ATT Tau Empire Unit Designation System
The following have been compiled by Doombringer
Italics denote 'Unofficial' ATT Canon
XV-88-2
[Unit Type]
[Equipment/Vehicle]
XV is the designation for a Battlesuit. (XV-8 Crisis Suit)
TX is the designation for a Skimmer. (TX-4 Piranha)
AX is the designation for an Aircraft. (AX-1-0 Tigershark)
DX is the designation for a Drone. (DX-4 Technical Drone)
SX is the designation for a Naval Space Craft. (SX-58 Gal'leath "Explorer" Battleship)
[Weaponry]
PX is the designation for Plasma Weaponry. (PX-16 Pulse Rifle, PX-38 Plasma Rifle)
RX is the designation for Rail Weaponry. (RX-38 Battlesuit Railgun)
IX is the designation for Ion Weaponry. (IX-88 Naval-Grade Ion Beam)
FX is the designation for Fusion Weaponry. (FX-28 Fusion Blaster)
MX is the designation for General Explosive Munitions. (MX-03 Photon/Sonic Grenade)
GX is the designation for General Projectile Munitions. (GX-13 Grenade Launcher)
SMX is the designation for Self-Propelled Missile Systems. (SMX-38 Missile Pod)
LX is the designation for Laser-based Equipment and/or Weaponry. (LX-14 Markerlight)
[Mass Class]
The first number following the Unit Type is the Mass Class of the piece of equipment. This number ranges from 0 to 9.
[Equipment/Vehicles]
There are no dedicated values or ratios to each Mass Class that we know of - they are simply numeric representations of the size of a piece of equipment compared to other equipment of the same Unit Type.
[Weaponry]
In the case of weaponry, the Mass Class can be described as follows;
0 - Infantry-Level Variant (Small) - Variant is a small, primarily single-handed piece of equipment. (Grenade, Tracker/Surveyor)
1 - Infantry-Level Variant (Medium/Large) - Variant is a medium/large-sized, primarily two-handed piece of equipment. (Pulse Pistol, Pulse Rifle, Missile Launcher)
2 - Light Battlesuit/Exoskeletal Variant - Variant is mounted on a light battlesuit or load-bearing device/mount. (XV15's Burst Cannon)
3 - Battlesuit-Mounted/Attached Powersource Variant - Variant is mounted on a Battlesuit of Mass Class 2 or higher and/or has its own integrated powersource. (XV25's Fusion Blaster, XV8's Missile Pod, XV9's Phased Ion Gun)
4 - Vehicle-Mounted Secondary/Defense Variant - Variant is mounted on a vehicle or powered turret for use in a Secondary/Low Power Defensive Role. (Devilfish Burst Cannon Turret)
5 - Vehicle-Mounted Primary/Offense Variant - Variant is mounted on a vehicle or powered turret for us in a Primary/High Power Offensive Role. (Hammerhead Railgun)
6 - Light Aircraft-Mounted Variant - Variant is mounted on a light aircraft of Mass Class 3 or lower and can be used in either an offensive or defensive role. (Barracuda Ion Cannon, Tigershark Railgun)
7 - Heavy Aircraft-Mounted Variant - Variant is mounted on a heavy aircraft of Mass Class 4 or higher and can be used in either an offensive or defensive role. (Orca Missile Pods, Manta Rail Cannons)
8 - Naval-Grade Weaponry - Variant is mounted on a Kor Starship for use in naval or planetary engagements (Gravitic Torpedo Launcher, Naval-Grade Ion Cannon)
[Role Type]
The second number following the Unit Type is the equipment's specific Role Type. This number can be 1 - 9 (Decimal) or 1 - 11 (Octal). There can sometimes be two Role Type designations back-to-back in rare circumstances to better specify the specific item's distinct role on the battlefield.
Where a weapon would normally be "multi-purpose" in nature, the designation would fall under what the weapon would be primarily designed to combat.
[Equipment/Vehicles]
[Weaponry]
The Equipment/Vehicle and Weaponry Role Types can be described as one of the following;
1 - Unique - Variant is not widespread nor being considered for mass production. (XV-81 SMS-Equipped Battlesuit)
2 - Prototype/Pre-Production - Variant is a prototype being considered for mass production. (XV-22 Prototype-Chassis Battlesuit, RX-182 Prototype Linear Accelerator Rifle)
3 - Utility - Variant is a Utility Design meant to be utilized in an auxiliary or supporting role, not to be confused with a piece of equipment with no designation meant to be utilized in a multi-purpose role and reconfigured. (PX-13 Pulse Pistol, TX-63 Casevac Devilfish)
4 - Target Acquisition/Command & Control - Variant is utilized in a Target Acquisition/Designation or Battlefield Coordination role (XV-84 Target Designation Battlesuit, LX-142 Markerlight Target Designator)
5 - Stealth/Recon/Surveillance - Variant is utilized in a Stealth, Reconnaissance, and/or Surveillance role, often equipped with a Stealth Field Generator and advanced sensors. (XV-25 Stealth Suit, SFX-15 Stealth Field Generator)
6 - Anti-Personnel/Small Target - Variant is designed to engage enemy infantry and heavy infantry formations or otherwise relative Small Targets. (TX-76-2 Hammerhead Gunship, PX-16 Pulse Rifle)
7 - Anti-Air/Indirect Fire - Variant is designed to engage enemy targets at long (often beyond visual) ranges with anti-air, anti-armor, or anti-personnel weaponry. (TX-77 Sky Ray Missile Defense Gunship)
8/10 - Anti-Armor/Large Target - Variant is designed as either a Heavy-Variant version of another piece of equipment, to be utilized in an Anti-Tank/Materiel Role, or to engage relative Large Targets. (PX-18 Burst Cannon, XV-88 Broadside Battlesuit)
9/11 - Armored/Shielded/Defensive - Variant is designed as an Armored- or Shielded-Variant version of another piece of equipment or to be utilized in a Defensive Role. (DX-39 Shield Drone, XV-89 Iridium-Armored Battlesuit)
[Multiple Number]
When two designations for a piece of equipment should overlap due to similar design intents/purposes or mass classes, the Tau add a Multiple Number to the designation to help de-conflict them, ultimately preventing confusion and helping to promote accuracy in terminology.
A number may denote an alternate chassis in the same mass class (usually a '0' in this instance) or an alternate version of equipment with the same role type or chassis itself (1, 2, 3, ...).
Unit Designation Catalog
[Equipment/Vehicles]
XV - Battlesuits
XV-1 - Powered Exoskeletal Chassis 1
XV-12-4 - Prototype Target-Acquisition/Support Battlesuit
XV-15 - Stealthsuit
XV-2 - Powered Exoskeletal Chassis 2
XV-22 - Prototype Command-Variant Battlesuit
XV-23 - Fio Utility/Lifter Battlesuit
XV-25 - Stealthsuit
XV-8 - Standard 'Crisis' Pattern Battlesuit Chassis (Fireknife Pattern, Firestorm Pattern, Deathrain Pattern)
XV-81 - Unique-Variant Battlesuit (SMS-Equipped in IA3)
XV-82 - Prototype Crisis Battlesuit
XV-83 - Extra-Vehicular Activity Boarding Action Battlesuit
XV-84 - Target-Acquisition Battlesuit
XV-85 - Stealthsuit
XV-88 - Heavy/Anti-Armor 'Broadside' Battlesuit
XV-89 - Iridium-Armored Battlesuit
XV-9 - Standard 'Hazard' Pattern Battlesuit Chassis
XV-92 - Prototype Hazard Battlesuit
TX - Skimmer
TX-1 - Skimmer Bike Chassis
TX-13 - Utility Skimmer Bike
TX-2 - Tetra Skimmer Chassis
TX-24 - Pathfinder Target Designation/Reconnaissance Tetra
TX-4 - Piranha Skimmer Chassis
TX-42 - Prototype Up-Armored Piranha Skimmer
TX-6 - Devilfish Skimmer Chassis
TX-63 - Casevac Devilfish
TX-65 - Stealth-Variant Devilfish Transport
TX-66 - Anti-Personnel-Variant "Warfish" Transport
TX-7 - Hammerhead/Sky Ray Gunship Chassis
TX-72 - Prototype Swordfish Fire Support Gunship
TX-72-2 - Prototype Stingray Missile Defense Gunship
TX-76 - Ion Cannon-Variant Hammerhead
TX-76-2 - Plasma Cannon-Variant Hammerhead
TX-76-3 - Burst Cannon-Variant Hammerhead
TX-77 - Sky Ray Missile Defense Gunship
TX-78 - Railgun-Variant Hammerhead
TX-78-2 - Missile Pod-Variant Hammerhead
TX-78-3 - Fusion Cannon-Variant Hammerhead
TX-8 - Cargo/Tow Hauler Chassis
TX-83 - Vehicle Recovery Hauler
AX - Aircraft
AX-1 - Barracuda Chassis
AX-1-0 - Light Tigershark Chassis
AX-18-0 - Railgun-Variant Tigershark
AX-2 - Heavy Tigershark (Drone-Carrier) Chassis
AX-2-2 - Heavy Tigershark (Remora-Carrier)
AX-23-2 - Heavy Command & Control Tigershark (Remora-Carrier)
AX-4 - Orca Chassis
AX-43 - Casevac/Cargo Orca
AX-48 - Scorpionfish Missile Gunship
AX-6 - Moray Chassis
AX-68 - Moray Gunship
AX-7 - Dorsal Chassis
AX-78 - Dorsal Heavy Bomber
AX-8 - Manta Chassis
AX-83 - Manta Missile Destroyer Dropship Variant
AX-83-2 - Command & Control Manta (Remora Carrier)
AX-88 - Manta Missile Destroyer Dedicated Anti-Shipping Variant
DX - Drone
DX-1 - Common Multi-Purpose Drone Chassis 1
DX-13 - Comm/Messenger Drone
DX-2 - Common Multi-Purpose Drone Chassis 2
DX-24 - Sentry/Observation Drone
DX-3 - Common Multi-Purpose Drone Chassis 3
DX-33 - Command Drone
DX-34 - Markerlight/Target-Acquisition Drone
DX-36 - Gun Drone
DX-38 - Sniper Drone
DX-39 - Shield Drone
DX-4 - Common Multi-Purpose Drone Chassis 4
DX-43 - Battlefield Technical/Utility Drone
DX-5 - Common Multi-Purpose Drone Chassis 5
DX-56 - Heavy Gun Drone
DX-6 - Remora Drone Chassis
DX-65 - Remora Stealth Fighter
DX-8 - Common Multi-Purpose Drone Chassis 8
DX-84 - Orbital Observation/Reconnaissance Drone Satellite
SX - Naval Space Craft
SX-0 - Lifepods, Support/Boarding Craft, Attack Craft
SX-03 - Support/Repair 'Tug'
SX-06 - Barracuda Fighter Craft (Naval-Variant)
SX-06-2 - Se'hen Boarding Pod
SX-08 - Manta Missile Destroyer (Naval-Variant)
SX-1 - Gunship/Destroyer Displacement Space Craft
SX-16 - Kass'l "Orca" Gunship
SX-16-2 - Kir'la "Warden" Gunship
*SX-16NIC - Nicassar Auxiliary Dhow
SX-2 - Escort/Frigate Displacement Space Craft
SX-23 - Il'emaar "Courier" Transport
SX-26 - Skether'qan "Messenger" Escort
SX-28 - Kir'qath "Defender" Escort
SX-28-2 - Kir'shas'vre "Castellan" Escort
SX-3 - Light Cruiser Displacement Space Craft
SX-33 - Il'fannor "Merchant" Transport
SX-33-2 - Il'fannor "Merchant" Up-Armored Heavy Transport
SX-33-3 - Il'Porrui "Emissary" Utility Envoy
SX-36-2 - Il'Porrui "Emissary" Light Cruiser
SX-4 - Cruiser Displacement Space Craft
SX-48 - Lar'shi "Hero" Cruiser
SX-48-2 - Lar'shi'vre "Protector" Cruiser
*SX-43DEM - Demiurg Auxiliary 'Bastion' Commerce Vessel
SX-5 - Grand Cruiser/Light Battleship Displacement Space Craft
SX-55-2 - Stealth-Variant "Custodian" Carrier
SX-58 - Gal'leath "Explorer" Battleship
SX-58-2 - Or'es El'leath "Custodian" Carrier
SX-6 - Battleship Displacement Space Craft
*SX-68KRT - Kroot Auxiliary Warsphere
*SX-63DEM-2 - Demiurg Auxiliary 'Stronghold' Commerce Vessel
SX-7 - Interplanetary/Interstellar Space Stations
SX-73 - Utility Waystation
SX-74 - Vash'aun'an Monitor Waystation
SX-79 - Picket Outpost/Defensive Waystation
SX-8 - Planetary Orbitals and Other Installations
SX-81 - [Entry Deleted - Classified]
SX-83 - Kidou'tokai Orbital City/Manufacturing/Docking Platform
SX-89 - Anzen'dan Planetary Defense/Security Orbital
[Weaponry]
PX - Directed Plasma Weaponry
PX-0 - Infantry-Level Plasma Weapon
PX-03 - Infantry-Level Plasma Cutter
PX-06 - Compact Utility Pulse Pistol
PX-1 - Infantry-Level Plasma Weapon
PX-12 - Prototype Scatter-Pulse Carbine (Pulse Shotgun)
PX-12-1 - Prototype Infantry-Level Plasma Rifle
PX-14 - Markerlight-Equipped Pulse Carbine/Rifle
PX-16 - Pulse Rifle
PX-16-0 - Standard Utility Pulse Pistol
PX-16-1 - Pulse Carbine
PX-16-2 - Infantry-Level Burst Cannon
*PX-16KRT - Kroot Auxiliary Rifle (Upgraded)
*PX-16-1NAG - Naga Auxiliary Pulse Carbine
PX-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Plasma Weapon
PX-26 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Burst Cannon
PX-22 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Prototype Plasma Rifle
PX-3 - Battlesuit-Mounted Plasma Weapon
PX-36 - Battlesuit-Mounted Burst Cannon
PX-36-2 - Battlesuit-Mounted Dual Burst Cannon
PX-38 - Battlesuit-Mounted Plasma Rifle
PX-4 - Vehicle-Mounted Secondary/Defensive Plasma Weapon
PX-46 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Defensive Burst Cannon
PX-5 - Vehicle-Mounted Primary/Offensive Plasma Weapon
PX-56 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Offensive Burst Cannon
PX-58 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Offensive Plasma Cannon
PX-6 - Light Aircraft-Mounted Plasma Weapon
PX-66 - Turret/Light Aircraft-Mounted Burst Cannon
PX-7 - Heavy Aircraft-Mounted Plasma Weapon
PX-76 - Turret/Orca-Mounted Defensive Burst Cannon
PX-76-2 - Turret/Moray/Manta-Mounted Long-Barrelled Burst Cannon
RX - Linear Accelerator Rail Weaponry
RX-1 - Infantry-Level Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-12 - Prototype Rail Rifle
RX-12-2 - Rail Pistol (Research Discontinued)
RX-16 - Anti-Personnel Rail Rifle
RX-16-2 - Drone-Mounted Anti-Personnel Rail Rifle
RX-16-3 - Enhanced-Capacitor Prototype Rail Rifle
RX-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-22 - Prototype Anti-Light Vehicle Rail Rifle
RX-26 - Anti-Personnel Rail Rifle
RX-3 - Battlesuit-Mounted Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-32 - Prototype Battlesuit-Mounted Anti-Personnel Rail Rifle
RX-38 - Broadside-Mounted Anti-Tank/Air Railgun
RX-5 - Vehicle-Mounted Primary/Offensive Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-58 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Anti-Tank Railgun
RX-6 - Light Aircraft-Mounted Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-68 - Turret/Tigershark-Mounted Light Rail Cannon
RX-7 - Heavy Aircraft-Mounted Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-78 - Turret/Manta-Mounted Naval-Grade Heavy Rail Cannon
RX-8 - Naval-Grade Linear Accelerator Weapon
RX-88 - Linear Accelerator Gravitic Torpedo Launcher
IX - Ion-Based Beam/Cannon Weapon
IX-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Ion Weapon
IX-22 - Prototype Light Battlesuit-Mounted Cyclic Ion Blaster
IX-3 - Battlesuit-Mounted Ion Weapon
IX-32 - Prototype Battlesuit-Mounted Cyclic Ion Blaster
IX-36 - Battlesuit-Mounted Phased Ion Gun
IX-5 - Vehicle-Mounted Primary/Offensive Ion Weaponry
IX-56 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Ion Cannon
IX-6 - Light Aircraft-Mounted Ion Weapon
IX-67 - Turret/Barracuda-Mounted Anti-Air Ion Cannon
IX-66 - Turret/Tigershark-Mounted Ground Attack Ion Cannon
IX-7 - Heavy Aircraft-Mounted Ion Weapon
IX-78 - Turret/Moray/Manta-Mounted Heavy Ion Cannon (Phalanx System)
IX-8 - Naval-Grade Ion Weapon
IX-88 - Naval-Grade Anti-Ship Ion Cannon
FX - Directed Thermal Weaponry
FX-1 - Infantry-Level Thermal Weapon
FX-13 - Infantry-Level Fusion Cutter
FX-16 - Infantry-Level Flamethrower
FX-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Thermal Weapon
FX-22 - Prototype XV-15-Mounted Light Fusion Blaster
FX-23 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Fusion Cutter
FX-26 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Flamethrower
FX-26-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Heavy Flamethrower
FX-28 - XV-25-Mounted Fusion Blaster
FX-3 - Battlesuit-Mounted Thermal Weapon
FX-33 - Battlesuit-Mounted Fusion Cutter
FX-36 - Battlesuit-Mounted Flamethrower
FX-36-2 - Battlesuit-Mounted Heavy Flamethrower
FX-38 - Battlesuit-Mounted Fusion Blaster
FX-38-2 - Battlesuit-Mounted Fusion Cascade
FX-4 - Vehicle-Mounted Secondary/Defensive Thermal Weapon
FX-43 - Defensive Incendiary Flechette Discharger
FX-48 - Piranha-Mounted Fusion Blaster
FX-5 - Vehicle-Mounted Primary/Offensive Thermal Weapon
FX-58 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Fusion Cannon
MX - General Explosive Munitions
MX-0 - One-Handed Infantry-Thrown Grenade
MX-02 - Plasma Grenade
MX-03 - Photon/Sonic Grenade
MX-03-2 - Electro-Magnetic Pulse Grenade
MX-03-3 - Smoke Grenade
MX-04 - IR Rad-Beacon Grenade
MX-06 - Fragmentation Grenade
MX-08 - Shas'tak (Thermite) Grenade
MX-1 - Infantry-Set/Placed Explosives
MX-13 - Breaching Charge
MX-15 - "Gue'ka" Dual-Purpose Mine
MX-18 - Demolitions Charge
MX-18-2 - Plasma Charge
MX-8 - Naval-Grade Explosives
MX-6 - Orbital Launched Planetary Area Denial Explosive
MX-8 - Thermonuclear Area Denial Explosive
GX - General Projectile Weaponry
GX-1 - Infantry-Level General Projectile Weapon
GX-13 - Grenade Launcher
GX-16 - Directed Flechette Discharger (Shotgun)
*GX-16GUE - Gue'la Auxiliary Automatic Rifle
*GX-16KRT - Kroot Auxiliary Rifle (Standard)
GX-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted General Projectile Weapon
GX-22 - Prototype Light Battlesuit-Mounted Airbursting Fragmentation Projector
GX-3 - Battlesuit-Mounted General Projectile Weapon
GX-32 - Prototype Airbursting Fragmentation Projector
GX-32-2 - Prototype Battlesuit-Mounted Flechette Discharger
GX-36 - Battlesuit-Mounted Pulse Submunitions Rifle
*GX-38KRT - Kroot Auxiliary Cannon
GX-4 - Vehicle-Mounted Secondary/Defensive Projectile Weapon
GX-46 - Defensive Flechette Dischargers
*GX-46GUE - Modified Battlesuit-Mounted Gue'la Auxiliary Automatic Cannon
SMX - Self-Propelled Missile Systems
SMX-1 - Infantry-Level Missile System
SMX-12 - Prototype Infantry-Level Anti-Tank Missile Pod
SMX-2 - Light Battlesuit-Mounted Missile System
SMX-22 - Prototype Light Battlesuit-Mounted Missile Pod
SMX-3 - Battlesuit-Mounted Missile System
SMX-32 - Prototype Battlesuit-Mounted Anti-Air Missile System
SMX-36 - Battlesuit-Mounted Smart Missile System
SMX-38 - Battlesuit-Mounted Missile Pod
SMX-4 - Vehicle-Mounted Secondary/Defensive Missile System
SMX-46 - Turret/Vehicle-Mounted Smart Missile System
SMX-5 - Vehicle-Mounted Primary/Offensive Missile System
SMX-57 - Long-Range Seeker Missile
SMX-57-2 - Anti-Aircraft Hunter Missile
SMX-58 - Turret/Vehicle Mounted Missile Pod Array
SMX-6 - Light Aircraft-Mounted Missile System
SMX-67 - Long-Range Air-to-Ground Seeker Missile
SMX-67-2 - Air-to-Air Interceptor Missile
SMX-68 - Turret/Barracuda/Tigershark-Mounted Missile Pod Array
SMX-7 - Heavy Aircraft-Mounted Missile System
SMX-76 - Submunitions Missile
SMX-76-2 - Heavy Submunitions Missile
SMX-77 - Long-Range Air-to-Ground Seeker Missile
SMX-77-2 - Air-to-Air Interceptor Missile
SMX-78 - Air-to-Ground Tracer Missile
SMX-8 - Naval-Grade Missile System
SMX-88 - Gravitic Tracer Missile
EX - General Energy-Based Weaponry
EX-1 - Infantry-Level General Energy-Based Weapon
*EX-16VSP - Vespid Neutron Blaster
LX - Laser-Based Weaponry/Targeting Systems
LX-1 - Infantry-Level Laser-Based Weapon/Targeter
LX-14 - Markerlight Target Designator
*LX-16GUE - Gue'la Auxiliary Laser Rifle
*LX-18GUE - Gue'la Auxiliary Laser Cannon
Disclaimer: Please note that this isn't official canon, but instead a collaborative effort on the part of ATT's Membership to come up with a reasonable and relatively easy-to-understand method for classifying and naming Tau weaponry, based on many factors ranging from ease-of-use, logic, and common sense.
Many thanks to everyone who participated in the Challenge Thread, especially falconkline, XV-02, and ProfessorCurly for their efforts and time spent helping all of ATT's membership have a common scheme which aspiring fluff-writers can use if they ever feel the need to in their work.
Where conflict occurred in the suggestions provided in the original thread, I have made the final ruling for or against and included it within.
Where work is italicized, it is a purely unofficial ATT canon. As always, this is a WIP as long as Games Workshop continues to release fluff and information for the Tau, and I will always be open to questions, comments, suggestions, and criticism here in this thread or through PM.
Hope this helps!
~Doomie