OP 1664 - U.S. Explosive Ordnance (Vol. 1); Part 1 - Projectiles, Propellants, and Projectiles; Chapter 1 - Projectiles; Section 1 - Introduction: Color and markings of new projectiles 3-inch and larger

U.S. EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE

PART 1 - PROJECTILES, PROPELLANT,
AND PROECTILE FUZES

Chapter 1 - Projectiles

Section 1 - Introduction

Color and markings of new projectiles 3-inch and larger

Following are the markings called for in the new specifiactions (See figure 1):

Explosive indicator:

Yellow	Explosive D
Grey	Black Powder
Green	TNT
One-half grey and one-half green band
	TNT and Back Powder mix
Red	Inert material or empty
Blue	Composition A

Time fuze stripe: Projectiles having a nose time fuze shall have a ¼-inch white stripe painted longitudinally from the stationary lug on the fuze two inches aft.

Body color

Black	A.P.
Slate gray	Common
Green	A.A., H.C., and A.A. Common
Light blue with two white stars	Illuminating
Aluminum	Window
White	Shrapnel
Ocean gray	Smoke, Gas, or Incendiary
Red	Target ammunition

V.T. Fuzed: The letters "V.T." ¾-inch high are stenciled just before the rear edge of the paint indicating the bruster charge.

Tracer band: A white band with four dots 90° apart indicates the color of the tracer

Spotting band: The color indicates the color of the spotting charge.

"Window" mark: This consists of a one-inch high "W" on each side, 180° apart, just abaft the forward bourrelet.

Stencilling on body: The following information is stencilled between the rotating band and and the forward bourrelet on new projectiles:

Ammunition lot number

Caliber and type of projectile

Mark and Mod of projectile

Type nose fuze (whether M.T.F., P.D.F., V.T.F., Mk 32 is similar types, or Dummy Nose Plug) – Mark and Mod of fuze – Lot number of fuze (for Mk 32 and similar ty-pes only)

Mark and Mod of auxiliary detonating fuze

Mark and Mod of base detonating fuze

Mark and Mod of tracer – Color of Tracer

Mark and Mod of guns in which projectile can be used

Mark and Mod of "Window" load

Stamped on rotating band

Mark and Mod of projectile

Size and type of projectile

Lot number and year of specifiaction

Inspector's seal and initials

Sometimes the manufacturer's name is included here.

Stamped on base or on base plug

Mark and Mod, size, and type of projectile

Lot number, year of specification

Inspector's seal and intial

Manufacturer's name

The serial number of the projectile will also be stamped on the base plug on the side of the body, and on the windshield if present.

Chemical Filler Markings

Two green bands ½-inch apart – Persitent casualty gas

One green band – Non-persistent casualty gas

One red band – Harassing gas

One yellow band – Smoke

One purple band – Incendiary

Also, on projectiles having a chemical filler, there is stencilled the type of chemical, such as SMOKE, INCENDIARY, or GAS, and the symbol or letter designating the particular filler as below:

Persistent Casualty Gas

Mustard	H
Purifired mustard	H.D.
Mustard and Lewisite	H.L.
Ethyldichlorarsine	E.D.
Chloropicrin	P.S.
Diphosgene	D.P.
Lewisite	L.

Non-Persistent Casualty Gas

Phosgene	C.G.
Chlorine	C.L.
Hydrocyanic acid	A.C.

Harassing Gas

Chloracetophenone	C.W.
Chloracetophenone solution	C.N.S.
Chloracetophenone training solution	C.N.B.
Bromobenzylcyanide	B.B.C.
Adamiste	D.M.
Diphenylchlorarsine	D.A.
Diphenylcyanarsine	D.C.

Smoke

White phosphorus	W.P.
Titanium Tetrachloride	F.M.
Sulfurtiroxide plus chlorosulfonic acid	F.S.
Hexachlorethane type mixture	H.C.
Plasticized white phosphorus	P.W.P.

Incendiary

Thermite	T.H.
Thickened gasoline (Napalm)	N.P.
Thickened gasoline (Isobutyl Methylmethacrylate)	I.M.
Incendiary mixture	P.T.

Figure 1. Color and Marking of Projectiles (3-inch and lager)