LEARNING OBJECTIVE Recall the purpose and meaning of the ammunition lot numbering and color-coding systems.

A standard ammunition nomenclature and numbering system has been established by the Department of Defense (DOD). This system is a four-digit, alphanumeric code that will be either a DOD identification code (DODIC) assigned by the Defense Logistics Services Center (DLSC) or a Navy ammunition logistics code (NALC) assigned by the Ships Parts Control Center (SPCC). Some examples of DODIC/NALC nomenclature are as follows:

Figure 2-8.-Projectile base fuze.

AMMUNITION LOT NUMBERS

When ammunition is manufactured, an ammunition lot number is assigned according to specifications. As an essential part of the lettering, the lot number is stamped or marked on the item, size permitting, as well as on all packing containers. There are presently two ammunition lot numbering systems in the ammunition inventory. The newest lot numbering system was implemented by the Navy in 1978, so there is much ammunition still identified by the old ammunition lot numbering system. Both of these systems are described in the following paragraphs.

Current Ammunition Lot Numbering System

For all ammunition items and their components, the ammunition lot number consists of a manufacturer's identification symbol, a numeric code showing the year of production, an alpha code representing the month of production, a lot intermix number followed by a hyphen, a lot sequence number, and, when necessary, an alpha character used as an ammunition lot suffix to denote a reworked lot. The following illustrates the construction of a current ammunition lot number: AMC78D018-124B, where:

Exceptions to the foregoing system for numbering ammunition lots are given in MIL-STD 1168, section 5.

Old Ammunition Lot Numbering System

The old ammunition lot numbering system consists of the ammunition lot number (ALN) symbol, followed by a two- to three-letter prefix, a sequential lot number, a one- to three-letter manufacturer's symbol, a two-numeral group, and, on some, a lot sufiix. An example of an ALN is BE-374-HAW-75, where:

include such information as the mark and mod, the type of fuze, and the weapon in which the item is fired. Table 2-1 gives the meaning of the different color codes.

Prefix Designation. The two- to three-letter prefix designation identifies the size and type of ammunition item. A prefix designation having a final letter R denotes renovated items.

Sequential Lot Number. The one-to four-character group following the prefix indicates the sequential lot number of that particular type produced by an activity during the calendar year. This group consists of numbers 1 through 9999.

Manufacturer's Letters and Numbers. A one- to three-letter group identifies the ordnance activity that assembled the ammunition item.

Year Group. Following the manufacturer's symbols is the final numerical group, indicating the last two digits of the calendar year of assembly.

Lot Suffix. An alpha character, following the year of assembly, usually indicates that some type of special screening was performed.

Grand-Lot Designation. A grand-lot (GL) designation was assigned to serviceable remnant ammunition items of the same type after serviceability evaluation. These remnant lots are consolidated and reissued under a new ammunition lot number having a GL designation. GL ammunition is still in the supply system, but this procedure is no longer used.