Cognitive information

Foreign Terms (Abbreviations) Used in Shell Markings

• A-3 – American explosive, composed of 91% RDX and 9% plasticizing oil, also known as microcrystalline wax.
• AK Device – Marker shell equipped with a small amount of dye, used to mark the impact location during target adjustments.
• ADF (Auxiliary Detonating Fuze) – U.S. auxiliary detonating fuze, positioned between the charge and main fuze. Enhances detonation effectiveness and prevents accidental shell explosions.
• AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) – Improved high-destructive shell.
• AP (Armor Piercing) – Armor-piercing shell with a pointed tip.
• AP-I (Armor Piercing with Incendiary) – Armor-piercing incendiary shell.
• APCR (Armor-Piercing Composite Rigid) – Subcaliber armor-piercing shell with a non-separable sabot and composite armor-piercing tip.
• APDS (Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot) – Subcaliber armor-piercing shell with a separable sabot.
• APDU (Armor-Piercing Depleted Uranium) – Subcaliber armor-piercing shell with a depleted uranium core.
• APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) – Fin-stabilized, subcaliber armor-piercing shell with a detachable sabot.
• APHE (Armor Piercing High Explosive) – Armor-piercing shell with increased explosive material.
• APHE-T (Armor Piercing High Explosive with Tracer) – Tracer armor-piercing shell with increased explosive content.
• APHEBC (Armor Piercing High-Explosive with Both AP Caps) – Armor-piercing shell with a ballistic cap and increased explosive charge.
• APT or AP-T (Armor Piercing with Tracer) – Tracer armor-piercing shell.
• BB (Base Bleed) – Base generator. Increases range by 20% – 35%.
• Bdz. (German Bodenzünder) – German abbreviation for main fuze.
• BL&P or BL&P. (Blind Loaded & Plugged) – Inert-loaded shell; BL&T or BL&T. (Blind Loaded Shell with Tracer) – Tracer shell for practice firing.
• BOF (French Boulet Ogival en Fonte) – French abbreviation for training shells.
• CCF (Course Correcting Fuze) – Intelligent fuze using flight correction with GPS to control an explosive ballistic shell.
• CHEM (Chemical) – British abbreviation for chemical shell.
• CLGP (Cannon-Launched, Guided Projectile) – Long-range guided shell with laser guidance.
• CNF (Common Nose Fuze) – British abbreviation for explosive shell with a nose fuze.
• Common – Explosive shell term used by the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy for any armor-piercing shell.
• CP or Common Point – British abbreviation for shells with a cast steel body and an explosive charge.
• CPBC (Common Pointed Ballistic Cap) – British abbreviation for shells with a cast steel body, an explosive charge, and a ballistic cap.
• CPC or Common Topped Capped – British abbreviation for armor-piercing shells intended for lightly armored targets, equipped with a soft steel cap and low armor-piercing capability, similar to large HE shells.
• DPICM (Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition) – U.S. dual-purpose improved munition with both fragmentation and armor-piercing properties.
• Dunnite or Explosive D – U.S. explosive substance, ammonium picrate.
• ERGM (Extended Range Guided Munition) – Guided shell with extended range.
• ERFB – Shell with extended range.
• EXE or Extra Experimental – British experimental explosive.
• Explosive D or Dunnite – U.S. explosive, ammonium picrate.
• FAP (Frangible Armor Piercing) – Armor-piercing shell with a tungsten tip, designed to penetrate brittle armor, combining armor-piercing, explosive, and incendiary effects.
• FAPDS (Fragmented Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot) – Subcaliber fragmented shell with a detachable sabot.
• Gargousse – French abbreviation for cartridge charges.
• GAU (Airborne Guns And Gun Systems) – U.S. designation for aviation, naval, and artillery systems.
• GB2 – Chemical substance for incapacitating personnel.
• Granate or Gr. – German designation for shell.
• HBX – Binary explosive composed of RDX, TNT, powdered aluminum, wax, and calcium chloride.
• HC (High Capacity) – U.S. designation for high-capacity fragmentation shells targeting lightly armored objectives.
• HCHE (High Capacity High Explosive) – Variant of the HET shell, using special steel that can penetrate up to 20 mm steel plates before the fuze activates.
• HE (High Explosive) – Fragmentation shell for engaging lightly armored targets.
• HE-CVT (High Explosive with a Controlled Variable Time) – Fragmentation shell with a proximity-adjustable fuze.
• HE-I (High Explosive with Incendiary) – Fragmentation incendiary shell.
• HE-IR (High Explosive with an Infrared Fuze) – Fragmentation shell with an infrared fuze.
• HE-I-SD (Self-Destructing Incendiary High Explosive Projectile) – Fragmentation incendiary shell with self-destruct function.
• HE-MOM (High Explosive Multirole OTO Munitions) – Versatile fragmentation shell with a proximity fuze and tungsten shrapnel, manufactured by OTO Melara.
• HE-PD (High Explosive with a Point Detonating contact fuze) – Fragmentation shell with a contact fuze.
• HE-PF-OM (High Explosive Pre-Fragmented OTO Munition) – Fragmentation shell with tungsten shrapnel, manufactured by OTO Melara.
• HET or HE-T (High Explosive shell with a Tracer) – Fragmentation tracer shell.
• HE-T/SD (Self-Destructing High Explosive with a Tracer) – Self-destructing fragmentation tracer shell.
• HE/SD (Self-Destructing High Explosive) – Self-destructing fragmentation shell.
• HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) – Fragmentation shell with a cumulative effect.
• HEAT-FS (High Explosive Anti-Tank Fuse Sensitivity) – Fin-stabilized cumulative shell.
• HEDP (High Explosive Dual-Purpose) – Fragmentation-cumulative shell.
• HE ER FB-BB (OFd M3-DV) (High Explosive Extended Range Full Bore with Base Bleed) – Long-range fragmentation shell with improved aerodynamics and a base generator.
• HE ER FB-BT (OFd M3) (High Explosive Extended Range Full Bore with Boat Tail) – Long-range fragmentation shell with improved aerodynamics.
• HENT (High Explosive shell with TNT burster) – British abbreviation for a fragmentation shell with TNT.
• HESH (High Explosive Squash Head) – Armor-piercing fragmentation shell.
• HETF (High Explosive Projectile with Time Fuze) – British abbreviation for a fragmentation shell with a time fuze.
• HE-VT (High Explosive with a Variable Time fuze) – Fragmentation shell with a proximity timer fuze.
• HMX (Cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine) – White crystalline powder used as an oxidizer in rocket fuel and explosives.
• H/HD – Chemical, toxic agent for contaminating territory.
• IR – Illuminating in the infrared range.
• ILLUM or Illuminating – Illuminating shell, typically filled with magnesium and equipped with a parachute for slower descent.
• ILLUM-MT (Illuminating with Mechanical Time fuze) – Illuminating shell with a mechanical time fuze.
• K Device – Shell equipped with a small amount of dye, used for marking impact locations during adjustments.
• Kz (German Kopfzünder) – German designation for nose fuze.
• Leucht geschoss or Lg. – German term for illuminating or blinding shell.
• Leuchtspur – German term for tracer shell.
• LG (Large Grain) – British designation for coarse-grain explosive.
• LRBA (Long Range Bombardment Ammunition) – Unguided subcaliber shells with extended range.
• LRLAP (Long Range Land Attack Projectiles) – Advanced type of extended-range shells.
• mh, mhb, or m.Hb (German mit Haube) – German designation for shells with a ballistic cap.
• MCS – Modular Charge System.
• MACS – Modular Artillery Charge System.
• Mle (Modèle) – French abbreviation for “model,” typically followed by the design year; used in shell, cannon, and artillery designations.
• MNLF/2P/M08 – (Nitroguanidine, Nitroglycerin, and Nitrocellulose) – Modern British designation for propellant explosives.
• MPT (Multi-Purpose Tracer) – Tracer fragmentation shell with an incendiary charge in place of a fuze.
• NACO (Navy Cool single-base propellant) – U.S. designation for explosives with lower combustion temperatures, used by the U.S. Navy.
• Nb.gr. (Nebelgranate) – German designation for smoke shell.
• OEA (Obus Explosif en Acier) – French abbreviation for fragmentation shells.
• OEcl (Obus Eclairant) – French abbreviation for shrapnel shells.
• OI (Obus Incendiare) – French abbreviation for incendiary shells.
• OPf or OPF RC (French Obus de Perforation or Obus de Perforation de Rupture Coiffé) – French abbreviation for armor-piercing shells with a ballistic pointed tip.
• OPfK (Obus de Perforation dispositif “K”) – French abbreviation for armor-piercing shells with a ballistic pointed tip and paint for impact marking.
• IM – Insensitive munitions, resistant to impact.
• Pdr. (Pound) – British designation for shells measured in pounds; 1 pound = 0.453 kg.
• Pfeilgeschoss – German designation for a fragmenting shell with a stabilizer.
• PFHE (Proximity Fuzed High Explosive) – Fragmentation shell with a proximity fuze.
• PPHE – Shell with a timed fuze and pre-formed fragments.
• Psgr. (Panzersprenggranate) – German designation for an armor-piercing shell.
• RA – Rocket-assisted projectile.
• RAP (Rocket Assisted Projectile) – Rocket-assisted shell.
• RDX – Cyclonite or RDX, a high-energy explosive.
• RDX/BWK–91/9 – British explosive composed of 91% RDX and 9% beeswax.
• PGK (Precision Guidance Kit) – Kit for precision guidance.
• RFG (Reactive Fuel Grain) – Fine-grained explosive used in fragmentation and illuminating shells.
• SAP (Semi-Armor Piercing) – Semi-armor-piercing shell.
• SAL – Semi-active laser-guided.
• SAPBC or CapCPBC (Semi-Armor Piercing Ballistic) – British abbreviation for semi-armor-piercing shells with a cast steel body, an explosive charge, and a ballistic cap.
• SAPER (Semi-Armor Piercing Extended Range) – Semi-armor-piercing shell with extended range.
• SAPHE (Semi-Armor Piercing High-Explosive) – Semi-armor-piercing high-explosive shell.
• SAPHEI (Semi-Armor Piercing High-Explosive Incendiary) – Semi-armor-piercing high-explosive incendiary shell.
• SAPHEI-T (Semi-Armor Piercing High-Explosive Incendiary with Tracer) – Semi-armor-piercing high-explosive incendiary tracer shell.
• SAPOM (Semi-Armor Piercing OTO Munition) – Semi-armor-piercing shell manufactured by OTO Melara.
• SMK (Smoke) – British abbreviation for marked smoke shell.
• SMK BE (Smoke Bottom End) – British abbreviation for marked smoke shell with a bottom ejection.
• SP – For self-propelled systems.
• SPDB (Smokeless Powder with Blend of Diphenylamine) – U.S. designation for explosive mixtures stabilized with diphenylamine, sometimes followed by a development number.
• Spgr. Bdz. or Spr.gr. Bdz. (Sprenggranate mit Bodenzünder) – German designation for fragmentation shells with a base fuze.
• Spgr. Kz. or Spr.gr. Kz (Sprenggranate mit Kopfzünder) – German designation for fragmentation shells with a nose fuze.
• Spgr. Bdz u. Kz or Spr.gr. Bdz u. Kz (Sprenggranate mit Bodenzünder und Kopfzünder) – German designation for fragmentation shells with both base and nose fuzes.
• Sprengladung – German term for explosive charge.
• SS (Shrapnel Shell) – British abbreviation for shrapnel shells.
• TNF (Trinitrophenol) – Trinitrophenol, also known as picric acid, an explosive compound known as melinite, lydite, pertite, picrite, ecrasite, or shimose in various countries.
• TNT (Trinitrotoluene) – Trinitrotoluene or TNT, a high-brisance explosive.
• TP-T (Surface) – Target or practice tracer shell.
• VL (Visible Light Illumination) – Illuminating shell.
• WP (White Phosphorous) – Smoke shells filled with white phosphorus.

Color Based on Primary Use

Ammunition elements are primarily painted to prevent rust. Colors are used for camouflage, identifying the primary use of the item, and determining hazardous fillers used in ammunition. These are the colors that indicate the primary use of ammunition.

Shell Markings:

• Yellow – High-explosive (HE)
• Brown – Low-explosive
• Gray – Chemical
• Light Green – Smoke-producing
• Light Red – Incendiary
• White – Illuminating/Pyrotechnic
• Black – Armor-piercing
• Aluminum (silver) – Countermeasure
• Blue – Practice

The most commonly used color for shell painting is dark olive, which is solely for camouflage and has no additional meaning. However, specific markings, such as yellow on the shell, indicate an HE shell.

Colored Bands on Shells

Bands are typically used to identify component types within ammunition. In some cases, the band color indicates primary usage.

Band Colors and Their Meanings:

• Yellow – High-explosive action (HE). Chemical elements are used to rupture the casing, disperse smoke mixtures, toxic chemicals, or scatter anti-personnel mines.
• Brown – Contains low-explosive charge. Used for target practice or payload removal.
• Dark Green – Contains toxic chemical agent.
• Dark Red – Contains riot control agent.
• Purple – Contains inert chemical agent.
• White – Indicates illuminating munition.
• Black – On HE shells, indicates armor-piercing.

Combining Color Codes

Some ammunition types may use multiple color codes on a single shell to define primary usage, component type, and hazardous materials. Example:

1. Base Color: Light green indicates the primary use is smoke-producing.
2. Yellow Band: Indicates the item contains an explosive charge.
3. Markings: Light red markings indicate incendiary effect.

If you combine your knowledge of color codes with what you’ve learned about markings, you can fully identify this item. It’s a 155mm howitzer smoke shell filled with white phosphorus (WP), with HE fragmentation.

Codes of all military product manufacturers available at the link: MIL-HDBK-1461

1. Setting up the PAB 2M and orienting it is no different from usual. Accordingly, we finish by positioning the compass to face the main firing direction (FD), with the red scales reset to zero.

Pay attention to the FD. If you’ve chosen an FD for the gun (in mils 64-00), you need to convert it to thousandths for the compass. This can be done in the Kropyva software or by dividing mils by 1.067 (the exact number is 1.06666666667).

Example: FD mils 15-00 / 1.067 = 14-06 thousands.

Thus, the FD on the compass will show 14-06 on the black scales, with the red scales reset to zero.

2. Align the compass to the panorama and subtract the red scale readings from 30 if they are less than 30-00. If the readings are greater than 30-00, subtract them from 90.

3. Convert the obtained values back to mils, using Kropyva, or by multiplying by 1.067.

Then, proceed as usual. Provide the adjusted data to the gunner after the calculation.

Example 1: Compass goniometer reading 5-43
30-00 — 5-43 = 24-57
24-57 × 1.067 = 26-22 to aim in the compass

Example 2: Compass goniometer reading 35-43
90-00 — 35-43 = 54-57
54-57 × 1.067 = 58-23 to aim in the compass