Munitions

Cartridge, 105 mm, Smoke, WP, M60

Also known as
  • M60 105 mm WP smoke cartridge
  • M60A1 105 mm smoke WP cartridge
  • M60A2 105 mm smoke WP cartridge
  • Cartridge 105-mm Smoke WP M60
  • 105 mm M60 WP
  • DODIC C454
  • DODIC C477

The 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.

Cartridge, 105 mm, Smoke, WP, M60, 105 mm white-phosphorus smoke artillery cartridge, Munitions
Image source: 105 mm Rounds
Profile / Specs

Specifications

Caliber
105 mm
Cartridge type
Semi-fixed white-phosphorus smoke round
Length
31.07 in (maintenance-table data); 31.10 in (Army ammunition data sheet)
Weight
42.92 lb
DODIC
1315-C454; Army airdrop rigging tables also list 1315-C477 for M60 WP
Identification markings
Gray with yellow markings or light green with light red markings and a yellow band
Payload
3.86 lb white phosphorus (WP) smoke filler
Propelling charge
M67 charge with seven numbered increments
Compatible cannon families
Army data sheets list M49/M52, M2A1/M2A2 M101/M101A1, M137/M102, and M20A1/M119A1 105 mm howitzer families
Fuze compatibility
PD, MTSQ, and electronic-time fuzes vary by M60-series model
Variants

Army data sheets treat M60, M60A1, and M60A2 as one 105 mm WP smoke cartridge series, with the recorded distinctions centered on burster material, burster explosive composition, and compatible fuzes.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
M60Baseline WP smoke cartridge

The Army data sheet lists the M60 with a steel M5 burster casing, tetrytol burster composition, and PD M557 fuze compatibility.

Sources: TM 43-0001-28 Army Ammunition Data Sheets

M60A1High-strength aluminum burster-casing variant

The M60A1 entry is distinguished by an M53 burster, Composition B burster explosive, and compatibility with PD M557, MTSQ M564/M582, and ET M767 fuzes.

Sources: TM 43-0001-28 Army Ammunition Data Sheets

M60A2Revised burster variant

The M60A2 entry uses an M53A1/XM53E1 burster with Composition B5 and is listed with PD M557, MTSQ M582, and ET M767 fuze compatibility.

Sources: TM 43-0001-28 Army Ammunition Data Sheets

Firing Weapons

Army ammunition data sheets identify the M60 series as 105 mm howitzer ammunition and name the main U.S. howitzer families associated with the cartridge.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
105 mm field guns, 105 mm towed field gun / howitzer class, Artillery105 mm field guns105 mm howitzer class

Army ammunition data sheets and airdrop rigging tables list Cartridge, 105 mm, Smoke, WP, M60 as part of the standard 105 mm howitzer ammunition set.

Sources: TM 43-0001-28 Army Ammunition Data Sheets, FM 4-20.153 Ammunition Rigging Table

M101 105 mm Howitzer, 105 mm towed field howitzer, ArtilleryM101 105 mm HowitzerM2A1/M2A2 105 mm howitzer family

The Army data sheet lists M2A1 and M2A2 towed cannon, identified there with M101/M101A1, among the cannon used with the M60 series.

Sources: TM 43-0001-28 Army Ammunition Data Sheets

M119, 105 mm lightweight towed howitzer, ArtilleryM119M119A1 105 mm light howitzer family

The Army fuze-combination appendix lists M20A1, identified as towed M119A1, with SMK, WP, M60 series ammunition.

Sources: TM 43-0001-28 Army Ammunition Data Sheets

Identification And Function

The M60-series cartridge is useful to separate from generic 105 mm smoke ammunition because Army tables use both cartridge-level DODICs and projectile-level M60-series entries. The same family appears in maintenance, rigging, fuze-combination, and ordnance-recognition references.

FeatureSource-backed detailWhy it matters
Screening roleThe projectile carries cast white phosphorus and a burster charge that disperses the filler after fuze function.Identifies the round as smoke-screening ammunition with a secondary incendiary hazard, not an ordinary high-explosive shell.
Semi-fixed loadingThe cartridge case carries a percussion primer and seven individually bagged M67 propelling-charge increments.Gun crews could adjust charge increments before loading, which is typical of U.S. 105 mm howitzer ammunition.
Model splitM60, M60A1, and M60A2 rows differ mainly by burster casing, burster explosive, and fuze compatibility.Explains why ordnance guides may identify a projectile as M60-series even when a full cartridge designation is not visible.
Timeline

Cartridge, 105 mm, Smoke, WP, M60 Key Events

  1. M60A1 and M60A2 listed as standard

    The Army data sheet cites a 1972 AMCTC standard-classification reference for the M60A1 and M60A2 entries in the 105 mm WP smoke cartridge family.

    Sources: TM 43-0001-28 Army Ammunition Data Sheets

  2. Airdrop rigging table lists M60 WP DODICs

    FM 4-20.153 lists Cartridge, 105-mm, Smoke, WP, M60 under 105 mm ammunition with DODIC 1315-C454 and a separate 1315-C477 listing.

    Sources: FM 4-20.153 Ammunition Rigging Table

Media

Cartridge, 105 mm, Smoke, WP, M60 Images

Cartridge, 105 mm, Smoke, WP, M60, 105 mm white-phosphorus smoke artillery cartridge, Munitions - view 1
Source: 105mm HE and Smoke shell of IFG (Indian Field Gun)
Related Weapon Systems
Cartridge, 105 mm, Illuminating, M314, 105 mm howitzer-fired illuminating cartridge with parachute-retarded canister, MunitionsMunitionsCartridge, 105 mm, Illuminating, M314105 mm howitzer-fired illuminating cartridge with parachute-retarded canisterThe M314 is a U.S. 105 mm howitzer illumination cartridge family that ejects a flare canister under parachute for battlefield lighting. Army ammunition manuals list earlier M314-series rounds for M101/M102-era howitzers, while Army portfolio material identifies the M314A3 visible-light round as a 105 mm M119-series illumination cartridge with a semi-fixed case, time fuze, expelling charge, illuminant canister, and parachute assembly.
Cartridge, 105 mm, High-Explosive, M1, 105 mm semi-fixed high-explosive artillery cartridge for 105 mm howitzers, MunitionsMunitionsCartridge, 105 mm, High-Explosive, M1105 mm semi-fixed high-explosive artillery cartridge for 105 mm howitzersThe Cartridge, 105 mm, High-Explosive, M1 is a semi-fixed 105 mm HE artillery cartridge built around an M14-family case, percussion primer, M67 propelling charge, and forged-steel HE projectile. MSM Group and JPEO ammunition data describe the round's personnel-and-materiel fragmentation role, fuze compatibility, and roughly 11-11.5 km range class, while current catalog sources tie the M1 designation to M101-family and M119-series 105 mm howitzers.

Sources

TM 43-0001-28 Army Ammunition Data SheetsPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the exact M60-series designation, screening role, WP filler weight, burster/fuze distinctions among M60/M60A1/M60A2, M67 propelling charge, compatible 105 mm cannon families, and fuze-combination table context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29TM 9-1300-251-20&P Army Ammunition Data SheetsPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the 105 mm cartridge maintenance-table listing, 31.07-inch length, 42.92-pound weight, color markings, DODIC C454, C447 unfuzed context, and packaging table entries for M60/M60A1/M60A2. | Accessed: 2026-06-29FM 4-20.153 Ammunition Rigging TablePublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the 105 mm ammunition rigging-table listings for Cartridge, 105-mm, Smoke, WP, M60 under DODIC 1315-C454 and 1315-C477 and the airdrop-layout context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29ATEC Standardization Document IndexPublisher: U.S. Army ATEC | Note: Supports the Army acceptance-test procedure listing for Cartridge, 105mm, Semifixed, Smoke, WP, M60, LAP and the M60A2-modified family context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Iraq Ordnance Identification Guide: ProjectilesPublisher: JMU Center for International Stabilization and Recovery | Note: Supports background UXO-recognition context by listing U.S. 105 mm Smoke, WP, M60A1 and M60-series projectile entries in the Iraq ordnance-identification projectile volume; not used as direct conflict-use support. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Afghanistan Ordnance Identification Guide: ProjectilesPublisher: JMU Center for International Stabilization and Recovery | Note: Supports background UXO-recognition context by listing U.S. 105 mm Smoke, WP, M60A1, M60A2, and M60-series projectile entries in the Afghanistan ordnance-identification projectile volume; not used as direct conflict-use support. | Accessed: 2026-06-29105 mm RoundsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the primary 105 mm ammunition photo; the file page shows a CC BY 2.0 Flickr image used as representative media. | Accessed: 2026-06-29105mm HE and Smoke shell of IFG (Indian Field Gun)Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a public-licensed 105 mm shell photo showing HE and smoke rounds as representative gallery media. | Accessed: 2026-06-29