Munitions

120 mm White Phosphorus Ammunition

Also known as
  • WP
  • white phosphorus smoke cartridge
  • 120 mm WP mortar round
  • 120mm white phosphorus mortar round
  • M929 white phosphorus smoke cartridge

120 mm white phosphorus ammunition is a smoke-obscurant mortar and gun-mortar round class rather than one single national model. Forecast International places white phosphorus in the 2A60 Nona 120 mm ammunition family, U.S. sources document M929-family WP smoke cartridges for M120/M121 mortars, and direct conflict sources record 120 mm WP rounds in Afghanistan and Gaza.

120 mm White Phosphorus Ammunition, 120 mm white phosphorus smoke ammunition, Munitions
Image source: Wikimedia Commons White Phosphorous mortar round

Role in Conflicts

2008 Gaza War
Fire SupportArea Denial
Side
Israel

Human Rights Watch reported that the IDF used 120mm mortar shells to fire white phosphorus in Gaza and that researchers found remnants of both 155mm artillery shells and 120mm mortar shells there.

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Caliber
120 mm
Role
White phosphorus smoke and obscurant ammunition
Primary function
Screening and concealment
Documented firing systems
2A60 Nona rifled ordnance; U.S. M120/M121 mortar system
Documented family mix
Smoke, illumination, HEAT, HE fragmentation, and white phosphorus types
M929 range example
300 to 7,200 meters with the M120/M121 battalion mortar system
M929 payload example
White-phosphorus-impregnated felt payload in a 1045 steel projectile
Variants

This broad page covers sourced 120 mm white-phosphorus smoke ammunition references rather than a single national cartridge; linked rows identify more specific cataloged designations inside that class.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
M929 White Phosphorus Smoke Cartridge, 120 mm white-phosphorus smoke mortar cartridge, MunitionsM929 White Phosphorus Smoke CartridgeU.S. 120 mm WP smoke mortar cartridge

FAS describes the XM929/XM929E1 as a 120 mm white-phosphorus smoke cartridge for M120 and M121 mortar systems, matching the dedicated M929 catalog entry.

Sources: XM929/XM929E1 120mm Mortar Smoke (White Phosphorus) Cartridge

Firing Platforms

Forecast International identifies white phosphorus as one of the 120 mm ammunition types fired by the 2A60 Nona rifled ordnance, FAS documents a U.S. 120 mm WP cartridge for M120/M121 mortar systems, and Challenger 2 documentation shows the same ammunition class used for smoke cover.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
2S23 Nona-SVK, 120 mm wheeled self-propelled gun-mortar, Artillery2S23 Nona-SVK120 mm gun-mortar platform

The 2S23 Nona-SVK mounts the 2A60 Nona rifled ordnance, which Forecast International says fires white phosphorus among its 120 mm ammunition types.

Sources: SM-120 (2S23) Nona-SVK 120mm Self-Propelled Howitzer/Mortar

120 mm mortar, Heavy mortar, Artillery120 mm mortar120 mm mortar family

FAS describes the XM929/XM929E1 as a 120 mm white-phosphorus smoke cartridge for M120 and M121 mortar systems, so the broad 120 mm mortar family is a documented firing-weapon relationship for this ammunition class.

Sources: XM929/XM929E1 120mm Mortar Smoke (White Phosphorus) Cartridge

Challenger 2, Main battle tank, TanksChallenger 2Main battle tank

Armored Warfare says Challenger 2 can fire white phosphorus shells to create smoke cover, so the tank is a documented firing platform for this ammunition class.

Sources: Vehicles in Focus: Challenger 2

Round Class Notes

This entry groups directly documented 120 mm white-phosphorus mortar and gun-mortar ammunition where public sources identify the caliber and WP effect but do not always name a model.

Nona-family reference

Forecast International lists white phosphorous among the 120 mm ammunition types fired by the 2A60 Nona rifled ordnance on the 2S23.

U.S. cartridge reference

FAS describes XM929/XM929E1 as a 120 mm WP smoke cartridge for M120 and M121 mortar systems.

Conflict-use boundary

The conflict rows are limited to sources that directly identify 120 mm white-phosphorus rounds or shells in the named conflict.

Timeline

120 mm White Phosphorus Ammunition Key Events

  1. FAS documents the U.S. M929 white phosphorus cartridge

    FAS publishes an XM929/XM929E1 entry describing a 120 mm white phosphorus smoke cartridge for the M120 and M121 mortar systems.

    Sources: XM929/XM929E1 120mm Mortar Smoke (White Phosphorus) Cartridge

  2. U.S. Army photo captures WP mortar fire in Kunar

    A U.S. Army article says 120 mm white phosphorus mortar rounds were fired toward a ridgeline during a checkpoint firefight in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

    Sources: Coalition forces beat attack on Afghan checkpoint

  3. HRW reports 120 mm WP mortar shells in Gaza

    Human Rights Watch reported that Israeli forces used 120 mm mortar shells as well as 155 mm artillery shells to fire white phosphorus during Operation Cast Lead.

    Sources: Rain of Fire: Israel's Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus in Gaza

Media

120 mm White Phosphorus Ammunition Images

120 mm White Phosphorus Ammunition, 120 mm white phosphorus smoke ammunition, Munitions - view 1
Source: File:Firefight at Afghan National Police checkpoint in Kunar province 2010-09-18 3.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
120 mm smoke ammunition, 120 mm smoke ammunition for rifled gun-mortars, MunitionsMunitions120 mm smoke ammunition120 mm smoke ammunition for rifled gun-mortars120 mm smoke ammunition is a mortar and gun-mortar ammunition class used to build short-duration obscurant screens rather than to deliver direct explosive effects. Forecast International lists smoke among the 120 mm ammunition types fired by the 2A60 Nona rifled ordnance on the 2S23 Nona-SVK, while Army Recognition describes the tracked 2S9 Nona as firing smoke rounds in its indirect-fire role. Modern 120 mm smoke products from STV GROUP, Nammo, and Hirtenberger show the class spanning visible and infrared screening, red-phosphorus payloads, white-phosphorus smoke, and other smoke fills depending on the round.
Cartridge, 105 mm, Smoke, WP, M60, 105 mm white-phosphorus smoke artillery cartridge, MunitionsMunitionsCartridge, 105 mm, Smoke, WP, M60105 mm white-phosphorus smoke artillery cartridgeThe Cartridge, 105 mm, Smoke, WP, M60 is a U.S. semi-fixed 105 mm white-phosphorus smoke cartridge family for 105 mm howitzers. Army ammunition data sheets describe the M60 series as a screening round with a cast-WP projectile filler, a seven-increment M67 propelling charge, and model differences centered on burster construction and fuze compatibility. Army rigging and ordnance-identification references also list the family by DODIC C454 and C477.
120 mm illumination ammunition, 120 mm illuminating ammunition, MunitionsMunitions120 mm illumination ammunition120 mm illuminating ammunition120 mm illumination ammunition is a heavy mortar munition class that ejects a parachute-retarded candle to light target areas for night observation, signaling, and fire adjustment. Nammo publishes a representative 120 mm illuminating round with time-fuze deployment at 500-700 meters, while U.S. Army sources identify visible-light M930 and infrared M983 cartridges for the M120A1 and M121 mortar systems. In the 2001 War in Afghanistan, U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest fired 120 mm mortar illumination rounds from Bost Airfield to support Afghan government forces during combat operations in Helmand Province.
120 mm high-explosive anti-tank ammunition, 120 mm high-explosive anti-tank ammunition for rifled gun-mortars, MunitionsMunitions120 mm high-explosive anti-tank ammunition120 mm high-explosive anti-tank ammunition for rifled gun-mortars120 mm high-explosive anti-tank ammunition is the direct-fire anti-armor round class used by Soviet and Russian rifled gun-mortars in the Nona family. Forecast International identifies the 2S23 Nona-SVK's 2A60 weapon as firing HEAT ammunition for direct-fire applications, while specialist munition references identify the 3VBK14/3BK19 round as a documented 120 mm HEAT-FS-T load for armored-target engagements.

Sources

SM-120 (2S23) Nona-SVK 120mm Self-Propelled Howitzer/MortarPublisher: Forecast International | Note: Supports the 2A60 Nona ammunition family, including white phosphorus among the 120 mm rounds fired by the ordnance mounted on the 2S23 Nona-SVK. | Accessed: 2026-06-23XM929/XM929E1 120mm Mortar Smoke (White Phosphorus) CartridgePublisher: Federation of American Scientists | Note: Supports the 120 mm white phosphorus smoke cartridge description, M120/M121 mortar-system compatibility, and the WP-impregnated payload/background context. | Accessed: 2026-06-26Mortar AmmunitionPublisher: U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition & Energetics | Note: Official Army mortar ammunition page supporting 120 mm smoke mortar ammunition as white-phosphorus smoke ammunition and listing M929 as the 120 mm WP SMK product. | Accessed: 2026-07-04American Ordnance Mortars and Mortar ComponentsPublisher: American Ordnance | Note: Supports U.S. 120 mm mortar high-explosive and smoke ammunition production context and M120/M121 compatibility for 120 mm smoke white-phosphorus rounds. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Coalition forces beat attack on Afghan checkpointPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: 2001 War in Afghanistan: official Army article says 120 mm white phosphorus mortar rounds were fired toward a nearby ridgeline during a firefight at Shege East Afghan National Police Checkpoint in Kunar province. | Accessed: 2026-07-04File:Firefight at Afghan National Police checkpoint in Kunar province 2010-09-18 3.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image licensing and provenance page for the Kunar province firefight photograph; public-domain U.S. Army image whose caption identifies 120 mm white phosphorus mortar rounds hitting a nearby ridgeline. | Accessed: 2026-06-26Willy Pete in the 'StanPublisher: Military.com | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan conflict use by Taliban and allied militants because it reproduces a CENTCOM/ISAF summary reporting an IED rigged with one 120mm white phosphorus round in Sabari District, Khost province. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Rain of Fire: Israel's Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus in GazaPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Supports 2008 Gaza War conflict use by Israel because HRW reports that the IDF used 120mm mortar shells to fire white phosphorus in Gaza and that researchers found remnants of 120mm mortar shells there. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons White Phosphorous mortar roundPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image licensing and provenance page for White Phosphorous mortar round.jpg; public-domain U.S. Air Force training image. | Accessed: 2026-06-23Vehicles in Focus: Challenger 2Publisher: Armored Warfare | Note: Supports Challenger 2 as a firing platform for 120 mm white phosphorus smoke ammunition by stating the tank can fire white phosphorus shells to create smoke cover. | Accessed: 2026-06-28