Eli5: Why are weapons(guns, tanks, some planes) named with numbers and letters?
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The military is obsessed with using codenames, acronyms, and designations.
Virtually everything in the military arsenal has an associated Letter/number designation.
This is in part to make specific pieces of equipment and models easy to identify, codify, requisition, and shout on a radio. IE to simplify logistics.
One theory goes that when using said designations on captured paperwork or on open radio the enemy would have a more difficult time identifying what you are talking out. But most of these designations are so common place and stamped on everything that this is basically non-sense.
These days using designations for stuff in the Army is part tradition, and part them just being pedantic.
An M-16 simply means Model-16
While with planes the designation C means Cargo, F means Fighter, A is Attack, B is bomber, but the lines are blurred these days because most planes like the F-18, F-16, and F-35 are multi-role.
My Dad once complained that he was ordered to carry several LVS’s up north on a cargo plane. LVS stood for Light Vehicle Snow… “Just call it a snowmobile!”
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