List of the United States Army munitions by supply catalog designation
The Ammunition Identification Code was a sub-set of the Standard Nomenclature List . The SNL was an inventory system used from 1928 to 1958 to catalog all the items the Army's Ordnance Corps issued.
The AIC was used by the United States Army Ordnance Corps from January, 1942 to 1958. It listed munitions and explosives, items that were considered priority issue for soldiers in combat. The markings used by the system made it easier for soldiers to quickly identify and procure the right items.
It used a code that had five parts.
- The first character consisted of the item's SNL Group and was represented by its letter.
- The second character indicated the sub-group and was represented by its number.
- The third character represented the weapon or weapons that could use it and was represented by a letter.
- The fourth character represented the type and model of ammunition, which differed from weapon to weapon, and was represented by a letter.
- The fifth and last character detailed the packing method and container type used and was designated by a letter.
Packing terminology
Cartons
Ammunition came packed in single-ply chipboard cartons lined with Manila paper. A label marked with the number of cartridges, caliber and type of ammo, manufacturer, and Lot Code was glued over the top flap, front, and back to seal the carton. Wartime boxes had wide vertical colored stripes, like those used on the packing box, as a background for the text. This allowed the soldier to quickly visually identify the ammo he needed..45 ACP
.45 ACP ammo for the Colt M1911 semi-automatic pistol and Thompson submachine gun originally came in 20-round boxes. It was later changed to 50-round boxes in 1942 for ease of packing and distribution. They were packed in the small M1911 Pistol Ammunition Packing Boxes..45 ACP ammo for the Colt M1917 and Smith & Wesson M1917 revolvers came packed in 3-round Half-Moon clips. They were packed eight clips per carton in two-row or three-row rectangular cartons of 24 rounds. They were packed in the larger M1917 Rifle / Machinegun Ammunition Packing Boxes.
.30 carbine
M1 carbine ammo was originally packed in 3-row 45-round boxes to reduce waste, as the carbine had a 15-round magazine. This was later changed in 1942 to 50-round boxes to ship as much ammo as possible. They were packed in a special small Ammunition Packing Box, perhaps so a soldier wouldn't grab the wrong ammunition..30 caliber
.30 caliber rifle and machine gun ammo came in 20-round boxes. Early-war cartons for use in bolt-action rifles like the Springfield M1903 came with the ammo already in 5-round stripper clips. They were packed in the large M1917 ammunition packing boxes..50 caliber
.50 caliber machine gun ammo came bulk-packed in 10-round boxes for loading into belts or links in-theater. They were packed in the large M1917 ammunition packing boxes.Ammunition packing box
A wooden box designed to be reused. The lid was secured by tightening brass wingnuts over threaded metal posts in the walls of the chest. They were meant to be carried by means of handles milled into the ends of the chest; troops assigned to carry ammo found them hard to grasp. Ammunition was shipped in boxes with a hermetically-sealed terneplate lining that had the top soldered on to seal it; this was ripped open using a wire handle built into the top. It came in two standard sizes.The small M1917 packing box was secured with 4 threaded posts. It was used for pistol and submachine gun ammunition and held 2,000 rounds in cartons. It could also be used to hold 960 rounds of Caliber.30 ammo or 240 rounds of Caliber.50 ammo.
Another box was used for carbine ammunition. It held 2,700 or 3,000 cartridges.
The large M1917 packing box was secured with 6 threaded posts. It was used to store and carry.30- and.50-caliber ammunition in cartons, clips, belts or links.
Pre-war and early-war ammo packing boxes were made of stained wood with black-painted lettering. Mid- to late-war packing boxes were painted Olive Drab brown with white or yellow lettering that used the item's AIC code and a system of symbols to indicate the contents at a glance.
The caliber, ammunition type and model were in the upper center field in bold lettering. The number of units and packing information were on the two lines below it. The caliber was painted in bold lettering in the upper left corner. The gross weight of the box in pounds and its volume in cubic feet was painted in the lower left corner and the Ammunition Lot information was painted in the lower right corner.
Packing box stripes
In 1943, a system was introduced that painted color-coded stripes painted across the long sides and lid to indicate the contents.A straight stripe indicated Pistol, Carbine, Rifle and Medium Machine gun ammunition; it was vertical on the long sides and top and horizontal on the ends. Triple straight stripes were painted horizontally with the first stripe on top or to the left and the third stripe on the bottom or to the right.
A diagonal stripe indicated Heavy Machine gun ammunition. Triple diagonal stripes were painted with the first stripe on the left-side and the third stripe on the right side. If packed in cartons, the colored stripe was duplicated on the carton's label vertically.
Commercial shotgun shell packing box
A wooden or fiberboard box with a waterproof tarpaper lining designed to transport and carry shotgun shells. It held 20 × 25-shell cartons of 12 gauge ammunition and weighed around 65 lbs.Guard shells had either a brass base with a full paper hull or partial brass case and a long paper hull.
Combat shells had either a partial brass case with a long paper hull or a full brass case and no paper hull.
Sporting shells either had a brass base with a full paper hull or a partial brass case and a long paper hull.
Ammunition crate
A metal-strapped wooden packing crate designed to be thrown away that replaced the Ammunition Packing Box. They were made of plain, unpainted wood and had its lettering, AIC code, and symbols stamped on in black ink. They were carried by a horizontal rectangular wooden bar fastened to the pair of vertical wooden reinforcing struts on each end. Some crate contractors looped a semi-circular piece of thick rope through a hole in each reinforcing strut for use as a flexible handle. Other contractors used a folding two-strut metal handle fastened between the reinforcing struts for heavier loads.The cartons of ammunition inside were originally grouped and packed in corrugated cardboard boxes. The boxes were then coated and sealed in a waterproof wax coating to keep the ammunition inside from being affected by the environment. There were 2 boxes per crate and they were loaded in the crate sideways so the bullets would fly off to the sides rather than through the top or bottom. The weatherproofing was found to be ineffective, so the cardboard boxes were replaced by hermetically-sealed ammunition cans in the autumn of 1943.
Ammunition can
A vacuum-sealed metal canister with wire handles on its sides. They were first produced at the Evansville, Indiana Chrysler-Sunbeam plant in 1943 to pack.45 ACP ammunition in M5 cans. It was opened using a metal can key that was soldered to the top. It could be reclosed afterwards using a small roll of duct tape that came packed in the can. They were painted Olive Drab and had yellow lettering on them. The caliber of ammunition – .45, .30C, .30R, .30M, or .50 – was embossed in raised letters and numbers on the metal lid so they could be identified by touch under low-light conditions.The "spam can" designs were created by American Can Company in New York City, New York. It was patented in 1950. However, the application was filed on November 28, 1944, not much time after the first cartridges were repacked at the Evansville Chrysler plant.
The model of can was embossed on the bottom. The M5 cans were for packing.45 ACP ammo and weighed about 29 lbs. The M6 cans were for packing.30 Carbine ammo and weighed about 25 lbs. The M8 cans were for packing.30 Rifle & Machine gun ammo and weighed about 16 lbs. The M10 cans were originally for packing.50 Machinegun ammo but later on were also used to pack shotgun shells or a variety of other ammunition in cartons.
The M13 can was for issue with a rifle grenade launcher.
The "A" assortment can was packed with an assortment of a packet of six.30 Carbine M6 rifle-grenade blanks, a packet of ten.30-'06 Springfield M3 rifle-grenade blanks, and a packet of five M7 booster charges. This "all in one" assortment was the last surviving version in the 1974 Identification Listings.
The "B" assortment can contained 1 packet of.30 Carbine M6 rifle-grenade blanks and 1 packet of.30-'06 Springfield M3 rifle-grenade blanks.
The "C" assortment can contained 1 packet of.30 Carbine M6 rifle-grenade blanks, 1 packet of.30-'06 Springfield M3 rifle-grenade blanks, and 2 packets of M7 booster charges.
When the M1 and M2 Carbines were withdrawn in the 1960s, the.30 Carbine M6 Grenade Blanks were pulled from repacked M13 cans. The entire contents of the can were replaced by fifteen.30-'06 M3 Grenade Blanks in a heat-sealed plastic bag. The packets of M7 booster charges started to be withdrawn in the 1970s when the M1 Garand started to be replaced by the M16 rifle in the National Guard.
The instruction "Do Not Use As Food Container" was prominently painted on the cans. The lead and chemical residue inside the container could contaminate the food and poison the soldier.
The Korean War–era universal M20 and M21 cans replaced the earlier assortment of cartridge-specific cans. The M20 was a rounded-edged cube with a folding handle on top and was packed two per M22 crate. It was used to pack small arms ammunition in cartons or bandoleers. The M21, twice the height of the M20, was a taller version of the M20 and was packed two per M23 crate. It was designed to pack linked machinegun and autocannon ammunition. They lacked the embossing of the earlier cans.
Mixed lots
Mixed lots are when two or three types of new ammunition were used, like in a machinegun or autocannon belt. They would be pre-loaded into a web belt or disintegrating metal link. The paperwork would mark the new lot number and list the different types and lot numbers of all ammunition used. Packaging would list the lot of each type of ammunition used on the lower right field of the crate, beginning with the line of text "AMMUNITION LOT". Belted ammunition would have a "B" prefix and linked ammunition would have an "L" prefix.Repacked ammo cans
Lots made up of old or damaged ammunition were from the same lot. They would be inspected, overhauled, sorted and repacked for re-use. Repacked ammunition was usually resealed in an unpainted ammo can with the information stamped on the container in black ink. The arsenal or manufacturer who did the repacking would use their manufacturer's code followed by the last two digits of the year it was repacked. The paperwork would list the original lot code and new lot code to help in tracing defective or unsuitable ammunition. The repacked crate would have a line of text beginning with "REPACKED LOT:" followed by the new lot code. In 1952 this text was replaced with "FUNCTIONAL LOT:", as troops had been leery of using "used" ammunition. If the lot was being repacked by the same manufacturer, the lot code would be the same, but it would have underneath it the text: "REPACKED" followed by the manufacturer code and the digits of the month and year.Standard ammunition box
A re-closeable metal box with a hinged metal lid sealed with a foam-rubber gasket to keep out moisture and rain and a folding metal handle to aid in carrying it. They were originally designed to only store belted machine gun ammunition, but later became a standard container after the war for all sorts of ammunition packed in cartons and / or clips and bandoleers. Originally planned to be disposable, they were recycled for reloading.The ammo boxes were originally painted Olive Drab Brown with white lettering, but were later painted Olive Drab Green with yellow lettering. The early individual M1 and M2 series metal boxes were also painted with the same colored ammunition identification stripes as the pre-war and early-war M1917 wooden packing crates.
They were first shipped individually, but were later bulk-packed in unpainted wire-bound plywood crates with stencil-painted or ink-stamped lettering. The.30 M1 and M1A1 ammo boxes were packed four to a crate that weighed around 90 pounds and had a volume of 1 cubic foot. The M1 ammo crate held a total of 1,000 belted or linked rounds packed in 4 M1 ammo boxes and the later M1A1 ammo crate held a total of 1,000 belted or 1,100 linked rounds packed in M1A1 ammo boxes. There were two.50 M2 ammo boxes to a crate with a volume of 0.93 cubic feet. The later M2A1 can also came packed two to a crate with a volume of 0.85 cubic feet.
- The M1 box opened from the side, had a flat bottom, had a catch opposite from the box's hinge for attaching the can to the M1917 / M1917A1 / M1918 / M1928 tripod, and had a pair of concentric oval ribs on the long sides to reinforce them. Inside the rings was embossed two lines of text: "CAL.30M" / "AMMUNITION BOX"; with the "M" standing for Machine gun ammunition. The initials "U.S." and the US Army Ordnance Corps' "Flaming Bomb" symbol were embossed on the hinge side. It held 250 belted rounds of .30-caliber ammo and was designed to replace the similar but less durable M1917 wooden machine gun ammo boxes. : around 3.5 lbs.; Net Weight : 15.5 lbs ; Gross Weight.
The M1A1 Box that replaced it was a little taller, had a more durable rubber gasket, and held 250 belted or 275 linked rounds of.30-06 ammo. The M1A1 model can be distinguished from the earlier M1 by the different embossed text, which reads "CAL.30 M1" / "AMMUNITION BOX" in the oval; the "M" now stood for Model. Later cans were embossed with "CAL.30 M1A1" / "M.M.G. BOX". There were also some minor improvements. The tripod catch side was redesigned to be slightly angled at the bottom and top rather than flat to fit flush alongside the tripod mount. - The later M19 Box that replaced the M1 series was a product-improved model that eliminated the earlier model's weaknesses and added improvements. It retained the rubber gasket, eliminated the tripod catch, and had smooth sides. The major difference between the M19 and the M1 series are the M19 series' lid skirts, which made the M19 series visually distinctive from the M1 and M2 series. They are designed to lock in place while part-way open to protect the belted ammunition inside from the elements while it feeds into the weapon. The M19 box held 250 belted or linked rounds of.30-06 ammunition.
The M19A1 box held the shorter, thicker 7.62mm NATO service cartridge, which replaced the.30-06 Springfield in 1954. It incorporated a series of improvements that corrected faults discovered during the Korean War. The lid was redesigned and the gasket was adjusted to allow it to close properly and remain sealed in cold weather – as the contracting metal would either stick shut or make it impossible to close once opened. An overhang was added to the lid and the latch was made wider to make it easier for soldiers with gloved hands to open it. It had a hollow on the bottom that was high enough to fit over the folding handle on the top of the box beneath it, allowing the boxes to be neatly stacked on top of each other. For ease in loading, a cartridge shape was embossed in the edge of the lid and center of the base to show which way the belt it contained faced. It can hold 220 linked or 225 belted 7.62mm NATO rounds in bulk or 2 × 100-round linked belts packed in cartons and carried in bandoleers. The M19A1 box is also used to store pistol ammunition in cartons. - The M2 box had 4 rectangular "feet" embossed into the bottom of the box that ran along the edges of the sides, square ribbing around the edges of each side, a foam-rubber gasket, and opened from the front like a tool box. It had a small folding wire handle on the left side corner to secure it to a tripod. On the front side the bottom arc of the ribbing running along the bottom edge was embossed: "AMMO BOX CAL.50 M2". The back side was usually where the content information was stenciled because there was more empty space. It held 110 belted or 105 linked rounds of .50-caliber ammo..
The M2A1 Box opens from the side, has smooth sides and a rubber gasket, had a hollow bottom like the M19 box, and holds a standardized 100 linked rounds. The M2A1 box was commonly used to store a variety of ammo in cartons, clips, and bandoleers. It was replaced in 2004 by the improved M2A2 Box, which had a reinforced lid hinge and a support bar riveted to the top of the latch to keep pressure from compromising the rubber gasket and crushing the lid.. - The 20mm Ammunition Box Mk.1 Mod.0 was a steel chest used by the Navy that was originally designed to carry 20mm shells. It had a removable lid with a gasket seal, two large hasps on each side and a hasp on each end, and was painted gray with black markings. It was made of metal rather than wood because wooden crates were a fire hazard and would get damaged from rough handling. Since it was the same size as the wooden M1917 chest, it was used to store small arms ammunition from the elements. From about 1943 it was used to hold six M5, M6, M8, or M10 spam cans to replace the wooden crates. In the 1950s it could hold 6 x M20 ammo cans or 3 x M21 ammo cans. The former stored small arms ammunition in cartons or bandoleers while the latter was usually used to hold linked caliber.50 and 20 mm ammo.
Group "P" Material (''Ammunition for Heavy Field Artillery and Anti-Aircraft Weapons'')
The Green Bag Charge was a short range powder charge in increments from 1 to 5. The White Bag Charge was the long range powder charge in increments 7 through 12? The gunners would rip off the unneeded sections of the bag charge and load the remainder in the gun.Sub-group P1 (Projectiles, separate loading, 6-inch to 240-mm inclusive)
;Class P1ZAUses Powder Charge P2EAA
;Class P1ZB
Uses Powder Charge P2FCC
;Class P1ZC
Sub-group P5 (Anti-Aircraft Weapons)
;Class P5EA;Class P5F
;Class P5H
The 40mm Bofors Gun used 4-round clips and was loaded manually.
;Class P5M
;Class P5N
Group "R" Material (''Ammunition for pack, light, and medium field artillery'')
The "T" designation was for experimental munitions before they went into standard production. They are placed in parentheses after the standard designation.Sub-group R1 (''Ammunition, fixed and semi-fixed, all types – including subcaliber – for pack, light, and medium field artillery, including complete round data'')
Class R1A (20x110mm Hispano "A"; Ammunition for 20 mm Gun M24)
The 20 mm M24 was a variant of the 20 mm M3 designed to use electrically fired instead of percussion-fired shells.Class R1G (37 mm Gun; Ammunition for Anti-Tank Guns M3 and M3A1, and Tank Guns M5 and M6">37 mm Gun M3">Anti-Tank Guns M3 and M3A1, and Tank Guns M5 and M6)
NOTE: The M3 was the towed Anti-Tank gun version. The short-barreled M5 and semi-automatic M6 were tank and self-propelled gun variants.Class R1J (57 mm Rifle; ''Ammunition for [M18 Recoilless Rifle]'')
The M18 Recoilless Rifle was developed in 1944. It was available in Europe by March 1945 and in the Pacific by June 1945.Class R1N (75 mm Rifle; ''Ammunition for M20 Recoilless Rifle">M20 recoilless rifle">M20 Recoilless Rifle'')
Although the weapon was developed during World War II, the M20 Recoilless Rifle wasn't ready until the spring of 1945. It served mostly in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.Class R1Q (105 mm Howitzer; ''Semi-Fixed Ammunition for M2, M2A1, and M4 Howitzer">M2A1 howitzer">M2, M2A1, and M4 Howitzer'')
"Semi-Fixed" artillery ammunition is composed of a shell and a propellant cartridge. Pre- and early-war semi-fixed ammunition came packed in black fiberboard tubes packed in a long crate with a volume of 1.94 cubic feet.The M4 Howitzer was a modified version of the M2A1 used with the M4A3 Sherman Assault Support tank.
Sub-group R2 (''Projectiles and separate-loading propelling charges for medium field artillery, including complete round data'')
Class R2ZD (Ammunition for 4.5" (114mm) Gun, M1">4.5-inch gun M1">4.5" (114mm) Gun, M1)
An artillery piece that used the same carriage as the 155mm Howitzer M1 and fired the same ammunition as the British 4.5" Field Gun.Sub-group R4 (ammunition for trench mortars; including fuzes, propelling charges and other components)
Class R4A (ammunition for 2" M3 smoke mortar / launcher">Two-inch mortar">2" M3 smoke mortar / launcher)
This was an internal gun/mortar mounted in the left side of the turret of the M4 Sherman tank. The M3 mortar was a conversion of the British SBML Ordnance 2-Inch Mortar that was used from 1943-1945. It could lay down a smoke cloud within 20 to 120 yards of the vehicle.Class R4F (ammunition for 81 mm M1 medium mortar">M1 mortar">81 mm M1 medium mortar or 3-inch (3.2" [81 mm) Mk.1A2 Stokes trench mortar">Stokes mortar">3-inch (3.2" [81 mm) Mk.1A2 Stokes trench mortar])
The 81 mm mortar shells used an adapter collar to allow 60 mm mortar shell fuzes to fit. Originally packed in wooden crates, the late war shells were packed in metal M140 canisters. The M140 canister carried live shells in a four-chambered internal divider, had a horsehair pad in the inside of the lid to cushion the fuzes, and had a metal loop carrying handle on the lid that doubled as the locking catch. The M140A1 canister eliminated the divider and carried the shells in tarpaper packing tubes instead.Sub-group R7 (Land Mines and Fuzes, Demolition Material, and Ammunition for Simulated Artillery and Grenade Fire)
Class R7A (Land Mines)
;R7AEEach wooden crate comes with six mines, six fuzes packed in cylindrical fiberboard containers, six 26-foot-long spools of tripwire, and a wrench for unscrewing the plastic safety plugs from the mines before inserting the fuze.
;R7AI
Each wooden crate comes with the five mines loaded sideways.
Class R7B (Arming Plugs for Land Mines)
;'''R7BJ'''Class R7D (Practice Land Mines)
;'''R7DL'''Class R7E ()
;'''R7EV'''Class R7F (Bangalore Torpedoes)
;'''R7FA'''Class R7L (Demolition Kits)
;'''R7LY'''Group "S" Material (''Bombs, grenades, pyrotechnics'')
Sub-group S2 (Fuzes and miscellaneous explosive components for aircraft bombs)
AN- stands for "Army / Navy", meaning it is a common supply item for both the War and Navy departments.Sub-group S4 (Grenades, hand and rifle, and fuzing components)
Class S4F (Rifle Grenades, Signal, Colored Smoke, Ground, for Grenade Launchers M1, M2, M7, & M8">M7 grenade launcher">Grenade Launchers M1, M2, M7, & M8)
;S4FK;'''S4FH'''
Class S4K (Mk.III Offensive Grenade">MK3 grenade">Mk.III Offensive Grenade)
Note: Since it was a high explosive grenade, they were shipped without fuzes to prevent accidental detonation during shipping.Class S4M (Mk.I-A1 Practice Grenade)
- S4MAA = 24 x Mk.I-A1 Training Handgrenades packed in M41 fiberboard storage tubes in a wooden crate. Gross Weight: 55 lbs.? Volume: 1.25 cu. ft.
Class S4Q (Adapter, Grenade Projection)
;S4QFNote: The M1A1 Grenade Projection Adapter converted a Mk.II fragmentation grenade into a rifle grenade.
Sub-group S5 (Pyrotechnics, military, all types)
Class S5P (Signal, Illumination, Aircraft, for Pyrotechnic Pistol AN-M8)
;S5PDClass S5R (Signal, Illumination, Ground, for Rifle Grenade Launchers M1, M2, M7, & M8)
;S5RM;S5RO
;S5RP
;S5RQ
;S5RR
;S5RS
;S5RT
;S5RU
Sub-group S9 (Rockets, all types)
Class S9A (2.36" Rocket for Anti-Tank Rocket Launchers M1">Bazooka#Rocket launcher, M1 "Bazooka"">M1, M1A1">Bazooka#Rocket launcher, M1A1 "Bazooka"">M1A1, M9">Bazooka#Rocket launcher, M9 "Bazooka"">M9, & M9A1">Bazooka#Rocket launcher, M9A1 "Bazooka"">M9A1)
Note = The fiberboard packing tubes are sealed with colored tape. The color of the tape indicates what type of rocket it is: yellow is HEAT, gray is Smoke, and blue is Practice. Early M6 HE and M7 Practice rockets can only be fired out of M1 launchers because they have an earlier ignition system that cannot be activated out of an M1A1, M9, or M9A1 launcher.S9ACA = 20 × 2.36" M6A1 Rockets, HE , in M87 fiberboard tubes, in wooden crate. Gross Weight: 128 lbs. Volume: 3.7 cubic feet. S9ADA = 20 × 2.36" M7A1 Rockets, Practice, in M87 fiberboard tubes, in wooden crate. Gross Weight: ''Volume: 3.7 cubic feet. S9AEA = ? × 2.36" M? Rockets, Smoke, in fiberboard tubes, in wooden crate.S9AFA = ? × 2.36" M6A1 Rockets, HE , in fiberboard tubes, in wooden crate.S9AKA = 12 × 2.36" M10 Rockets, Bursting Smoke , in fiberboard tubes, in wooden crate. Gross Weight: 68 lbs. Volume: 2.4 cubic feet.S9ALA = 8 × 2.36" M6A3 Rockets, HE , in M87 fiberboard tubes, in wooden crate. Gross Weight: 54 lbs.Volume: 1.41 cubic feet. S9ASB = 8 × 2.36" M7A6 Rockets, Practice, in fiberboard tubes, in wooden crate. Gross Weight: 53 lbs.Volume:'' 1.41 cubic feet.Class S9IKA (Fuses for Rockets)
S9IKA = 12 × Variable Time (VT) Fuze M402 in metal packing box. Gross Weight: 67 lbs.Volume: 1.24 cubic feet.Class S9J (3.5" Rocket for Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher M20">Bazooka#Rocket launcher, M20 "Super Bazooka"">Rocket Launcher M20)
S9JKA = 3 × 3.5" M28 Rockets, HE in fiberboard tubes, in a wooden crate. Gross Weight: 53 lbs. Volume: 1.59 cubic feet.S9JNA = 3 × 3.5" M28A2 Rockets, HE w/. Composition B warhead in fiberboard tubes, in a wooden crate. Gross Weight: 55.7 lbs. Volume: 1.59 cubic feet.Group "T" Material (''Small Arms Ammunition'')
Sub-group T1 (''Ammunition for Rifle, Carbine and Automatic Gun'')
After 1948, the AIC number "1" was replaced by the letter "A" to indicate the small arms ammunition was packed in the new M20 or M21 ammo cans instead of the myriad World War II-era packing boxes and cans.Class T1C ([.30 Carbine]; ''Ammunition for .30-caliber Carbine M1'')
This ammunition was for use with the M1 Carbine, a different weapon than the M1 Garand Rifle. The primers for the cartridges were non-corrosive because the M1 carbine's gas-system would have fouled or corroded if standard corrosive primers were used. It only came in Grade R because the M1 Carbine was semi-automatic only, dispensing with the use for Grade 2 for an automatic weapon. The late-war creation of the M2 selective-fire carbine and M3 infra-red sniper carbine didn't change this.Cartons
Cartons
'''Bandoleers '''
Class T1E (Caliber .30">.30-06 Springfield">Caliber .30; ''Ammunition for .30-caliber Rifles and Machine Guns'')
This ammunition was used in the M1903 Springfield, M1917 Enfield, and M1 Garand rifles, the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), and the Browning M1917 water-cooled and Browning M1919 air-cooled machine guns.There were three cartridge grades based on accuracy and reliability: "AC/R", "MG", and "3". Test batches would be randomly drawn from a lot and they would be chambered and fired individually from a fixed bench-rested barrel and mechanism at a stationary round "bullseye" target 600 feet away. "AC", the most accurate and reliable, was similar to the RAF's "Red Label" ammunition used in their synchronized aircraft machine guns. It had to be grouped within a 5-inch circle and not exceed a specified maximum number of stoppages to be acceptable. It came in metal linked belts and was suitable for aircraft and anti-aircraft machine-guns. "R" had to be grouped within a 5-inch circle; it came packed in cartons or bandoleers and was suitable for use in rifles. "MG", the least accurate, had to be grouped within a 7.5-inch circle; it came in woven belts and was suitable for use in ground machine-guns. Class 3 was rejected for not meeting standards.
Ammunition Lot Numbers had a code letter prefix in-between the Manufacturer code and Lot Number to indicate how it was packed: "C" indicated rifle ammunition preloaded in clips, "B" indicated Belted machine gun ammunition, and "L" indicated Linked machine gun ammunition.
Cartons
Cartons
Bandoleers
Note: 5-round Mauser-style stripper clips were used by the M1903 Springfield and M1917 Enfield. 8-round Mannlicher-style en-bloc clips were used by the M1 Garand. The M1 Bandoleer had six pockets; each pocket could hold either two 5-round stripper clips or one 8-round en-bloc clip.
The symbol for ammunition packed in stripper clips was 5 bullets conjoined by a long rectangle across the base ; there were two symbols in a vertical column per side. The symbol for ammunition packed in en-bloc clips was a rectangular oval with 2 rows of 4 dots ; there were one or two symbols in a vertical column per side.
Bandoleers
Note: The ammunition now only came in 8-round en-bloc clips because the M1 Garand was the standard service rifle.
Belted
Note: The symbol for belted or linked 0.30-06 Springfield ammunition was a vertical string of cartridges pointing right. Most early 0.30-'06 machine gun ammunition manufactured during World War II was belted rather than linked due to a steel shortage. All metal-linked ammunition was reserved for the Army Air Force and Naval Aviation. When the US Army Air Force.30-caliber machine gun was superseded by the.50-caliber machine gun mid-war, all.30-caliber ammunition began to be belted in M1 250-round belts for infantry use or M3 100-round woven belts for use in vehicles and tanks. Post-World War II production used linked ammunition.
In a belt with mixture of ammunition types the number and type of rounds per 5- or 10-round segment is used. If different ammunition types were used in the segment, they were alternated, with the tracer round at the end. Usually one round in five or ten was tracer, to show the gunner the trajectory; pre-War belts used a 1-in-10 mix and War and Post-War belts used a 1-in-5 mix.
Class T1I (Caliber .50">.50 BMG">Caliber .50)
There were three grades of cartridges, based on accuracy and reliability. "AC" the highest, came in metal linked belts and was suitable for aircraft and Anti-Aircraft machine-guns. "MG" came in woven cloth or metal-link belts and was suitable for use in ground machine-guns. Class 3 was rejected as being under standards and was destroyed.Cartons
Cartons
Belted
Note: The symbol for belted or linked 0.50-caliber BMG ammunition was a diagonal string of cartridges pointing from the lower left corner to the upper right corner. The type of ammunition was indicated by a code letter prefixed to the ammunition's Lot Number. "B" stood for Belted and "L" stood for Linked.
Due to a steel shortage, linked belts were originally reserved for the Army Air Force and Naval Aviation. Machine gun ammunition for ground use was supplied in 110-round M7 woven belts for infantry and 50-round woven belts for vehicles and tanks. After the Allies achieved air superiority over Europe around the fall of 1944, linked rounds began being issued to ground units.
In a belt with a mixture of ammunition types the number and type of rounds per 5- or 10-round segment is used. If different ammunition types were used in the segment, they were usually alternated, with the tracer round at the end. Usually one in five or one in ten cartridges were tracer.
'''Belted '''
Class T1J (Class T1 Defective Ammunition)
Details ammunition that was Class 3. All Unserviceable ammunition was to be destroyed but was sometimes used for training.Class T1L (Experimental Ammunition)
The.60 cartridge was designed for use with the experimental .60-caliber T17 Machine Gun, a reverse-engineered version of the German MG151 cannon chambered for an experimental.60 anti-tank rifle round. The project was abandoned after the war. The.60 cartridge case was the basis for the 20mm Vulcan autocannon shell.Sub-group T2 (''Ammunition for Revolver, Pistol and Submachinegun'')
Pistol ammunition came in three grades. Grade 1 was suitable for revolvers and pistols, Grade 2 was suitable for pistols and submachine guns, and Grade 3 was Unsuitable for use.Class T2A ([.45 ACP])
Ammunition with an "-XC" code letter suffix to its Lot Number was made with steel cases rather than brass and a gilding-metal jacketed bullet. This was a wartime economy measure to conserve copper and zinc. They were made entirely at the Evansville Chrysler and Evansville Chrysler Sunbeam ammunition plant in Evansville, Indiana.Class T2B (.38 Caliber)
.38 Special was for use in Colt Commando revolvers. The Commando was issued by the US Army to Military Police and Counter-Intelligence Corps personnel. On the home front the Commando was issued to armed security guards at government facilities and factories that were either drawn from the State Guards or were deputized as "auxiliary Military Police"..38 Smith & Wesson was for use in British service revolvers like the Lend-Lease Smith & Wesson Victory Model and British.38/200 Enfield No. 2 and Webley Mk VI.
Ammunition was civilian market production, used commercial markings, and came in commercial packaging with colored ink printing.
.38 Super Auto was procured by the Office of Strategic Services in 1945 for use in Colt "Super.38" M1911A1 pistols. Remington Arms only made three contract lots : RA 5001, RA 5002 and RA 5003. They were packed in military chipboard cartons and packed in M10 spam cans in M3 crates. The Colt.38 Super Auto cartridge was a high-powered version of the.38 ACP Ball cartridge designed to defeat body armor or penetrate vehicle bodies. It was used by the FBI against bank robbers and gangsters in the 1930s. Due to the end of World War Two occurring shortly after procurement, none of the pistols were ever issued or saw combat use.