diff --git a/include/empobj.h b/include/empobj.h
index 546ef46b..65b7a615 100644
--- a/include/empobj.h
+++ b/include/empobj.h
@@ -84,6 +84,6 @@ union empobj_storage {
     struct trtstr treaty;
 };
 
-extern char * probjname(union empobj_storage *gp);
-#endif
+extern char *obj_nameof(struct empobj *gp);
 
+#endif
diff --git a/include/prototypes.h b/include/prototypes.h
index 0ff66342..0bb5d1af 100644
--- a/include/prototypes.h
+++ b/include/prototypes.h
@@ -488,7 +488,6 @@ extern int num_shipsatxy(coord, coord, int, int);
 extern int islist(char *);
 /* src/lib/subs/mission.c */
 extern char *mission_name(short);
-extern char *nameofitem(struct empobj *, int);
 extern int collateral_damage(coord, coord, int, struct emp_qelem *);
 extern int mission_pln_equip(struct plist *, struct ichrstr *, int, char);
 extern int ground_interdict(coord, coord, natid, char *);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/miss.c b/src/lib/commands/miss.c
index 2621602a..88167b52 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/miss.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/miss.c
@@ -203,12 +203,12 @@ mission(void)
 
 	if ((mission && (gp->mobil < mobused)) && mission_mob_cost) {
 	    pr("%s: not enough mobility! (needs %d)\n",
-	       nameofitem(gp, type), mobused);
+	       obj_nameof(gp), mobused);
 	    continue;
 	}
 	if (mission == MI_RESERVE && !lnd_can_attack((struct lndstr *)gp)) {
 	    pr("%s is not designed to fight ground troops\n",
-	       prland((struct lndstr *)gp));
+	       obj_nameof(gp));
 	    continue;
 	}
 	if (*p == '.') {
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ mission(void)
 	     mission == MI_AIR_DEFENSE) &&
 	    (oprange(gp, &radius) < dist)) {
 	    pr("%s: out of range! (range %d)\n",
-	       nameofitem(gp, type), oprange(gp, &radius));
+	       obj_nameof(gp), oprange(gp, &radius));
 	    continue;
 	}
 
@@ -234,13 +234,13 @@ mission(void)
 
 	if ((mission == MI_INTERDICT) && (type == EF_SHIP))
 	    if (mchr[(int)gp->type].m_frnge < 1) {
-		pr("%s: cannot fire at range!\n", nameofitem(gp, type));
+		pr("%s: cannot fire at range!\n", obj_nameof(gp));
 		continue;
 	    }
 
 	if ((mission == MI_INTERDICT) && (type == EF_LAND))
 	    if (lchr[(int)gp->type].l_frg < 1) {
-		pr("%s: cannot fire at range!\n", nameofitem(gp, type));
+		pr("%s: cannot fire at range!\n", obj_nameof(gp));
 		continue;
 	    }
 
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ mission(void)
 	    mission == MI_DSUPPORT || mission == MI_INTERDICT ||
 	    mission == MI_AIR_DEFENSE) {
 	    pr("%s on %s mission, centered on %s, radius %d\n",
-	       nameofitem(gp, type), mission_name(mission),
+	       obj_nameof(gp), mission_name(mission),
 	       xyas(x, y, player->cnum), gp->radius);
 	} else if (mission == MI_RESERVE) {
 	    int plus = 2;
@@ -322,9 +322,9 @@ mission(void)
 	    }
 
 	    pr("%s on %s mission with maximum reaction radius %d\n",
-	       nameofitem(gp, type), mission_name(mission), plus);
+	       obj_nameof(gp), mission_name(mission), plus);
 	} else if (mission) {
-	    pr("%s on %s mission\n", nameofitem(gp, type),
+	    pr("%s on %s mission\n", obj_nameof(gp),
 	       mission_name(mission));
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/lib/common/empobj.c b/src/lib/common/empobj.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8254841f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/common/empobj.c
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/*
+ *  Empire - A multi-player, client/server Internet based war game.
+ *  Copyright (C) 1986-2006, Dave Pare, Jeff Bailey, Thomas Ruschak,
+ *                           Ken Stevens, Steve McClure
+ *
+ *  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ *  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ *  the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ *  (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ *  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ *  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ *  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ *  GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ *  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ *  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ *  Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
+ *
+ *  ---
+ *
+ *  See files README, COPYING and CREDITS in the root of the source
+ *  tree for related information and legal notices.  It is expected
+ *  that future projects/authors will amend these files as needed.
+ *
+ *  ---
+ *
+ *  empobj.c: Common functions on struct empobj and
+ *            union empobj_storage
+ * 
+ *  Known contributors to this file:
+ *     Ron Koenderink, 2006
+ *     Markus Armbruster, 2006
+ */
+#include "empobj.h"
+
+
+char *
+obj_nameof(struct empobj *gp)
+{
+    switch (gp->ef_type) {
+    case EF_SHIP:
+	return prship((struct shpstr *)gp);
+    case EF_PLANE:
+	return prplane((struct plnstr *)gp);
+    case EF_LAND:
+	return prland((struct lndstr *)gp);
+    case EF_NUKE:
+	return prnuke((struct nukstr *)gp);
+    }
+    CANT_HAPPEN("unsupported TYPE");
+    return "";
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/mission.c b/src/lib/subs/mission.c
index 7f8b1e06..4c733d3d 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/mission.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/mission.c
@@ -804,20 +804,6 @@ cando(int mission, int type)
     return 0;
 }
 
-char *
-nameofitem(struct empobj *gp, int type)
-{
-    switch (type) {
-    case EF_SHIP:
-	return prship((struct shpstr *)gp);
-    case EF_PLANE:
-	return prplane((struct plnstr *)gp);
-    case EF_LAND:
-	return prland((struct lndstr *)gp);
-    }
-    return NULL;
-}
-
 char *
 mission_name(short mission)
 {
@@ -858,7 +844,7 @@ show_mission(int type, struct nstr_item *np)
 	    pr("Thing                         x,y   op-sect rad mission\n");
 	    first = 0;
 	}
-	pr("%-25s", nameofitem(gp, type));
+	pr("%-25s", obj_nameof(gp));
 	prxy(" %3d,%-3d", gp->x, gp->y, player->cnum);
 	if (gp->mission == MI_INTERDICT || gp->mission == MI_SUPPORT ||
 	    gp->mission == MI_OSUPPORT ||