U.S. Military Ammunition Markings

U.S. Military Ammunition Markings

(Updated 23 November 2012)

References:

MM2597 – Interpreting Ammunition Markings and Color Codes (1~ MB PDF)
MIL-STD-709C – Military Standard, Ammunition Color Coding – 6 May 1976 (730~ kb PDF)
MIL-STD-709C Notice 1– Military Standard, Ammunition Color Coding – 7 February 1980 (89~ kb PDF)
MIL-STD-709C Notice 2 – Military Standard, Ammunition Color Coding – 28 September 1984 (271~ kb PDF)

Why do military projectiles have these markings?

1.) So that vehicle crews can easily identify them by type when they are stowed in a combat vehicle, as this photo indicates:

Stowed 155mm Artillery Shells in an Israeli Defense Forces AFV.

2.) For general EOD/safety purposes; so that precautions can be taken for that specific type of shell.

Special Band Markings
Marking	Color	Remarks
Diamonds	White	Flechette Ammunition
Diamonds	Yellow	Improved Conventional Munitions (ICM)
Triangles	Yellow	Mass Scatterable Mines (FASCAM)
Interrupted/Broken Band	Yellow	Explosive Binary Munitions (Band is 0.5 inch segments separated by 0.5 inch gaps)
Interrupted/Broken Band	Dark Green	Toxic Binary Chemical Agent (Band is 0.5 inch segments separated by 0.5 inch gaps)
Double Band	Yellow	Thermally-Insulated Bombs

Base Document: MIL-STD-709C (6 May 1976) Revisions: 7 February 1980 and 28 September 1984
Color	Federal Standard	HTML Code	Remarks
Olive Drab Green	FS 34087	#6d6a3a	No Significance at all; just camouflage.
Yellow	FS 33538 Orange Yellow	#edb402	Identifies High Explosive (HE) ammunition or indicates the presence of a high explosive.
Brown	FS 30117 or FS 30140	#78553f or #735440	Identifies low explosive items or components or indicates the presence of a low explosive; such rocket propellant.
Gray	FS 36231 Dark Gull Gray	#71787e	Identifies chemical ammunition containing a toxic chemical, incapacitating or riot control agent.
Light Red	FS 31158	#b94546	Identifies incendiary ammunition or indicates the presence of highly flammable material (liquids, jellies, solids), designed to produce damage by fire.
Dark Red	FS 31136 Insignia Red	#8f1700	Identifies a riot control agent filler.
Light Green	FS 34558 or FS 34449	#b6cfa8 or #9db895	Identifies screening or marking smoke ammunition.
Dark Green	FS 34108 Medium Green	#28553e	Identifies a toxic chemical agent filler.
Violet	FS 17100 Purple	#652f63	Identifies an incapacitating agent filler.
Black	FS 37038 Black	#232227	Identifies an armor defeating ammunition or indicates an armor defeating capability.
Silver/Aluminum	FS 17178	#b4bcbe	Identifies countermeasure ammunition (e.g. radar echo, leaflets).
White	FS 37875 Insignia White	#eff5e7	Identifies illuminating ammunition or ammunition designed to produce a colored light.
Light Blue	FS 35109 Dark Blue	#365873	Identifies practice ammunition.
Orange	FS 32246	#da3b01	May be used to identify ammunition used for tracking and recovery in tests or in training operations (e.g. underwater mines and torpedoes.)
Bronze/Gold/Brass	FS 17043	#a69d52	Identifies completely inert ammunition designed for use in activities such as assembly, testing, handling, drills, etc., and not designed to be delivered in a delivery system.
NOTES: The following colors when applied as stated below have no color coding significance: 1.) Colors GRAY, BLACK, GREEN or WHITE on underwater ammunition. 2.) Color WHITE on guided missiles, dispensers and rocket launchers. 3.) Colors BLACK or WHITE when used for lettering or special marking. 4.) Colors specifically applied to identify the color produced by smoke ammunition or pyrotechnics. 5.) Unpainted or natural color ammunition. 6.) Color GRAY on air-launched missiles (added 7 February 1980 revision).

Color Combinations Bare Projectile Diagram (17~ kb PNG) Projectile Paint Shop Pro Template (98~ kb PSPImage)
Picture	Base Color	Band	Markings (Text)	Remarks
	Olive Drab Green	None	White	Anti-Personnel (Canister)
	Olive Drab Green	None	Yellow	High Explosive (HE)
	Olive Drab Green	Black	Yellow	High Explosive Plastic (HEP)
	Black	None	Yellow	High Explosive, Anti-Tank (HEAT) or Armor Piercing, With Burster Charge
	Black	None	White	Armor Piercing (without Burster Charge) AP, APDS, APDFS, HVAP
	Grey	Dark Red	Dark Red	Chemical, Riot Control Agent (Left: Without HE Burster) (Right: With HE Burster)
	Grey	Violet	Violet	Chemical, Incapacitating Agent (Left: Without HE Burster) (Right: With HE Burster)
	Dark Blue	None	White	Practice, Non-Explosive
	Dark Blue	Brown	White	Practice, Low-Explosive
	Bronze Gold Brass	None	White	Drill, Non-Explosive (Used for check and fit, cannot be fired)
	Aluminum	None	Black	Countermeasures (Leaflets) (Left: Without Burster) (Right: With LE Burster)
	Light Green	Yellow	Light Red	Smoke Shell, White Phosphorous
	White	None	Black	Illuminating Round Fixed Loading Projectile
	Olive Drab	White	White	Illuminating Round Separate Loading Projectile
	Light Red	None	Black	Incendiary Round