High-explosive ammunition is used to destroy or cause casualties to enemy personnel, emplacements, and vehicles. High-explosive ammunition causes damage by blast, fire, and fragmentation of the metal body.

SMOKE, WHITE PHOSPHORUS (WP) AMMUNITION

White phosphorus ammunition is used for smoke screening, casualty-producing, incendiary (burning) action, and signaling. The WP rounds cause material damage by fire when the white phosphorus burns.

ILLUMINATING AMMUNITION

Illuminating ammunition contains a flare attached to a parachute and is used for battlefield illumination and signaling.

TRAINING PRACTICE (TP) AMMUNITION

This type of ammunition is used for target practice firing. The training practice (TP) round is used for training mortar crews in the handling and firing of live ammunition. This round is similar to the high-explosive round, but it does not have a high-explosive filler in the body. It has only a small spotting charge to mark the point where the round hits the ground.

TRAINING AMMUNITION

The training round is provided for training mortar crews in loading and firing the mortar. This round is completely inert and has no fuze. The propelling charge for the training round cannot be varied. This round is fired on training ranges at reduced distances. It is propelled only by an ignition cartridge up to a range of 275 meters.

IDENTIFICATION OF AMMUNITION

All mortar rounds are painted to prevent rust and to provide an easy means of identification. The color of the body identifies the classification of the round according to tactical use. The information stenciled on the round provides detailed information concerning that particular round.

Color codes of ammunition have been modified by NATO agreement. Until ammunition manufactured before this agreement has been expended, the user must know both codes. The old and new codes are shown in figure 14-9. Along with color codes, each round has the following information (fig. 14-10) stenciled on its body: 1. Caliber of mortar in which the round is to be fired (60 mm).

2. Type of filler (TNT, Comp B, Smoke WP, Illum).

Figure 14-10.-Markings on rounds.

3. Model of round (Cartridge M888, M49A4, M302A1, M83, etc.).

4. Ammunition lot number (AMM LOT PA-36-339). This is a number assigned to identify each group of rounds manufactured.

5. Warning label, if required. Some rounds have a warning label fixed on the body of the round. This warning label specifies the maximum propellant charge to be used when firing these rounds in the 60-mm mortar.