Soviet Explosive Ordnance
The Soviets are known to have both ground and aircraft types of illuminant and signal pyrotechnics, in variety.
The Soviet Army uses pyrotechnic signals which are very similar in appearance and operation to the "Very" signals which formerly were used by the United States Army. These signals, which are fired from a regular pyrotechnic pistol, look like a standard shotgun shell; they have a brass base, a wrapped paper body, and a ferrous metal or cardboard closing disk known as the "identification top." The signal cartridge body is usually tan or slate in color.
The identification top is painted to correspond to the color of the stars in the cartridge, and it is embossed with either dots, bars, triangles, squares, or V's to signify the number of stars the signal will produce. This painting and embossing of the identification top form a code for positive identification of the signal cartridge during day or night operations.
Stenciled markings on one side of the body of the signal cartridges indicate the lot number, date of assembly, and the factory number.
These signals are used primarily as visual signalling devices, rather than as illuminating devices, and may appear in the form of colored lights or colored smoke. They are 26mm in caliber and vary in length from approximately three inches to approximately five inches, depending upon whether two, three, or five stars are contained within the cartridge.
Packing methods used by the Soviets for these signal cartridges are sound. The cartridges are usually packed in hermetically sealed metal containers within wooden boxes.
26mm Signal Cartridges - I
The 26mm signal cartridges are used primarily as visual signalling devices, and they are fired from pyrotechnic pistols. The cartridge has a brass base and a wrapped paper body on which printed markings appear. These markings indicate the lot number, date of assembly, and factory number.
The top disk of each cartridge is painted and embossed, to aid in day-or-night identification.
The key to the Soviet Code for signal cartridges is not known at this time; however, the above-illustrated cartridges are tentatively identified as follows:
1. Yellow - Single Star
2. Green - Single Star
3. Red - Single Star
4. Green - Type Unknown
The stampings on the brass base indicate the factory number and the date of manufacture of the cartridge case.
Characteristics
Caliber: 26mm (1.02 in)
Weight of cartridge: 56.83g (877 gr)
Color:
Cartridge 1: Yellow
Cartridge 2: Green
Cartridge 3 : Red
Cartridge 4: Green
Type:
Cartridge 1, 2, and 3: Single Star
Cartridge 4: Unknown
Burning Time:
Cartridge 1: Unknown
Cartridge 2: 8 seconds
Cartridge 3: 12 seconds
Cartridge 4: Unknown
Method of Actuation: Fire from pyrotechnic pistol
Packaging
The illustrated packing box has a capacity of 400 red signal cartridges. Within the box are four hermetically sealed cans, each containing 100 cartridges. Markings appear on each can, as well as on the box.
26mm Signal Cartridges - II
The following tentative identification has been given the above-illustrated cartridges:
1. White - Type Unknown
2. Yellow - Type Unknown
3. Green - Double Star
Characteristics
Caliber: 26mm (1.02 in)
Weight of cartridge: Unknown
Color:
Cartridge 1: White
Cartridge 2: Yellow
Cartridge 3: Green
Type:
Cartridge 1, and 2: Unknown
Cartridge 3: Double Star
Burning Time:
Cartridge 1, 2, and 3: Unknown
Method of Actuation: Fire from pyrotechnic pistol
Packaging
The illustrated packing box has a capacity of 520 green, double-star signal cartridges. Within the box are four hermetically sealed cans, each containing 130 cartridges. Markings appear on each can, as well as on the box.
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