The "Löschgruppenfahrzeug" is the basic term for the standard engine in Germany and Austria. It is basically a combination of the words for extinguish ("Löschen"), group ("Gruppe") and vehicle ("Fahrzeug"). This is because they are meant for the original intention of fire services, to extinguish fires, and the staffing by a group. "Gruppe" stands specifically for the standard tactical unit of nine firefighter, with one of them being the group leader ("Gruppenführer"). Due to the fact, that especially at professionally staffed fire services the standard ist below that, the term 'gruppe' can be eliminated, so it is an "Löschfahrzeug" only. Abbreviation for both is LF.
They originally have been equipped with firefighting materials and a built-in pump. Today most have a tank, too. The specific type is derived from tank size and pump power, each in litres divided by 100. So the LF 16/12, a long time heavy used type, has a pump capable of 1600 litres/min and a tank of 1200 litres. Other standardized types were LF 8 (without tank), LF 8/6, LF 10/6 and LF 20/16. There have been units without the tank size before (LF 16 and LF 24), which has been picked up again for the today standardized types of LF 10 and LF 20.
Because of more powerful chassis it was possible to load more and more rescue utilities on the "Löschfahrzeuge". Units with an complete set of hydraulic rescue tools (jaws of life) are analogically been called "Hilfeleistungslösch(gruppen)fahrzeug", abbreviated HLF. This is equivalent to a rescue engine. Specific types are like the LF.
Two of the biggest german fire departments do call their rescue engines a little bit different. The Hamburg Fire Department uses the term "Hamburger Löschfahrzeug", also HLF, the Berlin engines are called "Löschhilfeleistungsfahrzeug", LHF.
The relatively new standard of the "Löschgruppenfahrzeug Logistik" combines the capabilities of a classic LF with an exchangeable amount of additional equipment for special purposes.
Utilizable for disaster incidents ist the "Löschgruppenfahrzeug KatS", with 'KatS' standing for "Katastrophenschutz", the german term for disaster management. They do have an additional portable pump and a water tank, in contrast to the previous LF-16 TS (with TS standing for "Tragkraftspritze", portable pump).
Further special types of the LF are the "Mittleres Löschfahrzeug" and the "Staffellöschfahrzeug", both staffed by a "Staffel" instead of a "Gruppe". The "Staffel" consists of 6 firefighters, with one being the "Staffelführer".