Soviet Satellite Country Ammunition - Communist China (Part 3)

  

 

 

Examination of Communist China Ammunition Production/Inventory

 

 

 

 

C. Artillery Ammunition

 

 

The Chinese Communists have been hard pressed to keep their diverse assortment of artillery supplied with ammunition, and are duplicating foreign rounds wherever possible.  Copies of United States 57mm, 75mm, and 105mm ammunition are being produced by the Chinese Communists, as well as all types of artillery ammunition for the many Japanese weapons, or Chinese-manufactured copies thereof.

 

In general, markings and packaging for artillery ammunition may be expected to be most inconsistent, as is the case with other kinds of Chinese Communist ammunition.  However, markings on ammunition manufactured by the Chinese Communists for Japanese weapons follow the Japanese system of World War II.

 

 

 

 

57mm Complete Round, Fixed, HE

 

 

This high-explosive round is fired from the Chinese 57mmm recoilless rifle M36 (1947) (a copy of the United States 57mm recoilless rifle T15E13) and is used principally for fragmentation effect against personnel and open emplacements.  It consists of a point-fuzed, TNT-loaded steel shell attached to a perforated steel cartridge case.  The round, which cannot be used in any other 57mm weapon, may easily be distinguished from other fixed ammunition by its pre-engraved rotating band and perforated cartridge case.

 

The rotating band has 24 lands; it is not a ring seated in the shell body, but an integral part of the body.  The pre-engraved rotating band permits firing at a lower chamber pressure, which in turn allows thinner chamber and tube walls, resulting in a lighter weapon.  The perforation of the cartridge case is a pre-requisite to elimination of recoil.  The cartridge case is attached to the shell by means of four stab-type crimps.  The body of the cartridge case is manufactured in two halves from strip steel, which is perforated, formed, and butt-welded longitudinally.  A brass stop ring encircles the cartridge case at the neck.

  

The point fuze used with this round is a single-action, instantaneous type.  The fuze body is made of aluminum.  In the fuze base is a detonator booster which, when assembled to the shell, seats in a cavity provided in the high-explosive charge.

  

The shell, which is painted yellow, has no stenciled markings.  The pre-engraved rotating band and a section extending approximately one-quarter inch forward of the rotating band are unpainted.  The perforated cartridge case is painted olive gray.

 

 

Characteristics

Caliber: 57mm (2.24 in)

Weight of complete round: 2.56kg (5.65 lbs)

Weight of projectile, as fired: 1.18kg (2.84 lbs)

Weight of projectile, w/o igniter: 0.43kg (0.96 lb)

Type of projectile filler: Cast TNT

Weight of projectile filler: 0.22kg (0.5 lb)

 

Packaging
   

This ammunition is packed in wooden cases containing five rounds.  Each round is packed in a metal container.  Three containers form the bottom layer in the box, and two, the top.  The box is of sturdy construction, usually of soft wood; it is cleated on the top, sides, and bottom, with the corners dovetailed.  The cover is permanently nailed or screwed; no hinges or hasps are used.  Rope carrying handles are attached at both ends of the box.

 

There is considerable variation in location and constituents of box markings, but the caliber designation is believed to appear with some regularity in the form of Arabic numerals, as shown above.

 

 

 

 

 

57mm Complete Round, Fixed, HEAT
    

 
This high-explosive round is fired from the Chinese 57mmm recoilless rifle M36 (1947) (a copy of the United States 57mm recoilless rifle T15E13) and is designed for use against vehicles, armored targets, and concrete or log emplacements.  The cartridge consists of a point-fuzed, TNT-loaded shell and a primed, perforated, steel cartridge case.
 

The tetryl booster pellet at the base of the projectile may be either solid, weighing 10.9 grams (0.024lb), or hollow, weighing  7.35 grams (0.016lb).  A pre-engraved rotating band having 24 lands is pressed into a seat in the shell.  The pre-engraved rotating band permits firing the round at a lower chamber pressure, which in turn allows thinner chamber and tube walls, resulting in a reduction of the rifle's weight.  The perforation of the cartridge case permits the controlled escape of the propellent gases, which pass through the chamber and then out openings in the breechlock, to eliminate recoil.
 

The body of the cartridge case is manufactured in two halves from strip steel, which is perforated, formed, and butt-welded longitudinally.  A brass stop ring encircles the cartridge case at the neck.  The base is of steel, machined to form a seat for the perforated body, and is attached to the body by ten approximately equidistant spot welds around its circumference.
 

The fuze body is made of an aluminum alloy and is usually heavy, since it also serves as the nose of the shell; the upper portion of the fuze body forms the shell's ogive and the lower, the bourrelet.  Attachment to the projectile body is accomplished by means of threads; the fuze is threaded internally to mate with the external threads on the projectile body.
 

The shell, which is painted black, has no stenciled markings.  The cartridge case has a light coating of olive-gray paint and bears no stenciled markings.

 

Characteristics

Caliber: 57mm (2.24 in)

Weight of complete round: 2.59kg (5.72 lbs)

Weight of projectile, as fired: 1.22kg (2.7 lbs)

Weight of projectile, w/o igniter: 0.45kg (1 lb)

Type of projectile filler: TNT

Weight of projectile filler: 0.15kg (0.34 lb)

 

Packaging

No picture available

 

No information is available regarding the number of cartridges to a container or the method of packing this ammunition for the field, but it is believed the same type of packaging would be used for this round as for the 57mm high-explosive recoilless rifle round.
 
 
 
 
 

D. Rockets

 

The Chinese Communist Army has received considerable quantities of Soviet rockets since the start of the Korean War in 1950.  The Army is further known to hold rockets obtained from other foreign countries.  Communist China itself currently manufactures copies of a few foreign models of rocket launchers and ammunition.  Only the rocket ammunition manufactured in significant quantity by the Chinese Communists is given detailed treatment in this section.
 

In general, Chinese Communist rocket ammunition is similar to that of other major powers.  On the whole, the rockets are of a simple and rugged design, though evincing crude workmanship.
 

The rockets are usually olive drab with yellow stenciled markings, but may also be found painted a brighter green.  Markings stenciled in yellow on the head and body presumably identify the manufacturing arsenal, type of round, explosive filler, and date of manufacture.
 

Basically, rocket packaging encountered to date resembles that for Chinese Communist mortar shells, both in construction and in markings.  So far as can be discerned, there is no close adherence to any set standard of construction or marking.  The package usually consists of a wooden box, cleated on the top, sides, and bottom, with joints and covers either glued or tarred to exclude moisture.  Covers are permanently secured with screws or nails; no hinges or hasps are used.

87mm Rocket, HEAT, Type 135
 

   

This high-explosive anti-tank spin-stabilized rocket is fired from the 87mm (3.5 inch) rocket launcher Type 135, which can be fired from the shoulder or from a bipod rest on the ground.  The launcher is similar in design to the United States 3.5 inch rocket launcher M20.  The Type 135 rocket consists of a spin-type motor with eight canted nozzles, a shaped charge head with base detonating element, and a nose fuze with split-back action.
 

The explosive portion of the rocket consists of a main charge of cast TNT, weighing 1.4 pounds, and a 30-gram booster charge of pressed tetryl located to the rear of the main charge.  The head and motor body appear to be machined from steel tubing or bar stock, and the nose or ogive is of cast iron.  Eight directional venture orifices cause the rocket to spin to the right.  The fuze found in this rocket is the same unsafe universal fuze found in the Type 241 rocket.
 

The above-illustrated rocket may be found either painted olive drab with yellow stenciled markings, or black with white stenciled markings.
 

Note. Dimensions given above for the visible length and the thread diameter of the fuze have not been verified.

 

Characteristics

Caliber: 87mm (3.5 in)

Total weight of rocket: 5.28kg (11.67 lbs)

Weight of warhead: 2.78kg (6.14 lbs)

Weight of propellant: 0.29kg (0.66 lb)

Type of warhead filler: TNT

Weight of warhead filler: 0.67kg (1.48 lbs)

Maximum velocity: 119 m/s (390 fps) (approx.)

Maximum range: ? m (? yards)

 

Packaging

   

The complete rocket is shipped, fuzed, in a cylindrical light gage, hermetically-sealed metal container.  The container bears the same stenciled markings as the rocket it holds.  The identification of the rocket by type is stenciled on the container in Arabic numerals, as shown above, and is believed to be regularly so represented.

87mm Rocket, HEAT, Type 241

 

This high-explosive anti-tank spin-stabilized rocket is fired from the 87mm (3.5 inch) rocket launcher Type 135, which can be fired from the shoulder or from a bipod rest on the ground. The launcher is similar in design to the United States 3.5 inch rocket launcher M20.
 

The Type 241 rocket resembles the United States M28A2 rocket in general appearance, but there are important differences between the two.  The Chinese rocket is about four inches shorter, has a nose fuze rather than a base fuze, contains a steel shaped charge cone rather than one of copper, and burns considerably longer out of the launcher.  The Chinese rocket consists of a motor body, nozzle, fin shroud assembly, trap, propellent spacer, adapter with wooden plug, igniter assembly, fuze, and head.
  

The motor is made of steel bar stock, rough machined inside and out.  The fin shroud assembly is made of thin welded steel tubing; it surrounds and is joined to the nozzle by four struts, which are punched from thin sheet steel in two pieces and fixed by spot welding.  The adapter acts as a motor closure and joins the head to the motor.  The head section consists of an ogive, nose adapter, head body, shaped charge cone, flash tube, detonator, booster, and main charge.  The fuze is a point initiating spit-back type which activates a "pick-up" detonator located in the rear of the main charge.
 

This rocket may be found painted either olive drab with yellow stenciled markings, or black with white stenciled markings.

 

Characteristics

Caliber: 87mm (3.5 in)

Total weight of rocket: 3.8kg (8.42 lbs)

Weight of warhead: 1.9kg (4.28 lbs)

Weight of propellant: 0.17kg (0.38 lb)

Type of warhead filler: TNT

Weight of warhead filler: 0.56kg (1.3 lbs)

Maximum velocity: ? m/s (? fps)

Maximum range: ? m (? yards)

 

Packaging
 

No picture available
 

Information on packaging of this round is not available.



 

102mm Rocket, HE, Type A3

 

This high-explosive rocket is believed to be fired from the 102mm six-tube truck-drawn rocket launcher (believed to be Type 505).  It is similar in general design to the now obsolete United States 4.5 inch M8 rocket used during World War II.  The complete round consists of the motor body, warhead, tail section, and fuze.
 

The motor body, which contains the propellant, is a steel tube 4 inches in diameter and 18.38 inches long; it is threaded internally at the head end and externally at the nozzle end.  The internal threads at the head end of the motor body extend into the body far enough to hold the threaded propellent charge retaining plate.
 

The one-piece warhead, filled with loose and cast TNT, is apparently a casting.  The rear of the head is threaded externally, for attachment to the motor body.  The fin assembly consists of a formed ring to which six folding blades are hinged on a welded wire ring.  In the collapsed or inoperative position, the fins fold forward to pass freely through the launcher.  Upon emerging from the launcher, setback and air drag cause the fins to open outwardly in a position perpendicular to the body.  The fin assembly is fitted to a shoulder at the end of the nozzle expansion cone and is retained by flaring the nozzle and by four spot welds to the nozzle.
 

The fuze is a simple point detonating fuze, threaded for attachment to the head of the rocket.  This rocket is painted olive drab, with yellow stenciled markings.

 

Characteristics

Caliber: 102mm (4.01 in)

Total weight of rocket: 15.8kg (37.05 lbs)

Weight of warhead: 4.8kg (10.68 lbs)

Weight of propellant: 2.5kg (5.52 lb)

Type of warhead filler: TNT

Weight of warhead filler: 1.25kg (2.76 lbs)

Maximum velocity: ? m/s (? fps)

Maximum range: ? m (? yards)

 

Packaging

   

Each complete round is packed in a box constructed of soft wood.  Three rows of cleats strengthen the box and allow for ventilation when stacked.  Each end has a single cleat to which a rope handle of 1/2-inch thickness is attached.  The rocket is supported within the box by a wooden nose piece of 1 and 1/2-inch thickness.
 

Two rows of 1/8-inch felt material are fixed to the inside of the box as cushions.  A compartment at the fin end of the rocket houses a fuze in a metal container with a threaded cap.  The identification of the rocket is marked on the box is Arabic numerals and letters of the English alphabet, as shown above.




 

E. Pyrotechnics
 

Communist China does manufacture signal cartridges locally, although Soviet and United States signal cartridges are also utilized.  That the Chinese Communists sometimes reload fired signal cartridge cases was shown by the recovery in Korea of reloaded cases of Soviet manufacture; whether this is a common practice is not known.
 

The Chinese, who were probably the first in the world to manufacture fireworks, still make great use of signal rockets which are not unlike those used for pyrotechnic displays in the United States.  Most of those encountered so far have apparently been made in small workshops or improvised, since there does not appear to be any standard of manufacture in regard to materials or size.  As an example, newspaper is frequently used for wadding.  Illuminating shells for mortars and artillery weapons are also used.
 

The inconsistencies in construction and marking of packaging already met in the other kinds of Chinese Communist ammunition probably also hold true for pyrotechnics.


 

25.5mm Signal Cartridges
  

 

These cartridges are used in pyrotechnic pistols for signaling purposes.  Although the Chinese call them 25.5mm cartridges, they are believed to be interchangeable with Soviet 26mm and German 27mm signal cartridges.  Some cartridges bear horizontal color bands on the paper body, showing the color of the signal, and some may be entirely colored, as No.3 above.
 

Primers have various coloring which may have no relationship to the color of the signal, as in cartridge No.3 above.  The cartridges also have embossed dots on their top wads for identification at night, but not definite code system can be determined for these dots at present.
 

Marked on the cartridge body, in order from top to base, are: the color of the signal, the nomenclature of the cartridge, the designation of the manufacturing arsenal, and the date of manufacture.
 

The following identification has been give to the above-illustrated cartridges:

1. Green single star

2. Red single star

3. White single star

 

Characteristics

Caliber: 25.5mm (1.003 in)

Weight of cartridge: 40gm (617.3 grams) (average)
 

Color:

-Cartridge 1: Green

-Cartridge 2: Red   

-Cartridge 3: White
 

Type: Single Star
 

Burning time:

-Cartridge 1: 7.5 seconds

-Cartridge 2: 5.7 seconds

-Cartridge 3: 8.7 seconds

Method of actuation: Fired from pyrotechnic pistol

Packaging

No picture available 
 

Information on packaging of these cartridges is not available.

 Next Time: Czechoslovakia

Soviet Satellite Country Ammunition - Communist China (Part 1)

 
 
 
Examination of Communist Chinese Ammunition Production/Inventory



 

Communist China

 

Perhaps the most evident generality descriptive of Chinese Communist ammunition is that it is a heterogeneity of foreign designs.  Ninety percent of all weapons and ammunition in use are of foreign manufacture.

At the conclusion of World War II, quantities of Japanese ammunition fell into Chinese Communist hands; later, in the struggle for control of the Chinese mainland, a goal attained in 1949, large Chinese Nationalist stocks were captured and Nationalist arsenals were seized.  Arsenals originally built by the Japanese for their own use continued to produce Japanese ammunition under the Nationalists and their successors, the Chinese Communists.  Soviet ammunition was received in increasing quantities from the start of the Korean War in 1950, and, with captured United States ammunition, was a mainstay of the Chinese Communist war effort in Korea.
 

Over the years, ammunition of British, Swedish, French, Italian, and German origin also found its way into China in varying amounts, and is now in Communist depots.
 

The Chinese Communists have striven to construct new armament plants, and to rebuild and expand the former Nationalist arsenals, which are now their major native source of munitions; the Soviets have assisted them by providing equipment and technical advice.  When, or whether, the native industry will attain a production capacity that will free Communist China of dependence on imported munitions, is not know.  This matter would involved industrial proportions that are not apt to be realized in the neat future, however.
 

For some years to come, then, Chinese Communist Army ammunition probably will be of foreign origin to a large extent, with the most important supplier continuing to be the USSR.  Ammunition of Chinese Communist manufacture is expected to become increasingly significant, and is likely to consist almost entirely of straight or modified copies of foreign designs, again most commonly displaying Soviet influence.
 

 At present, the quality of the native products is erratic - sometimes good, sometimes poor.  There are a variety of reasons for the shortcomings, among them: Loose manufacturing standards; lack of an adequate force of skilled workers; unsatisfactory machinery; and shortages of raw materials.  Deficient packaging is not unusual, and frequently results in serious deterioration of originally undefective contents.  Efforts to improve quality will most certainly be made, and in time will probably succeed.

 

Glossary of Chinese terms

  






A. Small Arms Ammunition
 


Although Communist China has sufficient manufacturing facilities to fill her peacetime requirements for small arms ammunition, the Korean War showed that the country could not produce the quantities needed in wartime.  The Chinese Communists used Soviet and captured U.S. ammunition extensively in Korea.

China has manufactured United States .45 cal M1911 pistol cartridges and .30 cal M2 ball ammunition in the past, but no specimens definitely proven to be of Chinese Communist origin have been recovered.  Reports of the rebarreling of .30 cal weapons to 7.92mm suggest that the Chinese may be standardizing on 7.92mm rifles and machineguns.

Standardization between China and the USSR is limited in the field of small arms.  The Chinese Communists manufacture copies of both the Soviet 7.62mm Model PPSh-41 submachinegun and the Soviet 7.62mm Model TT1933 pistol, which they call the Type 50 and Type 51, respectively.  They also manufacture ammunition for these weapons.  They are not known to manufacture any other Soviet types of weapons or ammunition in the small arms class.

Two types of Chinese-made cartridges which are not covered in detail in this pamphlet are the 7.92mm reduced-charge cartridge and the 7.92mm conical-nosed ball.  The reduced-charge cartridge, except for its lighter propellent charge, is the same as the standard 7.92mm pointed ball.  It was manufactured specifically for certain Chinese-made Czech ZB-26's which, being constructed of inferior metal, could not withstand the pressures of the standard cartridges.  The conical-nosed 7.92mm ball is modeled on the German M1888 ball and is intended for the German M1888 service rifle and Chinese copies of that weapon.  Its propellent charge is lighter than that of the standard 7.92mm pointed ball, and its bullet diameter is smaller: 0.318 inch, as opposed to 0.323 inch for the pointed ball.  The pointed ball should not be fired in the M1888 rifle.  These cartridges are not believed to be sued in significant quantities.

The Chinese Nationalists and, in turn, the Chinese Communists continued the manufacture of ammunition types originally produced in China under the Japanese, and apparently also retained the Japanese color marking system for identification.  The Japanese color code for small arms ammunition is as follows:

Ball --- Pink/Salmon
Tracer --- Green
Armor-Piercing --- Black
Incendiary --- Magenta
High-Explosive --- Purple
Blanks --- Wooden or Paper bullets


Chinese Communist small arms ammunition packaging is notable only for its lack of uniformity.  Wooden packing boxes may vary widely in size, zinc or galvanized steel containers may or may not be used; inside the package, the rounds may be in cardboard containers of varying size, or may be loose, with or without clips or feed strips.

Packaging type and quality apparently depend on what happens to be available at the arsenal of manufacture.  In general, the packaging is of poor quality by United States standards, and it did not stand up well through the Korean War.  Water-soaked and corroded cartridges in unbroken Chinese packaging were commonplace in Korea.  An attempt was frequently made to waterproof boxes by the caulking of joints and tops but, because of an apparent lack of definite system or standards, the results were poor.

The Chinese Communists repacked significant quantities of captured ammunition, such as United States .30 cal.  No attempt was made to repack the United States cartridges by type or by headstamp.  A repacked box might, for example, contain a mixture of .30 cal ball, AP, and tracer cartridges produced at varying dates by different manufacturers.  Some of the rounds in the same box might even show signs of having been reloaded by the Chinese.
 

The markings on small arms ammunition boxes vary greatly.  Arabic or Chinese numerals, English or Chinese words, may be used.  One box may show extensive information about the contents; the next may show very little.  Markings often differ widely even between boxes containing the same caliber and type of ammunition.  The illustration below portrays only one of the many markings methods that are found.  The most consistently used symbols are those identifying the box contents by caliber and type number.





6.5mm Ball Cartridge, Type 38
 

This cartridge of Japanese design was continued in manufacture by the Chinese after World War II.  It is used in the Type 38 rifle, the Type 44 carbine, and the machineguns Type 3, Type 11, Type 91, and Type 96.  Ball cartridges usually have a red annulus at the junction of the bullet and cartridge case.  Chinese headstamps usually indicate the arsenal mark, the year and the month of manufacture, and occasionally the caliber.


Characteristics

Caliber: 6.5mm (.256 cal)
Weight of cartridge: 20.97g (323.61 gr)
Weight of case: 9.92g (153.09 gr)
Weight of bullet: 8.79g (135.65 gr)
Weight of propellant: 2.15g (33.18 gr)
Length of cartridge: 75.4mm (2.97 in)
Lenght of case: 50.5mm (1.99 in)
Lenght of bullet: 32.5mm (1.28 in)


Packaging
 

    
This ammunition is packed in 500-round and 600-round quantities.  For the 500-round package, one hundred 5-round clips of ammunition are packed loosely in a sealed galvanized metal container, which in turn is placed in a wooden box.  For the 600-round package, there are 15 rounds to a cardboard carton, 14 cartons to a sealed metal container, and one such container to a wooden box.  The markings on the wooden boxes may vary greatly in both in location and in the individual symbols used; however, unchanging symbols either for the caliber or the type of round normally appear somewhere on the box, and will serve to identify its contents.  These constant symbols are shown above, with other characteristics of the packaging.




7.62mm Ball Pistol Cartridge, Type (50?)

This cartridge is interchangeable with the Soviet 7.62mm Type P pistol cartridge, the Czech 7.62mm pistol cartridge, and the 7.63mm Mauser automatic pistol cartridge.  Chinese Communist forces use these cartridges in their Type 50 submachinegun and Type 51 automatic pistol, which are copies of the Soviet PPSh-41 submachine gun and TT1933 automatic pistol.  All of these cartridges are also used in the original Soviet weapons and in the Soviet PPS-43 submachineguns.  Cases are brass with a Berdan primer.  Base markings indicate manufacturing arsenal, lot number, and date of manufacture.


Characteristics

Caliber: 7.62mm (.30 cal)
Weight of cartridge: 10.68g (165 gr)
Weight of case: 4.5g (70 gr)
Weight of bullet: 5.5g (86 gr)
Weight of propellant: 0.58g (9 gr)
Length of cartridge: 34mm (1.36 in)
Lenght of case: 24mm (0.97 in)
Lenght of bullet: 14mm (0.55 in)


Packaging

No Markings Available

Information on packaging of this round is not available.





7.7mm Semi-Rimmed Ball Cartridge, Type 92

Manufacture of this Japanese-designed cartridge was continued by the Chinese after World War II.  It is used in the Type 92 heavy machinegun.  The ball cartridge usually has a red annulus at the junction of the bullet and cartridge case.  Base markings usually give year and month of manufacture, manufacturer's symbol or number, and sometimes caliber.


Characteristics

Caliber: 7.7mm (.303 cal)
Weight of cartridge: 27.78g (428.75 gr)
Weight of case: 11.34g (175 gr)
Weight of bullet: 13.32g (205.63 gr)
Weight of propellant: 2.86g (44.18 gr)
Length of cartridge: 79.5mm (3.13 in)
Length of case: 57.6mm (2.27 in)
Length of bullet: 35mm (1.39 in)


Packaging

Three different methods of packaging this cartridge have been encountered.  It has been found in a 560-round wooden box, details on the interior packing of which are lacking.  There is also a 600-round wooden box which holds 20 cardboard containers, each enclosing 1 Hotchkiss-type machinegun clip of 30 rounds.  Thirdly, a 1,380-round wooden box contains 92 cardboard packets, each holding three 5-round clips.  Although there is considerable variation in the marking of these boxes, consistent use is made of a symbol broadly identifying the contents by type.  This constant marking, which is shown above, is ordinarily found among other groups of characters, and is apparently placed on the box in whatever location suits the marker.



7.7mm Rimless Ball Cartridge, Type 99

This cartridge is used in Japanese 7.7mm Type 99 rifle and in the Japanese Type 92, Type 99, and Type 1 machineguns.  The cartridge is of Japanese design, but the Chinese are believed to have continued its manufacture after World War II.  The Japanese color marking for the round is a red-colored annulus at the junction of the bullet and the cartridge case.  These cartridges may be found in 5-round clips, or in 30-round feed strips for machineguns.


Characteristics

Caliber: 7.7mm (.303 cal)
Weight of cartridge: 26.93g (415.63 gr)
Weight of case: 11.9g (183.75 gr)
Weight of bullet: 12.47g (192.5 gr)
Weight of propellant: 2.67g (41.13 gr)
Length of cartridge: 79.5mm (3.13 in)
Length of case: 57.6mm (2.27 in)
Length of bullet: 31.2mm (1.23 in)


Packaging

Examination of various types of Communist Chinese packaging has disclosed inconsistent location of markings and considerable variation of identifying symbols even on similar boxes for the same item.  As a rule, however, constant symbols affording general identification of the contents by caliber and type appear on small arms ammunition boxes.  The symbol shown above is thought to be the constant symbol that would normally appear on packaging for this round.




7.92mm Ball Cartridge, Type ?

This cartridge still is manufactured by the Chinese Nationalists, as well as by the Chinese Communists.  It can be fired from any weapon chambered for 7.92mm x 57mm rimless ammunition, and is used by the Chinese Communists in a motley assortment of foreign-designed rifles and machineguns.

During World War II, the cartridge was manufactured in large quantities by the United States.  The United States-made rounds are distinguished by the character below on the base, and by having Boxer-type primers rather than Berdan type used in cartridges of Chinese, Japanese, and European manufacture.

 
A reduced-charge version of the round also was made; it was intended for some early Chinese copies of the Czech ZB 26 light machinegun which were constructed of inferior metal.

To date, all cartridges cases found for this round have been of brass.  Cartridge case base markings are stamped, and usually consist of a symbol for the manufacturing arsenal, a date (month and year) of manufacture, and occasionally the Arabic numerals "79," indicating the caliber.  Because of the many manufacturers of the ammunition, a correspondingly wide variation in headstamps may be encountered.


Characteristics

Caliber: 7.92mm (.311 cal)
Weight of cartridge: 25.5g (394 gr)
Weight of case: 12g (185 gr)
Weight of bullet: 10.5g (162 gr)
Weight of propellant: 3g (47 gr)
Length of cartridge: 80mm (3.14 in)
Length of case: 57mm (2.24 in)
Length of bullet: 29mm (1.16 in)


Packaging

This ammunition has been found in three kinds of packaging.  A 500-round wooden box holds one sealed, galvanized metal container, within which are 10 layers of cartridges loaded in 5-round clips; each layer is seperated from the next by a cardboard sheet, and comprises ten 5-round clips.  A 560-round wooden box contains 28 cardboard boxes, each holding 20 rounds individually seperated by a cardboard divider.  Finally, a 1,000-round wooden box encloses a sealed, galvanized metal container in which the cartridges are packed loosely.  The markings on the three types of packaging differ greatly from box to box, bu the symbols shown above appear among the markings quite consistently and may serve to identify the box contents broadly as 7.92mm ammunition.

Next Time: Communist Chinese Mortar Ammunition