List of the United States Army weapons by supply catalog designation
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This is a historic (index) list of United States Army weapons and materiel, by their Standard Nomenclature List (SNL) group and individual designations — an alpha-numeric nomenclature system used in the United States Army Ordnance Corps Supply Catalogues used from about 1930 to about 1958. The July 1943 Ordnance Publications For Supply Index – OPSI – (page2) explains that the "Index of Standard Nomenclature Lists (...) covers – by groups, and subdivisions of groups – all classes of equipment and supplies, assigned to the Ordnance Department for procurement, storage, issue, and maintenance."
The designations in this Wikipedia list represent so-called "major items". For each of the major items, there were separate, designated "Standard Nomenclature Lists" — extensive parts catalogs for supply and repair purposes.
This article is the overarching list of United States Army weapons and materiel by their historic SNL (Standard Nomenclature List) supply catalog designations — except the very long sub-lists of both group F and group G — these are not included here, but found in their separate list-class articles.
For group G (tank / automotive materiel), see List of the United States military vehicles by supply catalog designation
In essence, the index was a list of lists. There could be numerous volumes, changes, and updates under each single item designation.
According to the Corps' Ordnance Publications for Supply Index of July 1943:
- Groups 'A' through 'N' covered "General Ordnance Supplies"; including
- Groups 'P' through 'T' covered "Ammunition" – for which there was an additional AIC code
- Group 'Z' was for "Captured Enemy Material", and
- Group 'OGS' indicated "Obsolete General Supplies".[1]
- Group "Y", for 'Guided Missiles, guidance and control, launching, transporting, radio-controlled, and handling material, was added after July 1943 [1]