|
|
| HANDBOOK OF ENEMY AMMUNITION |
| PAMPHLET No. 15 |
| GERMAN AMMUNITION MARKINGS AND NOMENCLATURE |
| SECTION I |
| SMALL ARMS AMMUNITION |
Sub-Section A |
| 1. Packing |
|
The standard method of packing small calibre ammunition is in the following containers:– |
| (a) |
small cardboard cartons (Faltschachtel) which vary is size according to the calibre of the round. |
| packed in:– | |
| (b) | cardboard carriers (Packhülse 88). |
| packed in:– | |
| (c) |
ammunition boxes (Patronenkasten 88) or zinc lined ammunition boxes (luftdichte Patronenkasten 88). |
| Details:– |
Ammunition
|
Carton
|
Total |
Carrier
|
Ammunition |
||
Total |
Box contents |
Total |
||||
7.92 mm Rifle |
3 charges with 5 rounds in each charger |
15 |
20 cartons |
300 |
5 carries |
1,500 |
7.92 mm M.G. |
Loose rounds |
15 |
20 cartons |
300 |
5 carries |
1,500 |
Bulletted blank |
Db.
|
15
|
Do. |
300 |
Do.
|
1,500
|
Propelling cartridges |
issued one |
with |
Rifle Grenade |
|
|
|
9 mm Pistol |
Loose rounds |
16 |
52 cartons |
832 |
5 carries |
4,160 |
7,62 mm
|
Loose rounds or in loading chargers. 5 rounds per charger |
14
|
30 cartons
|
420
|
5 carries
|
2,100
|
|
|
|
(In future the cartons will be packed direct into the ammunition Box – not in the carries)s |
||||
7.92/13 mm
|
Loose rounds |
5 |
|
|
50 cartons |
250 |
| 2. Package Labels |
| Specimens of the standard package labels are illustrated on Plate I. |
|
The top line or main heading on the label gives the general idenfication of the ammuni-tion. (The large label on the ammunition box also gives the total number of rounds con-tained). |
| Other information given on the label:– |
|
Type of propellant. |
|
Details of manufacture of the components and the complete round. |
|
To assist in quick recognition the following system of markings and colours is also used: |
| "Für Scharfschützen geeignet" marked on box. | "For snipers". Ball (m.s. core) selected in manufacture. |
| i.L. stencilled on in large red letters. | Rounds packed in chargers for the rifle. |
| Ex. stencilled on in red. | Drill rounds. |
| White labels with black prints. | Normal ball ammunition. |
| "S.m.K." of the top line printed in red. | A.P. ammunition. |
| Top line in white letters on a black background. | Incendiary ammunition |
| A blue vertical band. | Steel cartridge cases. |
| A green diagonal band. | Practice (A.A.) ammunition. |
| A yellow label. | Tracer. |
| A brown or pink label. | Bulletted blank. |
| A blue label. | 9 mm pistol ammunition. |
| A green label ("P.m.K." of the top line printed in red). | A.P. incendiary. |
| A diagonally half red/half white label. | A.P. (Tungsten carbide core). |
| 3. Cartridge case markings |
| There are found items stamped on cartridge bases:– |
| Two items are found on all rounds:– |
|
1. |
Year of manufacture, e.g. 42. |
|
2. |
Manufacture batch number, e.g. 56. |
| The other two items may be any two of the followings:– |
|
3. |
Code name of manufacturer – a combination of three small letters, e.g. aux. or single capital letter, e.g. P. |
|
4. |
Type of cartridge case, e.g. S* | (= brass). |
|
St |
(= steel). | |
|
St+ |
| roman numerals, etc., e.g. IXwI | (= brass coated steel case). |
|
5. |
Calibre e.g. (for the MP 43) – 7,9. |
| 4. Colour markings of the round (Plates II to IV) |
|
The system of identification by color markings on the ammunition, varies from one calibre to another. The tables in this pamphlet should be consulted for definite identification. In the range of 7.92 mm Rifle and M.G. ammunition the following general rules apply:– |
| Green or blue cap or cap annulus | = Ball. |
| Red cap or cap annulus | = A.P. |
| Black cap or cap annulus | = Incendiary. |
| Black bullet tip | = Tracer. |
| A green ring around the bullet (or green tip to bullet) | = Higher velocity for aircraft guns. |
| 5. Materials |
|
Cartridge cases are now all made of steel, protected by a grey-green lacquer. |
|
During the change over from base to steel, some cartridges cases were made of steel, protected by platin with copper or brass. |
|
Steel cases have also been thinly coated with wax in an attempt to overcomes the hard extraction problem with the M.G. 42 at higher temperatures. |
|
The percussion cap which was of brass is now being made of steel, zinc plated. |
|
The bullet envelope is made of steel, normally clad G.M. (Gliding Metal). Zinc coating in place of gliding metal is know however to have been introduced recently for two types. |
 |