Letters after case lengths

[jvollenberg]

I think this is the best place to ask this question …

Are ordnance items marked with the letter acronyms after the cartridge lengths? Example 23-MM X 152B.

Is this something that someone would use to ID the round/cartridge? and if so, are there examples of these markings on the items, or containers?

Thanks for the help,

Joe

 

[US-Subs]

Joe,
for at least some of the cases the answer is certainly yes. For the example you gave, the B is for "belted", identifying that specific case type vs an unbelted case. You will also have letters for other case variations, rebated rim, etc. This identifies the case, but not necessarily the round.

 

[jvollenberg]

Yes, but I guess the question is, for EOD, does it make a difference to them if they see 152 or 152B? And where would they see it, other than literature? can they find it on the item, or packing?

 

[Tony Williams]

I'm no expert on labelling, but I suspect that militaries generally apply their own designations which may not include the case length let alone the rim type - these are used by ammunition specialists to help distinguish between the many different types.

 

[bacarnal]

Joe, from an EOD standpoint, it is very important. It not only tells you the weapon system, the fuzing, but also the time period. Take, for example the 20X110mm. It came in rebated base (RB) and two rimless (RL or usually not lettered). The 20X110mmRB (Oerlikon) was used by many countries in WWII primarily as a shipboard or ground based anti aircraft weapon. The WWII 20X110mmRL (Hispano Suiza) was also used by several countries, mainly France, GB and US as an aircraft mounted weapon. Post war, the US Navy also developed a 20X110mmRL based on the 20X102mmRL (Vulcan family) again for used in their aircraft weapons systems (MK 11 and MK 12 (Thank you Mr. Williams)). All of them having different rounds, fuzing and applications. The letter suffix helped me, as an EOD Tech and also later as a UXO Tech to make positive ID of rounds. Cheers, Bruce.

 

[jvollenberg]

[FONT=&amp]Bruce,[/FONT]

Thanks or the explanation. I understand that side of it, the problem is with the younger generation and how we represent the items to them. For instance, I am positive many, if not any, of the techs today would understand what the B stands for in152B. If I call something a 30-MM x 152B, they understand everything else. So,I was trying to see if they would ever even see the B outside of documentation (for instance Jane's). Can they find it stamped on the cases, or on the shipping containers? If so, then it is something I need to work on addressing, because they might see it on the round, and hence question it. If they find it in documentation, then usually the document will explain it. I know Jane's and the Soviet Cannon book does. Lastly, are there pictures out there showing these markings?

[FONT=&amp]Joe[/FONT]

 

[bacarnal]

Joe, I understand your problem now. It's not with the younger generation, yours, mine or even Jeff's:wink:. You'll always have the nerd Techs who can get in the books and find the differences between each mod of a model, the ones that can tell by the shape Type By Function, and those that just want to slap a stick of C on it to make it go bye bye.
I've never seen the suffix on the round or casings, but if you can let it be known to the student that visual ID of the item is critical and it does help in not only positively identifying the round, it aids in intelligence gathering so that armaments and capabilities of the opponent can be evaluated and also helps them to know what else they can expect in an area, both on the Military and Civilian side. Cheers, Bruce.