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.
 * Small Arms Ammunition (weapons with a bore up to 30mm) are given the FSCG prefix of 1305.
 * Heavy Weapons Ammunition (weapons with a bore greater than 30mm) are given the FSCG prefixes of 1310 (30mm through 75mm), 1315 (75mm through 125mm), or 1320 (greater than 125mm).

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.
 * The Department of Defense Ammunition Code (DODAC) is an 8-symbol (7 digits and a letter) hybrid code designation. It uses the munition's four-digit Federal Supply Classification Group (the first four digits of the item's FSN) followed by its alphanumeric DODIC. It is used mostly when filling out ammunition record sheets. This is done to prevent errors and confusion during ammunition transactions.

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).

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 digits were the “Interfix Number”. This indicates the batch the lot was part of, allowing the number to be reused later.

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

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.
 * Belted ammunition (cloth ammo belt) was designated with a B.
 * Linked ammunition (disintegrating metal link ammo belt) was designated with an L.

Foreign Manufacturers

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


 * Japanese manufacturers used a J-prefix.
 * European manufacturers used an E-prefix.
 * Nationalist Chinese / Taiwanese manufacturers used a C-prefix. Taiwanese manufacturers used the Factory or Arsenal number (i.e., Factory 58 used "58") as a Manufacturing Code or cartridge headstamp.

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 (NN-L) 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:

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 letter 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-123-456-A. This would mean that contractor Frankfort Arsenal made the item in January, 1977; that it was portion "A" of the 456th item of the 123rd batch.

US Manufacturers

 * AJM and AKT Action Manufacturing Company - Bristol, PA
 * FA Frankford Arsenal - Philadelphia, PA
 * FCC Federal Cartridge Company.
 * HAW Naval Ammunition Depot Hawthorne (NADH) [1930-1976] - Hawthorne, NV: Transferred to the US Army in 1977 to become the Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant.
 * HW Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant (HWAAP) [1977-1995] / Hawthorne Army Depot (HWAD) [1996–Present] - Hawthorne, NV.
 * LC Lake City Army Ammunition Plant - Independence, MO: a sub-contractor owned by Alliant Techsystems (ATK).
 * RA Remington Arms
 * RIA Rock Island Arsenal - Arsenal Island, Illinois.
 * SL St. Louis Army Ammunition Plant - St. Louis MO:
 * TRW Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge. - Euclid, Ohio:
 * TW Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant - Ramsey County, MN: A sub-contractor owned by Federal Cartridge.
 * WRA Winchester Repeating Arms - a subdivision of the Western Cartridge Company.
 * WCC Western Cartridge Company

Foreign Manufacturers

 * DAQ Dominion Arms - Quebec City, Quebec; Canada
 * FKP Poongsan Metal Manufacturing Co. Ltd. - Seoul, Republic of Korea.
 * KA Puzan Government Arsenal - Republic of Korea
 * TZZ Israeli Military Industries - Tel Aviv, Israel
 * VA Verdun Arsenal - Canada