ID of propelling cartridge

[Beavertail]

I have found a tail fin section (only) and am trying to decifer the stamps, I believe the 2, 6, 10 O'clock positioning is standard. The triangle inside a triangle, I have seen before on warsaw pact ammunition. The 6 O'clock is the date 1967 as I don't see a factory code of 67. This leaves the 20 or 26 stamp at 11 O'clock. 20 being either Taiwan or USSR and 26 being Sweden. Can any one help with a better interpretation?

The mortar tail is 120mm with 12 thin steel fins.

 

[strakv]

"20" on the 50mm and 82mm and "26" on the 120mm propelling charges are not the factory codes. They are the diameter of the cartridge.

 

[Eggburt1969]

As far as I'm aware the 'triangle within a triangle' is the manufacturer's symbol. The 26 seen in the above image is likely the batch number, whilst the 67 is the truncated year of production; i.e. 1967.

Another example the 'triangle within a triangle' manufacturer symbol is in the image below, which is packaging for RDG-5 hand grenades and their UZRGM-2 fuzes.



Unfortunately I've forgotten who the 'triangle within a triangle' manufacturer is? For some reason I keep thinking it begins with a 'P', but that might just be poppycock. Hopefully someone else may remember who's symbol it is?

 

[Beavertail]

Thank you for the very useful information. It makes a lot of sense now you mention it.
On the triangle within a triangle I have been informed outside of BOCN that the factory is Krasnozavodsk. Maybe the P you are thinking of is an assembly plant Penzamash.

 

[Eggburt1969]

Thank you for the very useful information. It makes a lot of sense now you mention it.
On the triangle within a triangle I have been informed outside of BOCN that the factory is Krasnozavodsk. Maybe the P you are thinking of is an assembly plant Penzamash.

No idea why I thought it's name started with a 'P? Maybe mixing it up with 'ZP' (RU: ЗП), as such AO Zavod Plastmass (АО Завод Пластмасс)?

The 'triangle within a triangle' manufacturer is currently transliterated, using BGN/PCGN format (most commonly seen in US and UK military texts), as 'FGUP Krasnozavodskiy Khimicheskiy Zavod' (RU: ФГУП Краснозаводский Химический Завод), so translated to English as 'FSUE Krasnozavodsk Chemical Factory'.

Going by the University of Warwick 'Numbered Factories of the Soviet Defence Industry' (see link below) it's factory numeric is likely '11' (see lines 10292 and 10293).

Soviet Defence Industry

Soviet Defence Industry

warwick.ac.uk

Be warned the 'Numbered Factories of the Soviet Defence Industry' Excel file is humungous!

 

[strakv]

The 26 seen in the above image is likely the batch number

It is the caliber of the cartridge.


The cartridges below (images taken from cartridgecollectors.org) shows 20 and 26 on the headstamp but not on the top wad where the batch number is shown






Below is a Hungarian cartridge from Balatonfűzfő (51) (images from naboje.org) Also no "26" in the lot number on the top wad.

"20" on the 50mm and 82mm

I was wrong with the 50mm. Its cartridge is 16mm


Regards,
Vince

 

[Eggburt1969]

It is the caliber of the cartridge.

I'd say bore or gauge of a shotgun shell, as calibre is a bit of a misnomer when referring to shotguns. Well apart from the 15 mm mentioned, which would equate to about a 23 (22.6) bore/gauge.

Anyway, the above not withstanding, your comments make sense as they, the Krasnozavodsk Chemical Factory, also make shotgun shells, and most Russian motor bomb round primary cartridges ('igniters' to some) are commonly based on shotgun shells.

However, I'd still personally check the base markings of such primary cartridges on a one-to-one basis. This as there's always the chance it's not a shotgun bore/gauge/calibre, but some other production details, such as a lot number.