NSN search help

[reccetrooper]

I’ve discovered the NSN for the Round Anti Riot 37mm Baton L21A4, from the 2016 dated stencilling on a H83Mk2 ammo tin.

The NSN is 1310-99-241-8540

I’ve tried looking up this NSN on various online search sites, but I keep getting no result found. Does anyone have a method to check if this NSN has been withdrawn, and if so when it was withdrawn, or any further information relating to the L21A4 ?

 

[batonroundcollector]

is L21A4 the current round in service now then? only pics of one I have seen are of case here:

https://www.dandbmilitaria.com/37mm-l21a4-anti-riot-baton-inert-struck-round-dr30

looks like L60A1/A2 projectile stuck in the case though??

 

[LCplCombat]

That NSN isn't for an individual round. It is for the ACA containing that round. If the same round was packed differently in an H83 or in a different box it would have a different NSN

 

[reccetrooper]

is L21A4 the current round in service now then? only pics of one I have seen are of case here:

https://www.dandbmilitaria.com/37mm-l21a4-anti-riot-baton-inert-struck-round-dr30

looks like L60A1/A2 projectile stuck in the case though??

Marc, no the L21A4 is not THE current round, but it appears to have been issued concurrently for particular theatres. The current round is still the L60A2. Various sources online cite problems with the AEP in the heat of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as shortages of baton guns, so the L5A7 was reintroduced, and the L21A1 was also reissued, despite having previously been reduced to training use only. There in mention online of an L21A2 developed for Afghanistan, but no info that I can find relating to the L21A4.

All info I’ve found, and discussion with other collectors, points to the L21A4 being for overseas use in hot climates.

It is packed 16 rounds to a H83Mk2 box, which supports the idea of eight twin plastic containers being used, as was used with the L21A1, and as the plastic containers are too short for an AEP baton, this pretty much confirms the belief that the AEP batons seen in examples for sale by UK dealers is wrong, and the correct baton should be the L21 type.

The full differences between the L21A1 and L21A4 are not known to me, but the L21A4 case is the same as an L60 with a thicker section inside the base of the case, that the baton seats against, the reintroduction of the Anti Riot wording which does not appear on the L21A1 or the L60 AEP rounds, and a numbering system on the case head for greater accountability.

 

[reccetrooper]

That NSN isn't for an individual round. It is for the ACA containing that round. If the same round was packed differently in an H83 or in a different box it would have a different NSN

That doesn’t make sense to me, as I have both H83Mk2 and F632Mk1 boxes sharing the same NSN 1310-99-814-6415, both boxes contained 37mm L60A2 AEP rounds, the H83 held 12 rounds and the F632 held 48 rounds, so the NSN surely must apply to the rounds not the boxes.


Edit: I have now checked my L60A1 boxes, both H83 and F632 boxes share the same NSN 1310-99-244-4219

 

[LCplCombat]

That doesn’t make sense to me, as I have both H83Mk2 and F632Mk1 boxes sharing the same NSN 1310-99-814-6415, both boxes contained 37mm L60A2 AEP rounds, the H83 held 12 rounds and the F632 held 48 rounds, so the NSN surely must apply to the rounds not the boxes.


Edit: I have now checked my L60A1 boxes, both H83 and F632 boxes share the same NSN 1310-99-244-4219

The ADAC is identical too which is also in error for the same reason. The F632 looks to have been restenciled, I wonder if someone got sloppy when repacking an H83 and just copied all the data from the old box.

 

[reccetrooper]

I’ve just checked all my L60A1 and L60A2 boxes, including the grotty ones in the garden shed.

I have nine F632 and two H83 from L60A1 rounds, with various dates and lot numbers, they all share the same NSN.

I also have two F632 and five H83 from L60A2 rounds, again there are various dates and lot numbers, but they all share the same NSN.

 

[reccetrooper]

More reading up online, looking for NSN 1310-99-241-8540
The NATO Supply Class number 1310 indicates Ammunition Over 30mm Up To 75mm.
The NCB Code 99 indicates UK.
It is the last part, the Item Identification Number 241-8540 that I cannot find on the NSN searches.

 

[LCplCombat]

More reading up online, looking for NSN 1310-99-241-8540
The NATO Supply Class number 1310 indicates Ammunition Over 30mm Up To 75mm.
The NCB Code 99 indicates UK.
It is the last part, the Item Identification Number 241-8540 that I cannot find on the NSN searches.

the last 7 numbers are random and don't mean anything other than to identify the "part".

There is something strange going on with your boxes. Can you check the ADACs are all the same?

 

[reccetrooper]

the last 7 numbers are random and don't mean anything other than to identify the "part".

There is something strange going on with your boxes. Can you check the ADACs are all the same?

All of the L60A1 boxes have the ADAC 46120-01 (The earliest L60A1 box I have is an F632 from rounds dated 09/05, the latest is an F632 from rounds dated 03/10)

All of the L60A2 boxes have the ADAC 46120-02 (The earliest L60A2 box I have is an H83 from rounds dated 09/12, the latest is an H83 rounds from dated 01/15)

I’ve had a look at boxes on eBay and the baton boxes have the same ADACs as mine.

 

[LCplCombat]

All of the L60A1 boxes have the ADAC 46120-01 (The earliest L60A1 box I have is an F632 from rounds dated 09/05, the latest is an F632 from rounds dated 03/10)

All of the L60A2 boxes have the ADAC 46120-02 (The earliest L60A2 box I have is an H83 from rounds dated 09/12, the latest is an H83 rounds from dated 01/15)

I’ve had a look at boxes on eBay and the baton boxes have the same ADACs as mine.

L60A1 boxes have the ADAC 46120-01
L60A2 boxes have the ADAC 46120-02
that is as I would expect, except for the similarity between the different box types. As a change is made to the round the suffix changes (01 to 02), but I would still expect the NSN to change because it is a different item. Accounting is done using the ADAC and not the NSN as in other stores.

If the storeman is told to issue a certain number of rounds he is told to get a specific number of boxes of an ADAC of x BKI and of x qty, he doesn't have to choose a box of 12 in an F632 or a box of 12 in an H83.

Just so you know I'm not making this up I worked as an ammunition stocktaker, and qualified as an Authorised Rep and Unit Ammunition Storeman.