Australian Military Small-Arms Ammunition Production 1888-2003 (2004)

Australian Military Small
Arms Ammunition Production

1888 - 2003.
David A Mayne CPEng, MIE Aust, FRMIT.
First Published by the Author in September 2003.

This is revision 1 - February 2004
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 i

Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 ii
Table of Contents.
Pre Federation
The Colonies .................................................................................2

Major F.T.Sargood........................................................................3
An offer from Greenwood & Batley.............................................6
Captain John Whitney...................................................................7
Victorian Colony commits to a Factory......................................10
CAC site chosen..........................................................................11
A description of CAC factory .....................................................11
Production Commences ..............................................................13
Planning for 303 Ammunition ....................................................18
Federation
CAC site expansion. ...................................................................23

Site Expansion Details ................................................................25
Dependency of supply from Overseas ........................................26
Mr. C.N.Hake..............................................................................27
Mr. A.E.Leighton........................................................................30
Erection of CAC Rolling mills and Foundry ..............................31
303 Charger Manufacture ...........................................................32
A new Supply Contract for CAC ................................................37
CAC Pre- WW1 Miscellaneous Ammunition.
.310 Cadet Ammunition..............................................................39

Aiming Tube Ammunition..........................................................42
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 iii

World War 1 and Beyond.
Local Self sufficiency .................................................................45

Government considers purchase of CAC....................................47
The Government Leases the CAC Site. ......................................48
The Munitions Development Programme.
Commonwealth Reviews CAC ...................................................53

Nucleus Production.....................................................................55
Surplus British Munitions Plant..................................................57
The Munitions Supply Board......................................................58
Government Munition Laboratories Established ........................60
Munitions Development Plan .....................................................62
Gun Ammunition Factory ...........................................................66
Full ownership of CAC...............................................................67
Delayed Quality Problems. .........................................................68
Commercial Work.......................................................................69
Australia moves toward War ......................................................71
The Wartime SAA factories
The first Upgrade at Footscray ...................................................73

Hendon S.A. chosen for new SAA plant. ...................................76
Hendon Plant Duplicated ............................................................78
Reorganisation of the Munitions Supply Organisation...............79
Munitions Ministry Created........................................................80
Finsbury comes on line to supply Hendon..................................82
Rebuild of Footscray No 1 Plant.................................................83
Plants planned for Rocklea and Welshpool ................................84
Site Plans for the WW2 SAA factories.......................................90
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 iv

The end of .303 production.
Closure of Wartime factories, .....................................................97

Limited post war production of .303 ammunition. .....................99
The last production runs of .303 ...............................................101
Manufacture of 7.62 x 51 ammunition
Commencement of 7.62 production..........................................103

The NATO symbol ...................................................................104
Problems with pressure. ............................................................107
Commercial Ammunition and Components .............................109
The New 5.56 ammunition and the end of AFF.
Changing Government Plans ....................................................117

A New 5.56 Calibre and Weapons system. ..............................118
Browning 50 calibre machine gun ammunition........................121
Gulf and Western Plant.............................................................123
Footscray’s Centenary ..............................................................126
Australian Defence Industries...................................................131
Site Closures .............................................................................132
Problems with 5.56 Ammunition..............................................134
ADI Benalla ..............................................................................136
Sale of ADI ...............................................................................140
History Repeats Itself................................................................142
CAC Martini -Henry paper wrapped packets.
Images of Martini Henry Packets .............................................145
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 v

CAC .303 Mk.VI packets.
Images of CAC .303 Paper wrapped packets............................153
.303 Mk.VII paper wrapped packets.
Images of .303 paper wrapped packets. ....................................161
CAC .303 Headstamps (1906-1926)
Photographs of .303 Headstamps (1900-1926)........................165
Footscray .303 Headstamps 1927 -1962
Photographs of .303 ‘MF’ Headstamps (1927-1962) ...............175
Air Service Ammunition
CAC starts work on Airservice Ammunition ...........................181

Air Service Ammunition Testing..............................................183
The Test Method .......................................................................185
Changes to Air Service Ammunition........................................188
Disintegrating Link Belts for Airservice Machine Guns. .........189
Green ‘Red Label’ Ammunition ...............................................191
Standardisation of all Ammunition to AS requirements...........191
.303 Incendiary Ammunition
Interest in Incendiary Manufacture...........................................195
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 vi

A dedicated WW2 incendiary factory ......................................196
Incendiary deliveries.................................................................198
Test Firing of Incendiary Ammunition .....................................200
Footscray exits the incendiary programme ...............................201
Incendiary Headstamps.............................................................202
Armour piercing .303 Ammunition
MSB considers manufacture of AP ammunition. .....................205
Tracer Ammunition.
Experimental Manufacture .......................................................209

The F3 Tracer............................................................................214
Blank Ammunition
.303 blank ammunition. ............................................................217

7.62 Plastic Blank cartridges ....................................................224
Full length Brass 7.62 blank .....................................................226
.303 Cartridges for propelling grenades and other devices.
Photographs of .303 Grenade Launching Cartridges................229
7.62mm Cartridges for propelling grenades.
Photographs of 7.62mm grenade cartridges. ............................237
Inert .303 Cartridges.
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 vii

Dummy and Drill Cartridges. ...................................................243
Inert 7.62 & 5.56 Cartridges
Photographs of 7.62 & 5.56 Inert cartridges.............................253
Ballistic Standard and Pressure Test (Proof) Cartridges
Ballistic Standard Ammunition ................................................261

Proof ammunition .....................................................................267
.380 Revolver, 9mm and .45 Auto Ammunition
.380 Revolver............................................................................271
9MM ammunition. ....................................................................275
.450 ACP ammunition ..............................................................280
.455 Webley ,.32 pistol, .22 Rimfire and .310 Cadet ammunition.
.455 Webley ..............................................................................283

.320 Auto Pistol and .32 S&W Revolver Ammunition. ...........288
.22 Rimfire Ammunition...........................................................289
Jacketed .310 Cadet ammunition ..............................................290
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 viii

Foreword
The production of ammunition in Victoria in the 1890’s was a

significant event which untimately lead to major developments
in Australia’s Defence Industry and to Scientific Research and
Development Capability. For those interested in examining the
history of Military Small Arms Ammunition manufacture in
Australia, available information is scattered and difficult to
access.The purpose of this book therefore was to bring
together for the first time the fragments of this history and to
show how and why the industry evolved in the way that it did. I
have borrowed heavily from the writings of J.K. Jensen and the
annual reports of the Munition Supply Board. Some
information has also been attributed to the periodic
publications of the Australian Cartridge Collectors Association.
The source of the material used in this book is acknowledged
where applicable in appropriate footnotes. For the purposes of
this book I have adopted the definition of small arms
ammunition as being of maximum calibre 0.5” (12.7mm).
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 ix

This book has been designed as an electronic publication which may be
viewed with the freely distributed Adobe Acrobat Reader. Reader
Version 5 or latter is required. By presenting the book in this form
distribution is simplified. In addition graphics can contain much more
detail than is available in a standard printed format. Many of the
graphics will reveal their full detail when viewed at a high ‘zoom’ value,
using the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Navigation through the book can be
achieved by clicking on the page number in the Index or the section
name in the Table of Contents. This will transport you directly to that
section of the book.
Photographs have in some cases been enhanced to improve contrast

or brightness using Adobe Photoshop, otherwise they represent actual
specimens. The first nine chapters follow the evolution of ammunition
manufacturing from the 1880’s to the present time. The remaining
chapters describe in more detail, the particular types of ammunition
made over the years.
This project has been encouraged and assisted by Mr Darryl Page,

Director of Ordnance , Australian Defence Industries and Mr Robert
Morley former SAA section Manager at Footscray in the 90’s and a
current member of ADI’s Management Team. Robert kindly provided
information on the 5.56mm program and the establishment of the
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 x

Benalla facility. Thanks also to Mr John Evans, former Senior Defence
Quality officer for proof reading this book.
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 xi

Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 xii
Chapter 1 Pre Federation
FIGURE 1. Ammunition Factory Footscray circa 1985
Figure 1 shows a view of the Footscray Munitions Site Circa

1985 looking East toward the Melbourne City area with Gor-
don street. traversing left to right in the foreground, the Marib-
yrnong river at the rear and the Flemington Racecourse in
the distance. Also visible is Jack's Magazine to the left and
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 1

Pre Federation
the site of the original SAA factory at the centre of the scene
on the river flats.
The Colonies
The original Australian settlement in the British Colony of

New South Wales was followed progressively by additional
Colonies in Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia,
Victoria and Queensland during the early nineteenth century.
Each of these new colonies eventually gained self govern-
ment in their own right. The British Government had
accepted overall responsibility for the external defence of
these colonies up until self government was achieved. In
1862 the British House of Commons passed a resolution
which in effect said that on reaching self government the col-
onies should undertake the main responsibility of providing
their own internal order and security and ought to assist in
their own external defence. Accordingly, the last British
troops were withdraw from the Australian colonies in 1870.
The Gold Rush in Victoria in the 1850's had lifted the

population of that colony ahead of that of New South Wales
for a period and each of these two colonies had populations
greater than all of the others combined.
2 Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 - 2003

Major F.T.Sargood
It is not surprising then that the push toward greater

local defence self reliance revolved around these two colo-
nies. Local military units in each colony were modeled on
the British 'pattern' in both organisation and equipment
although their appeared to be a considerable time lag
between introduction of new military equipment and weap-
ons in Britain and its flow on to the Australian colonies.
In 1866 Victoria, followed by South Australia and Tas-
mania, imposed high tariffs on imported goods in order to
protect its own small industries and markets. New South
Wales (and Queensland to a lesser extent) continued to stay
with a free-trade policy. Throughout the 1870s and 1880s,
the arguments over free trade versus protection divided the
press, the political parties, and the colonies. This, together
with the continuing jealousies among them, hindered any
significant attempts at cooperation and possible union
among the six colonies until the 1890s
Major F.T.Sargood
The first record of an interest in Australia in Munitions
Production is dated January 17, 1882 when an enquiry was
initiated in England by a Victorian officer of the Volunteers,
Major F. T. Sargood, a principal of a local softgoods firm.
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition production 1888-2003 3

Pre Federation
Major Sargood was a man of vision and imagination, always

very keenly interested in defence matters; afterwards he
became Minister for Defence, and was knighted for his ser-
vices to the State. It was because of his initiative and drive
that Victoria became the most advanced Colony in respect
of Defence matters, and responsible for the origin of an Aus-
tralian Navy and of Munitions Production.
Major Sargood's enquiry, which was directed to plant
and materials needed for making the .45 in. Martini-Henry
ammunition, was the beginning of a correspondence, under
the lead of the Colony of Victoria, extending over several
years. This involved the colonial governments in Australia,
New Zealand, Fiji, and even Canada; with an occasional
enquiry to England for information.1

A key aspect of defence was the supply of small arms
ammunition and as all ammunition supplies were at that time
imported, certainty of supply was a real concern. After
repeated failed attempts by the Colonies to reach agreement
over the nature and location of a local factory to be estab-
lished to supply the then current rifle calibre ammunition
(577/450 Martini Henry ), the Victorian Colonial Government
1. Reference 1 page 1

Major F.T.Sargood
opted to go it alone with the establishment of a factory.

In 1885, the Victorian Colony sought expressions of
interest from the British ammunition suppliers regarding
establishment of a facility to supply the Martini Henry ammu-
nition. It was prepared to provide a grant of land, an estab-
lishment incentive payment and exemption from certain
import duties for the machinery which would need to be sup-
plied. To encourage a response by potential suppliers, it was
made known that the quantities of cartridges “consumes”
required by Victoria during the year 1885-86 were:2

Ball cartridges 3,100,000
Blank cartridges 300,000
Carbine cartridges 200,000
and that it was expected that future consumption would
be considerably greater.
The British suppliers generally felt that without the
guaranteed orders from the other colonies, the Victorian
demand did not justify a local factory.
2. Reference 2 page 2.

Pre Federation
An offer from Greenwood & Batley

In July, 1887, the Victorian Government was
advised that Greenwood & Batley Ltd. of Leeds, England -
“manufacturers of all the Woolwich Arsenal cartridge
machinery” - and certain other unnamed interests would
form a private Company for the production in Victoria of
small-arms ammunition “... and possibly later on of war
stores generally”.
Further correspondence led to an invitation in February 1888
for Captain John Whitney of the Kynoch Company's ‘Colonial
Ammunition Company ‘ in New Zealand to visit Victoria, to
select a site for the proposed factory.
(The unnamed interests in addition to Messrs. Greenwood
and Batley included Captain John Whitney and Sons of Auck-
land and Mr. W.T.Cartwright of Nottingham. )3
3. Reference 3 Munitions Supply Board Report for period 1/7/1926

to 30/6/1927 Pages 8-11

Captain John Whitney.
FIGURE 2. Capt.John Whitney.
John Whitney's letter to the Victorian Government on the 21st

July 1887, offering to establish a plant in Victoria is repro-
duced below:-4
4. Reference 1 page 2

Pre Federation
London. S.W.,
21st July, 1887.
Sir James Lorimer, K.C.M.G.,
8 Victoria Chambers,
Westminster.
Dear Sir,
Referring to the interview I had with you respecting the
establishment of a small arms ammunition factory in the Col-
ony of Victoria, I beg respectfully to make the following prop-
osition, and shall be glad if you will lay the same before your
Government.
As stated to you at our last meeting, I have been for some
time engaged upon the manufacture of cartridges in Auck-
land for the New Zealand Government, and came to England
a short time since to purchase additional machinery to
increase production and prepare for the probable change in
small arms. And whilst here have made arrangements with
Messrs. Greenwood and Batley. “who make all the Woolwich
Cartridge Machinery.” and some one or two other gentlemen
who have ,joined me in forming a small private Company for
the production of small arms ammunition and possibly later
on of war stores generally.

Seeing that the Australian Colonies are desirous also of

establishing a factory for supply of S.A. Ammunition, our
Company would he prepared to start a factory in Colony of
Victoria, if we could receive the support of the Government.
What we should ask would be, first, a subsidy from Govern-
ment, which, considering the costliness of the machinery
required and its installation, should not be less than £5000.
A site in favorable position for all Colonies, and from
Military point of view, with favorable terms for the introduction
into Colony of plant and necessary material and contract for
say, ten years.
If such a proposition is likely to be favorably considered by
your Government, I shall be glad upon my approaching
return to New Zealand to go over to Melbourne and treat with
you personally on the subject.
I am taking out all new plant of latest inventions and expect
to have it working before next year.
I am,
Dear Sir,
Yours faithfully.
Signed JOHN WHITNEY.

Pre Federation
Victorian Colony commits to a Factory

The Victorian Government reacted favorably to this
approach and a further more detailed proposal was submitted
in February 1888 and three weeks later the Victorian Govern-
ment indicated it’s acceptance. The 'company' had regis-
tered the “Colonial Ammunition Company” with the registrar
of Joint Stock Companies in England and the Certificate of
Incorporation was dated January 30th 1888. It should be

noted that a company also called ‘Colonial Ammunition Com-
pany’ had been established in New Zealand in 1885. The
Australian and New Zealand Colonial Ammunition Compa-
nies were separate legal entities even though a number of
personnel such as John Whitney, had interests in both. .
Part of the proposal was that the new factory would supply at
least three million rounds per year for 25 years. An Inden-
ture dated 28th May 1889 was prepared by the Victorian Gov-
ernment including the above requirement together with the
provision of a grant of £5,000 and a lease of 5 acres of land
on a peppercorn rental basis.

CAC site chosen
CAC site chosen

Before the Indenture was signed, the site for the Fac-
tory - on the Saltwater River at Footscray, 4 miles from Mel-
bourne - was selected by Captain Whitney after consideration
of sites on the Murray River and at Sydney. The latter consid-
eration arose out of suggestions that a factory to serve all of
the Colonies should be established at a central point, but the
negotiations fell through. The chosen site was also half a mile
from the then existing Victorian Government explosives
magazine which also utilised the river for explosives trans-
port. Part of the 'arrangement' was for the new ammunition
plant to draw its gunpowder (black powder) from the Govern-
ment on a repayment basis. An act of the Victorian Parlia-
ment (Act 1022 of 4th November 1889) ratified the

agreement with the company.
A description of CAC factory

The following description of the Factory appeared in
“The Illustrated Australian News” of 8th November, 1890.
'The Saltwater River gives cheap and convenient transport,
and is therefore an essential feature in the selection of this

Pre Federation
site, as compared with the inland sites so strongly advocated.

A wharf has been built, carrying a crane and a store house,
and a 2-feet tramway connects it with the factory. The Fac-
tory is constructed using timbered structures clad with galva-
nised iron and sitting on brick piers to elevate the floors about
2 feet above ground level. (D.M. possibly to provide some
protection from the flooding of the river which occurred from
time to time). Eight separate buildings were constructed to
cover the various stages of the ammunition production the
largest of which being the case shop measured some 167
feet long by 72 feet wide.' As was the practice of the day,
machinery was driven centrally from a single 'engine' driving
shafting mounted in the rafters from which drive belts were
connected to the individual machines. The factory had a 100
horsepower steam powered engine for this purpose. The
cartridge machinery had been purchased from Greenwood
and Batley in England. The workforce consisted of about
200 being mostly juniors ( some boys and about 150 girls )
Hand drawn illustrations that accompanied the above

article gave sketches of :-
-a general view of the factory,

Production Commences
-women cutting brass foil for the cartridge cases

-a woman shaping the cartridge cases
-'the automatic bullet machine'
-'a heading machine'
-'bullet canalluring machine'
-'riveting machine'
-'a wax wad machine', and
-a capping machine.
In July 1890 the factory was ready to commence pro-
duction. It should be noted that the Victorian Colony’s ‘The
Ammunition Factory Act 1889’ (Act 1022/1889) required CAC
to complete the factory and to deliver ammunition within 12
months from enacting this legislation on 4th November 1889.
The Martini-Henry ammunition undertaken at CAC was
of the brass foil case body with steel head design and had a
paper patched lead projectile as shown below. This design
was approved in England as the Martini Henry Rolled Case
Mark III in 1873. A drawn case variant was introduced in
England in 1885 but CAC did not have the plant to produce

Pre Federation
this type. Detail of the construction of the ‘rolled case’ variant

is as follows:- The case is made of sheet brass of 0.004 inch
in thickness, partially covered on the inner side with paper
attached with cement. It also has a small band of 0.004 inch
sheet brass attached to the inner side in such a way as that
when the case is rolled up, it will be between the folds so as
to prevent ‘cutting’ at the top of the base cup. There is a small
hole punched in the case sheet so as the band can be seen
to be in the correct position after forming. The brass sheet is
assembled with brass base cups and a steel base disc which
forms the rim. and inner paper annulus and a riveted primer
arrangement hold the case together. The neck is closed
down from .577 inch diameter to .45 inch to retain the bullet.
The case is charged with 85 grains of blackpowder.
FIGURE 3. The rolled case Martini Henry Rifle cartridge.
On top of the charge is placed a glazeboard disc with a

concave beeswax wad attached, after which two more glaze-

board wads are added. The bullet is secured by ‘choking’ the

brass neck into the two bullet cannelures.
The bullet weight was 480 grains and the propellant
was 85 grains of blackpowder.
The components of this assembly are shown in the fol-
lowing illustrations. (figures 3 & 4)
The CAC plant was still totally dependent on importa-
tion of metal strip and of primers from overseas.
After the commencement of production, difficulties
and disputes arose between the Government and the Com-
pany as to the interpretation of various clauses of the Inden-
ture, and to settle these a further agreement was signed on
the 19th December, 1893 . Manufacture of the 0.45" Martini
Henry ammunition proceeded successfully with some
exceptions. There was, for instance, the deputation of
employees which waited on the Victorian Minister for
Defence (Sir Frederick Sargood) in October 1892 to com-
plain about the cessation of operations at the factory follow-
ing the arrival in Australia of 1,000,000 rounds of
ammunition ordered in England some time previously.

Pre Federation
FIGURE 4. The component parts making up the rolled case

FIGURE 5. Initial CAC Production in the form of a 1890 string tied paper wrapped bundle of 10
rounds of Martini Henry Rifle Cartridges made for the Colony of Victoria.
I
A serious explosion occurred in a Finishing Room
at the Factory on 23rd September, 1897 , destroying part of
the Factory and killing 3 female employees. This incident
was investigated by the Victorian Colony Chief Inspector of
Explosives, Mr. Cecil Napier Hake. Hake arrived from
England in 1890 and was an authority on explosives and on
small arms ammunition in particular. He had co-authored
the book “Smokeless Powder and its Influence on Gun

Pre Federation
Construction” ( J.A.Longridge London 1890 ) with W.Mac-

nab.
The investigation found that CAC was lacking in it’s
safety procedures and corrective action was taken at the
factory.
Planning for 303 Ammunition

During the 1890's considerable inter-colony friction
existed over the use of the Melbourne factory to supply other
than Victorian needs. The introduction of cordite loaded .303
calibre ammunition into British Service prompted New South
Wales to agitate for a Government owned factory to be
established to supply the new .303 requirements. At a
Premier's Conference in March 1898, there was general
agreement that NSW could proceed with this proposal,
however the impending Federation of the Colonies stalled
any further action in this regard. In any case the Victorian
Government had already arranged for CAC to obtain the
necessary new equipment to commence .303 manufacture
and had not supported the NSW idea as its 25 year supply
contract with CAC was still valid. At this time the Victorian
requirement alone ran at 4 million rounds per year which was
about 50% of the factory’s expected annual output.
CAC's relationship with Greenwood and Batley in the UK
resulted in initial .303 ammunition being supplied from GB in

Britain and repacked and labeled with CAC wrappers. This

ammunition had either GB or CAC headstamps or was un-
headstamped. It is reported that such packets of CAC Mark
II .303 carried dates of 1898 through to 1900.5

The first locally made.303 ammunition (Mk. II ball) com-
menced into production in 1900 and the production of the
Martini Henry ammunition was discontinued. The Mark II car-
tridge had a 215 grain cupronickel jacketed round nose pro-
jectile and a charge of 31 grains of cordite size 3 3/4 in 60
strands. A glazeboard wad was placed between the cordite
charge and projectile.
The latest known surviving packet of CAC Martini
Henry ammunition was dated 1901 and consisted of
repacked English ammunition made at Eley Brothers Limit-
ied. Surviving CAC .303 Mark II ammunition in collections
are found largely without headstamps although limited num-
bers may be found with head-stamps as shown later in this
book. Based on advice from cartridge collectors it is likely
that the headstamped Mark II rounds were not locally pro-
duced but supplied as part of imported bridging stocks sup-
plied through CAC but obtained from other sources.
5. Reference 4 Journal No. 80 1999.

Pre Federation
Mark II and Mark VI .303 packets dated 1904 exist in

collections thereby indicating that the changeover from Mk. II
to Mk. VI occurred during 1904. It is believed that all Mk. VI
ammunition was head-stamped and in May 1906 the month
and year of production was added to the headstamp.
The Mark VI round was externally identical to the Mark
II, the difference being in the design of the bullet in which the
bullet jacket was thinned at the nose to provide greater
‘upset’ on impact to enhance its ‘stopping power’.
FIGURE 6. A 1903 Mark II ball 10 round paper wrapped string tied packet. See latter chapter for
further examples.

FIGURE 7. The components of MK II, VI and VII rounds. From top the Mark II with cordite size 3 3/4
(usually about 60 strands) , centre the Mark VI also with cordite size 3 3/4 and lower Mk VII with the
‘thicker’ cordite MDT size 5/2 (usually 36-40 strands ). Note the glazeboard wads and that the Mk II
and Mk VI projectiles are not externally different.

Pre Federation

Chapter 2: Federation
CAC site expansion.

On the 23rd April 1901 a lease to extend the CAC site from
approximately 5 acres to 40 acres was approved by the Vic-
torian Colony.
The following graphic is a reproduction of the 'extended plan

lease' signed by John Whitney at the Crown Solicitors Office
Melbourne.

Federation
FIGURE 1. A copy of the 1901 ‘extended’ lease for the Colonial Ammunition Company

Site Expansion Details
Site Expansion Details
The original site of 5 acres was a rectangular site with about

100 metres of river frontage and depth extending due west
approximately 260 metres. The new lease gave CAC
approximately 180 metres of river frontage and a depth of
1100 metres extending due west across the river flat and up
the valley wall to the edge of Gordon street.
The reason for the additional land was to provide extensions

associated with the change to cordite propellant, and to cater
for the increased demand generated by the South African
War and the great expansion of Rifle Clubs.
With Federation of the Colonies, defence became a Com-

monwealth Government responsibility consequently the land
leased to CAC and an amount of adjoining land was trans-
ferred to Commonwealth control.
After Federation, the new Federal Secretary of Defence

accepted in principal the idea of a Federal Government
owned Ammunition plant from which all Defence demands
would be supplied. However due to the capital expenditure
required and the operating costs involved he deferred any
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888-2003 25

Federation
action since there were already adequate facilities operating

at CAC Footscray.
Dependency of supply from Overseas
The dependency of CAC on overseas supplied brass and

cupronickel cups from which they produced cartridge cases
and projectiles and also the importation of primer caps and
cordite caused concern within the Defence Department. In
1902 the new Federal Government approved the continued
association with CAC provided that it maintained a reserve of
metal components equivalent to 10 million rounds of ammuni-
tion and that it undertook to establish primer cap manufactur-
ing capability.By June 1906, the Commonwealth had agreed
to maintain the reserve stocks of metal as a Government
responsibility with the Company having the right to draw on
these stocks from time to time, if necessary, but subject to
replacement as soon as new stocks could be procured.

Mr. C.N.Hake.
Mr. C.N.Hake.
The new Federal Defence Department began planning to

expand the local defence capability. In April, 1907, Mr. C. N.
Hake, on loan to the Commonwealth from the Victorian Gov-
ernment, was sent to England to investigate Cordite manu-
facture. In 1908, Engineer-Commander W. Clarkson (later
Sir William Clarkson, Third Naval Member), who was visiting
England about the same time on Naval matters, and who
later arranged contracts for the first destroyers of the Royal
Australian Navy, was requested to investigate the possible
production of rifles in Australia.
Hake's cordite investigations in England indicated that dete-

rioration of this material under the conditions of elevated tem-
perature and humidity, such as could be expected in
Australia, was a significant factor. The manufacture of cordite
in Australia under Government control resulted from Hake's
recommendation that the product manufactured by the Royal
Gunpowder Factory at Waltham Abbey be preferred to offer-
ings by commercial firms. He attributed the superiority of its
product to good quality control, which prevented the inclusion
of impurities which hastened deterioration at elevated tem-
perature1

Federation
Another of Hake's recommendations concerning the setting

up of explosives manufacture in Australia and accepted by
the Commonwealth Government was the need to create an
independent authority for the inspection and maintenance of
the quality of explosive materials. He left the Victorian Gov-
ernment to be appointed ( Commonwealth) Inspector of
Explosives in 1907 and continued to act as Chemical Adviser
to the Government. Marcus Bell was appointed as his assis-
tant and succeeded him in the position when Hake retired in
1911
Probably the first attempt at scientific inquiry into munitions

operational problems occurred under Hake's guidance when,
with Dr. Thomas Lyle, Professor of Natural Philosophy at
Melbourne University, they carried out experiments to prove
his theory that the bursting of 0.303 inch magazine rifles was
not caused by defective composition of ammunition from the
Colonial Ammunition Company. Their examination showed
that 'double bulleting' was possible with the automatic
machines at CAC and that closer quality control could elimi-
nate the problem.
1. Reference 10 pages 901-905

Mr. C.N.Hake.
As considerable stocks of explosives were held throughout

Australia - mostly for military purposes - Hake set up a testing
laboratory at Victoria Barracks to check the state of preserva-
tion of these stocks, some of which had been held for over
ten years. He reported that only ten per cent had deteriorated
beyond acceptable limits and would have to be destroyed.
These were held mostly in Queensland.
FIGURE 2. The original Victoria Barracks Laboratory Building
Hake’s reports on cordite manufacture had been accepted by

the Commonwealth and as a result the Maribyrnong Race-
course site was selected for the new factory. Mr. A. E. Leigh-
ton, then Assistant Manager of the Indian Government
Cordite Factory at Aravankadu , had been nominated by Mr.
Hake to be Manager.

Federation
Mr. A.E.Leighton
Mr. Leighton arrived in Australia in February. 1909, and com-

menced work on the design of the new cordite factory.
In February, 1910, Leighton left for England to select the

plant for the factory. Mr. N. K. S. Brodribb joined as Chemist
in October, 1910, and he too left for England in March, 1910,
for assistance to Mr. Leighton in respect of plant and for
study of processes. This was the beginning of the Munitions
organisation in Australia.
FIGURE 3. Arthur Edgar Leighton (1873-1961)

Erection of CAC Rolling mills and Foundry
Towards the end of 1910, the buildings were proceeding at

the Cordite Factory Maribyrnong (CFM), and soon after that
the plant commenced arriving.
Erection of CAC Rolling mills and Foundry
At the Colonial Ammunition Company, in an Agreement

gazetted on June 11, 1910, CAC undertook to erect metal-
rolling mills on the Footscray site, together with the neces-
sary brass foundry, both of which were brought into operation
in 1912. This was done only after the Commonwealth Gov-
ernment agreed to CAC's request that it be given a 99 year
tenure over the 40 acres of land described in the Victorian
Government lease of 1901. CAC also undertook to provide
machinery for the manufacture of caps and paper wads.
The Small Arms Factory at Lithgow commenced manufactur-

ing in February, 1912, and was formally opened in June,
1912. At the opening function Mr. Leighton announced that
the first batch of cordite had been produced at CFM. The
production of Mercury fulminate for primer cap production at
CFM commenced on the 22 July 1915. It was then possible
to produce primers at CAC and these were available later in
1915.

Federation
303 Charger Manufacture
TABLE 1. .303 Ball Production at CAC versus Rifle and Charger Production at SAF
303 Ball produced 303 Rifles produced 303 chargers

Financial Year at CAC at SAF produced at SAF
1910-1911 15,062,000 nil nil
1911-1912 20,788,000 nil nil
1912-1913 30,737,000 40 1,785,352
1913-1914 28,143,000 4,760 2,687,692
1914-1915 53,533,000 13,786 2,502,004
1915-1916 61,600,000 30,460 8,009,000
1916-1917 97,470,000 23,960 9,319,412
1917-1918 37,449,000 23,251 7,345,270
1918-1919 19,076,000 42,129 5,455,098
1919-1920 16,540,000 25,570 7,411,714
1920-1921 10,639,000 20,420 1,748,480
1921-1922 22,854,000 14,440 nil
1922-1923 2,830,000 2,700 nil
1923-1924 2,830,000 3,320 nil
With commencement of operations at the Small Arms Factory

Lithgow, that establishment was tasked with the manufacture
of .303 chargers for supply to CAC. Lithgow made chargers
carried the Mark No of the charger together with an indentifier
in the form of an asterisk. These symbols were stamped into
the side of the charger as can be seen in the following photo-
graph. The quantities of rifles and chargers manufactured at

SAF and the corresponding quantities of ball ammunition
made by CAC by year are given in the previous table2 -
2. Reference 3 1924 Report pages 12 & 17 for figures 1913-1923 and Reference 4 Jour-
nal No 73 page 17 for figures 1910-1912

Federation
FIGURE 4. English Mark I and SAF Lithgow made Mark II,III and IV .303 Chargers

When considered with the advice that 303 Mk VI was offered

from CAC in carton packed and wrapper packed form and
that 303 Mk VII was offered as carton packed, bandolier
packed or wrapper packed3 the above table would indicate

that perhaps as much as 50% of deliveries were charger
packed with an overproduction of chargers (stockpiled ?)
from 1917 on.
Wrapper packed ammunition consisted of 10 rounds

enclosed head to tail within a printed paper wrapper tied with
string.
FIGURE 5. A Typical paper wrapped 10 round packet from CAC (1912)
3. Reference 3 1924 Report page 13.

Federation
FIGURE 6. Typical WW1 20 round packets of 303 ‘carton packed’ and charger packed
Carton packed Mk VI and Mk VII .303 ammunition shown

above consisted of a small cardboard box containing 20
rounds with paper interleaving and the packet enclosed with
a black bitumen like tape. Charger packed ammunition used
the same carton as just described but enclosed four chargers
of 5 rounds packed alternatively nose to tail. Neither carton
normally carried an external identifying label. In the illustra-
tion above a packet is shown with a label affixed some 20

A new Supply Contract for CAC
years later when these 1920 ‘out of life’ rounds were

released to Rifle Clubs in 1941. The label is a ‘disclaimer’ by
the Department of Army as to the serviceability of the ammu-
nition. Bandolier packing consisted of a cloth 'belt' contain-
ing 50 rounds consisting of 5 pockets each containing 2
chargers of 5 rounds.
A new Supply Contract for CAC
The original 25 year supply agreement established by the

Victorian Government with CAC expired on the 27th May
1915 however the Commonwealth Government delayed
entering into a further agreement with CAC as the question of
a Government owned factory had again arisen. It was even-
tually decided to propose a further 5 year supply agreement
commencing from 1st July 1917 whereby the Common-
wealth agreed to take a minimum supply of 40 million rounds
annually. The price to be paid to CAC would be that paid by
Britain to it's suppliers plus an allowance for local manufac-
ture. When this proposal was put before the Minister of
Defence it was referred to the Board of Business Administra-
tion which re-examined the issues in detail and eventually
came up with a new proposal acceptable to both the Govern-

Federation
ment and CAC, and which was duly signed by both parties.
The agreement was for the supply of 40 million rounds per
annum commencing on July 1st 1919. The pricing was
changed to an arrangement calculated from actual costing
figures with provision for a measure of profit to CAC.

Chapter 3: CAC Pre- WW1 Miscellaneous
Ammunition.
.310 Cadet Ammunition
In 1906 the Defence Department placed an order on CAC for

the production of ammunition for the .310 Cadet Training
Rifle which had been in use since about 1902. Ammunition
had been previously supplied from Britain. CAC production
deliveries commenced in 1909 and continued each year until
1913 when resources were fully allocated to wartime .303
production. Both Ball and Blank loadings were produced with
cases stamped “ CAC 310" although some unheadstamped
blank cases may be encountered. A table indicating quanti-
Australian Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 39

ties and timing of CAC .310 ammunition production is given
below1.
TABLE 1. Pre WW! .310 Cadet ammunition Production
Financial Year Ball production Blank Production

1910-1911 3,744,000 50,000
1911-1912 9,400,000 nil
1912-1913 9,500,000 4,250,000
1913-1914 13,225,000 1,775,000
The ball rounds had lead projectiles of 125 grains with a load-
ing of 5.5 grains of Schultze2 smokeless powder. The blank

loading was 10 grains of Black powder.
1. Reference 4 Journal 73 page 18.

2. Reference 4 Journal 58 page 5, but also referred to as Nitrokol by Munitions Supply
Reports .

.310 Cadet Ammunition
FIGURE 1. Above: A 1911 packet of .310 ball ammunition
FIGURE 2. Below: A 1911 packet of .310 Blank ammunition-note that the ball label was used with a
rubber stamp “BLANK” imprinted across the front
Australian Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888-2003 41

FIGURE 3. Typical CAC 310 Cadet Blank and Ball loadings
Aiming Tube Ammunition
CAC also used it's association with Greenwood and Batley to

supply overseas sourced ammunition to the Defence Depart-
ment and others. Aiming tube ammunition used in adapters in
Military service rifles and in some early single shot Francotte
Lever Action 'Cadet' Rifles is an example of this. Figure 5
shows a 1906 packet of the .297/.230 aiming tube ammuni-
tion carrying the Greenwood and Batley and CAC identifying
Marks.

Aiming Tube Ammunition
These cartridges were supplied in 'long' and 'short' variations

as shown.
FIGURE 4. .297/.230 short and long Aiming Tube Cartridges.
FIGURE 5. A typical packet of CAC supplied Aiming Tube cartridges made by Greenwood and
Batley.
Australian Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888-2003 43


Chapter 4: World War 1 and Beyond.
Local Self sufficiency

With the introduction of locally made primers in 1915, the
major components of CAC 303 ammunition were for the first
time Australian made. It is interesting to note the changes in
primer appearance in the 1915-1916 CAC rounds. Some
examples are shown below. Some smaller diameter than
standard primers were used in production in May-July 1915
marked rounds, while the standard diameter primers also
continued to be used.

FIGURE 1. Left Small and normal primers of June 1915 and Right flat and normal primers of October
1915. The small primers may be found on May through July production. The flat primers appear from
late 1915 to early 1916.
Later in the year, the primers took on a flattened appearance

(local production phasing in?) but then settled down to a
more rounded appearance but somewhat less that the pre
1915 heavily rounded imported form. 'Round-nose' Mark VI
ammunition ceased production on January 1918 with the
Mark VII rounds being introduced in February 1918. (see
later chapter.). In addition to the .303 ball ammunition shown
in Chapter 4 table 1, CAC manufactured quantities of Blank

Government considers purchase of CAC
and ‘Dummy’ rounds for training purposes during the WW1

period. These are included in the following table.
TABLE 1. .303 Blank and Dummy Production 1913 - 1926a
Financial Year .303 Blank .303 Dummy

1913-1914 8,818,000 1050
1914-1915 5,000 195,000
1915-1916 865,000 1,620,000
1916-1917 nil 5,000
1917-1918 nil 7,150
1918-1919 nil 5,000
1919-1920 nil 5,000
1920-1921 nil 4,000
1921-1922 nil 14,000
1922-1923 nil nil
1923-1924 nil 8,000 Drill
1924-1925 131,527 5,000 dummy 69,000 drill
1925-1926 nil 10,000 drill.
a. Reference 3 Annual Reports July 1926-June 1927 page 15 & July 1924-June 1925 page 12.
Government considers purchase of CAC

During August 1916, the question of purchase of the Com-
pany's works by the Government was again raised with the
Company in the context of the planning then in hand for the
establishment of a Central Arsenal, including a new Small-
Arms Ammunition Factory. The Company proposed that the
business could be taken over for £350,000, plus all new capi-

tal issued after 31st December 1915; all capital expenditure

since that date; all stores and materials in hand and on order;
and partly-manufactured goods at cost price plus 100 per
cent on the wages for establishment charges. Cabinet, how-
ever, decided that no action would be taken at that time and
the Company was so informed on August 23, 1916. The
Arsenal concept was destined to be abandoned at the end of
the 1914-18 War
The Government Leases the CAC Site.
The proposed nationalisation of the Factory was revived

again during the initial stages of the post-War recession
when the Company informed the Government that, because
of the paucity of orders for 0.303" rifle ammunition, it would
be unable to maintain production without appropriate Govern-
ment assistance. As the continued operation of the factory
was regarded as an important element of the national
Defence policy, the Commonwealth agreed to lease it from
the Company and took over responsibility for its activities as
from January 1, 1921 under a 7-year lease, at an annual
rental of £20,000 plus rates, insurance and the like and with

the Company's Manager (G.A. Cartright) continuing to man-

age the works for the Commonwealth.
FIGURE 2. :The CAC bullet shop circa 1915


FIGURE 3. The 3 packets above show the changes in marking as the Government took over running of
the plant . A 1920 dated CAC packet , a 1920 CAC label overstamped as a 1921 S.A.A.F packet and a
1921 MF marked packet . The cartridges themselves did not acquire the MF mark until 1926. (see
later chapter)
The leasing arrangement was, however, terminated

in 1927 when the Commonwealth purchased the fac-
tory as a going concern for £150,000 to be paid in
installments spread over 10 years, including interest
of 5 per cent per annum on the outstanding balance
as from January 1st, 1927 - a total payment of
£191,152.12, 0d.
FIGURE 4. Mr. G.Cartwright Factory manager 1913-1927

FIGURE 5. The CAC factory circa 1921 viewed from between the upper and lower factories looking in
an easterly direction . The hill at the rear is the boundary of Flemington Racecourse. The river is
obscured by the buildings. The Canteen is shown at the extreme right , the shooting houses are at the
extreme left and the main SAA shop is in the centre behind the chimney.

Chapter 5: The Munitions Development
Programme.
Commonwealth Reviews CAC
A survey of the CAC site was conducted and Drawing

W1103 dated 21/10/1921 was prepared to record the layout
at that time. Parts of that drawing have been reproduced
below to depict the CAC buildings on the river flat area (‘the
lower factory’) and the Cap factory and the Rolling Mill and
foundry ( ‘the upper factory’) on the Gordon street frontage.

FIGURE 1. A Plan view of the lower CAC Factory area showing the main Cartridge Shop colored for
clarity. The wharf on the River is still evident. Cordite loading buildings are adjacent to the Cartridge
Shop to the north. Firing Ranges are not in view but are immediately north of this area with shooting
from near the river bank to the west with a stop butt against the valley wall. In the lower portion of
the Plan outside the fence line is the factory Canteen. The cartridge shop shown measured some
300 ft. x 150 ft. indicating that the original case shop constructed in 1890 which was 167 ft. x 72ft
no longer existed and most likely was replaced as part of the expansion for .303 production in the
early 1900's or during the expansions of WW1.

Nucleus Production
FIGURE 2. The 'Top CAC Factory' comprising a Foundry and Rolling Mill (left) and a Cap Factory
(right). Ferguson Street is now called Owen Street. Also shown is a narrow gauge tramway network
which also extends to the lower factory. In the early 1920’s the Federal Government commenced
construction of a Gun Ammunition Factory on the ‘CAC’ northern boundary. The Gun Ammunition
factory had its own Foundry and Rolling Mill. The CAC site was merged with the Gun Ammunition
Site in 1928 under the Gun Ammunition Factory Manager J.H.Wrigley.
Nucleus Production
The funds available for maintaining the Government Facto-

ries then operating were limited in the Government’s 1922-23
Estimates to £192,200. The policy of “nucleus production”,
which had to be introduced during this depression period to
ensure retention of essential skills, directly affected the Foot-

scray works in that the ammunition production programme

there largely determined the quantity of cordite to be pro-
duced at the Government Cordite Factory.
It was consequently decided that the nucleus output would be

3,000,000 rounds annually of 0.303" ammunition. This deci-
sion involved the retrenchment over a two year period of 633
of the 810 persons employed at June 30, 1921, when produc-
tion was at a depressed annual rate of approximately
10,000,000. The Military Board agreed to this reduced pro-
gramme on the condition that the Factory would be capable
of attaining full production again within six weeks. This low
production rate together with the rifle cordite on hand at the
Cordite Factory equivalent to some 10-12 years of supply at
this rate resulted in investigations being initiated as to the
shelf life of bulk cordite and a stop on production of further
rifle cordite at CFM as from June 1922. Some small quantity
of revolver cordite for the Webley .455 service revolver
ammunition was in production. At June 1924 the Cordite
Factory still held on hand 260,000 lb. of small arms cordite
sufficient for approximately 40 million rounds of .303 ammun-
tion.

Surplus British Munitions Plant
Surplus British Munitions Plant
Several years earlier, in March, 1919, the Australian Minister

for Defence, then Sir George Pearce, arrived in England in
connection with the completion of demobilisation arrange-
ments with the British Government.
Being very much concerned with the large amount of plant

becoming available in England, Mr. J.K.Jensen, stationed in
Australia's London Office, was sending forward various pro-
posals to Australia and doing everything possible to direct
attention to the possibilities of acquiring cheaply, large quan-
tities of good munitions plant. Mr. Leighton was doing what
he could in Australia, but it was only Senator Pearce who rea-
lised the possibilities, and he took the matter up with the Min-
ister for Munitions, Lord Inverforth, and finally with Mr.
Winston Churchill - at that time Secretary of State for the
Dominions. At his arrangement, the British Government
offered Australia £300,000 worth of munitions plant at a
rebate of 50 per cent. on the cash valuation; thus it was to
cost actually £150.000. J.K.Jensen spun the offer out to
£340,000 and got 1600 machines of highest quality - a great
many absolutely new, and even those second-hand were
mostly in first-class condition. They ranged from a 1500-ton

forging press down to a wood lathe. They were bought at sur-

plus market prices, and so there were occasions of machines
being purchased at ridiculous prices -£30 for a machine
costing £500 or £600 - and it is safe to say that on the then
current market prices the value would be £1,500,000 for the
£170,000 expended.
In July 1919 the London office was closed, and the returning
men provided Australia with all the knowledge and the plant
necessary to establish production of almost every type of
munitions and even aeroplanes and engines of the types cur-
rent at the time. The Office even sent out the information then
available regarding metal aeroplanes, and while in due time
the munitions plants were put into operation, nothing, unfortu-
nately, was done about aeroplanes.
The Munitions Supply Board
Mr. Leighton was equally busy in Australia, his first step being
to prepare a comprehensive report based upon his war expe-
rience, and upon the technical information acquired in Lon-
don. The report was presented on May 27, 1919, one result
being abandonment of the Central Arsenal Scheme in favour
of a policy of decentralisation. When he returned to Australia

The Munitions Supply Board
in 1919 Leighton expressed with some force his conviction

that the location of an Arsenal near Canberra, remote from a
labour and shipping centre, was unsound and that existing
facilities should be developed and a balanced industrial com-
plex formed with scientific support under a Munitions Supply
Board. The Government accepted his ideas, the Arsenal
Project as conceived was abandoned,
Despite the abandonment of the Central Arsenal proposal,

Leighton retained the position of 'chairman , Board of Man-
agement, Government Factories,' and continued to approve
drawings carrying the Commonwealth Arsenal title block into
early 1921.
FIGURE 3.An example of the Commonwealth Arsenal title block of Drawing X-785 approved by
Leighton on 16/9/1920 is shown. Leightons signature as 'General Manager' is at the left

Leighton's report contained a complete scheme for a Muni-

tions Supply Organisation, but it was launched at a time of
doubt and indecision, the prevalent belief of both Parliament
and the people being that there would be no more wars. Dis-
armament was being discussed as public policy and opinion
was decidedly adverse to Defence expenditure. Since such
thought persisted for probably 15 years, the uphill effort of the
Munitions Supply Board to develop the Australian Munitions
capability has to be applauded.
Government Munition Laboratories Established
One section of Leighton’s report which received favorable

attention was the emphasis placed upon the need for scien-
tific control of manufacturing, both in the quality of materials
and the accuracy of measurement. Money was voted for the
establishment of extensive laboratories modeled upon the
National Physical Laboratory in England and the Bureau of
Standards at Washington, and Australia should be very
grateful to Mr. Leighton for the foresight which brought them
into being. The laboratory was initially staffed with personnel
from the Victoria Barracks Laboratory and with the young
technologists who had been trained in England. Its official

Government Munition Laboratories Established
functions, which reflected five years of planning by Marcus

Bell ( Hake’s successor ) , were to maintain standards of
manufacture and supply, to promote by research the produc-
tion of defence supplies from Australian raw materials, and to
investigate special problems of manufacture, inspection and
service use of defence stores and equipment.
With commencement of construction of the Maribyrnong lab-

oratories in 1920, the Munitions Supply scheme thus became
launched, but it was not until 1921 that the administrative
body recommended in the report, the Munitions Supply
Board, was constituted. The membership, was as follows:-
“Chairman: A. E. Leighton, F.I.C., Controller-General Muni-

tions Supply.
“Deputy Chairman: Col. T. J. Thomas, O.B.E., Finance Sec-

retary of the Department of Defence.
“Member: M. M. Maguire, Assistant Secretary of the Depart-

ment of Defence.
“Secretary: J. K. Jensen.

Munitions Development Plan
Early in 1922 the Government, while giving attention to a

general reduction of Defence expenditure, most of which was
still connected with the aftermath of the war, was receptive to
Army proposals which were aimed at enhancing local
Defence capability rather than the stock piling of reserves.
The Munitions Supply Board devised a development plan

whereby savings gained by reduction of the manufacturing
programme were applied to a new construction programme.
The MSB suggested a capital expenditure of £900,000, to be
spread over six years, and this, added to some £360,000
which had already been spent on ‘surplus’ plant purchased in
England, building laboratories in Australia, etc., made up a
plan to cost £1,116,000. It was endorsed by the Government,
but through one cause and another, including later additions
to the original scheme, was not completed until 1930.
.As the new laboratories were taking place alongside the

'Cordite Factory” at Maribynong, action had commenced to
create :-
• “a new Defence Inspection Organisation,

• “a new high explosive manufacturing capability at the

Cordite Factory,
• “a new pistol and machine gun plant at the Small Arms

Factory at Lithgow
• “a gun ammunition factory at Footscray adjacent to CAC
• “gun manufacturing and shell forging capability at Mariby-

rnong.(ie an Ordnance Factory)
• a central administration section at Maribyrnong located

between the Ordnance factory and the Laboratories to
house the Inspection Headquarters, a Central Drawing
Office and Document Control and the Senior staff of the
Munitions Organisation.
During 1921, at the request of the Military Board, the initial

steps were taken at CAC for the manufacture of 0.455"
ammunition for the Webley pistol and experimental work
commenced on special 0.303" ammunition (known as “Red
Label” or Air Service Ammunition) to be used with machine-
guns mounted in aircraft.1 These initiatives were assisted by

the newly constructed Munitions Laboratories and the
1. Reference 3 Annual Report July 1924- June 1925 page 12

Inspection Service. Drawing Y-928 defining the .455 ammu-

nition was prepared by Leighton's staff in January 1921 and a
reproduction of this is on the next page.
The first deliveries of .455 ammunition of 665,000 rounds
was reported in the 1923-24 Financial Year.2 This included

40,000 rounds to the RAN with the balance to Army.
By 1926 the factory was able to report that .303 tracer ammu-
nition had been successfully produced in small quantities and
that work was proceeding on the experimental manufacture
of .303 Grenade launching cartridges using a charge of 30
grains of Ballistite.3
2. Reference 3 June 1924 Confidential Report Pages 12 & 13

3. Reference 3 July 1924- June 1926 Confidential Report page 14

FIGURE 4. Commonwealth Arsenal Drawing Y928 detailing the .455 Webley revolver round.

Gun Ammunition Factory
While the leasing of CAC was continuing, the Defence

Department had proceeded with the establishment of a Gun
ammunition Factory on land it controlled immediately to the
north of CAC and an Ordnance Factory on the former WW1
Royal Australian Field Artillery Depot in Maribynong. Both of
these projects were connected to the local manufacture and
supply of 18 pdr guns and ammunition. The new Ordnance
factory was to manufacture the guns and the shell ( projec-
tiles) while the Gun ammunition plant was to make cartridge
cases and fuses.
Utilising much of the equipment and plant acquired cheaply

from England, construction of fuse and case workshops was
initiated with supporting foundry and rolling mills to follow. By
June 1926 the case shop was ready to manufacture 18 pdr.
Cartridge cases subject to receipt of an annealing furnace
from Britain and the fuse shop had about 75% of it's machin-
ery installed. The foundry and rolling mill were approved for
construction during 1926-1927.The following drawing depicts
the general layout of the Gun Factory and it's location relative
to CAC.

Full ownership of CAC
FIGURE 5. The Footscray Gun Ammunition Factory
Full ownership of CAC
When the Defence Department finally gained ownership of

CAC in 1927 it coincided with the request by the then man-
ager Mr. G.A.Cartright to relinquish his position as from 31st
December 1927. Consequently in 1928 the 'CAC' plant was
'merged with the Gun Ammunition Factory under it's manager

Mr. J.H. Wrigley. This bought some duplication in the form of

two foundries and two rolling mills. Consequently the older
“CAC' facilities were phased out and decommissioned. In
addition, the new Ordnance Factory had wood working facili-
ties suited to the making of ammunition boxes. Consequently
the 'box' workshop at the 'CAC' site was closed and it's oper-
ations transferred to the Ordnance factory.
Delayed Quality Problems.
In the MSB Annual Report for the Period 1927-1929 the

Inspection Group reported that investigations were being car-
ried out into a damaged rifle and ammunition at William-
stown, a burst cartridge from a Rifle Club, and burst rifles
from Tasmania and Victoria. The outcome was that the prob-
lem was attributed to accidental double bulleting of MkVI .303
ammunition at CAC during the peak war time production
effort of 1916-1917 when rates of 2 million rounds per week
were achieved. A similar investigation some 20 years earlier
had concluded that double bulleting was indeed possible.
(see chapter 2). Existing stocks of ammunition from this
period were ordered to be check weighed to attempt to detect
any further potential problems. As ammunition cartons were

Commercial Work
weighed and cleared they were stamped with a marking to

indicate that the ammunition had been checked.
FIGURE 6. A ‘check weighed’ ink stamping on a carton of 1917 CAC Mk VI .303 ammunition
indicating the ammunition was check weighed in Melbourne 28-12-1930.
Commercial Work
With the diminished orders from the Defence users, each of

the Government Factories was encouraged to take on 'Com-
mercial' work. Work which 'displaced' imported goods or sup-
plies was given priority. Work which directly competed with
local industry was discouraged. Arising out of complaints
from the Associated Chamber of Manufactures the matter of
Commonwealth Factories performing commercial work was
considered by Federal Cabinet on 14th March 1932 and a

new instruction was issued in effect saying that the factories

could only perform work not able to be done by Australian
Industry. This did not satisfy the Victorian Chamber of Manu-
facturers and in June 1933 a writ was served upon the Com-
monwealth seeking to prevent any goods being made by the
Commonwealth factories and supplied to the State of Victoria
and other bodies. The issue appeared to be initiated by the
Commonwealth Clothing Factory making and selling non-mil-
itary clothing to non-military customers. The High Court of
Victoria referred the matter to the Federal High Court which
delivered it’s judgement on 23rd May 1935. The judgement
acknowledged the need for the Commonwealth to maintain
skills within the factories through the maintenance of ade-
quate workload and left the matter of ‘commercial’ work to the
discretion of the Governor-General and the responsible Min-
isters.
The Ammunition Factory undertook a range of ‘commercial’

tasks including:-
• Production of a special order of jacked .310 Cadet rifle

ammunition for Papua -New Guinea.
• Development and manufacture of .22 rimfire ammunition
for Civilian Rifle Clubs through the period 1931 -1935.
• The production of large quantities of drawn brass lipstick
'containers' for the domestic cosmetics industry.

Australia moves toward War
• Production of .32 Auto and .32 Smith and Wesson revolver

ammunition for local police, bank security requirements,
government department payroll 'minders' and the like.
• Rolling of brass and nonferrous alloy sheet and strip for
local metal merchants. This item represented a rapidly
growing revenue item as can be seen from the following
table. This work was terminated in April 1938 due to the
rising demand for Defence requirements.
TABLE 1. Commercial Metal Strip and Plate output from Ammunition factory Footscraya.
Financial Year Metal Output (ton) Value (Pound)

1930-1931 22 3,690
1931-1932 162 25,905
1932-1933 320 50,887
1933-1934 387 59,898
1934-1935 485 70,475
1935-1936 547 74,506
1936-1937 828 114,333
1937-1938 762 107,387
a. Reference 3 July1937-June 1938 Annual Report
Australia moves toward War
Activity on Ammunition output increased markedly in the

1938-39 period as can be seen in the following table which
lists .303 production over the period 1926-1939.4 The follow-

ing year production was put on a War footing.

TABLE 2. .303 Ball Production over the period 1926-1939
Year Quantity Delivered Year Quantity Delivered

1925-1926 2,799,360 1933-1934 3,187,152
1926-1927 7,800,096 1934-1935 8,148,336
1927-1928 8,118,244 1935-1936 14,869,936
1928-1929 8,362,109 1936-1937 15,106,264
1929-1930 5,131,600 1937-1938 14,769,432
1930-1931 3,947,587 1938-1939 23,580,368
1931-1932 3,163,856
1932-1933 2,511,056
4. Reference 4 Journal No 73 1998.

Chapter 6: The Wartime SAA factories
The first Upgrade at Footscray
By the early 1930's the Munitions Supply Board had imple-

mented the 1920's munitions plan. This had given Australia
an updated explosives manufacturing capability, an updated
small arms factory, new Munitions Laboratories, a new Ord-
nance factory, a Defence Quality Organisation and central
planning and administration. Despite some upgrading of the
'CAC' ammunition factory in the form of new gun calibre car-
tridge and fuse shop, the small arms ammunition capability
was essentially that acquired from CAC . This facility had
reached a capacity of approximately 100 million rounds of
SAA per annum at the peak of WW1 production in 1917. The

plant which had some buildings dating back to the 1890's

was considered to be in less than ideal condition and a fire
hazard. In 1934 the Munitions Supply Board proposed that a
new modern SAA plant be built on the Footscray site near the
Gordon Street boundary which would bring it closer to the
foundry and rolling mill and bring certain efficiencies in the
movement of product around the site. The modified site plan
showing the 'new' case and bullet shop and assembly, load-
ing and packing facilities was signed off by the then Muni-
tions Controller General, Mr. A. Leighton on September 4th
1937. The more modern Footscray plant ( ultimately using
the identifier MG) and generally referred to as the No2 Fac-
tory, would share many of the Footscray facilities such as the
foundry and rolling mill and firing and acceptance ranges. It
was to be capable of 100 million rounds of SAA per year. The
original intention was to close the old CAC 'lower' SAA plant
as soon as the new plant came into production. The political
situation in Europe however caused abandonment of the clo-
sure of the 'lower' factory. The new No.2 plant commenced
deliveries early in 1940. Initially it had been decided to
change the identification of small arms ammunition at Foot-
scray by using MF1 as the Factory identifier of the original
factory and MF2 for the No.2 plant. Some relatively small
amount of cartridges were so marked from each plant before

The first Upgrade at Footscray
a change was made to use the MG identifier for the No2

plant and revert to MF for the No1 plant. The following
graphic of an early 1940 .303 proof round from the No1 plant
illustrates the use of the MF1 identifier.
FIGURE 1. An example of the MF1 headstamp used in early 1940 for a short period. The item shown is
a .303 proof Mk III round

FIGURE 2. .303 ball headstamps of the No2 SAAF Footscray ‘MG’ from 1940 to 1948
Hendon S.A. chosen for new SAA plant.
The Munitions Supply Board commenced examining options

to increase SAA production in Australia. As a general strat-
egy, any new facilities were as far as practicable, to be kept
in the southern states to draw on 'untapped' labour
resources. As the uneasy political situation in Europe deteri-
orated into war, the Munitions Board proposed that a new
plant be built at Hendon in South.Australia, and Drawing
W2689 dated 10th October 1939, was prepared at the Cen-

Hendon S.A. chosen for new SAA plant.
tral Drawing Office at Maribyrnong depicting a 'single factory'

with supporting storage magazines and proof firing facilities
located on a roughly triangular tract of land in the Adelaide
suburb of Hendon. The site was bounded by Tapley Hill
Road on the west, Gordon Street on the east and Farman
Street on the northern boundary. An existing railway line was
conveniently located near to the southwest corner of the site.
The intention was to construct a plant at Hendon that would
produce 100 million rounds of SAA per annum. This site
often referred to as the No. 3 Plant, would use the identifier
MH.
FIGURE 3. .303 ball headstamps of No 3 SAAF Hendon ‘MH’ 1940 -1945

Hendon Plant Duplicated
Construction at Hendon commenced almost immediately but

by early 1940 it was obvious that even more production was
needed and the decision was made to duplicate the Hendon
Plant. The additional Hendon Plant again with a planned
capacity of 100 million rounds per annum, was to be referred
to as the No4 plant and would identify it's production with the
MJ code. Drawing W2754 dated 21 August 1940 shows two
SAA buildings (MH & MJ) side by side separated by a few
hundred feet. Records show employment at the Hendon site
was nil as at the end of June 1940 rising to 321 by end of
October 1940. In a report to the Munitions Board in October
1940, the No3 plant was reported as complete with produc-
tion commenced. The No4 plant was then reported as being
75% completed. The report also suggests that with both
plants operational, employment at Hendon would rise to 2500
of which 80% would be female. This report indicated that
Hendon would draw its metal requirements from the new Gun
Ammunition Factory being constructed at Finsbury and cord-
ite from the Explosives Factory Salisbury also under con-
struction.

Reorganisation of the Munitions Supply Organisation
FIGURE 4. .303 ball headstamps of the No4 SAAF Hendon ‘MJ’ 1941-1944.
Reorganisation of the Munitions Supply Organisation
Meanwhile the organisational arrangements of the Munitions

Group was changing as can be seen from the following pas-
sage written by Mr. J, K. Jensen :- “In July, 1939, the Depart-
ment of Supply and Development was formed upon a
nucleus provided by transfer from the Department of Defence
of our Munitions Supply Board and the Principal Supply Offic-
ers Committee, together with the Contracts Board. Mr. Bro-
dribb was included in the transfer, and resumed his
appointment as Chairman of the Munitions Supply Board,

while Mr. Leighton (who had officially reached age retirement

in 1938 -D.M.) was appointed a consultative member in order
that his wide knowledge and wide experience might be
retained. We have grown since, however, and whereas then
the administrative staff of the Munitions section consisted of
18 people, it now approaches 6000. In July, 1939, we occu-
pied two floors of 83 William street, Melbourne, and now we
are located in 28 buildings in Melbourne, four in Sydney, and
one in each of the remaining capital cities. We had four Gov-
ernment factories and the Departmental Laboratories, each
one fitted with all essential equipment of the highest quality
and precision, and there were 24 Armament Annexes being
equipped, of which eight had commenced manufacturing.
The war opened, therefore. with an organised Department,
even though the directing staff may have been almost negligi-
ble in number.”1
Munitions Ministry Created.
Not long after the split from the Defence Department, further
massive organisational changes were initiated with a sepa-
rate Ministry of Munitions being created. The following pas-
1. Reference 1 Page 8.

Munitions Ministry Created.
sage also by J.K.Jensen explains :- “ In .June. 1940, came

the great forward move; we were broken off from the Depart-
ment of Supply and Development and set up as a separate
Department of Munitions, with Mr. Essington Lewis as Direc-
tor-General in charge of the production effort. Mr. Lewis was
asked to prepare a plan for a large scale production of muni-
tions, his first steps being to visit the factories and interview
departmental officers while regulations were prepared giving
him wide powers. Then on one historic night he called
together the principal departmental officers and a plan was
prepared for the munitions organisation as it stands today -
practically unaltered - ample evidence that some very good
planning was done on that .June day in 1940.
Eight Directorates were established for the development of

commercial industry for munitions production, and we had
also the Government Factories organisation which, through-
out, has been under the direction of Mr. N. K. S. Brodribb as
Chairman of the Board of Factory administration. Mr. A. E.
Leighton, former Chairman of the Board, and now a consulta-
tive member, was appointed Consultant on Explosives, with
particular supervision over commercial chemical production
for munitions purposes.

Complementary to the central Directorates, we set up Boards

of Area Management in each State, and here probably their
respective functions should be explained. The focal point for
the whole organisation is the Director-General of Munitions,
assisted, as stated already, by the Factory Board for the Gov-
ernment Factories, and by the Directors, for the organisation
of commercial industry. The Directors, as will be shown
shortly, were given charge of production of certain groups of
Munitions, or in some cases, of matters accessory thereto.
The Director-General was to be the co-ordinating authority as
between the Directors themselves, between the Directors
and the Area Boards, and between commercial industry and
the Government Factories.”2
Finsbury comes on line to supply Hendon
In August 1941, the Finsbury Gun Ammunition plant was

reported as just commencing production. Presumably since
production had been underway at Hendon No3 for almost a
year, it must have done so with metal supplies from the Foot-
scray Rolling mills and the “Cordite” factory i.e. Explosives

Rebuild of Footscray No 1 Plant
Factory Maribyrnong. The Hendon and Finsbury plants were

under a single Manager at that time i.e. Mr. W.M.B. Fowler.
FIGURE 5.The Finsbury plant S.A. circa 1943 as viewed from above Torrens Road looking north-west.
The enormous plant covered an area of approx 1.2Km x 0.8Km and provided the metal needs of
Hendon and Welshpool SAA plants as well as its own needs as a large calibre case and fuse
manufacturer. The feint white line added to the photo indicates the boundary fenceline.
Rebuild of Footscray No 1 Plant
By December 1940, total Australian 303 production had

reached a rate of 200 million rounds per annum with expec-
tations that a demand of 300 million rounds per annum

would be reached by March 41, 400 million by June 41 and

500 million by September 41. Approval was given to rebuild
the No1 site at Footscray and production was moved to a
large new SAA building constructed on the river flats area just
north of the previous building.
Plants planned for Rocklea and Welshpool
As the estimates exceeded the total planned capacity of the

previously mentioned 4 plants, by late '41 the Munitions Min-
istry had a further 3 plants planned. These were to be Facto-
ries No. 5 and 6 to be built at Rocklea, a suburb of Brisbane,
and Factory No. 7 to be built at Welshpool a suburb of Perth
and each was to be capable of 100 million rounds per year.
The choice of the Rocklea site was at variance to earlier
stated intentions of keeping plants in the southern states.
The logic for this change was not given.
The Rocklea SAA plant which would come to use the MQ

identifier was to be built together with a large calibre case
shop, in undulating hills about one kilometer east of Rocklea
Railway station and about 7km due south of the Brisbane city
centre. It straddled Evans road. It was planned that the
Rocklea plant would not require foundry or rolling mills and

would draw its metal needs from industry in Sydney and tool-
ing from the Railway Workshops at Ipswitch. Detailed draw-
ings for the Rocklea buildings carry dates of May 1941 while
those for Welshpool August 1941. Both sites had access to
railway facilities via spur lines entering into the factory bound-
aries.
The 1945 site layout for the Rocklea site which follows,
shows only one SAA Building of 138,000 sq. ft. in area and a
foundry and rolling mill and Toolroom thereby showing three
contradictions to the original plan . The individual Hendon
SAA buildings each had 'footprints' of 70,400 sq. ft. as did
the single Welshpool SAA plant. Presumably the Board’s
intention to establish two Rocklea plants was modified to
have one large facility of the required capacity. The presence
of the foundry, rolling mill and toolroom also suggests a
change in plan. The Rocklea site plan also shows a large
Case Factory and Machine Shop of 230,000 sq. ft. (for large
calibre gun cartridge cases). A photograph of the Rocklea
site taken in March 1941 entitled 'Site Preparation' shows
most of the Buildings in place. A photograph in the Govern-
ment Archives shows the first SAA ammunition delivery from
the Rocklea plant being made in February 1942.

FIGURE 6.An aerial photo of the Rocklea site circa 1945 with the SAA buildings still partly shrouded in
camouflage netting.
The Welshpool Plant which used the MW identifier, was to

be located on site near the intersection of Welshpool Road
and Rutland Avenue adjacent to the South Western Railway
line from Perth. The Welshpool plant, in common with the
Hendon plants, was to draw its metal needs from the Fins-
bury plant in South Australia. The Welshpool site layout as at

1945, featured in addition to the standard SAA facilities, a

large building of approximately 56,000 sq. ft. designated as a
'Fuse' shop. Production deliveries from Welshpool com-
menced in June 1942.
By July 1942 the SAA production exceeded revised require-

ments and on the 6th of July the Minister of Munitions Nor-
man. J. O. Makin, wrote to the Prime Minister John Curtin
suggesting that the Footscray and Hendon Plants should
reduce from 3 shifts per day to 2 shifts per day with the ‘sur-
plus’ labour to be absorbed elsewhere, and that the pro-
posed 3rd shifts at Rocklea and Welshpool be deferred
indefinitely
FIGURE 7. .303 ball headstamps of SAAF Nos 6&7 Rocklea ‘MQ’ 1942-1943

FIGURE 8. .303 ball headstamps of SAAF No 7 Welshpool ‘MW’ 1942-1945
. Makin advised the PM that “ A situation has arisen in con-

nection with the operation of our Small Arms Ammunition
Factories regarding which I consider you should be aware.
We now have seven factories established each being
designed for a nominal production of 100,000,000 rounds
annually, but actually the seven factories working 24 hours
per day should produce 800,000,000 rounds annu-
ally.........The production scheme upon which the factories
were planned totalled at one time 1000,000,000 rounds
annually, including substantial shipments to Malaya, Nether-
lands East Indies, New Zealand, Middle East, Eastern Group
etc. but for obvious reasons some of these (requirements)
have ceased. The cessation of shipments abroad has consid-
erably improved the Australian position, and the reserve

stocks in Australia are now becoming satisfactory, whereas

only a few months ago they were not so regarded. “
Makin went on to explain his proposal to reduce activity at the

plants and sought advice as to how to handle the potential
negative public comment. The Prime Minister replied on the
23rd of July setting out some guidelines for the reduction of
ammunition production as determined by the ‘Chiefs of Staff’
of the Armed Forces and some guidance as to the form of the
public statement On the 25th July a press release was
issued advising of reductions in certain munition pro-
grammes.
At the Footscray site the workforce had peaked in 1941-42 at

9,323, (4,608 of whom were women ) , but as a conser-
quence of the ‘1942 cut-back’, the factory was required to
make male employees available for military service and
1,100 were subsequently released. Further reductions in
demand at Footscray resulted in employee numbers being
reduced down to 2,507 by 1944.
The declining demands for SAA resulted in production at the

Rocklea Plant being halted in October 1943 and the SAA
buildings handed over to the Department of Aircraft Produc-
tion for use as a repair and overhaul centre for aircraft

engines for the large number of allied aircraft ( especially

USAF) operated out of Australia's north. The large case
shop had at least some of its orders transferred to the Ruth-
erford (NSW) case factory. In its short career the Rocklea
plant produced annually 220 million rounds of .303 ammuni-
tion, 2 million .455 revolver rounds, 9 million .380 revolver
rounds 3 million cartridge cases for 25 pdr and 0.6 million
smoke shell .
Site Plans for the WW2 SAA factories.
The following site plans show the general arrangement of

each of the wartime SAA plants as they existed in 1945
except for Footscray which is a mid 60’s layout. The main
change from Footscray’s WW2 layout is the addition of a
large building in the lower Factory added by the Myer Com-
pany for use as a store during their post war lease of this
area.

FIGURE 9. Changes to .303 projectile material and crimping: from top cupronickel with neck staking
into low cannelure phased out in 1942 to be replaced by gilding metal neck staking which was in turn
replaced by mouth coning into a high cannelure in 1944 which continued until cessation of production.
The mouth coning of the cupronickel projectile (second from bottom) in 1944 was to use residual
‘surplus’ cupronickel stock.

FIGURE 10. Bullet retention in Tracer , Incendiary and Armour Piercing cartridges : from top
cupronickel and guilding metal tracers with press fit and mouth coning, Blue tipped incendiary with
press fit, cupronickel and guilding metal AP rounds with punch neck staking (prior to 1942) and AP
with full neck staking

FIGURE 11. SAA Plant ‘MW’ at Welshpool W.A. c1945

FIGURE 12. SAA Plants ‘MH & MJ’ at Hendon S.A.

FIGURE 13. SAA Plants No5 & 6, ‘MQ’ at Rocklea Queensland.

FIGURE 14. SAA Plants ‘MF & MG” at Footscray Victoria.

Chapter 7 : The end of .303 production.
Closure of Wartime factories,
At the end of WW2, Australia had the production capacity of

500 million rounds of SAA per year. The Rocklea plant with
it's capacity of 200 million rounds per annum had been
closed in 1943 as noted in the previous chapter. The surviv-
ing SAA sites included two at Footscray in Victoria , two at
Hendon in South Australia and the Welshpool plant in West-
ern Australia. The large reserves of .303 and other ammuni-
tion on hand at the end of the war left no option but to
immediately scale back production. Consequently all but the
Footscray No2 plant (MG) were closed by the end of 1945.

As noted earlier, the original intention of building the No2

plant at Footscray was to bring the SAA operations away
from the river flats area and place it closer to the supporting
operations of foundry and rolling mill and the like. So even
though the No1 Factory had been upgraded and expanded
during the war it was marked for closure. Ultimately the No1
site was leased to the Myer retail organisation and the site
was used for storage and some furniture manufacturing oper-
ations. The buildings were cleared prior to the lease with
much equipment joining that from Rocklea, Welshpool and
Hendon in the Government Disposals System. Myer erected
a 'new' large warehouse alongside the No1 SAA building to
increase floor space.
A good cross section of the surplus equipment was acquired

by Mr. George Lansell who set up Super Cartridge Company
at 151 Rayleigh Road Maribyrnong. It is interesting to note
that on the eventual closure of Super Cartridge Company in
the 80's some of this surplus war time equipment was still
stored there as it was taken from the war time factories.
Many of the machines still had wartime components in the
feed hoppers.

Limited post war production of .303 ammunition.
Limited post war production of .303 ammunition.
Limited production of .303 ammunition continued at Foot-

scray through 1946 to 1948 using the No2 plant identifier MG.
Production of 9mm, .45Auto and .380 revolver ammunition
was suspended until further notice. Employee numbers at the
Footscray site had fallen below 1000 in 1948.
In 1948 The Munitions Ministry was ‘absorbed’ back into the

Department of Supply together with elements of the Depart-
ment of Aircraft Production.
In 1949 a decision was made at the Ammunition Factory

Footscray to revert to the identifier MF for all subsequent
SAA production. Production of .303 ramped upward during
the Korean conflict and was maintained at reasonable levels
to support Civilian Rifle Clubs usage, Military Cadet activities
and National Service consumption.
The manufacture of charger clips for .303 which had been

centred at the Ordnance Factory Maribyrnong since the 30’s
was discontinued in favour of ongoing production at the Ord-
nance Factory Bendigo. Bendigo product carried the ‘BO’
identifier and later ‘MBO”.

FIGURE 1. .303 Chargers: At the top a Mk IV made by MO ( Maribyrnong Ordnance), with a drab
olive and conventional black phosphated Mk 4 made at BO ( Bendigo Ordnance)
During the early 50's the Defence Department was seeking

to replace the .303 weapons with a new suite of weapons tak-
ing the new ammunition standardised across the NATO
members. Although Australia was not a member of NATO it
followed the USA and UK in adopting the 7.62mm x 51
ammunition. Australia chose the Belgian FN designed Self
Loading rifle as the individual weapon and the United States
M60 machine gun as the standard Army machine gun.

The last production runs of .303
Preparations were made to commence production of 7.62

ball ammunition at Footscray. New cartridge manufacturing
machinery was ordered from France and initial production got
under way in 1956 in parallel with the .303 production lines.
The last production runs of .303
The last regular production of .303 ball and blank loadings

ceased in 1960 however a special order for a quantity of .303
ball for the Cadet organisation was processed in 1962. Unfor-
tunately the Cadet requirement was badly under estimated
and subsequently imported English (Kynoch ICI ) Mark 7 then
Indian Mark 7 from the Kirkee Ammunition Factory was
acquired for the Cadet movement. Much of the Indian ammu-
nition was repacked by the Footscray factory in the late 60’s
and early 70’s. Charger loaded Indian stocks were covered
with a grease like material and at Footscray the rounds were
'de-clipped' and rumbled in sawdust to remove the 'grease'
prior to repacking in cardboard packets of 48.
Cadet rifle training eventually became ‘politically incorrect’

and the .303 rifles and ammunition were withdrawn.
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888-2003


Chapter 8: Manufacture of 7.62 x 51
ammunition
Commencement of 7.62 production
The first Australian production of the 7.62 round took place in

1956 at the Ammunition Factory Footscray. The British Sys-
tem of type marking was used on this ammunition and the
first ammunition carried a designation of L2A1. This short
lived pattern was replaced by the L2A2 in 1957. Production
rate increased over subsequent years as the new weapons
were distributed to the Defence Forces and the .303 weap-
ons and ammunition were phased out.

Ball rounds and inspection rounds were produced in 1956 fol-

lowed by fluted drill rounds, Inspection rounds, proof and gre-
nade launching rounds in 1959. Footscray also made ballistic
standard rounds for its own internal needs. A European
designed full length ‘plastic’ blank with metal head insert was
put into ‘licensed’ production in 1961 designated L1A1
The NATO symbol
In 1960 Footscray included the ‘NATO’ symbol into the

headstamp for the ball round. The Footscray plant was sub-
sequently advised that the NATO symbol could only be
included into the headstamp if the ammunition was indepen-
dently tested and verified to fully conform to the NATO speci-
fication by one of the overseas approved testing authorities.
The symbol was dropped from the headstamp part way
through 1962. Subsequently several batches of ammunition
were submitted overseas for test at considerable expense
but ‘the Defence System’ was not committed to this concept
and the quest for NATO approval was eventually dropped.

The NATO symbol
7.62 Ball round headstamps 1959 through 1963 showing introduction then deletion of the
FIGURE 1.
NATO symbol .
The 7.62 ammunition was placed into maximum production

in the late1960’s as the USA purchased considerable stocks
of Australian Defence Reserve ammunition to support its
operations in Vietnam and the Footscray factory was given
additional replenishment orders.

The ‘new’ ammunition required new charger clips for the rifle
and disintegrating links for the M60 machine gun. These
were put into production at the Bendigo Ordnance facility.
The links for the M60 machine gun were the USA designed
M13 link. The chargers for the rifle were of a ‘mauser style’.
Both were black phosphated steel.
FIGURE 2. From top : 50 browning M9 link circa 1980’s , 7.62 charger made in 1964 and the 7.62 M13
link for the M60 machine gun made at Ordnance Factory Bendigo and carrying the MBO mark.

Problems with pressure.
FIGURE 3.The 5 round 7.62 charger with black phosphated steel body and spring steel inner platform
made at Ordnance Factory Bendigo from the early 60’s.
Problems with pressure.
The Australian Army converted a quantity of otherwise sur-

plus .303 BREN light machine guns to 7.62 calibre. This was
quite a reasonable idea since the original weapon design was
for the similar rimless 7.92 Mauser cartridge. Consequently
these weapons were then included in the ‘casualty’ firing
acceptance at the factory. Cartridge failures began to occur

with certain of the tests particulary the ‘hot’ test with the Bren.
This problem lead to a detailed study of the cartridge case
internal geometry and the propellant (AR2201) characteris-
tics at high temperature. Part of the findings included a dis-
covery that due to ‘toolmaking liberties’ in the cartridge
drawing and forming tools, certain case dimensions had
moved progressively toward low tolerance (i.e. minimum
metal condition). This caused considerable embarrassment
for the Factory and steps were taken to remedy the situation.
An improved propellant (AR2206) was also introduced. The
resultant round was designated as F4 and 1979 dated rounds
carried this marking with the L2A2 marking ceasing in 1978.
The original Munitions Supply Laboratories had been

renamed years earlier as ‘ Defence Standards laboratories’
Whereas these laboratories were initiated as a support to the
munitions industry with expertise in metrology, materials,
gauge design etc., the years had seen their activities move
across Defence matters generally. In the 70’s these laborato-
ries announced that they would no longer participate in indus-
try support as such, and would concentrate on research.
Consequently their metrology and gauge design section was
disbanded.

Commercial Ammunition and Components
Ammunition Factory Footscray picked up most of the Metrol-

ogy role of the laboratories and became the prime metrology
centre in Victoria.
The 70’s saw Footscray trying to supplement the diminishing

defence workload by ( once again) turning to commercial
work. The Gun cartridge presses were used to make a vari-
ety of items including ‘drawn’ pressure cooker saucepans
and components for domestic stoves. The SAA section
developed a range of components for sporting shooters. This
included Boxer primed cases for .223 Winchester (5.56mm),
.243 Winchester , .308 Winchester, 30-06, 9mm and .38 Spe-
cial. Tin coated lead projectiles were also made in .38 calibre
and .45 calibre. The pistol cases and projectiles were aimed
at local pistol clubs while the rifle cases were onsold to cus-
tomers such as Super Cartridge Company which in turn
loaded the cases and then sold the ammunition under their
own trade name. One large consignment of .223 Winchester
was sold to a distributor in the USA. A quantity of .308 was
loaded and sold directly from the Factory.

Commercial .308 produced by Footscray including loaded rounds ( two top items) with
FIGURE 4.
headstamp MF 308 ; primed boxer cases with no headstamp ( lower left) and bearing 308 only ( lower
right)
FIGURE 5.Some commercial handgun projectiles : from left .45 tinned lead projectile, .38 tinned lead
wad cutter and jacketed .38 projectile.

FIGURE 6. .38 Special revolver cases : the top example carrying MFc (Commercial) identification the
lower carrying MF only.
The Factory also supplied ammunition against ‘non-military’

orders particularly for the State and Territory Government
departments responsible for eradication of feral animals. In
the Northern Territory and Western Australia, eradication pro-
grammes were mounted against buffaloes, wild camels and
donkeys. In some of the programmes helicopters were used
with marksmen equipped with military self loading rifles. Ini-
tially military 7.62 ammunition was supplied but success was
less than desirable because of the ‘stiff’ 144 grain full metal
jacketed projectiles wounding rather than killing the animals.
This situation lead to the Factory loading soft pointed and hol-
low pointed bullets and also heavier (170 grain) full metal

jacket projectiles in the ammunition supplied for these pro-

grammes.
Commercial Rifle Cases : from left 30-06, 308W, .243W (loaded by Super Cartridge
FIGURE 7.
Company) and .223W loaded at the Factory

FIGURE 8. Headstamps of Commercial Rifle cases : from left 30-06, 308 W and 243 W
FIGURE 9. Commercial .223 W ( 5.56 ) of the 70’s headstanped MFc compared to Military 5.56 of 1988
FIGURE 10. Non military 7.62 projectiles from top 170grain FMJ , 150 Grain sopt point and hollow
point.

FIGURE 11. Non-military 7.62 loads of the early 1990’s from top 1990 full metal jacket 170 grain boat
tail bullet, 1993 and 1991 hollow points, a 1991 soft point and an undated soft point.

FIGURE 12. Animal eradication soft point loads circa 1985


Chapter 9: The New 5.56 ammunition and
the end of AFF.
Changing Government Plans
The post war Department of Supply was broken up in the

70’s with the Laboratories moving back to Defence. The Fac-
tories were ‘moved’ through a range of new Government
Departments, including Manufacturing Industry, Industry and
Commerce, Department of Productivity and Defence Sup-
port. They became the ‘test beds’ for Government labour
experiments such as ‘industrial democracy’. They also
became more and more remote from their customers. The
factories were controlled by a remote Canberra head office
bureaucracy. Successive Federal Governments were preoc-

cupied with other issues and there was no long term vision
for defence manufacturing. With little or no perceived threat
to Australia, Defence generally was ‘on hold’ and Defence
Industry and the Government Factories had no clear future.
A New 5.56 Calibre and Weapons system.
Following moves by the NATO alliance to adopt a small cali-

bre weapons system to replace the aging 7.62 weapons, the
Australian Defence Department announced its intention to
follow the NATO choice of a smaller calibre. After a series of
Trials, NATO adopted the 5.56x45 calibre. The ammunition
type chosen was the FN SS109 cartridge. This round fea-
tured a 4 gram ( 62 grain) projectile with a composite core
comprising a hardened steel penetrator and lead slug
enclosed in a gilding metal jacket. A muzzle velocity of 905
metres per second was achieved in the ballistics barrel fitted
with “Kistler” type 6203 pressure transducers. NATO subse-
quently changed to type 6215 transducers and the barrel
equipped in this manner produces a velocity approximately
10 metres per second faster.

A New 5.56 Calibre and Weapons system.
The USA designated their round the M855 ball. The Foot-
scray manufactured equivalent would eventually be known as
F1 ball.
There was no agreement by the NATO allies as to common

weapons and a number of the NATO partners chose their
own locally made designs. This left the Australian Defence
Department with the problem of choosing suitable weapons.
With the announcement of the choice of the 5.56 calibre,

Winchester Australia a subsidiary of the large American
Ammunition maker, lobbied the Australian Government to
have the new ammunition made in their plant at Geelong in
Victoria, as they had access to all of the necessary ‘know-
how’ from their parent company. One of the key arguments
was that double base propellant such as that made by Win-
chester, was essential to achieve the specified ballistics in
the 5.56 ammunition, and Mulwala, the only surviving propel-
lant manufacturing site was set up for single base ( nitrocellu-
lose ) propellant. To their credit, the technical staff at
Mulwala achieved what was thought impossible by develop-
ing a new single base propellant that could achieve the
requirements of this new ammunition. Despite the lobbying,
the Government tasked the Ammunition Factory Footscray

with supplying the new ammunition. Following consultation

between Mulwala and Footscray, the initial production diffi-
culties experienced with leakage of gas around the primer/
case interface when fired from the F89 Minimi weapon at low
temperature when the cartridge was covered with ice or when
wet, were overcome by reducing the primer firehole from
2mm diameter to 1.8mm diameter.
FIGURE 1. The arrangement of the FN SS109 5.56x45 cartridge noting the ADI modification to the
primer firehole.

Browning 50 calibre machine gun ammunition.
Through the 80’s the Army was evaluating the range of ‘con-
tender’ weapons in 5.56 calibre eventually choosing the Steyr
F88 rifle as the individual weapon (IW) and the FN F89 Min-
imi as the light support weapon (LSW).
Browning 50 calibre machine gun ammunition.

Even though the Australian Defence forces had been using
50 calibre ammunition since WW2, manufacture was not ini-
tiated until the 80’s. WW2 aircraft of USA origin were often
equipped with 50 Brownings as were certain Army fighting
vehicles supplied from the USA. While the 50 Browning van-
ished from post war aircraft, the Army retained the weapon as
a heavy machine gun. The Navy introduced 50 brownings as
‘removable’ deck mounted guns on their Patrol Boats. The
reason for the delay in local manufacture is unclear but the
commencement of production in the 80’s may have been
made to supplement the diminishing workload at Footscray.
Ball rounds were made for the services and some inert
rounds were made up for internal purposes such as checking
the M9 links made at the Ordnance Factory Bendigo.

FIGURE 2. Belted 50 Browning ammunition of late 80’s manufacture exhibited at AIDEX, the
Australian Industry Defence Exhibition in the early 90’s

Gulf and Western Plant
FIGURE 3.Top a 1988 50 Browning specimen headstamped with the AFF identifier and below an inert
specimen with blind primer pocket dated 1985 and used at Ordnance Factory Bendigo during setting
up the M9 link programme/
The USA ammunition makers had been using automated

plant to make their ammunition including 5.56 calibre for
many years. After an overseas fact finding tour by Factory,
Defence Quality and Purchasing representatives in 1983, the
Footscray factory sought and obtained approval to obtain
such plant to enable it to maintain competitive productivity
and pricing. The Factory placed orders for a new ‘high
speed automated cartridge plant to be supplied by ADEC a
division of the Gulf and Western company of the USA.

FIGURE 4.A View of the G+W plant from the operators console with the cartridge conveyor and tooling
system behind the screens (from an AFF brochure)
The plant was installed and ready for trials in 1985 and a
range of 7.62 cases were produced on this plant. The inten-
tion was to have universal 7.62 cases and subsequently 5.56
cases ( i.e. without type markings) so cases made on this
equipment carried only the factory indentifier and the last two
digits of the year of manufacture. This plant also was
designed around boxer primed cases and consequently the
factory introduced boxer primers for ‘Gulf cases’. ‘Dots’
appeared in the headstamp between the Factory identifier
and date markings to assist in identification of cartridge
cases produced from a particular tool station in the 12 station
600 parts per minute machine. (see following figure)

FIGURE 5. Gulf and Western Plant made 7.62 cases 1985-1988: Note the boxer primer configuration
and the change of headstamp to AFF in 1988.
Limited quantities of 7.62 cases were made in 1985 through

to 1988 while the berdan primed F4 7.62 cases continued in
production on the conventional machines. The conventional
machines were ultimately converted to manufacture boxer
type cases. G+W cases can be positively identified from
those made on conventional plant by examination of the
internal surface of the cartridge head. During cutting of the
extractor groove on the G+W machine, the case head was
supported on a mandrel which had ‘gripping’ teeth to prevent

case rotation. G+W cases display such impressions on the

inside of the case head.
Footscray’s Centenary
In November 1987, the factory made a special batch of

ammunition for use in the International ‘Palma Match Compe-
tition’ which was to be held in Sydney in March 1988. The
cartridges were made on the conventional plant ( berdan
primed) and carried a special headstamp. These rounds were
issued in a variety of forms including clear plastic ‘film packs’
and a commemorative 20 round packet (figures 6 and 7 ).
The Factory also celebrated it’s 100th anniversary in 1988

and issued a commemorative batch of ammunition for the
Civilian Rifle Clubs and others. This ammunition also carried
a special headstamp and could be obtained in an attractive
20 round packet somewhat similar to the ‘Palma’ one. Fig-
ures 8 and 10 show this packet. It should be noted that an
error occurred in the ‘short history’ of AFF which was printed
on the rear of this packet ( Fig 10) in that it refers to Major
John Whitney as the factory founder instead of Captain John
Whitney.

FIGURE 6. The front view of a twenty round packet of ‘Palma Match ’ ammunition.

FIGURE 7. The rear and bottom panel of the ‘Palma Match’ packaging.
Employees were given a booklet including a short history of

the factory and featuring photographs of all management and
staff employed at that time. The booklet included a special
medallion minted for the occasion. ( figure 11 )

FIGURE 8. Front view of the ‘Centenary Packet’
FIGURE 9. Headstamps of the Centenary and Palma Match 7.62 rounds also showing Berdan priming.

FIGURE 10. Rear view of the ‘Centenary packet”
FIGURE 11. The Centenary medallion issued to employees rear ( left) and front view ( right )

Australian Defence Industries.
The Gulf and Western Plant was designed for high speed
continuous production with quick change modular tooling.
The compromises necessary to gain this high rate of produc-
tion from a single machine, included long and flimsy tool
modules and complex part transfer systems. The operating
efficiency obtained from the equipment rarely exceeded 50%
while conventional machines consistently achieved 80%.
Tool costs were around three times those required for con-
ventional machines. Benchmarking against International
users of similar integrated lines, confirmed that the Footscray
plant was being operated close to “Worlds Best practice”.
Australian Defence Industries.
The Commonwealth Government began the process of ‘pri-

vatising’ defence industry when in the mid 80’s it disposed of
the Williamstown Naval Dockyard to a private buyer. All per-
sonnel were retrenched and those employees required by the
new owner were offered employment.
This was followed in August 1987 by the established of

‘Aerospace Technologies’ a fully Government owned com-
pany from the Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) . This
was handled differently to the dockyard in that only certain

employees were retrenched and the balance ‘transfered’ to

the new organisation.
On the 3rd May 1989 the Commonwealth Government

placed the control of the Department of Defence Support
munitions and certain other establishments under the control
of a new fully Government owned company ‘Australian
Defence Industries’.The creation of ADI followed the ‘GAF’
pattern in that it commenced with a round of retrenchments
to remove excess personnel from the sites, the balance of
personnel being transfered to ADI. The top management of
the new company had been given a direction to rationalise
and streamline the operations of the munitions group and to
operate on commercial principles. The new executive
devised a plan to rationalise and condense the activities of
the existing sprawling sites which essentially occupied the
same space as during the operations of WW2.
Site Closures
In 1991 the rationalisation plan was announced surprising

and shocking the site managers and employees. The result
of ADI’s analysis was that Ammunition Factory Footscray
was marked for closure along with Ordnance Factory Mariby-

Site Closures
rnong, the Rocket Motor facility in Salisbury South Australia

and St. Mary’s Filling Factory NSW. A totally new site would
be chosen for ammunition production and the necessary ele-
ments of SAA production, shell forging and machining , gun
cartridge and fuse manufacture and filling of ammunition
would be established in a logical layout. Floor space was
planned for Fuze manufacture in the new plant but the com-
mencement of fuze manufacture was not planned to com-
mence in the foreseeable future. Of course one of the
unstated reasons for the closures, was to start with a green-
field site where work practices and attitudes could be devel-
oped without the restrictive union and public service traditions
of the existing sites. The land value of the closing sites was
expected to exceed the cost of establishing the new facility
($120 Million)
Each site was given a closure date (OFM December 1993,

AFF early 1994 etc.). In the time remaining to closure, each
site had to complete its current orders and provide bridging
stocks of components for the new factory which would bring
products on line progressively after the ‘old’ sites had closed.

FIGURE 12. The change in headstamp from AFF to ADI occurred in 1992 on 7.62 rounds.
Problems with 5.56 Ammunition
As the AFF site was nearing closure, some problems were

experienced by the Army with the AFF produced 5.56 ammu-
nition. More than a dozen incidents of ‘bullet in bore’ had
been reported by the Army. A round without propellant does
not have enough energy in the primer to eject the projectile
into the barrel however propellant fills below a certain
amount can lead to projectiles entering but not exiting the
barrel. This was a serious issue as not only did it render a
soldier's weapon inoperable it also presented a risk of injury
to users of the F88 Austeyr IW in the circumstance where
(Instant Action Procedure) a user attempts to reload and fire
a subsequent cartridge.

Problems with 5.56 Ammunition
A subsequent investigation resolved that all 5.56mm F1 ball

cartridges (70 million) be withdrawn from service and exam-
ined for correct charge. This examination was conducted by
unpacking and using high speed checkweighers in the first
instance. With the assistance of the University of Melbourne
Physics Department, ADI developed automatic inspection
equipment that used gamma rays to examine the propellant
fill level in the packaged (Link Belt or Charger) ammunition.
This examination revealed a defect rate of one cartridge in
800,000 with insufficient charge to cause the bullet to exit the
barrel
The cartridge assembly machine used to load the 5.56mm

cartridges at AFF was hand fed with propellant. The machine
dispensed this propellant by volume and dropped a probe
onto the propellant column at the next station. The position of
this probe was required to be measured by the machine and
cartridges containing a column plus or minus 3mm from the
set height were required to be ejected while the machine con-
tinued to run. As a final confirmation that defectives were not
being produced one in five cartridges were diverted by the
machine from its output stream and passed over a check-
weigher. Low charge cartridges were ejected from the check-
weigher calling the operator's attention to the fault condition.

The defect had been produced due to a combination of fac-

tors :-
1. The machines were fed with propellant by hand. It was

possible for the machine to run without propellant;
2. The propellant column height probes were prevented from

falling excessively (and damaging the height sensor) by a
cam. If the cam and sensor were set incorrectly or
adjusted after setting (setting included passing empty
cases through the machine and observing them being
ejected) or the electronics suffered "drift" it was possible
for the cam to prevent a no-propellant cartridge from being
identified as defective
3. Ejection of defective cartridges by the checkweighers

required the operators to verify the reason for ejection and
take corrective action. Corrective action may not have
occurred
ADI Benalla
When the intention to establish a new factory was made pub-

lic a number of the State Governments and Local Govern-
ment Authorities made representations to ADI seeking to
have the factory in their locality. In 1992, ADI selected

ADI Benalla
Benalla in Victoria as the new site . Benalla had the advan-

tage of being close to the Explosives Plant at Mulwala thus
minimising the problem of hazardous transportation of explo-
sives. Footscray closed in 1994 and the site was progres-
sively cleared of buildings and industrial contamination.
FIGURE 13.The Benalla site Circa 2003 set in rural surroundings north of the Benalla township. The
main plant is in the foreground with magazines and other facilities in the background.
The new site had recruited around twenty of the Footscray

workers to assist in moving, installing and commissioning
SAA facilities.

To assist planning the new facility, ADI negotiated a "long

term agreement" (LTA) applicable over the forthcoming 20
years, to supply a defined range of ammunition after which it
would have to compete openly with overseas suppliers. The
Small Arms Ammunition portion of the contract required ADI
to install and operate a single shift capability of 24 million
rounds per annum (5.56mm or 7.62mm).
Given this requirement the suitability of the Gulf and Western

plant was reviewed against the AFF and overseas experi-
ence. It was clear that significant cost and quality advantages
were presented by traditional "conventional" machines. Dur-
ing the benchmarking tour of international manufacturers a
complete production line of mid 1970's equipment was
located in Switzerland. These "NOBS" machines were refur-
bished and formed the basis of the line installed at Benalla.
Subsequent production has vindicated this decision with
costs running around two thirds of those associated with the
Gulf and Western machine.
The Gulf and Western machine had a theoretical single shift

capability of 62 million per annum and a proven capability of
around 27 million.The Small Arms Ammunition facility was
the first to be installed and commissioned on the Benalla site.

ADI Benalla
Machines commenced installation in late September 1994

and first deliveries were made in April 1996. By the end of the
1995 / 96 financial year over 10 million rounds of 5.56mm
Ball ammunition had been delivered from the Benalla facility.
FIGURE 14. The Benalla capping section showing the typical modern facilities and layout of the factory
generally
Requirements have continued to grow with annual orders and

deliveries averaging 30 million 5.56mm cartridges by 2003.
The 0.50cal capability, originally not planned to be installed

until 2005, commenced deliveries in 2001 and is now capable

of 2 million cartridges per annum single shift. The benefits of
acquiring used equipment have also been applied to the
0.50cal line where plant from a closed Italian factory has
been purchased and installed.
The commercial pricing pressure on ADI also resulted in cer-

tain supplies and / or components being obtained outside the
company.
For example, no foundry or rolling mill was built at Benalla

and brass stocks are consequently sourced from overseas as
no Australian manufacturer is prepared to make the neces-
sary investment. Primers are imported complete as the cost
of metal parts would exceed the total cost of the item. How-
ever facilities are available for manufacture of primers, includ-
ing their explosive constituents, at Benalla.
Sale of ADI
By the year 1998, ADI had been restructured to the point

where the owner (the Australian Government) believed ADI
was an attractive proposition for purchase by private enter-
prise. This was consistent with the unstated "second phase"

Sale of ADI
of the plan commenced with the establishment of ADI in

1989. That is, shedding of Government involvement with
Defence manufacturing as had occurred in the UK and other
OECD countries. In June 1998 ‘expressions of interest’ for
the purchase of ADI were invited. In November 1999 Trans-
field Holdings and Thomson CSF assumed ownership and
full operational control of ADI Limited.
The changing world political scene in 2001 through 2003

(conflicts in East Timor, Afghanistan, Iraq) resulted in the
Australian Defence Department foreshadowing requirements
for in the order of 50 million cartridges per annum, more than
twice Benalla's design capacity.
Equipment for 9mm production was not installed (plant had

been brought from Footscray) by agreement with Defence
who preferred the funds be directed to a larger medium cali-
bre capability. Conversion equipment and rapid changeover
is available for manufacture of 7.62mm Ball if required.
By 2003, ADI offered only 5.56 F1 Ball and F3 Blank, and 50

Cal F1 Ball ammunition with 50 Cal Blank in development.

History Repeats Itself
In 115 years Australia has come full circle with SAA capabil-
ity. From having nothing before 1888, to limited assembly
capability in the early CAC days, and reliance on imported
content through to 1910 to self sufficiency by the end of
WW1. This was followed by a phase of expansion of capabil-
ity through the 1920’s ,1930’s and WW2. Then post war con-
traction, loss of direction as the Public Service system
pervaded the government factories together with fragmenta-
tion as the factories were shunted through a range of Govern-
ment Ministries. Then ‘privatisation’ stripped the factories of
all but essential profit making capability. We are thus
approaching the original CAC scenario of a privately owned
organisation undertaking limited ammunition manufacturing
and assembly activities, delivering against a long term Gov-
ernment contract.
The Government factories and establishments had been over

the years, a training ground for thousands of personnel, giv-
ing apprentices, tradesmen , technicians and engineers the
opportunity to experience a diverse range of manufacturing
processes and technologies. Many of these personnel took
their training and knowledge into local industry spreading the

History Repeats Itself
benefits of the leading edge technology and quality systems

that they had experienced in Government Factories such as
Ammunition Factory Footscray. Sadly these opportunities will
be severely diminished or unavailable to future Australians
FIGURE 15. Current ADI production of 5.56mm F1 in 900 round package containing ‘film packs’ .


Chapter 10: CAC Martini -Henry paper
wrapped packets.
Images of Martini Henry Packets

CAC’s first production of Martini Henry ammunition for the
Colony of Victoria in 1890 consisted of bundles of 10 rounds
packed in a thick paper wrapper tied with string. In subse-
quent years CAC delivered to other Australian Colonies and
in at least one instance to New Zealand. Some of these wrap-
pers are shown in the following photographs.

FIGURE 1. A 1890 Mark Z packet made for the Colony of Victoria.
FIGURE 2. A 1892 Mark A packet

FIGURE 3. A 1894 Mark X packet.
FIGURE 4. A 1895 Mark X Packet.

FIGURE 5. An Australian CAC 1985 Packet made for the Government of New Zealand
FIGURE 6. A 1896 Mark X packet.

FIGURE 7. A 1897 Packet of unspecified mark
FIGURE 8. A 1900 Packet of unspecified Mark.

FIGURE 9. A 1900 CAC ‘repacked’ packet of English Eley Brothers Mark III rounds.
FIGURE 10. An Undated Mark A packet made for the New South Wales Colony.

FIGURE 11. An undated Packet of Mark A made for the Colony of South Australia.


Chapter 11: CAC .303 Mk.VI packets.
Images of CAC .303 Paper wrapped packets
CAC and Ammunition Factory Footscray, produced paper

wrapped ‘bundles’ of .303 from initial production in 1900
through to the late 1930’s. This form of packaging was
intended to provide a means of filling the ammunition
pouches in vogue before and through the WW1 period but
superseded by carton and charger loaded packaging by
WW2. As can be seen from the following examples, waste
was something to be avoided and re-use of out of date pack-
aging was achieved by selective alteration of the ‘obsolete’
information by ‘over-printing’.

FIGURE 1. A string tied packet of CAC 1903 .303 Mark II production
FIGURE 2. CAC 1904 .303 Mk II wrapper converted from a 1903 wrapper.

FIGURE 3. A CAC 1904 .303 Mk VI wrapper converted from a MK II one.
FIGURE 4. A CAC 1906 Mk VI .303 Wrapper

FIGURE 5. A CAC 1908 .303 MK VI wrapper converted from a 1907 wrapper.
FIGURE 6. A CAC 1909 .303 MkVI wrapper.

FIGURE 7. A CAC 1912 .303 MK VI wrapper. Note the inclusion of ‘cordite’ into the symbol
FIGURE 8. A CAC 1915 .303 Mk VI paper wrapped packet

FIGURE 9. A CAC 1916 .303 MK VI paper wrapped packet
FIGURE 10. A CAC 1917 .303 MK VI paper wrapped packet.

FIGURE 11. An unusual wrapper in that the date is rubber stamped on to the wrapper rather than being
pre printed. The contents are indeed 1-13 MK VI Australian rounds. This form of wrapper may have
been used to ‘repack’ ammunition at some later date.


.303 Mk.VII paper
Chapter 12:
wrapped packets.
Images of .303 paper wrapped packets.

From 1918 to 1920, CAC produced paper wrapped ‘bundles’
of .303 Mk VII as well as the other forms of packaging. In
1921 with Commonwealth Government managing the site the
identification of these wrappers began to change. As can be
seen in the following graphics, the marking on wrappers
changed from CAC to SAAF to MF then ‘arrow F’. On full
Government ownership the MF identifier was subsequently
used.

FIGURE 1. A CAC 1920 Mk VII .303 Wrapper
FIGURE 2. CAC 1920 Mk VII wrapper overstamped 1921 SAAF

Images of .303 paper wrapped packets.
FIGURE 3. MF .303 Mk VII 1921 paper wrapped packet. Although the wrapper carried the MF
identifier the cartridges were headstamped SAAF
FIGURE 4. A 1922 Mk.VII packet. Although the wrapper carried the MF identifier the cartridges
were headstamped SAAF

FIGURE 5. A 1926 packet carrying the ‘arrow F’ marking.

Chapter 13: CAC .303 Headstamps (1906-
1926)
Photographs of .303 Headstamps (1900-1926)

The following photographs give the actual headstamps of
CAC-Ammunition Factory Footscray .303 production rounds
from the Mk.II variants , the early Mk. VI undated type and
the month dated Mk. VI from 5 06 ( May 1906) and the Mark
VII month dated rounds from 2 18 ( Feb. 1918) until Decem-
ber 1926 . Specimens in collections would indicate almost all
month - year combinations were made from May 1906
through to December 1926 with the possible exception of the
first months of 1921 being the start of the Government Leas-
ing period. The use of ‘C’ in the early Mark II rounds and
Mark VI rounds up to November 1908 denotes ‘cordite’ pro-
pellant. The ‘C’ was dropped from headstamps in December

1908. The introduction of primer lacquering in August 1918

followed on the UK introduction a year or so earlier.

FIGURE 1. CAC Cartridge examples of early .303 Mk II and undated Mk VI (lower 2 rows) and month
year dated examples from May 1906 to March 1909 ( row 3 from bottom to top).

FIGURE 2. CAC .303 Mk VI month-year dated headstamps from Sept. 1909 to December 1912

FIGURE 3. CAC .303 MkVI month-year dated headstamps Jan. 1913 to December 1915

FIGURE 4. CAC Mk VI and Mk VII month dated headstamps Jan. 1916 to December 1918
The change from Mark VI to Mark VII on February 1918 and

the introduction of the ‘crows feet’ or arrow-heads into the
headstamp in May 1918 is also illustrated in figure 4.

FIGURE 5. CAC - SAAF .303 Mk VII headstamps Jan. 1919 to Dec. 1922.

FIGURE 6. SAAF - AF - F -MF transitional headstamps Jan. 1923 to December 1926.

Figures 5 and 6 show the transition from the CAC heads-

tamps which ceased on December 1920. With the Govern-
ment leasing arrangement taking effect from the first of
January 1921 the headstamp was changed to SAAF. On Jan-
uary 1924 the headstamp was changed to AF although for
some unknown reason both the SAAF and AF headstamp
was used in March 1924. In March 1925 the headstamp was
again changed to ‘F’ then in May 1926 to ‘MF’. This format
was to remain until 1936 as can be seen in the next chapter.


Chapter 14: Footscray .303 Headstamps
1927 -1962
Photographs of .303 ‘MF’ Headstamps (1927-1962)
As can be seen in previous Chapter, the MF headstamp was

introduced in May 1926. It continued on in this format until
August 1937 after which month-year dating was abandoned
in favour of year dating only. As mentioned elsewhere, the
WW2 years saw the introduction of additional plants and new
headstamps MG,MH,MJ,MQ and MW. These will be dealt
with elsewhere however it should be noted that for a short
time in 1940 the MF plant commenced using MF1 to distin-
guish itself from the No2 plant which had launched produc-
tion with MF2. These arrangement were cancelled and MF

was restored to the No1 plant and MG to the No2 plant. The
No1 plant was closed in 1945 so no further MF headstamps
were used until 1949 when the wartime time No2 plant which
by this time was the only operating plant, adopted the MF
identifier and discarded the MG one. The following figures
give examples of .303 cartridge headstamps from 1927 to the
last production in 1962. Note that in figure 3 the change from
month-year format to year only format is shown at 8-36 i.e.
August 1936. Also note that no MF rounds were made in
1946 to 1948 inclusive as production was being carried out at
the No2 SAA plant which was still using the ‘MG’ identifier.

FIGURE 1. MF .303 Headstamps from Jan. 1927 through to December 1930

FIGURE 2. MF headstamps for the period January 1931 - December 1934

FIGURE 3. MF .303 headstamps for the period January 1935 to 1962


Chapter 15: Air Service Ammunition
CAC starts work on Airservice Ammunition
Shortly after the Commonwealth had acquired control of CAC

via it's leasing arrangement, work commenced on a range of
'new' deliverables required by the Defence Department. One
of these requirements was to produce ammunition for aircraft
mounted machine guns1. By 1926 quantities of Airservice

ammunition were submitted for acceptance to the Inspection
Group. In a report to the Munitions Supply Board for the year
ending June 1926, The Inspection Group reported ‘ammuni-
tion manufactured at the Small Arms Ammunition Factory
was submitted for inspection and proof ... included in this was
1. Reference 3 July 1922-June 1923 Annual Report page 28

a special class of ammunition for the Air Force, manufac-
tured for the first time in Australia.’2 Packets of Airservice

Ammunition made by Footscray in 1926 contain cartridges
with normal headstamps. Special headstamping was adopted
in 1928 and samples are given later.
WW1 aircraft and those of the 20’s and early 30’s normally
had the guns mounted on the fuselage in front of or near the
pilot for ease of aiming and for the clearance of jams or other
malfunctions. This almost always resulted in the line of fire
passing through the propeller arc and this required linking the
permissible firing opportunities to periods when the blade
was 'out of the way'. This was achieved through connection
of the gun firing mechanism to the propeller shaft but also
required use of ammunition of standard and uniform firing
characteristics. Delayed ignition, hangfires etc. could result in
projectiles striking the propeller with damaging results.
2. Reference 3 1925-1926 Annual Report Page 7,

Air Service Ammunition Testing.
FIGURE 1.A Packet of June 1926 Footscray made ‘Red Label’ .303 Ball ammunition illustrating the
‘Red Printing” and the ‘Special Quality for R.A.F’ statement.
Air Service Ammunition Testing.
The Footscray Factory adopted testing methods as

described in the following passage taken from the British Text
Book of Small Arms 1929 pages 259-261.
“Although it is not correct to say that the ammunition referred

to under this heading is specially designed, all types of ser-

vice ammunition which are used by the Royal Air Force in

controlled guns are made in two grades, and in the case of
the Air Force or “ Red label “ ammunition, as this grade is
called from its characteristic label, particular attention is paid
to immunity, from hangfires, misfires and functioning defects
in machine guns.
The term “ controlled gun “ refers to a machine gun mounted

in an aeroplane, and arranged to fire between the blades of
the propeller along the axis of the aeroplane only. Should a
bullet hit a propeller the result would be most serious, and the
gun is controlled. therefore, so that it can only fire when the
propeller blades are not passing the muzzle. The controlling
mechanism is hydraulic, and actuates the trigger of the gun
by mean of impulses or energy waves, generated by a cam
connected with the propeller shaft, and transmitted to the gun
through a liquid contained in a tube. After the impulse is
imparted to the liquid, a certain time elapses before the bullet
passes the propeller, during this time the propeller blades
rotate to an extent depending on the rate of revolution. At
best the time lag cannot be reduced much below twelve-thou-
sandths of a second, and a propeller revolving at 800 revolu-
tions per minute would during this period rotate about 57°,

The Test Method
whilst at 1,600 revolutions per minute the rotation would be

about 115° and so on.
The necessity for immunity from functioning defects in a

machine gun is fairly obvious, as it will be realised that stop-
pages during an aerial engagement would be very serious,
and owing to the inaccessibility of a machine gun in an
aeroplane whilst in flight, any failure such as a separation
might put the gun out of action until a landing could be
effected .
The Test Method
Red label ammunition is accordingly most carefully

inspected, and any which is not of really first-class quality is
ruthlessly rejected. During proof the ammunition is required
to pass a special test to verify that it is immune from hang-
fires. This test approximates very closely to the actual condi-
tions obtaining in an aeroplane. A Vickers gun is used,
controlled by an actual timing gear, actuated from a shaft
driven by an electric motor. On the shaft in place of a propel-
ler is mounted a steel disc on which are arranged two card-
board targets diametrically opposite to each other. The disc is
rotated at a constant speed of 1,200 revolutions per minute,

and the posit ion and grouping of the shots is recorded on the
targets. The gun is mounted so that the bullets pass at a
radial distance of 14 inches from the centre of the disc, and it
is required that all shots but one should be within an arc of 4
inches in length, and all shots within an arc of 6 inches. A 6-
inch arc at this speed is equivalent to a variation in time lag of
about three and a half-thousandths of a second, but in prac-
tice all shots but one are usually much closer than this. Spe-
cial provision is made for one shot to be slightly later than the
remainder, because the action of the timing gear is such that
the first shot of any series is sometimes 2 or 3 inches behind
the others and this abnormality is not the fault of the ammu-
nition.
Actually all ammunition of the types in question manufactured

under peace time conditions is up to Red Label standard of
quality and there is no real difference in quality between the
two grades when the ammunition is new. Owing to the fact
however.that immunity from hangfires is largely dependent
on caps and that any deterioration in the caps might make
such ammunition unsuitable for else in controlled guns, a
proof of each batch of Red label ammunition is taken annu-
ally and tested for hangfires. whereas this is not the case for
ground service ammunition.

The Test Method
Any batch of Red Label ammunition which fails at this annual

hang fire test is relegated to ground service.
For purposes of identification the bases of cartridges made

for the Royal Air Force for use in controlled guns are stamped
with all four figures of the date thus, “ 1918" whereas ammu-
nition for ground service is stamped with the last two figures
only thus “ 18." Ammunition containing all four figures of the
date will, however, be found among ordinary stocks, as
batches made for the Royal Air Force but rejected for that
service are from time to time accepted for ordinary stocks,
provided their quality is suitable.
Red Label ammunition is packed in 48-round cartons, which

are enclosed in a. tin-lined wooden box. Two types of box are
in use, one containing 26 cartons and thus holding 1,248
rounds, and the other containing two tin linings. each holding
8 cartons. or a, total of 768 rounds per box. Ammunition for
use in controlled guns is labeled with a special red label,
characteristic to ammunition up to Red Label standard, and
all labels on the box and linings, and the wrappers closing
each carton, contain the inscription “ Special for R.A.F.,” all
labels except the distinguishing labels being printed in red. “

Changes to Air Service Ammunition.

In September 1931, The Secretary of Defence ( Air Board) in
Melbourne, was forwarded information on work being done in
England to investigate the problems which has arisen with
erosion damage to aircraft propellers caused by the glaze-
board (a type of dense cardboard) wad over the cordite
charge in .303 ammunition. This information detailed the test-
ing of specially prepared batches of ammunition with a range
of different over cordite wads including strawboard, cotton
cloth and omission of the wad altogether. Strawboard was
rated satisfactory from these tests and a batch was submitted
to service trials with favorable results . The ‘Committee of
Small Arms’ then recommended that 30,000 rounds be pre-
pared with strawboard wads and fired against service ammu-
nition. The Secretary Department of Defence on forwarded
this information to the Secretary Munitions Supply Board.
England adopted the strawboard wad for airservice ammuni-
tion as a result of the trials and Australia followed shortly
thereafter.

Disintegrating Link Belts for Airservice Machine Guns.
Disintegrating Link Belts for Airservice Machine Guns.
In the early 1930’s Small Arms Factory was tasked with the
manufacture of the Air Service pattern .303 Vickers machine
gun in left and right hand feed configuration. The Ordnance
Factory Maribyrnong was given the task of producing the
links.
FIGURE 2. An example of Vickers link belt showing Mk III links which were made at OFM.

FIGURE 3. A small length of .303 Browning Link Belt.
WW2 saw the Vickers aircraft mounted guns replaced by

Browning designs. The link belts for these guns are a shown
above. These links were also made at Ordnance Factory
Maribyrnong for supply to SAA factories.

Green ‘Red Label’ Ammunition
Green ‘Red Label’ Ammunition
FIGURE 4. An armour piercing packet dated 25 October 1938 , has no 'red label' despite being
designated “Special for RAF” but instead carries the AP colour green. The cartridges are
headstamped MF 1938 W1 as per airservice requirements.
Standardisation of all Ammunition to AS requirements.
In 1940 when all ammunition was standardised to air service

requirements, a common over cordite wad and headstamp
comprising the 4 digits of the year of manufacture was used.

This was changed again in 1944 when all headstamping

reverted to the last two digits of the year of manufacture.
FIGURE 5. A 1928 Footscray made Airservice ball round.
In 1940 it was decided that all 303 ammunition should be

standardized to air service requirements consequently straw-
board wads were then universally used.

Standardisation of all Ammunition to AS requirements.
FIGURE 6. Headstamps of Footscray made Air Service .303 ammunition from 1930 -1939. Note
variations in layout and format in the 1930 and 1937 specimens


Chapter 16: .303 Incendiary Ammunition
Interest in Incendiary Manufacture.

The first documented interest in incendiary ammunition man-
ufacture is found in the Munition Supply Board Annual Report
for the year ending June 1923 where in it notes that the
Munitions Research Laboratories carried out an investigation
into the manufacture of incendiary and armour piercing
ammunition for its consideration.1 By 1922 the English had

settled on an incendiary design after numerous types were
evaluated during WW1. A Mark IV ‘Buckingham’ design with
a white phosphorus filling and with a distinctive stepped bullet
had been adopted circa 1920 and was to remain in service
1. Reference 3 1922-1923 Annual Report page 11.
Australian Miltary Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 195

until the beginning of WW2. The MSB apparently decided

against incendiary manufacture possibly due to the rather
complex and costly projectile and the limited perceived
requirement.
A dedicated WW2 incendiary factory

A requirement for local production of .303 incendiary ammu-
nition for airservice use, was identified early after the out-
break of WW2. At this time the British were still
manufacturing the ‘obsolescent’ Mark 4 white phosphorous
incendiary but were experimenting with other improved
designs. A mark 5 design had been discarded in the late 30’s
and work was proceeding on a mark 6 projectile. This variant
used an incendiary mixture ignited by the force of impact
rather than the ‘flammable in air’ white phosphorus material.
The Mark 6 bullet was closed at the base with a screwed plug
which under some situations would separate on firing caus-
ing damage to the aircraft firing it. A modified Mark 6 design
with a pressed base plug and disk and other minor changes
became the Mark 7 design to be ultimately manufactured in
Australia. The Mark 7 incendiary projectile arrangement is
shown below.

A dedicated WW2 incendiary factory
FIGURE 1. .303 Mark VII Incendiary projectile construction details
The Munitions Supply Board had schemes prepared for a

new incendiary plant to be built alongside the Hendon plant
in South Australia. This plant was sometimes referred to as
the “Incendiary Annex”.
Two schemes were drawn up on Drawings X31856 dated 9-

9-40 and Y31891 dated 10-9-40 which differed mainly in the
'standoff distance' of the incendiary facility from the Hendon
plants. In October 1940 the Munition Supply Board, reported
that the plant for .303 incendiary cartridges, to have a capac-
ity of 8 million rounds per year, was at the planning stage.

Incendiary deliveries
In the “Australian Munitions programme - December 1940" ,

.303 incendiary ammunition was shown as having 3 million
rounds on order but zero produced as at that date. The plan
for 1941 showed production expected to commence in March
1941. A similar Report issued in September 1941 still showed
nil produced to date but with production expected to come on
line by December 1941 and reaching an annual rate of only
1.5 million by July 42. The report to the Munitions Board in
August 41 stated that the Incendiary Buildings were nearing
completion with plant soon to be installed.
The relationship of the plant to the Hendon No3 and No4

plants is shown on the Hendon site plan given in Chapter 6. It
can be seen that the incendiary facility is adjacent to the No4
plant (MJ) and has only buildings designated to perform 'fill-
ing' and loading operations on the incendiary components.
The metal components were made at the nearby Hendon
case and bullet shops. The Munition Board Reports do not
elaborate on the apparent delays to their plans. It would
appear however that the delays in delivery resulted in the
No1 and No2 SAA plants at Footscray being tasked with

Incendiary deliveries
assisting with the incendiary programme by commencing

manufacture of the B Mark VII in parallel with Hendon.
FIGURE 2. An English Mark IV stepped projectile incendiary shown below a blue tipped Hendon Mk
VII incendiary round.
Some 1942 dated Hendon cartridges were headstamped as

Mark 4 incendiary i.e. “MJB 1942 BIV “but loaded with Mk7
ball projectiles suggesting perhaps a last minute change
away from the aging design of the BMk.IV white phosphorus
filled projectile to the latest BMk.VII projectile. Some 1942
ball cases headstamped MJ1942 VII may also be found as
incendiary loads. Production of BMkVII incendiary rounds
commenced in 1942 and continued until 1945. It is interesting
to note that the early BIV cases mentioned above were head-
stamped “MJB” as the Factory identifier but this was dropped
in favour of “MJ” on the BVII rounds although 48 round

cardboard packets continued to carry a paper label with

“MJB” as the factory Identifier.
FIGURE 3. A 48 round packet of Hendon made incendiary .303 Mk BVII of 12/2/1944. Note use of MJB
identifier on packet label.
Test Firing of Incendiary Ammunition
The overall site plan for Hendon shows the incendiary test fir-
ing range along the southern boundary. A similar incendiary
test range may be found only on the No1/No2 Factories site
layout at Footscray. The design drawing numbers for the
Footscray Incendiary “Target” and “Observation Hut” were
Y52205 and Y52207 respectively and dated October 1942 .

Footscray exits the incendiary programme
Acceptance firing of incendiary ammunition consisted of an

accuracy test ( 70% to fall within a 5 ft. circle at 500 yards)
and an observation of the incendiary effect. The incendiary
effect was watched from a special observation ‘hut’ placed
adjacent to the incendiary target and stop butt. ( Building
numbers 190 & 191 on Footscray layout Drawing W-89504
and item 80 on the Hendon layout in Chapter 6)
In December 1942 testing at Footscray ran into problems

with bullets breaking up on firing. The fault was determined to
be problems with irregular depth of seating of the steel sleeve
within the jacket, sometimes weakening the jacket to allow it
to breakup under the stress of firing. As a result, changes
were made in both Australia and England to delete the lead
sheath around the steel sleeve and to thicken the steel
sleeve and modify it’s nose angle.
Footscray exits the incendiary programme
Records viewed at Footscray indicate that unfilled BVII pro-

jectiles were being made there from early 1942 at a rate of
about 100,000 per week and on forwarded to Explosives
Factory Maribyrnong for filling and return for loading into
cases. Correspondence dated 1/6/1942 advised that 961,787

Footscray projectiles were shipped to Hendon. Later corre-

spondence dated 3/6/1943 from EFM indicated that
4,492,252 projectiles had been filled to that date and
returned to AFF with 281,571 having gone to SAA No1 (
MF) and the balance to SAA No2 ( MG). In September
1943, correspondence from Footscray to Hendon indicated
Footscray had ceased production on the incendiary pro-
gramme and offered Hendon the surplus stock of 675,000
projectiles, 336,000 envelopes and 181,000 cups. The offer
was accepted and these were subsequently forwarded to
Hendon. Incendiary Production at Hendon ceased in 1945.
Incendiary Headstamps
Examples of typical Footscray and Hendon headstamps are

shown below
FIGURE 4. An early No1 plant (MF) incendiary round. A similar format MG 1942 and MH 1942
incendiary rounds are reported

Incendiary Headstamps
FIGURE 5. An example of MJB 1942 BIV headstamped case usually found as Mk 7 ball loads.
FIGURE 6. An example of MJ 1942 BVII incendiary round headstamp. These rounds carried blue tip
markings and blue primer lacquer
FIGURE 7. Example Headstamps for 1944 and 1945 Hendon incendiary production.

FIGURE 8. Examples of the No2 Plant (MG) incendiary headstamps.

Chapter 17: Armour piercing .303
Ammunition
MSB considers manufacture of AP ammunition.
The first documented interest in armour piercing .303 ammu-

nition manufacture is found in the Munition Supply Board
Annual Report for the year ending June 1923 where the
report notes that the Munitions Research Laboratories car-
ried out an investigation into the manufacture of incendiary
and armour piercing ammunition for its consideration.1
1. Reference 3 1922-1923 Annual Report page 11

The first deliveries of locally made .303 AP occurred in the
1933-1935 MSB reporting period.2
WW2 production of .303 A.P. ammunition was carried out at

the SAA No1 plant and at Hendon No 3 plant.
In the December 1940 MSB report on ammunition, the total

forecast for .303 AP was only 7,250,000 with the current pro-
duction running at only 1,000,000 for the whole of 1940. By
September 1941 the forecast had lifted to 17 million with
actual production running at only 106,000 per month. A side
note on the report said “ Increased production being
arranged’.
Actual final production figures are unknown but data viewed

at Footscray indicated the pacing factor at that plant was the
production of the hardened steel cores. A Footscray report
dated June 1941 indicated that their production was running
at 300,000 cores per month with a target of 2 million per
month to be reached by March 1942.
As mentioned previously, by July 1942 the Minister of Muni-

tions was looking at cutting back on SAA production gener-
ally . In correspondence to the Prime Minister John Curtain

MSB considers manufacture of AP ammunition.
on July 6th 1942 the Minister states “ ...a demand from the
Eastern Group amounting to 120,000,000 rounds .303
Armour Piercing Ammunition which may not be required now
if the example of the Australian Forces is to be followed.”
Footscray discontinued .303 AP production in early 1943 with
Hendon (MH) also ceasing production in that year.
FIGURE 1. Headstamp markngs of Footscray made .303 AP showing examples 1935-1943

FIGURE 2. An example of Hendon 1943 .303AP production headstamp.

Chapter 18: Tracer Ammunition.
Experimental Manufacture
Australian production of tracer ammunition was initiated by

the Munitions Supply Board in the 1922-23 financial year.
The Munitions Research Laboratories reported in the 1922-

23 period that it was carrying out the ‘experimental manufac-
ture of .303 tracing ammunition and the mixing of tracer com-
position.’1 The Inspection Group reported for the same period
that it was ‘testing tracer mixtures for aircraft ammunition’.2

2. Reference 3 1922-1923 Annual Report page 13

Tracer Ammunition.
In 1923 -24 the Laboratories reported ‘further experiments on
tracing compositions and methods of mixing’3 The Inspection

Group reported ‘test firing of experimental tracer ammuni-
tion’4. In 1924-25 the Ammunition Factory reported ‘further
experimental work on tracer ammunition’5and the Laborato-

ries made reference to a special report on the ‘Manufacture
of Tracer Ammunition’ prepared for the Munition Supply
Board6. The Factory reported in the Confidential Annexure to

the Annual Report of the MSB for the year ended 1926, that
“tracer ammunition has been produced in very small quanti-
ties and results are satisfactory as far as can be judged by
small scale experiments”.
It should be noted that the British had gone through a range

of developments of .303 tracer ammunition in WW1 and a
design originally known as “Cartridge, Tracer, S.P.G. .303
Cordite Mark VIIG.” introduced in 1917 continued into the
1920’s. The British continued to mark this tracer round as
‘VIIG’ until 1928 after which they used the ‘G1’ identifier. It is
3. Reference 3 1923-1924 Annual Report Page 6.

4. Reference 3 1923-1924 Annual Report Page 9
5. Reference 3 1924-1925 Annual Report Page 10.
6. Reference 3 1924-1925 Annual Report Page 6

not known how the early Australian Tracer rounds were iden-
tified but 1931 samples were marked ‘MF 1931 G1’.
FIGURE 1.Examples of Footscray and Hendon Tracer Headstamps showing early 30’s examples and
the change from GI to GII marks in 1941.
The Footscray factory continued to make the G1 tracer until

1941 during which a newer design, the GII, was introduced.
The GII had been introduced in Britain in 1939.

Tracer Ammunition.
As at September 1941 , total production of .303 tracer was

running at only 150,000 per month, but was planned to lift to
1,000,000 rounds per month by January 1942 and hold at
that rate until mid 1943. There was a total forecast require-
ment of 46 million rounds as at September 1941 a consider-
able increase on the total forecast of 12 million as at
December 1940
Footscray ceased production of .303 tracer in 1943.
Production of the GII type was also carried out at Hendon in

1943 and continued until site closure in 1945.
FIGURE 2. A Mark GIIZ tracer marked ‘MS” loaded at the Explosives and filling factory at Salisbury.
A ‘special’ batch of tracer ammunition with nitrocellulose pro-

pellant in lieu of cordite was made in South Australia in 1944.
This was an unusual batch as it carried the Salisbury Explo-
sives Factory identifier “MS” These rounds were heads-

tamped ‘MS 44 GII Z’. It is understood that some 4 million

rounds were produced. The metal components such as pro-
jectile envelope and cartridge case were made at Hendon but
the filling and loading was carried out at Salisbury. Salisbury
had dedicated buildings for .303 tracer activities. Drawing
Y55002 dated 20 Jan. 1943, shows details of the '.303 case
store and lacquering house (Building 51 in the Pyro section) ',
while drawing Y62650 dated 15 November 1943 shows
details of plant layout for 'Varnishing and Waterproofing of
Cart. S.A., Tracer, .303 G MK II /L' in the Pyro Section.
Advice from a former Quality Assurance Officer stationed at
Hendon indicated that during acceptance testing of this
ammunition, problems arose with premature consumption of
the tracing compound with excessive muzzle flash. After
retesting and various investigations it was decided that the
entire batch be sentenced unserviceable and be destroyed.
The Hendon 1945 output was the last tracer produced within
the defence factories until the Footscray factory undertook
manufacture of 7.62 tracer in the 1960’s.

Tracer Ammunition.
The F3 Tracer
The Australian Defence Forces required a long range 7.62

tracer (1000yards plus) that was unfortunately not ‘off the
shelf’. In an attempt to achieve the requirement, a study was
initiated to review the available overseas tracer projectiles
and their performance. In 1961-1962 numerous trials were
fired with these projectiles loaded into Footscray cases with
various propellant charges. The end result of all of these tri-
als lead to the adoption of a long ‘blunt ogive’ tracer bullet not
dissimilar to the British .303 Mk. 8 tracer.
FIGURE 3. The Footscray made F3 tracer with blunt ogive shown against similar shaped .303 English
G8 tracer .
The Mark 8 .303 tracer was a dark ignition type with trace
from 110 yards +/- 40 yards to 1000 yards. The Footscray
developed 7.62 tracer was designated as F3 . The 1967 pro-

The F3 Tracer
duction of this round carried a red primer annulus and red

bullet tip and the headstamp “MF 67 7.62” . From 1968 the
cartridges were headstamped with the F3 designation i.e. “
MF 68 7.62 F3 “. The bullet form chosen engaged into the
rifling of a standard barrel on chambering, resulting in the
need to increase the lead on the barrels of the weapons
intended to use this ammunition to avoid excessive chamber
pressure. Unfortunately the 7.62 machine guns furnished
with the German Leopard tank program were made for the
more conventional bullet profiles and excessive chamber
pressure problems were experienced in firing the F3 tracer
from these weapons.
The logistics of trying to control the barrel lead on local and

overseas supplied barrels and the difficulty in achieving the
tracing range required, ultimately lead to the abandonment
of the F3 tracer with last production taking place in 1972.
Through this period Footscray was assembling mixed ball -
tracer link belted ammunition for the M60 machine gun and
much imported USA M62 tracer ammunition from Reming-
ton Arms Company was used in lieu of the F3 round

Tracer Ammunition.

Chapter 19: Blank Ammunition
From the beginning of production at the CAC site in Foot-

scray in 1890, blank ammunition has been made for the mili-
tary. As noted in Chapter 1, the Colony of Victoria alone had
at that time a requirement for 300,000 rounds of blank Martini
Henry ammunition annually.
.303 blank ammunition.
With the introduction of .303 ammunition in 1900 , blank load-

ings were supplied. These blanks were made to the then cur-
rent Mark V pattern which had 20 grains of sliced cordite size
20/SC with a strawboard wad pressed over the charge and

Blank Ammunition
the mouth of the case closed with a ‘rosette’ crimp. Early

CAC .303 blanks were loaded into unheadstamped cases or
diverted ball cases. Production figures for 1913-1926 blank
loadings are given in table 1 of Chapter 4
FIGURE 1. A 1934 paper wrapped bundle of 10 MkV blank cartridges made at Footscray.
The first correctly identified .303 blanks were supplied in

1933 and were headstamped MF 33 LV. ( L being the Code
for Blank). .303 Blanks continued to be manufactured through
to the end of WW2 with the wartime factories at Hendon and

Welshpool also making them from diverted ball cases and

from cases specifically marked with the blank code. Foot-
scray also made wood bulleted .303 blanks for use in Bren
and Vickers machine guns which did not handle the shorter
non-bulleted type satisfactorily. Examples of wood bulleted
blanks loaded into ball cases dated 1944 and 1945 are
believed to be Mark 7 blanks. Mark 7 blanks had wooden bul-
lets with a hollow core containing oxidized copper dust
sealed with a glued on paper disc. The bullet had a weight of
80 grains.The cartridges were loaded with 39 grains of cord-
ite WT size 5/2 chopped into 0.045 inch lengths.

Blank Ammunition
FIGURE 2.From left to right : Early CAC .303 blanks with short and long mouth crimp in
unheadstamped cases, a 1944 Footscray wood bulleted blank, the last of the Mark 5 blanks of 1956 and
the Mark 9 type 1957-1960.

FIGURE 3. A packet of Footscray made L Mk. 9Z blanks made in 1960.
Correctly identified L Mark V Blanks made at the WW2 factories Welshpool (MW) and
FIGURE 4.
Hendon (MH & MJ) . Many blanks were also made from redirected ball cases

Blank Ammunition
FIGURE 5. A Murray Switch case : Primed ball cases were prepared with specially slit necks to be used
in the Switch Combination Aust. Mark 1
While strictly not an item of small arms ammunition, mention

should be made of a cartridge based on the .303 cartridge
case and commonly called the Murray Switch cartridge. This
was used as a triggering cartridge for a mechanism used in
trip wires and the like. It consisted of a primed case with a T
shaped slit cut into the neck as shown in figure 5. These were
supplied by a number of the wartime factories. Cartridges
made in 1942 were wrapped in bundles of 10 and the printed
wrapper carried the words ‘10 Cartridges .303 inch Capped
Cases for Switch Booby Trap Combination ( Murray ) Mark 1
Aust.’ In 1945 the wrappers carried the words ‘10 Cartridges
.303 inch Capped Cases for Switch Combination Aust Mark
1’. This device was used only by Australian troops.
Footscray stopped manufacture of .303 blanks at the end of

WW2 but restarted Mark 5 production again in 1956 as a

Mark 5Z with nitrocellulose propellant in place of cordite. In

1957 the production was changed to the similar looking Mark
9Z type. The Mark 9Z blank used 14 grains of Ballistite as the
charge but was otherwise identical to the Mark 5Z. Produc-
tion of the Mark 9Z type continued until 1960
FIGURE 6. This figure shows the headstamps of Footscray made L mark V blanks 1933 - 1956 and L
mark 9 types made from 1957 to 1960.

Blank Ammunition
FIGURE 7. A WW2 Packet of 50 L Mk V Blanks made at Welshpool W.A. in 1944
7.62 Plastic Blank cartridges
A German designed full length ‘plastic’ blank with metal head

insert was put into ‘licensed’ production in 1961 designated
L1A1. The cartridge had a brass head insert fitted into a black
plastic body. The profile of the blank included the projectile
form which had two grooves at right angles across the tip to
rupture on firing. The plastic bodies were imported through
an agent and the propellant was also imported.

7.62 Plastic Blank cartridges
The head insert was changed to aluminium in 1963 and the

designation changed to L1A2. In 1964 the head was rede-
signed in brass with a deep extractor groove and given a
Footscray Pattern number of F1. In 1966 the extractor groove
was changed again and the pattern designated as F1A1.
Part way through 1968 the head material was changed back
to aluminium with no change in designation. Production con-
tinued in this form until 1982 when the designation was
changed to F6. This blank had a poor service record with
some weapons damaged due to the variability in the propel-
lant and plastic bodies allowing blockage of the blank firing
attachment with plastic fragments and unburned propellant .
This in some cases lead to uncontrolled overpressure of the
weapon and subsequent damage. The M60 machine guns
were commonly damaged in this way.

Blank Ammunition
FIGURE 8. The evolution of the plastic blanks at Footscray with the 1961 L1A1 at left through to the F6
at right illustrating the changes to base material and form.
Full length Brass 7.62 blank
The need arose for a full length brass blank and a new car-
tridge similar to the English L10A2 full length brass blank,
was produced in the mid 80’s and given the F8 designation.

Full length Brass 7.62 blank
Production of the F6 blank continued in parallel for some

time.
FIGURE 9. Full length brass blanks : top Footscray F8 , bottom English L10A2
FIGURE 10. Some typical headstamps of the F8 blank (1989,1990, 1992 and 1993) showing the AFF
transition to ADI and the dropping of the F8 identifier from the headstamp in the early 90’s.

Blank Ammunition

.303 Cartridges for propelling
Chapter 20:
grenades and other devices.
Photographs of .303 Grenade Launching Cartridges
The Munitions Supply Board reported in their Annual Report

for the period ending June 1926, that “at the present time
experimental manufacture of cartridges, S.A. .303 rifle gre-
nades, 30 grains ballistite, is being carried out”. It was also
reported at that time that the Inspection Group were conduct-
ing experimental firings of rifle grenade cartridges. Figure 1
top specimen shows a 1926 rifle grenade discharging car-
tridge. The Mark 1 cartridge had its origin in WW1 where it
was, from late 1917, used to project grenades from a dis-
charger cup mounted to the muzzle of the SMLE rifle.

Production of the Mark 1 in Australia, ( designated from 1929

onward as H1Z, H being the code for rifle grenade cartridges
and Z denoting nitrocellulose propellant) continued through
to the end of WW2. The manufacture of the H1Z cartridges
was transferred from the No1 to No2 Factory in 1943. Some
examples are given in figures 2 and 3. Grenade cartridges
were typically packed 14 to a small steel tin which carried a
label or labels as shown in Figure 4. .
FIGURE 1.Rifle Grenade and other discharger cartridges: from top : 1926 rifle grenade Mk 1, 1935 rifle
grenade Mk 1, 1941 unknown type , and 1940 Smoke discharger cartridge E1T.

FIGURE 2. Some typical H1Z Rifle Grenade Cartridges made by the No1 Factory showing 1937, 1940
and 1941 specimens.
In 1945 a requirement arose for Rifle Grenade cartridges

Mark 4 . These were used to fire the No85 Anti-tank rifle gre-
nade from a spigot attached to the muzzle of the SMLE rifle.
Initial quantities of this cartridge were reported to be made
with a wadded open mouth case.1 Problems were experi-

enced with the subsequent batch and after advice from
England , the propellant was changed from chopped rod
1. Reference 4 Journal No.82 page 12

cordite WM.017-.019, to tubular cordite MDT 5-2 and the

case mouth was rosette crimped. To distinguish this car-
tridge from the other types of discharger cartridges, it had the
top and bottom third of its case stained black, the mouth
closed by a rosette crimp and a red sealing applied to the
crimp. It is shown in Figure 5 . It is also reported that the last
batch of these cartridges carried the marking ‘HIV (Aust) ‘ in
place of HIV.
The Central Drawing Office produced packaging stencilling

drawings for this ammunition in August 1945. Drawing Y-
73291 approved on 1/10/1945 indicated the Mk 4 Cartridge
was to be used with rifle grenades M9A1, M19, T5, M17A1
and M22 fired from the No.1 or No.4 rifles only.

FIGURE 3. No2 Factory (MG) Grenade cartridges H1Z made in the period 1943-1945
In 1949 a limited production of the H Mark 2 cartridge was

undertaken. Although carrying the ‘H’ code denoting rifle gre-
nade cartridge, this round was in fact used as a line throwing
cartridge by the Navy. It is shown in Figure 5.
When the Army introduced a new anti tank rifle grenade, the
‘ENERGA’ No.94, in the 50’s, for use with .303 rifles, the pro-
pelling cartridges H Mark 7z were imported from Belgium
and not made locally.

FIGURE 4. Tins of H1Z cartridges: Left a No1 Factory product of April 1940. Centre and right, product
from the No2 Factory (MG) made in March and August 1945, but carrying on the top right corner of
the label the MY code of the filling factory Explosives Factory Maribyrnong. The right tin also has a
visual identification label with the Spades symbol being the visual symbol for H1Z cartridges

FIGURE 5. The last of the Australian made .303 grenade cartridges. Top an unheadstamped Mk IV
drill from 1945 , the 1945 Mk IV round and the 1949 Mk 2 cartridge.


7.62mm Cartridges for
Chapter 21:
propelling grenades.
Photographs of 7.62mm grenade cartridges.

The Introduction of the FN Self loading Rifle generated a
requirement for a new grenade launching cartridge. Initial
specimens appeared in the late 50’s using ball cases as
shown in Figure 1. The early types were designated as L1A2
but this was changed to F2 in 1967 as shown in Figure 2. The
cartridges were packed in sealed metal ‘food style’ tins as
shown in Figure 3. Smaller quantities of cartridges were
‘encapsulated’ within sealed foil backed paper packs as
shown in figure 4.
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003

FIGURE 1. Grenade launching cartridges : From top un-blackened 1959 specimen using L2A2 ball case,
then 1961, 1963,1964 and 1965 correctly identified L1A2 pattern with lower half of case dyed black.

FIGURE 2. Grenade cartridges : from top a 1967 L1A2 pattern, a 1967 F2 pattern then 1969 and 1971
F2 specimens and finally an unknown variant using un-blackened 1972 L2A2 ball cases. Note that the
first 1967 F2 cartridges had the lower portion of the case blackened but this was changed to upper half
blackened in later specimens

FIGURE 3. A tin of 15 Cartridges Grenade Rifle L1A2 of July 1963 manufacture. The ‘key’ attached to
the top of tin was used to unwind the soldered seal on the lid to gain access to its contents. Note the
similarity to preserved meat tins of the same period.

FIGURE 4. A paper/foil packet of 5 cartridges Grenade rifle L1A2 of 1965 manufacture.


Chapter 22: Inert .303 Cartridges.
Dummy and Drill Cartridges.
Over the years a range of inert cartridges have been made in

Australia. These have included ‘dummies’, ‘drill’ and other
inert cartridges for specific applications.
The items made were intended for ‘personnel weapons train-

ing’, ‘weapons inspection’, or ‘setting machines or evaluation
of ammunition related items such as chargers, links or pack-
aging’. The first of the inert rounds was made by CAC, pro-
duction details of which are given in Chapter 4 table 1. These
items were referred to as ‘Dummy’ cartridges1 one of which is
1. Reference 3 Annual Report 1924 page 12.
Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003

shown in figure 1 below. Wooden round nosed (prior to

1918) or wooden pointed bullets ( 1918 and later) were
secured to a service cartridge case which had cross holes
drilled through it for easy identification purposes. These
‘dummies’ generally followed the British Dummy, Drill Mark
III (round nose bullet) or Mark IV (pointed bullet) patterns.
FIGURE 1..303 Drill Rounds : From top : A typical CAC era (1915) wooden bulleted Mark III drill, A
1924 Chromium plated Mk VI drill, A 1924 white metal Mk VI drill , A 1926 whitemetal Mk VI drill.
a WW2 expedient drill Mk VIII and a 1940 whitemetal drill Mk VI

Such examples may be found with headstamped MkVI ball

cases or with cases carrying no headstamp, or Mark VII
cases for the pointed bullet variant. The item shown above is
dated by it’s small primer pocket, a characteristic of 1915 pro-
duction. After leasing of the CAC plant to the Common-
wealth, work started on the production of white-metal
cartridges for the production of ‘dummy’ and ‘drill’ cartridges.2
Figure 1 shows whitemetal Mark VI fluted drills of 1924 and
1926 production and also a ‘chromium plated’ brass case
fluted drill carrying an ‘X’ in the headstamp (to denote experi-
mental variant ?) . The distinction between use of the terms
dummy and drill seems to have been made in this period
where drill is used for fluted specimens and dummy for
unfluted items to be used for weapons verification. An exam-
ple of an early whitemetal dummy is given in figure 2 below.
As can be seen in the 1927 specimen, the item carries ‘V’ in
the headstamp denoting Inspector Dummy Mark V pattern. In
1928 the British introduced a letter coding system for .303
ammunition. Drills were assigned the letter ‘D’ and Inspector
rounds the letter ‘U’. This can be seen in post 1928 speci-
mens in Figures 1 and 2.
2. Reference 3 Report for period July 1924- June 1926 page14.

FIGURE 2. Mark V Inspection Dummy Cartridges : From Top : a 1927 whitemetal case type. a 1941
tinned case UV and a 1942 tinned case UV specimen.
FIGURE 3. A WW2 expedient drill made from die-cast alloy with steel rim. Designed at the Central
Drawing Office Maribyrnong and detailed on Drawing Z-29691 dated May 1940. Officially described
as ‘Cartridge, S.A., Drill, .303 inch L.P. Mk 1.’ (LP = Local Pattern)

FIGURE 4. The wartime diecast drill cartridge ‘LP Mark 1” made by ‘Diecasters Ltd’

FIGURE 5. No 2 Factory drills and dummies: From top : Unheadstamped Mk V inspection dummy, two
more Mk V Inspector dummies made from surplus ball and Incendiary cases respectively, A Mark VI*
fluted drill circa 1944 and a Chromium plated Mk 7 drill circa 1948.
Whitemetal was used in the manufacture of the Inspector

Dummy until WW2 where tin plated cases were used in lieu
of whitemetal. Figure 3 shows examples of Inspector rounds
made at the No2 Factory in 1943 using surplus cases suitably

tin plated. These may be found with both cupro-nickel and

guilding metal projectiles.
FIGURE 6. Post WW2 specimens : From Top : Improvised inspection dummy, two Mark 7 Chromium
plated drills ( Naval Pattern ) and the last .303 drill made at Footscray ; the Mk 10 Chromium plated
drill made in 1955.
Toward the end of WW2, a batch of drills were made at the

No2 factory and designated as Mark VI*. A sample is shown
in figure 3. Strangely this round bears little resemblance to
the British Drill Mark VI* pattern introduced in 1934 and which

had a chromium plated case intended for Naval use. Post

WW2 saw the introduction of the Mark 7 drill, examples of
which are given in figures 3 and 4. The Mark 7 was a chro-
mium plated variant intended for Naval issue. The last batch
of .303 drill rounds made in 1955 used the British pattern of
the period which was designated as Mark 10. The differ-
ences between the Mark 7 and the Mark 10 were minor. The
Footscray Mark 10 specimen is shown in Figure 4.
An unusual variant of the .303 inert cartridge is shown in Fig-

ure 5. This is not strictly a cartridge but more of a gauge for
the checking of the geometry of Vickers or Browning machine
gun disintegrating link belt components. The specimen
shown carries the ‘MF’ identifier on the base and the words ‘
Links Belt Amm’n Mean Cartg.’ on the side. It is made from
ground steel.
FIGURE 7. Links, Belt, Ammunition, Mean Cartridge.

A Packet of tin plated .303 U Mark V ‘inspection dummies’ made at the No2 factory in
FIGURE 8.
December 1943

FIGURE 9. A packet of 32 .303 Drill Mark 10 made at Footscray 13 July 1955.

Chapter 23: Inert 7.62 & 5.56 Cartridges
Photographs of 7.62 & 5.56 Inert cartridges
FIGURE 1. Early inert 7.62 cartridges : Top a 1956 tinned dummy made from L2A1 case, Bottom : a
1957 inert round made from a L2A2 case.

FIGURE 2. 1959 (top) and 1960 chrome plated dummies made from production ball cases.
A range of inert 7.62 cartridges were made between 1956

and the termination of 7.62 manufacture by ADI in the late
1990’s.
FIGURE 3. Inert Dummies: Bottom 1961 specimen used by Defence QA and a black bulleted specimen
of 1970 (purpose of blackened bullet unknown.)

Some of the inert rounds were made for ‘internal consump-

tion’ by Defence Quality personnel rather than for Military
Service issue. Some items were made against export orders
e.g. from Israel and the USA.
FIGURE 4. 7.62 inert rounds : at top two blackened M172 pattern circa 1969, a whitemetal L3A1
inspection dummy of 1973 and at bottom two chromium plated L3A1 dummies from 1979 and 1982
respectively.

One of the all blackened cartridges shown in figure 4, carries

the American M172 designation.
The whitemetal L3A1 inert round shown in Figure 4 was

reportedly made for Israel
FIGURE 5. Typical 7.62 fluted drill rounds From Bottom, 1959, 1961,1961,1964 and 1970 specimens
Black primer inert rounds were used within the Factory in ‘vis-
itor’ displays and also used by the Engineering Design Estab-
lishment (Army) to evaluate packaging durability and test

alternative materials etc. These rounds sometimes had an

inert filling ( reported to be granulated sugar) to simulate the
propellant loading. Black primer 5.56 inert rounds were also
made up for display purposes. It is believed no formal 5.56
Drill or Inspector rounds have been made at Footscray or
Benalla as at the time of writing.
FIGURE 6. Inert non-bulleted 7.62 : from top a black primer inert F2 grenade launching blank, a F5
Drill Grenade Launching Cartridge and an inert F8 blank

FIGURE 7. A black primer inert 5.56 round made by AFF in 1988 for the Australian Industry Defence
Exhibition in the early 90’s
FIGURE 8. Black Primer inert 7.62 rounds : from top 1984 inert F2,1984, 1969 1965 and 1966 inert ball
loadings.

FIGURE 9. A Blackened Projectile inert round made at Footscray in 1984 - purpose unknown


Ballistic Standard and
Chapter 24:
Pressure Test (Proof) Cartridges
Ballistic Standard and High Pressure Test cartridges are sel-

dom seen outside of the Ammunition and Small Arms Facto-
ries as they are associated with the manufacture and
acceptance of ammunition and of weapons respectively. The
Australian ammunition factories manufactured a range of
these items as detailed below.
Ballistic Standard Ammunition
The 1928 Textbook of Small Arms describes Ballistic Stan-

dard ammunition as follows:- “Standard ammunition is very

carefully made up with specially selected components. Care

is taken that the bullets are of uniform weight and diameter,
and that the cases are of uniform capacity. The charges are
very carefully weighed, and are taken from a batch of propel-
lent which is known to be regular throughout, and which has
been stored until its ballistic qualities have settled down and
become constant. The loading is carried out with the greatest
care, and in fact everything is done to ensure that the car-
tridges composing any one batch of standard ammunition are
as far as possible identical in all respects. The outstanding
requirement is uniformity, and the absolute values of the
velocity and pressure obtained are of comparatively minor
importance, provided that the velocities and pressures
throughout the batch are as nearly as possible alike, and that
their values are accurately known.” Ballistic Standard ammu-
nition provides a means of establishing the effect of equip-
ment and atmospheric conditions on the results obtained of
test firing production batches of ammunition . The pressure
and velocity values of the Ballistic ammunition are known and
a quantity is fired at the time of production testing. The differ-
ence in measured values of the Ballistic ammunition ‘on the
day’ to it’s known values gives the correction to be applied to
the measured values of a production batch submitted for
acceptance. After measuring the production batch velocity

and pressure values, the adjustments established from the

Ballistic Standard ammunition are made to the production
values. The corrected values must then fall within the accep-
tance range. Ballistic Standard ammunition can also be used
to compare the performance of equipment such as test bar-
rels.
Australian .303 ‘standard’ ammunition carried the unusual ‘S’

code in the headstamp with the earlier rounds having the ‘s’
enclosed within a circle. As will be seen, Australian 7.62
‘standard’ cartridges continued with the ‘s’ identifier into the
1970’s. In the 1970’s the process of specially manufacturing
standard ammunition was abandoned in favour of selecting a
normal production batch of ammunition of high uniformity to
be used as a ‘defacto’ standard. Specially marked standard
ammunition thus disappeared from the scene in the 1970’s

FIGURE 1. Examples of .303 Ballistic Standard rounds showing a June 1944 specimen from the No 2
plant ( top left) , a June 1940 specimen from the No 1 plant ( bottom left) , a 1958 specimen ( top right)
and an ‘early’ October 1925 specimen ( bottom right.)
Standard .303 ammunition was also made at Hendon during

WW2 and rounds similar to the above carrying the Hendon
factory codes are in collections. At least one batch of .455
Webley revolver ammunition made at Rocklea ( MQ) was
identified as ‘standard’ and carries the ‘s’ identifier.

FIGURE 2. A Ballistic Standard .455 Webley Round made at Rocklea.
FIGURE 3. A packet of Footscray Ballistic Standard .303 made 28 August 1958.

FIGURE 4.Examples of 7.62 Ballistic Standard cartridges from 1962 -1973, Note the ‘yellow’ primer
lacquer which is a requirement of ‘standard’ ammunition

Proof ammunition
Proof ammunition
High Pressure test or ‘Proof’ ammunition is used to verify the
structural integrity of weapons during initial manufacture or
after significant modification. Proof rounds develop a higher
than standard pressure thus stressing the weapon above
what would be normally experienced with service ammuni-
tion. Proof .303 ammunition carries the proof type identifier
‘Q’. The cases are normally copper washed to give further
visual identification. In addition .303 proof rounds have the
case ‘peened’ in around the primer to provide extra support
for the higher than normal pressures generated. Australian
.303 proof rounds were of Mark III and Mark IV types. The
Mark III type featured the service 174 grain Mark VII ball pro-
jectile with a charge of 33 grains of cordite size 3 and devel-
oping a chamber pressure of 23-25 tons per square inch.
The Mark IV type featured a 215 grain round nosed projectile
and had a cordite charge developing 25-27 tons per square
inch. The Mark IV appeared in England in the late 20’s and
was reported as being intended for proofing automatic weap-
ons only. It was declared obsolete in the early 40’s and the
Mark III was then used across all .303 weapons. Figure 6
shows both the Mark IV and Mark III types.

FIGURE 5. A packet of 48 cartridges .303 Proof Q Mark 3. Note the statement ‘proved’ at 80 degree F.
Specimens of 7.62 proof ammunition are shown in Figure 7. It

can be seen that the L4A1 pattern was manufactured from
the 1950’s to the 70’s.

Proof ammunition
FIGURE 6.Some .303 proof specimens : From top a Mark IV of 1939 manufacture, a mark III from
1940 and Mark 3’s from 1956 and 1957.

FIGURE 7. Some copper washed 7.62 L4A1 Proof rounds : from top 1959, 1961,1965,1972, 1974 and
1976 specimens

Chapter 25: .380 Revolver, 9mm and .45
Auto Ammunition
.380 Revolver
In the early years of WW2, the .380 revolver, which had been
in service in England for some years, was being introduced
into the Australian Defence Forces to replace the .455 Web-
ley. Britain had begun replacing their Webleys with .380
revolvers from 1930. The early British .380 ammunition was
designated Mark I and had an unjacketed lead projectile but
this was replaced in the mid 30’s with the Jacketed mark II
projectile.

In the December 1940 Munitions Programme, the quantity of

.380 revolver ammunition produced for that year was shown
as nil but with a requirement to reach 3.0 million rounds per
year by the end of 1941. Production of .380 Mark II ammuni-
tion got underway at the Footscray No1 factory in 1941 with
projectiles jacketed in cupro-nickel. In 1942 production was
transferred to the ‘new’ Rocklea plant . The Rocklea ammuni-
tion had guilding metal projectiles. Production remained at
Rocklea until the closure of that plant in October 1943.
Quantities produced at Rocklea are given as approximately 9
million annually1. Production was returned to the Footscray

No2 factory in 1944. No further production of .380 revolver
ammunition was carried out after 1944 despite the weapon
remaining in service into the 1960’s. When reserves of the
local ammunition had been consumed, ammunition was
imported from the UK. ( usually being of Radway Green and
Kynoch manufacture.)

.380 Revolver
FIGURE 1. Local .380 ammuniton : from the right No1 Factory 1941 production, Rocklea 1942 & 1943
production and No2 Factory 1944 production. At top left is an undated tinned drill D Mark 1* made by
the No2 factory and at bottom left an unmarked ‘drill’ reported as being made at Rocklea.
FIGURE 2. Local .380 ammunition; From right a cupronickel jacked specimen from the No1 factory
(1941) , a Rocklea specimen (1942,43), a No2 factory specimen (1944) and a tinned , undated fluted drill
from the No2 factory (circa 1944).
The .380 Mark II ammunition had a 178 grain jacket projectile

with two cannelures and a loading of 4 grains of cordite size
1/05. As can be seen in Figure 2, the bullet is secured to the

case by coning the case mouth into the top cannelure and
rolling the case into the lower cannelure. The ammuniton
had to achieve a figure of merit of 3.5 inches at 50 yards and
be able to penetrate two 1 inch boards at 10 yards
FIGURE 3. Typical .380 Mk II packets bearing the Rocklea identifier MQ

9MM ammunition.
9MM ammunition.
The requirement for 9mm ammunition had not been noted in

Munitions Programme Plans as late as mid 1941. The intro-
duction into service of British submachine guns then the local
Owen gun firing the 9mm parabellum cartridge generated a
need for local production of this ammunition. Production got
under way in 1942 at Footscray No1 plant and in 1943 at
Hendon No3 plant. Data viewed at the Footscray Factory
indicated that by December 1942 production of 9mm at that
plant was running at a rate of 8 millions rounds per year. Pro-
duction continued until 1945 at Footscray. The headstamp-
ing at Footscray and Hendon are shown in the following
photographs
FIGURE 4. Hendon 9mm headstamps for 1943 and 1944 production

FIGURE 5.Footscray 9mm WW2 headstamps 1942-1945. Note cupronickel and copper primers on 1945
production with brass primers being used for 1942,43,and 44 production.
Large stocks on hand of local and overseas WW2 9mm

rounds delayed the re-commencement of production until the
60’s and continued through the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s until dis-
continued by ADI. The Headstamp changed from MF to AFF
in 1988. A range of drill and dummy rounds were made
throughout the life of this programme, some of which are
shown below.
FIGURE 6. 9mm Inspection rounds U Mark I: from right 1960 tin coated solid brass, 1955 all steel.

9MM ammunition.
FIGURE 7.9mm Drill D mark I and F2 types: From right 1943 tinned drill, 1943 ball case with holes
and wooden distance piece, 1963 whitemetal case with blackened bullet, 1963 brass case with red
primer pocket and typical F2 type with red flutes and primer pocket.(circa 1970-76)
FIGURE 8. Typical 9mm packaging of post WW2 production.

FIGURE 9. A selection of 9mm headstamps from 1942 -1980 used by the Footscray plant including
drill, dummy and proof types. Also show is a black primer ‘inert display cartridge’.

9MM ammunition.
FIGURE 10. 9mm Drill packets packed in 1964 but carrying 1963 headstamps
FIGURE 11. Red tipped 9mm rounds made at the No1 Factory in 1943 and reported as being early proof
rounds

.450 ACP ammunition
Supply of Thompson .45 submachine guns from the USA to

the Australian forces during WW2 initiated the manufacture of
.45 Auto ammunition at Footscray in 1943.
FIGURE 12.Footscray made .45 ammunition : Lower 3 examples made at No2 Factory in 1943 and 1944.
Upper two made in 1955 and 1956 .
The WW2 ammunition carried ‘ IZ ‘ in the headstamp ( Z

denoting nitrocellulose propellant). The Thompson sub
machine guns stayed in service with the RAAF until the 60’s
and as a consequence, more ammunition was ordered from

.450 ACP ammunition
Footscray in the mid 50’s. Quantities were produced in 1955

and 56 and carried the mark ‘I’ ( denoting cordite loading).
FIGURE 13. .45 Auto cartridges : right a typical WW2 No2 Factory round with case cannelure and a
50’s ‘MF’ round without case cannelure.
FIGURE 14. A WW2 packet of .450 ammunition made at the No2 factory on 14 Jun. 1943.


Chapter 26: .455 Webley ,.32 pistol, .22
Rimfire and .310 Cadet ammunition.
.455 Webley
As noted previously, the Footscray factory commenced man-
ufacture of the .455 Webley Revolver ammunition in the early
1920’s. Initial quantities were submitted for testing on the 9th
of February 1923.1 A further four proof firings took place

through to March 1923 during which adjustments were made
to the propellant charge to achieve satisfactory muzzle
velocity ( 600 feet per second) and to bullet retention as mea-
1. Reference 4 Journal No 81 2000 page 11.

sured by the force required to ‘pull’ the projectile from the

case. The first deliveries are reported as being in the 1923-24
Financial year 2 when 625,000 rounds were delivered. This

ammunition was packed in small cardboard cartons holding
12 rounds and closed with a paper tape label. Some early
examples are shown below. Ammunition was headstamped
with “A arrow F II” then “ arrow F II “ then “MF II”.
FIGURE 1.Two early .455 Webley Mark II packets: an August 1923 example carrying the ‘arrow
SAAF’ factory identifier and a July 1926 packet carrying the ‘arrow F’ identifier: these being
Footscray codes of that period.
2. Reference 3 July 1923-June 1924 Annual Report page13

.455 Webley
FIGURE 2. A selection of headstamps from first production at Footscray ( bottom left) thought to last
production at Rocklea ( top right). Note the ‘ballistic standard marking on the MQ 42 VI round and
the use of a 303 headstamp on the second bottom left. ( dated 10-24)
In 1931 the year of manufacture was added to the heads-

tamp and production was carried out at Footscray in each
subsequent year until 1941 when it was transferred to the
‘new’ Rocklea plant. Rocklea commenced manufacture of the
Mark II cartridge in 1942 but this was soon replaced by the
jacketed projectile Mk VI round later in 1942 after concerns

that the unjacketed Mk II projectile may be seen as contra-

vening international conventions.
FIGURE 3. The Mark II unjacketed .455 round made at Footscray and for a short period at Rocklea and
the gilding metal jacked mark VI round made at Rocklea.
TABLE 1. .455 Production from 1923 to 1939
Financial Year Quantity Financial Year Quantity

1923-24 625,000 1932-33 56,556
1924-25 350,000 1934-35 80,640
1926-27 400,000 1935-36 131,840
1927-28 109,208 1936-37 73,400
1928-29 11,000 1937-38 166,320
1930-31 11,975 1938-39 192,960
1931-32 125,848

.455 Webley
In the December 1940 Munitions programme, the current

annual production of .455 revolver ammunition was given as
1 million rounds with a plan to achieve a rate of 2 million
rounds per annum by end of 1941. Production at Rocklea
achieved approximately 2 million rounds per year for 1942
and 1943.
Production of Webley ammunition ceased in October 1943

with the closure of the Rocklea plant. The Webley pistol was
at that time being displaced by the ‘new’ .380 service
revolver.
After WW2, Civilian Pistol Clubs were given access to sur-

plus .455 pistols and ammunition however these were
replaced by modern pistols in due course.
The Mark II ammunition had a 265 grain lead projectile and

had a nominal charge of 5.5 grain of cordite 1/05.
The Mark VI ammunition had a 265 grain jacketed projectile

and had a nominal charge of 7.5 grains of cordite 1/05. The
Mark VI had to be able to penetrate two 1 inch boards 1 inch
apart at a range of 10 yards and have an accuracy of a 4 inch
figure of merit at 50 yards

.320 Auto Pistol and .32 S&W Revolver Ammunition.

As part of the attempt to supplement the low workloads of the
late 1920’s and early 30’s, the Footscray Factory took on the
manufacture of .320 Auto pistol and .32 Smith and Wesson
revolver ammunition. These weapons were commonly used
by Federal and State Government Departments ,Police,
Banks and generally in Industry to secure payroll offices and
during the weekly or fortnightly distribution of cash wages
and salaries to employees. The local manufacture also
achieved the aim of displacing imports.
FIGURE 4.Above: A packet of 50 .32 Auto made at Footscray in December 1934. .320 Smith &
Wesson rounds were also produced but no surviving packet is known to exist. The significance of
the “MF 8" is unknown but may be a lot number identification.

.22 Rimfire Ammunition
.22 Rimfire Ammunition
Prior to 1930 all .22 rimfire ammunition used in Australia was

imported. In an attempt to supplement workload and elimi-
nate import expenditure, the Footscray factory undertook the
manufacture of .22 rimfire ammunition. Information was
obtained from the UK in June 1930 and planning for manu-
facture commenced. The lead projectile was designed by the
Munition Supply Drawing Office in 1932. Drawing Z9521
dated 23-8-1932 was issued to define manufacture of the
projectile. The Factory commenced production and testing
was carried out using military small bore rifles ( based on the
Enfield .303 action) . As ammunition reached civilian rifle
clubs, problems were experienced by rifle clubs members
using other than military small bore rifles. This was subse-
quently identified as lack of sensitivity of the primer com-
pound. Whilst the ammunition was satisfactory in the military
Enfield small bore rifles, the commercial target rifles had less
energetic strikers which often caused misfires and hangfires.
Problems were solved but production stopped when ICI
established local .22 production in 1935. The Government
Factories were not encouraged to compete with local indus-
try.

FIGURE 5. Above A packet of 100 .22 rimfire cartridges produced at Footscray in May 1934.
Jacketed .310 Cadet ammunition

The .310 cadet rifles used in pre WW1 were progressively
withdrawn from Australian Cadet training as Lee-Enfield .303
rifles became available to the Cadets . These rifles had been
used with ammunition made at CAC in 1909 -1913. Propel-
lant was still in storage from this pre WW1 program but by
1926-27 the Munition Supply laboratories reported that
”Nitrokol from obsolete .310 small arms ammunition which
has been in storage for many years was found to be unstable

and was sentenced unserviceable”3 In 1929 the Administra-

tor of the Territory of New Guinea requested the issue of
.303 rifles to supplement those already on hand. Financial
restraints prevented this request from being actioned but the
Australian Government offered a free issue of 1000 .310
Cadet rifles.This offer was accepted. Consequently an order
for 10,000 rounds of jacketed ammunition was placed on the
Ammunition Factory Footscray by the Administrator. A round
nose nickel jacketed projectile was made for this order
FIGURE 6. Headstamps of Footscray .310 Cadet cartridges.From right an unprimed 1929 cartridge
featuring provision for the .455 primer, A 1930’s specimen with small copper primer and WW2 No1
and No2 Factory specimens with brass primers.
The only suitable primers in production at that time were of

.240 inch diameter for the .455 revolver, and these were
used in this initial order. A further quantity of 20,194 rounds
were loaded with pointed nickel jacket projectiles. Further
3. Reference 3 July 1926 -June 1927 Annual Report page 5.

shipments were made through to late 1932 after which New

Guinea was able to obtain .303 rifles and withdrew the .310
Cadet rifles and ammunition on hand. Availability of a smaller
primer from the .32 pistol and revolver ammunition pro-
gramme resulted in the smaller primer being incorporated
into the .310 cartridge. Limited production continued through
until 1939 when production ceased for other priority
demands. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942 ,
.310 rifles in storage were issued for ‘home guard’4 use.
FIGURE 7. A side view of the cases shown in previous figure. Note the Nickel projectile from 1930’s
production and guilding metal projectiles in the WW2 production items
4. The VDC or Volunteer Defence Force acted as a type of Home Guard in WW2

This necessitated an order on Footscray for .310 ammunition

.
The No1 Factory commenced on the order and ramped up to

approximately 2 million rounds per month but in September
1942 production was switched to the No 2 factory. By Christ-
mas 1942 only 4.4 million rounds were required to complete
the .310 programme. By mid February only 2 million
remained and by May 1943 the manufacturing programme
was complete. This WW2 ammunition had a specification of
1170 feet per second plus or minus 50 feet per second mea-
sured at 90 feet from the muzzle at 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It
was fired from a fixed rest and had to achieve a mean figure
of merit of 6inches at 200 yards,

FIGURE 8. A 20 round .310 packet made at Footscray om 1st September 1942.
FIGURE 9.A 20 round packet of .310 made at the No2 Factory on 22 January 1943 using MF packaging
overstamped with the MG identifier.

After WW2, rifles were withdrawn and disposed of. Many

were converted to single shot sporting rifles through the
1950’s and 60’s
TABLE 2. Manufacture of .310 Jacket ammunition 1929-1939
Financial Year Quantity Made Financial Year Quantity Made

1928-29 20,000 1934-35 31.240
1929-30 40,414 1935-36 15,000
1930-31 40,500 1936-37 10,000
1931-32 30,000 1937-38 9,500
1932-33 13,760 1938-39 12,500


Index
Symbols A
.303 Air Service Ammunition ADI
initial experimental manufacture. 63 Benalla site selected. 137
Inspection of first batch. 181 Creation 132
.303 Grenade launching cartridge Site closures 132
initial manufacture 64 ADI headstamp introduction 134
.303 Incendiary Ammunition AFF
ceasation of operations at Footscray. 202 photograph of site circa 1985 1
Mark IV 196 Armour Piercing Ammunition
Mark VI 196 first manufacture in Australia. 206
Mark VII 196
.303 Incendiary projectile B
problems at Footscray. 201 Benalla Plant
.303 Mark II ball 19 capping section photograph 139
.303 Mark VI ball 20 site photograph 137
.303 Tracer Ammunition Blank
initial manufacture 64 7.62 plastic variations 226
.310 Cadet Jacketed ammunition Bullet retention
production 1929-1939 295 .303 mouth coning. 91
.455 Webley .303 neck staking 91
initial manufacture 63 .303 Tracer, Incendiary and AP
Production figures 1923-39 286 photograph. 92
.50 Browning
belted with M9 links, photograph 122 C
CAC .310 Cadet
Numerics Ball Packet 41
7.62 Ammunition Blank Packet 41
commencement of production. 103 loading data 40
7.62 Charger clip 106 production details 39
7.62 F4 round. 108 Cartridge
7.62 L2A1 round 103 .380 variations photographs 273
7.62 L2A2 round 103 5.56 ’bullet in bore’ incidents. 134
7.62 M13 Links 106 5.56 F1 ball 119

5.56 Inert black primer round. 258 .303 Blank and dummy production
5.56 M855 119 figures. 46
5.56 ss109 118 carton packed .303 ammunition 36
7.62 black bulleted inert 1970 254 consideration of purchase. 47
7.62 black primer inert ball. 258 erection of rolling mills and foundry 31
7.62 blackened projectile 1984 259 factory description 11
7.62 Blank F8 drill 257 Incorporation of the Australian
7.62 Centenary round. 126 company. 10
7.62 Chromium plated drills 1959,61,64 & initial site 11
80. 256 lease by Commonwealth 48
7.62 dummy chromium non-fluted 1959- new supply contract 1919. 37
60 254 New Zealand & Australia. 10
7.62 dummy non-fluted 1956-57 253 production commencement 13
7.62 F2 Grenade launching inert. 257 site layout 1921 53
7.62 F5 chromium plated drill 257 Commercial Metal Strip & Plate
7.62 L3A1 Inspector 1973,79 & 83 255 production figures 1930 - 1938 71
7.62 non-fluted dummy 1961 254 Commonwealth Arsenal
7.62 Palma Match 126 abandonment 58
7.62 Pest eradication rounds 115 Mr A.E. Leighton. 58
9mm red tipped. 279 Cordite
Blank 7.62 F8 full length brass 227 as used in .303 cartridges photograph. 21
drill (diecast) LP Mk. 1 246 Cordite Factory
mean, link belt 250 first cordite produced 31
rifle grenade early Mk1 230 fulminate of mercury first production 31
rifle grenade H1Z 231 site selection 29
rifle grenade H2 235
rifle grenade HIV 235 D
rifle grenade HIV drill 235 Double Bulleting
schematic of the ss109 round. 120 .303 Mk VI problems 68
Smoke discharger E1T 230 Hake investigations. 28
Switch Combination Mk1 222 Drill
Cartridge 7.62 134 9mm various types. 277
Cartwright, Mr W.T. 6 Drill Rounds
Chargers .303 variations 1915-1940 244
Lithgow made Mk II, III and IV 34 Drills and Dummies
Colonial Ammunition Company .303 post WW2 variations 249
.303 ball production figures. 32 No2 Factory variations 248

G 7.62 grenade cartridges 1959-1965 238
Greenwood & Batley proposal 6 7.62 grenade cartridges 1967-1972 239
Gulf & Western Ammunition Plant 7.62 Palma and AFF Centenary 129
7.62 cases. 125 9mm ball, drill & dummy 278
acquisition 124 9mm Hendon production 275
Gun Ammunition factory 9mm No 1 factory WW2 production 276
Footscray site plan. 67 Airservice .303 1930-1939 193
merger with SAA factory Footscray. 67 Commercial 5.56 113
Commercial Rifle cases 113
H early Hendon incendiary 203
Hake, Cecil Napier (1848-1924) 17 MF 1942 .303 incendiary 202
Headstamps MS 44 GII Z tracer. 212
.303 1928 Air Service Round 192 Proof 7.62 L4A1 270
.303 AP from No1 Plant. 207 SAAF 5&6 1942-43 87
.303 AP from No3 plant 208 SAAF No 7 1942-45 88
.303 ball Hendon No4 79 SAAF No2 .303 ball 76
.303 Ballistic Standard 264 SAAF No3 .303 Ball 77
.303 blanks from Hendon & Welshpool
plants. 221 I
.303 incendiary Hendon 1942 203 Incendiary
.303 incendiary Hendon 1944-45 203 Sectioned view .303 BMk VII
.303 incendiary No2 plant 204 projectile 197
.303 Mk VI from 1906 to 1909 167 Incendiary Annex 197
.303 Mk VI from 1909 to 1912 168 Inspection Dummy
.303 Mk VI from 1913 to 1915 169 .303 variations 1927 -1942 246
.303 Mk VI from 1916 to 1918 170 Inspection dummy
.303 Mk VII from 1918 to 1922 171 9mm 276
.303 Mk VII from 1923 to 1926 172
.303 Mk VII from 1927 to 1930 177 J
.303 Mk VII from 1931 to 1934 178 Jensen. J.K.
.303 Mk VII from 1935 to 1962 179 Secretary MSB 61
.303 Proof 269
.303 tracer from No1 and No3 plants. 211 L
.380 WW2 production 273 Leighton. A.E.
.450 from No 1 and No 2 Factories 280 arrival in Australia 30
7.62 1959-63 with NATO symbol 105 Chairman MSB 61
7.62 Ballistic Standard 266 portrait 30

Link, Belt small .303 type 45
.303 Browning pattern 190 Production figures
.303 Vickers pattern 189 .303 Ball 1925-1939 72
Propellant
M new single base for 5.56 119
Medalion
Employee Centenary Issue 130 S
Munitions Research Laboratories SAA No 1
establishment 60 planned closure abandoned 74
site layout 96
N WW2 rebuild 84
NATO symbol SAA No 2
use on Australian ammunition 104 Origin 74
Nucleus production Planned capacity 77
annual rate. 56 site layout 96
decision 55 SAA No 3
Hendon origin 76
P site layout 94
Packaging SAA No 4
ADI film packs for 5.56 143 origin 78
Packet planned capacity 78
.303 Air Service Ammunition 183 site layout 94
.303 AP Air Service Ammunition 191 SAA No 5
.303 Ballistic Standard 265 closure 89
.303 Drill Mark 10 252 origin 84
.303 Incendiary B Mk VII 200 site layout 95
.303 U Mk V 251 SAA No 6
.380 Mk II 274 closure 89
.450 Ball No2 Factory 281 origin 84
7.62 Centenary 129 site layout. 95
7.62 Palma Match 127 SAA No 7
7.62 Rifle grenade L1A2 241 origin 84
9mm drill 279 Site layout 93
9mm post WW2 style 277 Sargood. Major F.T. 3
Proof .303 Q Mark III 268 Small Arms Factory Lithgow
primers charger manufacture 32
local manufacture. 45 Surplus Munitions Plant from England 57

T MHR 1900 unspecified Mk. 149
Tin MHR CAC1900 repacked Eley Bros. Mk
.303 Rifle Grenade H1Z 234 III 150
7.62 Rifle grenade packaging 1963 240 MHR Mk A 1892 146
Tracer Ammunition MHR Mk X 1895 147
.303 experimental manufacture. 209 MHR Mk. X 1896 148
.303 first deliveries. 210 MHR Undated for NSW Mk. A 150
7.62 evaluation trials 214 MHR Undated for S.A. Mk A 151
W
Whitney, Captain John
offer to build factory 6
portrait. 7
Winchester Australia
lobbies for the 5.56 programme. 119
Wrapper
CAC .303 Mk II 1903 154
CAC .303 Mk II 1904 154
CAC .303 Mk VI 1904 (converted Mk
II) 155
CAC .303 Mk VI 1906 155
CAC .303 Mk VI 1908 (converted from
1907) 156
CAC .303 MK VI 1909 156
CAC .303 MK VI 1912 157
CAC .303 MK VI 1915 157
CAC .303 MK VI 1916 158
CAC .303 MK VI 1917 158
CAC .303 Mk VII 1920 162
CAC-SAAF Mk.VII 1921 transitional 162
CAC-SAAF.303 MK VII 1921
transitional 51
MF .303 MK VII 1921. 163
MHR 1890 Mk Z 146
MHR 1894 Mark X 147
MHR 1895 for N.Z. 148
MHR 1897 unspecified MK. 149

References
1. Development of Munitions in Australia - An address

given by J.K.Jensen to the Institute of Industrial Management
Australia on June 1st 1943. State Library of Victoria refer-
ence LPT 338.476234 J45D.
2. Ammunition Factories in Australia 1880 -1945. By Mr.

L.McLean. State Library of Victoria Reference SLTF
662.20994 AM6M
3. Commonwealth of Australia , Munition Supply Board

Annual Reports from 1922 through 1938.
4 Australian Cartridge Collectors Association Journals.
5 Ammunition Factory Footscray Centenary Album 1888-

1988 issued to all employees on the centenary of the site in
1988.
6 The Colonial Ammunition Factory (Australia ) Ltd. 1888-

1926 By J.K.Lyons State Library of Victoria reference LPT
358.3065 C71L

7 Textbook of Small Arms 1929 H.M Stationery Office
London
8 Commonwealth of Australia Departmental Establish-

ment site Plans: Department of Supply 1963 (covering site
plans for Albion Explosives Factory, Ashley Street Transport
Depot, Magazine area Derrimut, AFF, Munitions Supply Lab-
oratories and EFM, and the Ordnance Factory Maribyrnong
including Central Drawing Office and Maribynong Stores.)
9 WW2 “Location of Government Factories” Site Lay-

outs 1945 (covering Ordnance Factory Bendigo, Ordnance
Factory Echuca, SAAF Hendon, Gun Ammunition Factories
at Finsbury and Rutherford, Ammunition Factory Derwent
Park, SAAF Rocklea, SAAF Welshpool, Ammunition Factory
Kalgoorlie, Ammunition Factory Hay, Small Arms Factory
Bathhurst, Small Arms Factory Orange, Stores and Transport
Ashley Street, Munitions Bulk Store Tottenham, Explosives
Factory Ballarat, Stores and Transport Stafford, Stores and
Transport Penfield. )
10 Technology in Australia 1788 - 1988 an online addi-

tion at www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/ originally published
by the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre.

Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888-2003

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What was the first ammunition factory established in Australia?

What was the first ammunition factory established in Australia?

Who were some of the key figures involved in establishing ammunition production capabilities in Australia?

Who were some of the key figures involved in establishing ammunition production capabilities in Australia?

Australian Military Small

Arms Ammunition Production

David A Mayne CPEng, MIE Aust, FRMIT.

First Published by the Author in September 2003.

Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 i

The Colonies .................................................................................2

CAC site expansion. ...................................................................23

CAC Pre- WW1 Miscellaneous Ammunition.

.310 Cadet Ammunition..............................................................39

Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 iii

Local Self sufficiency .................................................................45

The Munitions Development Programme.

Commonwealth Reviews CAC ...................................................53

The Wartime SAA factories

The first Upgrade at Footscray ...................................................73

Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 iv

Closure of Wartime factories, .....................................................97

Manufacture of 7.62 x 51 ammunition

Commencement of 7.62 production..........................................103

The New 5.56 ammunition and the end of AFF.

Changing Government Plans ....................................................117

CAC Martini -Henry paper wrapped packets.

Images of Martini Henry Packets .............................................145

Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 v

Images of CAC .303 Paper wrapped packets............................153

.303 Mk.VII paper wrapped packets.

Images of .303 paper wrapped packets. ....................................161

CAC .303 Headstamps (1906-1926)

Photographs of .303 Headstamps (1900-1926)........................165

Footscray .303 Headstamps 1927 -1962

Photographs of .303 ‘MF’ Headstamps (1927-1962) ...............175

Air Service Ammunition

CAC starts work on Airservice Ammunition ...........................181

.303 Incendiary Ammunition

Interest in Incendiary Manufacture...........................................195

Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 vi

Armour piercing .303 Ammunition

MSB considers manufacture of AP ammunition. .....................205

Experimental Manufacture .......................................................209

.303 blank ammunition. ............................................................217

.303 Cartridges for propelling grenades and other devices.

Photographs of .303 Grenade Launching Cartridges................229

7.62mm Cartridges for propelling grenades.

Photographs of 7.62mm grenade cartridges. ............................237

Inert .303 Cartridges.

Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 vii

Inert 7.62 & 5.56 Cartridges

Photographs of 7.62 & 5.56 Inert cartridges.............................253

Ballistic Standard and Pressure Test (Proof) Cartridges

Ballistic Standard Ammunition ................................................261

.380 Revolver, 9mm and .45 Auto Ammunition

.455 Webley ..............................................................................283

Australian Military Small Arms Ammunition Production 1888 -2003 viii

The production of ammunition in Victoria in the 1890’s was a