7.62mm NATO Blank
School of Infantry Blank
In 1955, shortly after the approval of the 7.62mm round and the L1A1 rifle, the School of Infantry urgently required a blank cartridge for a demonstration.
A blank was made to design S1/12248/GF/1343 for this purpose although it was never formally approved for service. It consisted of a normal case with the neck rosette crimped, but unlike the similar grenade cartridge it did not have the case blackened. The case was inheadstamped and the caps were ringed in.
The charge was 18 grains (1.17 g) of ballistite B.16.
It was originally given the provisional nomenclature of "Cartridge 7.62mm Blank L2A1" but this tile was never confirmed and "L2" was allocated to the ball round.
Canadian Blank
In May 1957 Britain had agreed that Canada should develop a blank on behalf of both countries and a year later RSAF Enfield tested the first of the Canadian blanks.
The blank was to design DAD 104416 GA and had a mock brass bullet formed with the case, the "bullet" having a small hole in the nose. Although British drawings were made this blank was not manufactured in Britain.
Canada produced other experimental blanks in the period 1958-1959 that were tested in the UK but none were adopted for service
Blank L10A1
Work on a British blank was initiated in January 1959 but whilst this was under development large orders were placed with Fabrique Nationale in Belgium for an ew extended nack blank.
The case was formed with an extended mock bullet and was closed with a three petal crimp. The mouth of the crimp was sealed with
varnish, usually a reddish brown colour. The case was Berdan primed and the caps were not ringed in. The headstamp bore the characters "F N" and the last two digits of the date together with the NATO symbol. There was no cartridge identification in the headstamp.
Canadian Blank C24
As an interim measure the Canadian designed and manufactured "Cartridge 7.62mm Blank C24" was approved for British service in 1960 and shown in Lists of Changes Paragraph C.9628 dated June 1960.
It was in all respects similar to the L10A1 blank but was not widely issued in the UK.
Manufacture was by Dominion Arsenal and the headstamp was typically "DA 60 (+)".
Kynoch Blanks
Prior to adoption of a British made blank, Kynoch manufactured several experimental types, although none were adopted. Broadly similar to previous extended neck blanks, they differed in that the mock bullet was more cylindrical with a shorter rounded crimp.
Some examples are unheadstamped whilst others bear simply "K 60" or a ball headstamp "K 60 (+) L2A2".
Blank L10A2
"Cartridge 7.62mm Blank L10A2" was a British manufactured version of the L10A1. It was provisionally approved in August 1961 with final approval in December 1962. It was shown in Lists of Changes Paragraph D.270 dated August 1964.
Like the L10A1 it consisted of a one piece extended neck case with the crimp formed into a mock bullet. The tip of the crimp was lacquered either red, green or plain. It had a Berdan primer and was unringed. The headstamp included "L10A2" although pilot production in 1961 was simply headstamped "RG 61".
The charge was about 11 grains (0.7g) of Nobels Parabellum powder.
All L10A2 production has been by Radway Green.
L10A2 blanks showing difference in tip colours.
Blank L13A1
In 1968 questions were raised about the weight of the L10A2 blank which was over 20% heavier than the previous L10A2 due to its thicker case walls. In response Radway Green designed a new lighter blank with thinner case walls. The weight of the complete L13A1 was about 11.5g compared to 13.25g for the L10A2 and 10.75g for the L10A1.
"Cartridge 7.62mm Blank L13A1" was approved to design DD/E/26532/GF/385 in August 1970, originally as Blank L11A1 but shortly afterwards the nomenclature was changed to Blank L13A1.
The case was externally similar to the L10A2 with an extended neck and an unringed Berdan primer. The headstamp included "L13A1".
Although the L13A1 was only made in the UK by Radway Green it was also made by Hirtenberger in Austria on contract for the UK. Although made by Hirtenberger, these were headstamped with "RG" and "L13A1". Unlike the British made blanks, the Austrian blanks were not made with lightened cases and weighed about 13.07g, similar to the L10A1.
Blank L13A2
"Cartridge 7.62mm Blank L13A2" was approved in 1992 and differed from the previous blank mainly in the case mouth crimps, which were slightly longer than on the L13A1. Both green and black crimp seals are found.
In other respects it was identical to the previous type, with an unringed Berdan cap. The headstamp included "L13A2".
"Cartridge 7.62mm Blank L13A3" was given a new drawing reference of QV142GF but it is not known whether it was actually manufactured. It is presumed that the difference from the L13A2 is small, possibly a different primer or powder.
"Cartridge 7.62mm Blank L13A4" was manufactured by Radway Green in the early 2000s, but it is not known what the difference is.
Blank L14A1
"Cartridge 7.62mm Blank L14A1" was approved to drawing reference QV111GF in about 1990 and was manufactured by MEN in Germany to British specification.
Like other blanks it consists of a brass case with an extended neck closed with a long petal crimp. It has an unringed Berdan primer.
Blank L31A1
"Cartridge 7.62mm Blank L31A1" was approved to drawing reference QV121GF in June 1991 and was manufactured by Hirtenberger in Austria on British contract. Approximately 20 million rounds were ordered.
The case was externally similar to the L13A1 blank with an extended neck closed with a long petal crimp. It had a Boxer primer that was not ringed in and a red primer annulus. The headstamp included "HP" for the manufacturer and the code "L31A1".
The charge was about 0.74g (11.5 grains) of chopped tubular nitrocellulose.
In addition to the above other designs of blank ammunition made by European manufacturers were given full British nomenclature. However, it is not believed that any orders were actually placed or any rounds imported.
"Cartridge 7.62mm Blank L32A1" was allocated to Fabrique Nationale in Belgium and given drawing reference QV122GF.
"Cartridge 7.62mm Blank L33A1" was allocated to FNM in Portugal and given drawing reference QV123GF.
"Cartridge 7.62mm Blank L34A1" was allocated to MEN in Germany and given drawing reference QV124GF.
Blank L43A1
"Cartridge 7.62mm Blank L43A1" is currently manufactured by Radway Green and is the current issue blank.
It is a normal extended neck blank similar to previous types but no further details are known.
CBC Blank
A brass cased extended neck blank manufactured by CBC has been in service in the UK but it is not known if it has been given formal nomenclature. It appears to have been a limited purchase and no longer used to any extent.
Since CBC Brazil now own MEN in Germany it is possible that these blanks are made in Germany.
