7.92mm BESA Tracer
There were three marks of tracer approved for the 7.92mm BESA, and development of these closely followed that of the other types.
Tracer G Mark Iz
"Cartridge S.A. Tracer 7.92mm G Mark Iz" was approved to design DD/L/9843 in October 1939 and shown in Lists of Changes Paragraph B.3640 dated July 1940.
The case was as for the Ball Mark Iz but with a red primer annulus and the headstamp included the code "GIZ".
The bullet was flat based with either a CNCS or GMCS envelope with a single cannelure. The core was lead/antimony with a gilding metal tracer cannister sealed with a brass washer. The tracer was bright ignition and had a minimum trace of 800 yards. Bullet weight was 155 grains.
Propellant was 45 grains of nitrocellulose and observed velocity at 90 feet was 2,480 fps at a maximum pressure of 21 tsi.
In line with other types of 7.92mm BESA ammunition, a Tracer G Mark II was approved in 1941.
Tracer G Mark IIz
"Cartridge S.A. Tracer 7.92mm G Mark IIz" was approved to design DD/L/12604 in September 1941 and shown in Lists of Changes Paragraph B.7986 dated July 1943.
The case was as for the Ball Mark Iz but with a red primer annulus and the headstamp included the code "GIIZ"or after 1944 "G2Z"
The bullet was flat based with either a CNCS or GMCS envelope with a single cannelure. The core was lead/antimony with a gilding metal tracer cannister sealed with a brass washer. The tracer was bright ignition and had a minimum trace of 800 yards.The tracer composition was 10 grains of SR.390 with 5 grains of P.2 priming. Bullet weight was 162 grains.
Propellant was 42 grains of nitrocellulose and observed velocity at 90 feet was 2,480 fps at a maximum pressure of 21 tsi.
As both the G Mark I and G Mark II were bright ignition tracers they tended to blind the gunner when fired from co-axial machine guns adjacent to the main gun sighting telescope. Accordingly trials were held to produce a tracer with a dark ignition of 100 yards or more.
Tracer G Mark 3z
"Cartridge S.A. Tracer 7.92mm G Mark 3z" was approved to design DD/L/12698 in April 1945 and shown in Lists of Changes Paragraph C.12460 dated August 1945.
The case was as for the Ball Mark Iz but with a red primer annulus and the headstamp included the code "G3Z".
The bullet was flat based with either a CNCS or GMCS envelope with a single cannelure. The core was lead/antimony with a gilding metal tracer cannister sealed with a brass washer. The G Mark 3z was dark ignition to 150 yards and bright to a minimum of 1,100 yards. Bullet weight was 162 grains. The tracer composition was 14 grains of SR.368 with 5% magnesium carbonate added, with 3 grains of D.I.30 dark ignition priming.
Propellant was 45 grains of nitrocellulose and observed velocity at 90 feet was 2,480 fps at a maximum pressure of 21 tsi.
Label for Kynoch manufactured 7.92mm Tracer G Mark 3z. Note loaded with American propellant.