HANDBOOK OF ENEMY AMMUNITION |
PAMPHLET No. 10 |
GERMAN, ITALIAN AND JAPANESE AMMUNITION |
ITALIAN PROPELLANTS |
Nomenclature and Markings |
There does not seem to be any rigid system of marking employed for Italian propellants. The markings which have been encountered may be divided into two groups, those inva-riable appearing and those appearing only intermittently. In the first group are included:– |
(i) | The calibre and length (in calibers) of the weapon. |
(ii) | Charge weight in grams or kilograms and propellant size in millimeters. |
These may be the only markings found. |
In the second group are included:– |
(i) | The nature of propellant sometimes in full, sometimes abbreviated. |
(ii) |
A number, usually of seven figures, presumably a lot number and the date. |
(iii) |
Subsidiary markings such as contract numbers, manufacturers' marks, state and manufacturers' inspection marks. These appear variously on propellant bags, cart-ridge cases, or paper slips stuck to or merely inserted in the cartridges. |
Comparatively few rounds which have been examined bear complete sets of markings. |
Composition |
The composition of the propellants examined shows no outstanding features. There ap-pear to be only three types in service:– |
(i) |
A straight ballistite (Ballistite or Bal.) containing about 50 per cent. nitorcellulose (Nitrogen 12.2 per cent) and 50 per cent. nitroglycerine without stabilizer. |
(ii) |
A modified ballistite (Ballistite Attenuate or Bal. Att.) containing 60 per cent. nitro-cellulose (Nitrogen 12.6 - 12.8 per cent.), 26 per cent. nitroglycerine and 14 per cent. dinitrotoluene as a moderant coating. |
(iii) |
The so-called "Italian Cordite" which usually bears no markings other than the wea-pon and propellant size. This contains about 72 per cent. nitrocellulose (Nitrogen 12.8 per cent.), 24 per cent. nitroglycerine and 4 per cent. mineral jelly. In addition this type of propellant has been found to contain sodium carbonate or bicarbonate presumably as an additional stabilizer. |
In some cases bags containing chloride have been found included in the charges presum-ably as a flash reducing agent. |
Shape |
Shapes encountered have been flat strip, cord, square flake, and tubular cord. |
Examples |
The following are examples of markings examined:– |
(i) |
65/17 Bal. 1 x 10 x 10 gr. 160 – i.e. Ballistite for the 65 mm. 17 calibre gun in flake form size 1 mm. x 10 mm. x 10 mm. The charge weight being 160 grams. |
(ii) |
BALLISTITE ATTENUATE IN PIASTRINE – 1 x 10 x 220 DAYS CKA VI grs 570, i.e. a charge of 570 grams of "Ballistite Attenuata" in strip form 1 mm. x 10 mm. x 220 mm. for the 75 mm gun. |
(iii) |
Typical of Italian practice for multi-part charges are the following markings found on the Q.F. separate cartridge for the 75 mm. 28 calibre gun/how. |
1 Elem. Fondamen 77/28 1.5 x 15 x 15 kg. 0,224 |
i.e. lowest charge for the 77/28 gun/how. | |
2 Elem. Agguintivo da 77 gr. 184 1.5 x 15 x 15 |
i.e. Incremental charges for the 77/ 28 gun/how. | |
3 Elem. Agguinitivo da 77 gr. 88 1.5 x 15 x 15 |
It will be noted (in this example) that the nature of the propellant is not given. |