who have a tendency to drink tea" LMAO

[@juansbarra8012]

Good video (I guess its ment to be funny above all). But the FM 1-02 (pag. 5-6 and on) states that: Artillery is a cannonball, Engineers is a bridge, Anti-tank is an 'upside down V'(they really thought this one) , cavalry is a bandoleer.

[@kaustubhtalanki7545]

perfectly explained

[@sergitanderson7541]

Although not really present in WW2 AA-missiles would also be nice to have included esspecially since Wargame (RTS) does use NATO symbolds and up until now I was kinda puzzled how they come up with those symbols. That is why your video was very enlightening and made my live a hell of lot easier, not I just have to memorize it properly. Keep up the great work!

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

there is a symbol for rockets (two small ^) above an "artillery dot", not sure if NATO uses a special one for that, but you just could add that symbol to the A and be "ok".

[@Yes-sf5uu]

Pls make a separate vid for current NATO Symbols :)

[@MrFunscubadiver]

The Symbol for the Tanks is called Rennbahn in german

[@harrell5787]

its useful and many thanks for this lol

[@TheTerraImperator]

Damn, Hearts of Iron III and it's mod taught me a lot about counters :D

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

me too and without Black ICE there probably wouldn't be any org videos on this channel, cause BICE taught me: "you know nothing about division structures... " and I: "yeah, but I can read books!"

[@TheTerraImperator]

Military History Visualized Exactly. I especially liked all the organizational restructuing, such as adding supply trucks, different kinds of infantry, artillery, increasing the size of the infantry battalion, etc.

[@p_serdiuk]

Tbh, I thought Airborne would receive a stylized parachute indicator (a dome and three ropes) instead of wings, those are as underwhelming as that wavy thing for Marines in NATO dialect.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

that is because paras are quite subtle and silent before they kill everyone around them.

[@jeffreyhuang3814]

During Germany's campaign in Norway, their troops were reorganized into all-arms battle groups, each named for their commander. How would a all-arms corps be represented?