MIL-STD-1168


The MIL-STD-1168 is a set of standard codes used to identify munitions. It was designed to replace the previous confusing Ammunition Identification Code system used by the United States Army Ordnance Department.
The purpose of lot numbering ammunition items and creation of ammunition data cards as outlined herein is to provide the identification of homogeneous materiel necessary to ensure accurate control of items during development and experimental stages; during movement of items from production line to production line, from plant to plant, from plant to storage facilities; while at test facility or in the field; for issue to the using services; to enable the proper establishment and maintenance of surveillance records; and to provide a means for properly identifying materiel when withdrawal of defective, deteriorated, hazardous or obsolete ammunition and energetic materiel from service is required. Lot numbering and ammunition data cards also provide documentation and traceability for ammunition lots.

Pre-Standard Lot Code Format 1942-1965

The format used in the 1940s, 1950's and 1960's was in the format of LLL-NNNN.
In this example, "L" stands for Letter and "N" stands for Number.
The first two or three letters were for the Manufacturer's Code. Each manufacturer had a unique code designation.
The digits were the Lot's serial number. This was originally 4 digits long. Blocks of serial Lot numbers were assigned to each manufacturing plant. The date of production of the lots was tracked by biannual supply bulletin rather than marked on the exterior packaging.
There was confusion at the start from a lack of rigid standards and oversight. Some contractors would use a serial number sequence for each type of ammunition they produced, meaning there would be lots of different ammunition types produced at different times that would have the same lot number. Others grouped ammunition of different types produced at the same time into the same block of lot numbers. This was sorted out by the end of World War Two when more oversight was possible.
In the late war period there was an overhaul and repacking of pre-war and wartime ammo into improved packaging. The repacked ammo lots were given 5-digit Lot codes assigned in blocks to each manufacturer. Troops would avoid or refuse to use up older or repacked ammo because it was feared it would misfire or jam. To alleviate this false belief, the term "Repacked" was replaced with the term "Functional" in the early 1950s.

Ammunition Crates

Ammunition crates were marked with identifying information. The class of ammunition was embossed on the lid. The front panel had the alphanumeric Ammunition Identification Code in the upper right corner, the gross weight in pounds and volume in cubic feet stamped in the lower left corner, and the Lot Code stamped in the lower right corner. The text in the center of the front panel detailed the amount and type of contents the crate contained.
Ammunition types were indicated by colored stripes on pre-war and early-war crates. The colored stripes were duplicated on the cartons of ammunition inside them. Packing types were indicated by pictograms.

Ammunition Packing Codes

The ammunition packing type was designated by manufacturers with an extra code letter. It was either added as a letter code between the Manufacturer's Code and the Interfix Number or as a prefix or suffix to the Lot Sequence Number.
  • Ammunition in clips was designated with a "C". This was for rifle ammunition that met standards. It was used in rifles and light machineguns.
  • Belted ammunition was designated with a "B". This was usually for rifle ammunition that met minimum standards for accuracy. It was used in medium and heavy machineguns.
  • Linked ammunition was designated with an "L". This was for rifle and heavy machinegun ammunition that met standards and had a higher standard of reliability. It was used in aircraft and anti-aircraft machineguns.

    Foreign Manufacturers

  • European manufacturers used an E-prefix
  • Japanese manufacturers used a J-prefix
  • Korean manufacturers used a K-prefix
  • Nationalist Chinese / Taiwanese manufacturers used a C-prefix. Taiwanese manufacturers used the Factory or Arsenal number as a Manufacturing Code or cartridge headstamp.

    Navy Lot Numbers

The Navy used a different lot numbering system for explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics : NN-LLL-MMYY
The first part is the serial number, next the Manufacturer's 2 or 3 letter code, followed by a four digit number that indicates the two-digit month and two-digit year it was manufactured. For example, 123-JOP-0554 means it was Lot 123, made by Joliet Ordnance Plant in May 1954.

Navy Lot Numbers (1960-1967)

For most of the 1960s there was a different system used for smoke grenades: NNN/N - Y/M - NNNN. For example, the lot number 1023-65-1234.

Navy Manufacturer Codes (1960-1967)

The "Old Standard". This system used two designation codes.
The Federal Stock Number was an 11-digit code number indicating the contents and composition of the package.
The first four digits comprise the Federal Stock Composition Group, the Type and Family the item belongs to.
  • Small Arms Ammunition are given the FSCG prefix of 1305.
  • Heavy Weapons Ammunition are given the FSCG prefixes of 1310, 1315, or 1320.
The 7-digit number that follows are called Non-Significant Characters, as they are random and have no coded meaning. It is composed of the unique 3-digit interfix number and 4-digit sequence number identifying a stock item.

Department of Defense Identification Code

The Department of Defense Identification Code is a 4-symbol alphanumeric code designation for a type of item. It starts with 1 or 2 code letters and the remainder is a 2- or 3-digit code number. It indicates an item of supply and its packing sub-unit. It is used to inform the person ordering or issuing the item what it is and how it is packed so they get what they need.
The Department of Defense Ammunition Code is an 8-symbol hybrid code designation. It uses the munition's four-digit Federal Supply Classification Group followed by its alphanumeric DODIC. It is used mostly when filling out ammunition record sheets. This is done to prevent errors and confusion during ammunition transactions.

Standard Lot Code (1965-1975)

The lot numbers were beginning to get very long and the lot assigning system was becoming complicated. The reform was to reset the lot numbering system and have each plant start from zero. The Lot number is in the format of: LLL-NN-NNNN.
In this example, "L" stands for Letter and "N" stands for Number.
The first two or three letters were for the Manufacturer's Code. Each manufacturer had a code designation.
The next two digits were the “Interfix Number”. This indicates the batch the lot was part of, allowing the Lot Sequence Number to be reused later. It is numbered from 01 to 99.
The last digits were the serial number, called the Lot Sequence Number. This could be 4 or more digits long.
For example, let's say the fictional manufacturer Amalgamated Bio-Carbon makes a shipment of 40 x 46mm low-velocity grenade shells. The lot is Interfix Number #12 and the Sequence Number #345. The Lot Code would then be ABC-12-0345.

Ammunition Crates

Ammunition crates were marked with the FSN and DODIC along the top of the front panel. Early crates from 1942 to 1956 also included the alphanumeric Ammunition Identification Code in the upper right corner. The average weight in pounds and volume in cubic feet were stamped in the lower left corner. The Lot Code was stamped in the lower right corner. The text in the center of the front panel detailed the amount and type of contents the crate contained.

Ammunition Boxes

Each ammunition box was marked with the FSN and DODIC along the upper part of the box. It also was embossed with the ammunition designation and type, and there were symbols indicating packing method.

MIL-STD-1168A (''Ammunition Lot Numbering'' - Revision A) Published 28 [February 1975; 1975-1998]

The "New Standard".
The FSN was replaced on September 30, 1974, by the National Stock Number, a 13-digit code number.
The first 4 digits comprise the National Stock Composition Group, which indicates the group and class of materials it belongs to.
The next 2 digits are the National Codification Bureau code, the code number for the NATO member nation stocking and producing the item.
The 7-digit code number that follows is the unique 3-digit interfix number and 4-digit sequence number of the item.

Lot Number

The Lot number is in the format of: LL - NN - L - NN - NNNL.
In this example, "L" stands for Letter and "N" stands for Number.
The first section is the manufacturer's code, which is two or three letters long.
The second section is the date code. This consists of the last two digits of the year of manufacture and a letter suffix indicating the month of production:
LetterMonthLetterMonthLetterMonthLetterMonth
AJanuaryDAprilGJulyKOctober
BFebruaryEMayHAugustLNovember
CMarchFJuneJSeptemberMDecember

The letter "I" is omitted because it might be mistaken for the numeral "1" or the letter "J". The letter "O" is omitted from alphanumeric codes because it might be mistaken for the numeral "0".
Following the date code is the third section: the Interfix Number, which can be 3 or more digits long. This indicates the batch of material the item belongs to.
The last section is the Lot Sequence Number, which is 4 or more digits long. This is the sequential serial number of the lot.
A single-letter alphabetic suffix may be added to the parent Lot Sequence Number for various reasons. The item may have been made on a different machine or production line than the rest of the batch or a portion of the batch was found defective by quality control. The letters "I" and "O" are omitted because they could be mistaken for the numbers "1" and "0". The letters "E" and "X" were omitted because they could be mistaken for the letter codes for Experimental ammunition lots.
As an example of a lot number would be: FA-77-A-123-0456A. This would mean that contractor Frankfort Arsenal made the item in January, 1977 and that it was rework "A" of the 456th Item of the 123rd batch. If a second rework had been performed on the Item, the code would have been FA-77-A-123-0456B.