Sunday 12 April 2015

Imperial Japanese Army Ammunition - Army Color Systems







The Japanese Army had two color systems for marking ammunition.  The Old and New systems differed in the number of color bands they used, the New system had the body of the projectile colored to indicate the group in which the type of ammunition was categorized and the color bands determined specific properties.


Old Color System





Notes:
Common Explosive Types
Japanese characters giving the type number of the projectile (painted on projectile) and type number of the gun (painted on the case) appear only when there is a chance of confusion with similar projectiles or cases.



Chemical (Gas or Liquid Filled) Projectiles







Notes:
Special-Purpose Projectiles
Projectiles designed for special purposes are painted black over all and are identified by a special symbol stenciled near the middle of the body.  A list is provided in the New Color System .


Weight Variation Marking
The variation of individual projectiles from standard weight is important in the ballistics problem and can be corrected for insetting sights.  The variation is therefore indicated by plus/minus signs painted on the projectiles


OVERWEIGHT     
  • 1.5 to 2.5 percent overweight      ++
  • 0.5 to 1.5 percent overweight      +
STANDARD WEIGHT
  • 0.5 percent plus or minus            ±
UNDERWEIGHT     
  • 0.5 to 1.5 percent underweight     -
  • 1.5 to 2.5 percent underweight     - -


New Color System





Future examples will show both types of twin color bands

Notes:
Common Explosive Types
Hollow charge ammunition is distinguished from other types in the H.E. high grade steel (yellow band) group by the presence of the symbol.


Chemical (Gas or Liquid Filled) Projectiles







Notes:
Special-Purpose Projectiles
Projectiles designed for special as listed below are identified by the overall body color and by a special symbol stenciled near the middle of the body.


Projectile       Color of Body
                                                      Smoke*        White             
                                                      Incendiary^    Yellow           
                                                      Illuminating    Red                
                                                      Target            Black              
                                                      Sand-filled      Black           
   
*: Signal or Screening
^: Non-liquid


Next Time: Rifle Caliber Ammo



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