Nomenclature Stampings

Occasionally components were also stamped to identify which part they were. Generally this was uncommon but examples are to be found.

Marking on Feedblock. V 303. Vickers .303-inch.

Marking on Tripod mounting blocks. G .303 MAXIM LEFT. Gun, .303-inch Maxim, Left Hand Side.

Marking on Direction Dial Pointer Mk. II. Mk. II. Mark 2 pointer.

Sometimes the actual part number was stamped onto an item, particularly accessories. The part number for the majority of Vickers machine gun items in British and Commonwealth service would begin with C1 indicating that it was from the Section C, sub-section 1 of the Vocabulary of Army Ordnance Stores (VAOS). This was the sub-section for ‘Machine Guns, Mountings and Appurtenances for Ground Service use’ and complete copies of those categories are available to download.

The other sections of the VAOS are shown in the list below:

Personal Equipment and Small Arms
- A1 – Accoutrements and Musical Instruments
- A2 – Anti-gas Stores
- A3 – Mountain and Snow Warfare Equipment
- A4 – Airborne Equipment
- A5 – Assault and Commando Equipment
- A6 – Jungle Warfare Equipment
- B1 – Small Arms and their components
- B2
  - Service Swords, Lances and Pistols (1940)
  - Small Arms Accessories, Tools and Packages (1943)
- C1 – Machine Guns, Mountings and Appurtenances for Ground Service use
- C2 – Machine Guns and their Appurtenances for use in Armoured Fighting Vehicles
- C3 – Bicycles
Transport – Rail, Road and Sea.
- D1 – Harness, Saddlery and Packsaddlery
- D2 – Horse-shoes and Nails
- E1 – Carts and Wagons
- E2 – Bridging Equipment
- E3 – Lifting and Transporting Apparatus and Targets
Materials and Workshop Equipment
- F – Tools and Workshop Equipment
- G1 – Ironmongery
- G2 – Metals
- H1 – Oils, Paints, Chemicals and their containers
- H2 – Cordage and Textile Materials
- H3 – Timber
- H4 – Packages (NOTE: Issues suspended for the duration of the war.)
Camps
- J1 – Camp Equipment
- J2 – Portable Cookers and Cooking Equipment
Cinematographic and Photographic Stores
- J3 – Cinematographic Apparatus and Stores
- J4 – Photographic Apparatus and Stores
Barrack Stores
- KA – Furniture and Woodware
- KB – Bedsteads and their components
- KC – Games, Equitation, Gymnastic and Textile Articles
- KD – Crockery and Glassware
- KE – Brooms, Brushes, Lamps, Coal-Boxes, Garden Implements, etc.
- KF – Enamelled and Metal Household Utensils
- KG – Fire Engines, Trailer Fire Pumps, Extinguishers and Fire Fighting Appliances
- KH – Barrows and Trucks
Vehicles
- L.V 1
  - Cruiser, Infantry and Medium Tanks
    - L.V 1/TM – Parts of War Department Design
  - Makers’ Parts
    - L.V 1/CDR – Clayton Dewandre (Servo Brake)
    - L.V 1/BB – Borg and Beck (Clutch)
    - L.V 1/BRC – Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Co., Ltd.
    - L.V 1/DB – David Brown (Gearbox)
    - L.V 1/GB – Girling (Brake No. GA 30)
    - L.V 1/HW – Heywood (Compressor)
    - L.V 1/LD – Leyland Motors, Ltd.
    - L.V 1/LMS – London, Midland and Scottish Railway
    - L.V 1/LHD – Automatic Products (Lockheed Brake Equipment)
    - L.V 1/LU – Lucas (Electrical Power Traverse)
    - L.V 1/NM – Mechanization and Aero
    - L.V 1/NT – Newton and Bennett (Shock Absorber)
    - L.V 1/PM – Powered Mountings (Hand and Power Traverse Gear)
    - L.V 1/RX – Reavell Compressor
    - L.V 1/SW – Wilson (Gear Box and Steering Unit)
    - L.V 1/VN – Vulcan Foundry
    - L.V 1/VSM – Vickers Armstrong
    - L.V 1/VH – Vauxhall Motors
    - L.V 1/USA – American Tanks
      - M2A4 Light
      - General Stuart
      - General Lee
      - General Grant
      - General Sherman
- L.V 2
  - Light Tanks and Carriers
    - L.V 2/TL – Parts of War Department Design
  - Makers’ Parts
    - L.V 2/BB – Borg and Beck (Clutch)
    - L.V 2/GB – Girling (Brake No. GA 23)
    - L.V 2/LY – Lloyd Carriers
    - L.V 2/CGC – Bishop’s Steering Gear
- L.V 3
  - Engines and Commercial Assemblies used in Armoured Fighting Vehicles
  - Makers’ Parts
    - L.V 3/AE – A.E.C.
    - L.V 3/FD – Ford
    - L.V 3/GMC – General Motors Corporation
    - L.V 3/LD – Leyland
    - L.V 3/MD – Meadows
    - L.V 3/NM – Mechanization and Aero
    - L.V 3/RR – Rolls Royce
    - L.V 3/VH – Vauxhall
    - L.V 3/ITL – Instructional Engines of sorts
- L.V 4
  - Armament Mountings and their Appurtenances for Mechanical Vehicles
- L.V 5
  - Armoured Cars and Scout Cars
  - Maker’s Parts
    - L.V 5/BB – Borg and Beck (Clutch)
    - L.V 5/BM – B.S.A. Daimler
    - L.V 5/CGC – Bishop’s Steering Gear
    - L.V 5/DB – David Brown (Gear Traversing and Steering)
    - L.V 5/GY – Guy
    - L.V 5/GMC – General Motor Corporation – Armoured Car (Canadian)
    - L.V 5/HK – Humber Armoured Cars and Scout Cars
    - L.V 5/ML – Morris Commercial
    - L.V 5/QJ – Smith’s Jacking System
    - L.V 5/MAC – A.E.C. Armoured Car
- L.V 6
  - Miscellaneous Stores and Proprietary Equipment Parts for Armoured Fighting Vehicles and “B” Vehicles, including Vehicles previously known as R.A.S.C. Vehicles
    - L.V 6/MT1 – General Motor Transport stores – Adapters, Belting, Bins, Blocks, Cables, Speedometer, Cans, Clips, Extinguishers Fire, Funnels, Keys Woodruff, Jointing, Jacks Lighting, Lubricator Oil and Grease, Pins Taper and Split, Plugs, Pumps Foot and Mechanical, Pressure Gauges, Shock Absorbers, Scotches, Speedometers, Saddles, Taps, Tins, Unions, Washers, Vehicle Fitments for A.A. Mountings, etc.
    - L.V 6/MT2 – Tools, Tool Chests, and List of Contents, etc.
    - L.V 6/MT3 – Lamps, Lamp Holders, Lamp Glasses, Bulbs, Horns, Mirrors, Windscreen Wipers, etc.
    - L.V 6/MT4 – Cables, Electric, Dynamos, Switches, Starters, Hydrometers, Plugs Sparking, Batteries, etc.
    - L.V 6/MT5 – Bolts, Nuts, Washers, Rivets, etc.
    - L.V 6/MT6 – Rubber Hose, Tyre Repair Materials, Volcanizing Materials, Rubber Sheets, Strip, etc.
    - L.V 6/MT7 – Bearings, Ball and Roller.
    - L.V 6/MT8 – Magdynos, Distributors, Ignition Coils, Magnetos, Screening Equipment, etc.
    - L.V 6/MT9 – Unallotted
    - L.V 6/MT10 – Metals and Metal Tubing
    - L.V 6/MV11 – Chains Driving, Non-skid and Overall, Ropes Towing.
    - L.V 6/MV12 – Carburettors, Petrol Filters, Air Cleaners, Autovacs, Fuel Injection Equipment, etc.
    - L.V 6/MV13 – Coach Materials, Covers Waterproof, Shelters, Towing Attachments, and Body Fitments, etc.
    - L.V 6/MV14 – Tyre Covers, Tubes and Valves, Wheels, Wheel Nuts and Studs, Wheel Flanges, Rims, etc.
    - L.V 6/MV15 – Special Miscellaneous Stores and Proprietary Equipment Parts for Armoured Fighting Vehicles only
    - L.V 6/PK – Packing Cases
    - L.V 6/INS – Instructional Stores
- L.V 7
  - “B” Vehicles, British
    - L.V 7/AI – Ariel
    - L.V 7/AL – Albion
    - L.V 7/AN – Austin
    - L.V 7/BC – B.S.A. M/C
    - L.V 7/BD – Bedford
    - L.V 7/BY – Boydel
    - L.V 7/CM – Commer
    - L.V 7/CRS – Cranes
    - L.V 7/CX – Crossley
    - L.V 7/DN – Dennis
    - L.V 7/EM – Excelsior M/C
    - L.V 7/ERF – E.R.F. Motors
    - L.V 7/FD – Ford
    - L.V 7/FN – Foden
    - L.V 7/FW – A.E.C.
    - L.V 7/GA – Gardner
    - L.V 7/GR – Garner
    - L.V 7/GY – Guy
    - L.V 7/HL – Hillman
    - L.V 7/HR – Humber
    - L.V 7/JM – James M/C
    - L.V 7/KR – Karrier
    - L.V 7/LD – Leyland
    - L.V 7/MC – Matchless M/C
    - L.V 7/ML – Morris Commercial
    - L.V 7/MM – Morris Motors
    - L.V 7/MU – Maudsley
    - L.V 7/NC – Norton M/C
    - L.V 7/RE – Royal Enfield
    - L.V 7/SD – Standard
    - L.V 7/SL – Scammel
    - L.V 7/TC – Triumph M/C
    - L.V 7/TR – Trailers
    - L.V 7/TS – T.S. Motors
    - L.V 7/TY – Thornycroft
    - L.V 7/VC – Velocette M/C
  - “B” Vehicles, North American
    - L.V 7/AAC – Allis Chalmers (U.S.A.)
    - L.V 7/ABM – American Bantam
    - L.V 7/ABR – Bombadier
    - L.V 7/ABY – Brockway
    - L.V 7/ADT – Diamond Trucks
    - L.V 7/AET – Ellison Toboggans
    - L.V 7/AFA – F.W.D. Trucks
    - L.V 7/AFL – Federal
    - L.V 7/AHC – International Harverting Auto. Co., Ltd.
    - L.V 7/AHD – Harley-Davidson
    - L.V 7/AJC – Indian M/C
    - L.V 7/AMK – Mack Truck (U.S.A.)
    - L.V 7/AST – Sargent Snow Plough (U.S.A.)
    - L.V 7/ATR – American Trailers
    - L.V 7/AWE – White Motor (U.S.A.)
    - L.V 7/AWF – Ward la France
    - L.V 7/AWO – Willys-Overland
    - L.V 7/CBS – American Body Parts
    - L.V 7/CRT – Caterpillar Tractor
    - L.V 7/DG – Dodge
    - L.V 7/FD – Ford Scout Car, Mk. III (Canadian)
    - L.V 7/FG – Fargo
    - L.V 7/GMC – General Motors Corporation and Chevrolet
    - L.V 7/PC – Packard
    - L.V 7/SKR – Studebaker
    - L.V 7/NEU – Neutral
    - L.V 7/AFS – Frink Snowploughs
    - L.V 7/AAA – Alligator Amphibian Tractor
  - “B” Vehicles, Impressed or Non-Standard
    - L.V 7/AJ – A.J.S. M/C
    - L.V 7/AKN – Atkinson
    - L.V 7/BJ – Bentley
    - L.V 7/CLR – Chrysler
    - L.V 7/DA – Daimler
    - L.V 7/DC – Douglas M/C
    - L.V 7/GD – Gifford
    - L.V 7/HU – Hudson
    - L.V 7/LM – Lincoln Mercury
    - L.V 7/MR – Marshall Tractor
    - L.V 7/NI – New Imperial M/C
    - L.V 7/OS – O.K. Supreme M/C
    - L.V 7/RF – Renault Car
    - L.V 7/SBM – Sunbeam M/C
    - L.V 7/SNL – Sentinel
    - L.V 7/WY – Wolseley
Guns and Carriages
- M1 – Miscellaneous Weapons
  - Bomb Throwers, 2-in.
  - Flame Throwers, Wheeled
  - Mortars, Spigot, 29-mm.
  - Ordnance, M.L. 2-in. Mortar
  - Ordnance, M.L. 3-in. Mortar
  - Ordnance, S.B. 3-in. gun
  - Ordnance, S.B. 4.2-in. Mortar
  - Projector, 2 1/2-in.
  - Projector, Chemical
- M2 – Artillery Equipments
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 4.5-in. A.A. gun
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 3.7-in. A.A. gun
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 3-in. 20-cwt. A.A. gun
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 2-pr., Mk. VIII, A.A. gun
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 40-mm. A.A. gun
  - Guns, Sub-Calibre, Q.F. 2-pr.
  - Projectors, Rocket, 3-in.
- M3 – Stores Common to Artillery Equipments in Two or More Sections
- M4 – Inspecting Officers’ Stores
- N1 – Artillery Equipments
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 4.5-in. Howitzer
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 25-pr. gun
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 18-pr. gun
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 17-pr. gun
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 13-pr. gun
- N2 – Artillery Equipments
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 3.7-in. Howitzer
- N3 – Artillery Equipments
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 3-in. Howitzer
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 6-pr., 6-cwt. gun
  - Ordnance, Q.F. Hotchkiss, 6-pr. 6-cwt.
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 3-pr. 2-cwt.
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 6-pr. 7-cwt.
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 2-pr.
- O – Artillery Equipments
  - Ordnance, B.L. 6-in. 26-cwt. Howitzer
  - Ordnance, B.L. 60-pr. gun
  - Ordnance, B.L. 5.5-in. gun
  - Ordnance, B.L. 4.5-in. gun
- P1 – Artillery Equipments
  - Ordnance, B.L. 9.2-in. Howitzer
  - Ordnance, B.L. 8-in. Howitzer, Mk. VIII
  - Ordnance, B.L. 7.2-in. Howitzer
  - Ordnance, B.L. 6-in. gun, Mk. XIX
- P2 – Artillery Equipments
  - Ordnance, B.L. 15-in. gun
  - Ordnance, B.L. 9.2-in. gun
  - Ordnance, B.L. 6-in. gun
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 6-in.
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 4.7-in. B gun
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 12-pr. 12-cwt. gun
  - Ordnance, Q.F. 6-pr. 10-cwt. gun
  - Ordnance, Q.F. Hotchkiss 6-pr. gun
  - Ordnance, Q.F. Nordenfelt 6-pr. gun
  - Gun, Sub-Calibre, Q.F. 6-pr.
  - Gun, Sub-Calibre, Q.F. 3-pr.
  - Gun, Sub-Calibre, Q.F. 2-pr. Low Angle
Ammunition and Explosives
- Q1 – Small Arms Ammunition and Machine Gun Ammunition, Shell Fuzes, Tubes, Primers, Fireworks (explosives)
- Q2 – Small Arms Ammunition and Machine Gun Ammunition, Shell Fuzes, Tubes, Primers, Fireworks (non-explosives) and empty packages
- R1 – Ammunition for Field, Mountain, Tank, Anti-Tank and A.A. Artillery (explosives)
- R2 – Ammunition for Field, Mountain, Tank, Anti-Tank and A.A. Artillery (non-explosives) and empty packages
- S1 – Ammunition for Medium, Heavy (Field Army) and Coast Artillery (explosives)
- S2 – Ammunition for Medium, Heavy (Field Army) and Coast Artillery (non-explosives) and empty packages
- T1 – Trench Warfare Ammunition, Cordite in bulk, Gunpowder, etc. (explosives)
- T2 – Trench Warfare Ammunition, Cordite in bulk, Gunpowder, etc. (non-explosives) and empty packages
- T3 – Demolition Stores
- U – Miscellaneous Ammunition and Magazine Stores
Scientific Instruments, Wireless and Signal, Searchlight and Generator Equipment.
- V1 – Fire Control Instruments and Associated Stores for Coast Artillery
- V2 – Surveying and Drawing Instruments and Watches
- V3 – Flash Spotting, Sound Ranging and R.A. Survey Stores
- V4 – Fire Control Instruments and Associated Stores for Anti-Aircraft
- V5 – Fire Control Instruments and Associated Stores other than Coast Artillery and Anti-Aircraft
- V6 – Stores common to two or more Sections in V Series
- W1 – Field Works, Mining and Water Supply Stores
- W2 – Electric Cables and Wires, Primary Cells and Miscellaneous Electrical Stores
- W3 – Machine Tools and Workshop Equipment
  - W3 – Part I – Provisional List of Machine Tools and Plant
  - W3 – Part II – Provisional List of Accessories common to Machine Tools and Plant
- W4 – R.A.D.A.R., Wireless and Line Test Equipment
- W5 – Instruments for Testing Optical and Fire Control Instruments
- X1 – Searchlights, Sound Locators and Associated Stores
- X2 – Generating Sets and General Electric Lighting Stores
- Y – Signal Stores – Line and Visual
- Z1 – Wireless Sets and Associated Stores
- Z2 – Signal Stores – Portable Secondary Batteries, Charging Sets, Power Units, Engines, Generators, Testing Apparatus, Measuring Sets, etc.

Sources

Goldsmith, 1994
Skennerton, 1988; 1997
War Office (1943), Vocabulary of Army Ordnance Stores: Preface, London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office.
War Office (1948), Vocabulary of Army Ordnance Stores: Section A3 – Mountain and Snow Warfare Equipment, London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office.
War Office (1948), Vocabulary of Army Ordnance Stores: Section A4 – Airborne Equipment, London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office.
War Office (1948), Vocabulary of Army Ordnance Stores: Section A5 – Assault and Commando Equipment, London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office.
War Office (1948), Vocabulary of Army Ordnance Stores: Section A6 – Jungle Warfare Equipment, London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office.