I have a 20 MM Japanese AP projectile with a thin green band over a thin white band mid way down on the projectile. Have been told 2 different things. One person said it means its a hard steel AP projectile and another said the green means "Tracer" and the white means "armor piecing". (while the color "red" means "self-destruct" on a anti-air craft round). If it's the former ie. hard steel, why would the Japanese make an AP projectile that wasn't hard steel? Doesn't make sense to have a soft steel AP projectile does it? Hope its not to confusing the way I asked it. Any infomation appreciated.
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WWII Japanese color codes/markings. on 20MM AP round.
- Thread starter Tietrack
- Start date
TonyE
HONOURED MEMBER RIP
You don't say what type of Japanese 20mm you have. However, I hope the following is of some help.
If it is a Type 97 20mm anti-tank round then the colour banding for the Type 100 Armour Piercing Tracer is:
Soft steel - none
medium Steel - Green band
Hard steel - Green and white band
If it is for the Ho1 or Ho3 Aircraft cannon then a green and white band indicates Armour-piercing tracer also, but it does not have a type number nor does it indicate the steel type. A red band below the bourrelet would mean explosive.
If for the Type 98 Anti-aircraft cannon the markings are the same as the Type 97 with three grades of steel, green and white indicating hard steel with tracer. Ho5 aircraft cannon Type 2 AP-T are exactly the same.
The above are all army/air force weapons. Japanese navy 20mm were of a different type and had different colour codes.
Quite why the Japanese had three grades of steel is uncertain, but perhaps may have depended on the quality available and/or where it was made.
Regards
TonyE
If it is a Type 97 20mm anti-tank round then the colour banding for the Type 100 Armour Piercing Tracer is:
Soft steel - none
medium Steel - Green band
Hard steel - Green and white band
If it is for the Ho1 or Ho3 Aircraft cannon then a green and white band indicates Armour-piercing tracer also, but it does not have a type number nor does it indicate the steel type. A red band below the bourrelet would mean explosive.
If for the Type 98 Anti-aircraft cannon the markings are the same as the Type 97 with three grades of steel, green and white indicating hard steel with tracer. Ho5 aircraft cannon Type 2 AP-T are exactly the same.
The above are all army/air force weapons. Japanese navy 20mm were of a different type and had different colour codes.
Quite why the Japanese had three grades of steel is uncertain, but perhaps may have depended on the quality available and/or where it was made.
Regards
TonyE