Tracer Rounds.

We used to load tracers every third round SLR,7.62mm, each tracer round was identified by having a red tip.
Also used to load armour piercing rounds with a black tip, I forget the frequency.
 
Forde said:
I'm writing an article about tracers but can't seem to find much info online. I know this:

They are usually every 4/6 rounds in a magazine or belt.
'Tracers work both ways' and can reveal a soldier's position to the enemy.
There are 3 types: Bright, Dim and Subdued.
They were invented to help destroy German zeppelins during WWI.
Platoon leaders will sometimes load their magazines entirely with tracers to mark targets for their men to fire on (aren't laser designators used for that?).
They can be used as the last rounds in a magazine to remind the shooter he is nearly dry.
They can start fires (especially if you're in France).

I can also find tech specs of the chemicals used in their make-up which I'll omit here for the sake of preventing boredom.


The above doesn't seem like much information for a bullet that's used regularly by most decent armed forces around the globe.


Am I missing anything??
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frankly, there isn't much else to know about tracers other than the fact that as far as actually shooting at people, tracers are less effective than regular rounds because they're lighter, and they're not as consistent at different ranges because their weight changes as they fly, altering their ballistic trajectory in an inconsistent manner.
 
Tracer rounds are the same dimensions as ball ammunition.

You are right about the numerical sequence, certainly as far as 7.62mm belts are concerned. However you can order one-to-one ball/tracer. Collected Clips from fired off belts can be reused and then it’s possible to make a belt to order. Reused belts are more prone to stoppages.

In Northern Ireland in the ‘70s some GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun)’s belts had to have 4 ball and then one blank round – primarily to stop an enthusiastic soldier hosing down the local population. Obviously the blank round will not force the working parts backwards and feed a round into the chamber. In such instances the gunner would have to carry out a stoppage drill every 5 rounds.

I never knew of a platoon commander just having his own magazine loaded with tracer. Each (Infantry) soldier is taught how to give fire control orders (GRIT), there are various (Full, brief, individual, delayed and watch my strike (ball), watch my tracer etc). Having come under “effective” enemy fire and being ordered to take cover, the commander (of any rank) will ask “Has anyone seen the enemy”, then any soldier could identify the enemy to the remainder of the team using well rehearsed drills. If after that no one can see the enemy the observer might use the “watch my strike/watch my tracer”. It certainly wouldn’t be practical for a soldier to go running to the platoon commander with a “Please sir, can I have a tracer round because I’m the only one who can see the enemy” – he might get his arse shot off on the journey.

Could quite possibly be used near the end of a magazine, but I never came across it. I know it’s difficult with the SA80 if used on automatic but a soldier is trained to count the rounds he fires. So taking the old SLR (Self loading Rifle, 7.62mm) which had a magazine of 20 rounds – you could have one round in the chamber and 20 in the magazine, you fire away, counting your rounds and after 20 rounds have been fired you can just change the magazine (without a stoppage drill) knowing that you still have a round in the chamber.

Believe me they can cause fires on Salisbury Plain/Thetford (Eat your heart our Captain Manwaring)/Catterick etc, they are NOT racist and do just burn the French Lanscape (although Joan of Arc might disagree with me on that one). I confirm it’s a real pain to have to stop a live firing exercise to beat out a fire and then go back to the exercise.

Hope some of this might be of interest to you.
 
I guessing it was not just the incendiary aspect that made them good for zeppelins, the tracer would have made it much easier to guide the stream of fire onto the zeppelin rather than shooting blind.
 
Belly said:
Tracer rounds are the same dimensions as ball ammunition.

You are right about the numerical sequence, certainly as far as 7.62mm belts are concerned. However you can order one-to-one ball/tracer. Collected Clips from fired off belts can be reused and then it’s possible to make a belt to order. Reused belts are more prone to stoppages.

In Northern Ireland in the ‘70s some GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun)’s belts had to have 4 ball and then one blank round – primarily to stop an enthusiastic soldier hosing down the local population. Obviously the blank round will not force the working parts backwards and feed a round into the chamber. In such instances the gunner would have to carry out a stoppage drill every 5 rounds.

I never knew of a platoon commander just having his own magazine loaded with tracer. Each (Infantry) soldier is taught how to give fire control orders (GRIT), there are various (Full, brief, individual, delayed and watch my strike (ball), watch my tracer etc). Having come under “effective” enemy fire and being ordered to take cover, the commander (of any rank) will ask “Has anyone seen the enemy”, then any soldier could identify the enemy to the remainder of the team using well rehearsed drills. If after that no one can see the enemy the observer might use the “watch my strike/watch my tracer”. It certainly wouldn’t be practical for a soldier to go running to the platoon commander with a “Please sir, can I have a tracer round because I’m the only one who can see the enemy” – he might get his arse shot off on the journey.

Could quite possibly be used near the end of a magazine, but I never came across it. I know it’s difficult with the SA80 if used on automatic but a soldier is trained to count the rounds he fires. So taking the old SLR (Self loading Rifle, 7.62mm) which had a magazine of 20 rounds – you could have one round in the chamber and 20 in the magazine, you fire away, counting your rounds and after 20 rounds have been fired you can just change the magazine (without a stoppage drill) knowing that you still have a round in the chamber.

Believe me they can cause fires on Salisbury Plain/Thetford (Eat your heart our Captain Manwaring)/Catterick etc, they are NOT racist and do just burn the French Lanscape (although Joan of Arc might disagree with me on that one). I confirm it’s a real pain to have to stop a live firing exercise to beat out a fire and then go back to the exercise.

Hope some of this might be of interest to you.
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It still happens every summer at Warcop. Stop firing.the fells on fire again.
 
Warcop - Another well know concentration camp. Ahhhh....... I'd tried to get that place out of my mind and now you've brought it all back. I'm on a downer now!
 
Aod said:
frankly, there isn't much else to know about tracers other than the fact that as far as actually shooting at people, tracers are less effective than regular rounds because they're lighter, and they're not as consistent at different ranges because their weight changes as they fly, altering their ballistic trajectory in an inconsistent manner.
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what do you really need to know?

before tracer rounds they had bullets that let out a flash or puff of smoke so the person shooting could tell wether the bullets were actually going to the target.

then someone invented a better way a "tracer bullet" which made it easy to trace where your bullets were going so you can alter your aim as needed

they werent invented to shoot down blimps or whatever they were invented so people could visibly see where the bullets were going , even if you know where your bullets are going the tracer round allows anyone in your squad to see where your firing so everyone doesnt cover the same area
 
Forde said:
They are usually every 4/6 rounds in a magazine or belt.
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I've only ever used 4bit - 4 ball rounds 1 tracer

as for magazines... we it would depend how you charge the magazine

Platoon leaders will sometimes load their magazines entirely with tracers to mark targets for their men to fire on (aren't laser designators used for that?).
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Platoon commander shouldn't be getting involved in the firefight (unless its going very wrong). Can be used as part of target indication"watch my tracer" - though by anyone who's seen the enemy when the section comes under effective enemy fire - not necessarily someone in command. Mag full of tracer - bit overkill - couple of rounds at the top will suffice. You might also put some part way or at a set point near the bottom of the mag - though tbh.. a good soldier should know how many rounds he's got left.

-edit - in addition to the above - "aren't laser designators used for that?" - erm no! they are big heavy things used to mark targets for fast jets - used by fire support teams/FACs - they're not standard issue to every platoon/multiple/patrol etc...

They can start fires (especially if you're in France).
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yep - well at least shooting them at stuff that burns will sometimes cause fires...- have a pic on an old mobile of a field in otterburn catching fire after someone (on a very warm, dry day) picked the hedge in the middle, as one of a few targets to mark and record... shortly after the obscuration shoot it was noted that said hedge had turned into a burning bush and not long after that the whole field was alight....

Not as bad as the rainy day when the same SNCO had picked a small bunker in the distance as a target, the first GPMG opened fire and a sheep was observed jumping out. Everything stopped and when approaching the bunker it became apparent that several of the sheep's now dead buddies has decided to shelter in the bunker from the rain.
 
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I guess since you're looking for tracer facts - tracer burnout is at 1100 meters - you have to watch for the splash with binoculars for targets at ranges beyond that.

Also they often seem to bounce upwards towards the sky when hitting targets - quite spectacular when shooting in low light with several guns - also they will fly slightly lower than the ball rounds at longer ranges.
 
It takes about 100m for them to start burning.

When they finish burning the round will continue to travel as would a ball round, as that is all it is. Plus a coating.

Normally packaged separate from ball but can come in a mix.

Used in some anti tank weapons for a test firing before the main weapon is fired.

They can burn in differing colours, red, orange and greens maybe more.

Work just as well at night as in day.

Best used for setting up beaten zones for fire support or scaring the poo out of any watching enemy that know its only a matter of time till its there turn.

Infantry soldier should try and limit its use so as not to give away their position.

Tank crews should use 1 in 1, they are in a tank no point fannying about.
 
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