MIL-STD-1168

The MIL-STD-1168 is a set of standard codes used to identify ammunition. It was designed to replace the previous confusing Ammunition Identification Code (AIC) system used by the US Army Ordnance Corps.

MIL-STD-1168 (The "Old Standard") [1949-1975]

This system used two designation codes.

The Federal Stock Number (FSN) was an 11-digit code number indicating the contents and composition of the package. The first four digits comprise the Federal Stock Composition Group, the Type and Family the item belongs to.

The Department of Defense Identification Code (DODIC) is an alphanumeric code designation for the item. It starts with a code letter and is followed by a 3-digit code number.

Lot Code

The Lot number is in the format of: LL-NN-NNN In this example, "L" stands for Letter and "N" stands for Number.

The first two or three letters were for the Manufacturer’s Code. Each manufacturer had a code designation.

The next two digits were the “Interfix Number”. This indicates the batch the lot was part of, allowing the Lot Sequence Number to be reused later. It is numbered from 01 to 99.

The last digits were the serial number, called the Lot Sequence Number. This could be 3 or more digits long.

For example let's say Amalgamated Bio-Carbon (code ABC) makes a shipment of 40mm low-velocity grenade shells. The lot is Batch #12, Item #345. The Lot Code would be ABC-12-345.

Ammunition Crates

Ammunition crates were marked with the FSN and DODIC along the top of the front panel. Early crates from 1949 to 1956 also included the alphanumeric Ammunition Identification Code in the upper right corner. The weight in pounds and volume in cubic feet were stamped in the lower left corner. The Lot Code was stamped in the lower right corner. The text in the center of the front panel detailed the amount and type of contents the crate contained.

Ammunition Boxes

Each ammunition box was marked with the FSN and DODIC along the upper part of the box. It also was embossed with the ammunition designation and type (i.e., 5.56mm NATO M193 BALL), and there were symbols indicating packing method (linked, clips or cartons; bandoleers or containers).

Ammunition

Machinegun ammo was designated by manufacturers with an extra code letter. It was either added as a letter code between the Manufacturer's Code and the Interfix Number or as a prefix or suffix to the Lot Sequence Number.

Foreign Manufacturers
Foreign manufacturers added a letter code prefix to their Lot Sequence Number.

MIL-STD-1168A (The "New Standard") [1976-1998]

The FSN was replaced in 1976 by the National Stock Number, a 13-digit code number. The first 4 digits comprise the Federal Stock Composition Group, which indicates the group and class of materials it is.

Lot Number

The Lot number is in the format of: LL - NN - L - NN - NNNL In this example, "L" stands for Letter and "N" stands for Number.

The first section (LL or LLL) is the manufacturer’s code, which is two or three letters long.

The second section (NNL) is the date code. This consists of the last two digits of the year of manufacture and a letter suffix indicating the month of production:

Letter Month Letter Month Letter Month Letter Month
A January D April G July K October
B February E May H August L November
C March F June J September M December

The letter "I" is omitted because it might be mistaken for the numeral "1" or the letter "J". The letter "O" is omitted because it might be mistaken for the numeral "0".

Following the date code is the third section: the Interfix Number (NN), which can be 2 or more digits long. This indicates the batch of material the item belongs to.

The last section is the Lot Sequence Number (NNN-L), which is 3 or more digits long. This is the sequential serial number of the lot. A single-letter alphabetic suffix may be added to the Lot Sequence Number for various reasons. The item may have been made on a different machine or production line than the rest of the batch or a portion of the batch was found defective by quality control.

As an example of a lot number would be: FA-77-A-123-456A. This would mean that contractor Frankfort Arsenal made the item in January, 1977 and that it was rework "A" of the 456th lot of the 123rd batch. If a second rework had been performed on the lot, the code would have been FA-77-A-123-456B.

MIL-STD-1168B (The "Ammunition Lot Numbering and Ammunition Data Card") [1998-2014]

This merged the standards for MIL-STD-1167 (Ammunition Data Cards) and MIL-STD-1168 (Ammunition Lot Numbering) into one standard for both systems. Unlike previous iterations that used dashes between the sections, the new system only puts a dash between the Interfix and Lot Sequence numbers. Lot codes are between 13 and 16 symbols long.

In this system, the 3-digit Interfix Number would be the key to the Lot Code. It would be used for the same or similar products manufactured at the same time on the same production lines at the same facility. The Interfix Number would be differenced by the 3-digit lot sequence numbers set aside for each item.

The system still uses the same 2- or 3-letter Manufacturing Code, 2-digit Year of Production, and alphabetic Month of Production codes. Even if the year or month changes, the Interfix code will still remain the same until its combinations are all used up.

For example, Amalgamated Bio-Carbon (ABC) makes the M1 (Point-Detonating), M2 (Air-Burst), and M3 (Rebounding) fuzes for the 40mm Low Velocity grenade shell. They all have the 123 Interfix number but the Lot numbers are assigned in alternating blocks. The M1 Grenade shells get Lot Numbers 001, 004, and 007; the M2 shells get Lot Numbers -002, -005, and -008; and the M3 shells get Lot Numbers -003, -006, and -009. The M1 batches would be Lot Coded as ABC99L123-001 (made in November, 1999), ABC99M123-004 (made in December, 1999), and ABC00A123-007 (made in January, 2000). When those items were completed new Lot Sequence numbers in the Interfix series would be assigned.

New Interfix numbers would usually be issued when all combinations of an Interfix and Lot Number had been used up. They would also be issued for a variety of other reasons:

MIL-STD-1168C (The "Ammunition Lot Numbering and Ammunition Data Card") [2014-present]

Published 11 March 2014. The purpose of lot numbering ammunition items and creation of ammunition data cards as outlined herein is to provide the identification of homogeneous materiel necessary to ensure accurate control of items during development and experimental stages; during movement of items from production line to production line, from plant to plant, from plant to storage facilities; while at test facility or in the field; for issue to the using services; to enable the proper establishment and maintenance of surveillance records; and to provide a means for properly identifying materiel when withdrawal of defective, deteriorated, hazardous or obsolete ammunition and energetic materiel from service is required. Lot numbering and ammunition data cards also provide documentation and traceability for ammunition lots. [1]


Manufacturer's Codes

US Manufacturers

Foreign Manufacturers

References

  1. ↑ http://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=36105
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