RAF Section Reference numbers information

RAAF stores numbering system

The RAAF military stores numbering system is not well understood. While it was eventually aligned to the RAF system, it has its differences and peculiarities. The example that most comes to mind where the peculiarity of the RAAF numbering scheme compared to the RAF shows, is in the highly collectable Mk 11 navigators watch.

The RAAF used the Stores Reference Number G6B/346 as compared to 6B/346 in the RAF. It latter became 6645-66-041-7754 ( coded in Australia ) or 6645-98-106-6217 ( coded in New Zealand ) in the Nato Stock system. Other examples are the Smiths aircraft clock, part number, V.308 being referenced as either G6A/3157 , G6A/3157020, G6A/500076 or 6645-RAF-6A3157 at various times in RAAF documents. The Smiths aircraft clock, part number, V.308-326 being assigned G6A/500340 due to there being no direct RAF equivalent. The use of RAAF "50000 numbers" will be described further on in this document.

The reason for these differences is explained by going back into the history of the RAF and when it created it's equipment numbering system. The following information has been gained mainly from RAAF documents reviewing their systems in the early 1950's as well as war time publications. At the time of writing the reports in the early 1950's the relevant USA, UK and Canadian authorities were looking to make their systems common. Interestingly at this time the RAAF was looking to make their systems like the RAF system and did not see much merit in being involved in this proposed new system. The new system that evolved is what is in use by NATO today.

Between the years 1919 to 1920 the fore runner to the RAAF instituted a cataloguing system to enable identification and bring to account a gift (£1,000,000 worth) of air force equipment from the British Government. Australia received 30 x D.H.9a, 28 x D.H.9, 35 x S.E.5a and 35 x Avro 504K, that all came with spare engines, spare parts, portable hangers, armament, radio, clothing, tools and even workshop lorries and other transports This equipment was catalogued into broad categories of about 20 groups. This gift was the nucleus of the equipment that was needed to give Australia a true Air force.

The RAAF Vocabulary of Stores was created shortly after the RAAF was formed on 31 March 1921. For more information on the formation of RAF technicial and stores publications follow this link. The RAF stores vocabulary was also being developed at this time so it was not possible to start the RAAF stores vocabularies on the same lines as the RAF system. The RAAF adopted a numbering system that used an alphabetical classification method together with numerical sections in each group. Identification numbers were also allotted in strict numerical order, commencing with 1.

In July 1924, a standing committee was appointed to consider the RAAF vocabulary system. Certain recommendations were made, but it was not until 1927 that a real effort was made to integrate RAF section references into the RAAF vocabulary system.

The next step in the evolution of the RAAF Cataloguing system was the division of groups into sections commencing at unity in each group. In 1927 it was decided to use RAF publications and RAF identification of items so far as differing local conditions permitted. This is why a mixture of section numbers were in use. In the airframe (A) and engine (B) groups, sections are principally numerical.

The first 3 groups allocated were initially the most important .

A for Aircraft and airframe spares
B for Aero engines and spares
C for Mechanical transport and spares, stationary engines and generating sets etc.

The full list of groups :-

A - Aircraft and spares
B - Aircraft engines and spares
C - Mechanical transport and spares
D - Hand and machine tools
E - Armament
F - Photographic materials
G - Electrical stores, instruments, and aircraft personnel equipment
H - Streamline wires, etc
J - Ammunition, explosives, etc
K - Petrol, oil, dopes, paints, etc
L - Clothing (including prices)
M - Cases, containers, and hangars
N - Engine accessories, magnetos, carburetors, etc
O - Marine craft and stores
P - Office requisites
Q - Barrack and hospital stores
R - Medical and dental equipment
T - Miscellaneous aircraft spares
W - Builders' and works materials, fire fighting, and aero-drome equipment, tackle and haulage gear
Y - W/T and aircraft telephone stores
Z - Enemy equipment

Some remnants of this system still exist today in that all Australian military aircraft are serialised based on this system. The serial numbers for the aircraft types given above began with the following codes:

A1 - De Havilland DH.9 and DH.9A
A2 - RAF (Royal Aircraft Factory) SE-5A
A3 - Avro 504K

Some examples from D Group showing the various sections that these groups are divided into:

D1A - Small Hand Tools, A - F
D1B - Small Hand Tools, G - R
D1C - Small Hand Tools, S - Z
D1E - Armourers and Magazine Tool
D1H - Tools, W/T Relay Adjusting
D3A - Machine Tools and Spares
D3B - Machine Tool Accessories
D13 - Drawing Instruments and Survey Equipment

An actual example of a tool referenced in this way is, D1A/105 Bits, carpenter auger. The 105th small hand tool, whose description started with letters between A and F that was introduced into RAF service, and was also in RAAF service.

Some sections were further sub-divided into parts, e.g., Group C, Section 26, is divided into Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. These part numbers were not included in the item identification number. These are administrative parts to make the Vocabulary more manageable. The table below gives examples of how the difference systems cross referenced to each other. In the case of the Wirraway aircraft, which was locally produced, it was entirely referenced using the RAAF system with out any cross reference to RAF sections.

For the majority of the other groups, RAF section numbers were fitted into the RAAF group framework as the following examples show:

In all cases the group/section plus numerical number plus detailed description of the item were listed in the publication known as the RAAF Vocabulary of Stores, Australian Air Publication (AAP) No.2. AAP2 consisted of a number of books covering each group/section, some of which were illustrated.

Following an investigation of the effectiveness of the RAAF Vocabulary of Stores in the early 1950's, it was recommended that the alphabetical classification system be abandoned and that the RAAF system be brought completely into line with the RAF system. Provision was to be made for equipment which was peculiarly Australian. Included in the proposals was a strong recommendation for the appointment of a RAAF Liaison Officer to the RAF Vocabulary Section. A report was produced by this officer, in which he did not recommend that the alphabetical classification system be abandoned. The system continued for several more years until the NSN system was introduced.

The RAAF "50000" numbering system was adopted to account for items that were particular to RAAF needs. In the example above the Smiths aircraft clock, part number, V308-326 was assigned G6A/500340. The RAAF needed a clock with a different dial lighting requirement to that what was in use by the RAF. Since the RAF did not have a reference number for the particular part number of this clock, the RAAF assigned their own reference number to it.

One of the reasons it was considered desirable to adapt the RAF referencing system is that the other 2 Australian armed services were closely aligned with their British counterparts. The RAN had always used the Admiralty Rate Book as its vocabulary, and the AMF had always kept in step with the British Army.

Nomenclatures and catalogue numbers are allotted to equipment on the following basis :-

(a) Those which have been allotted by the UK to ordnance store items in the Australian service were generally accepted for use in the AMF.

(b) Australian nomenclatures and catalogue numbers were allotted only to items in Australian service which had not been catalogued by the UK authorities. If such items were catalogued subsequently by the UK, then the UK nomenclatures and catalogue numbers supersedes those allotted by Australia.

RAF stores numbering system

The RAF classification system evolved by dividing equipment into numerical sections so that like equipment is associated in the same section and further finer sub-division is achieved by the use of alphabetical sub-sections. This method of sub-division was chosen to give a clear break between the section number and the reference number to avoid corruption during transmission and transcription. It was considered easier to decipher a corrupt transcription with a minimum amount of research when the section and reference are separated by one or two alphabetical indexes. With a straight run of numerals there may be no means of ascertaining where numerals have been omitted. The letters "I" and "O" were not used to avoid confusion with numerals. Double alphabetical suffixes were allotted as sub-sections for various reasons:-

(a) As sub-sections in excess of 24 were required, as in the case of airframes in section 26 and engines in section 36.

(b) To distinguish sub-sections containing radio and radar equipment, e.g.:-

(i) Tools and Test Equipment - Radio
(ii) Tools and Test Equipment - Radar

(c) For referencing of workshop spares as distinct from first and second line servicing spares, e.g.:-

(i) 6A - Instruments
(ii) 6AA - Instrument Spares

(d) To denote ranges of equipment peculiar to single manufacturers such as motor transport spares -

6lAU for Austin Spares
6lRT for Rootes Group Spares

There was no special significance in the section numbers allotted to any particular range of equipment. These were allotted as the need arose.

Manufacturers' part numbers in the RAF were used only to a very small extent. Reference numbers were easier to handle, and the system of allotting references to those items only which were being provisioned as opposed to the use of part numbers, ensured that the vocabulary was not overloaded with references in the form of part numbers many of which would not be used and were not capable of separate supply as spares.
To enable instruments of particular manufacture to be identified when defects and the need for modification arise, a numerical suffix to denote the different manufacturers was added to the basic reference number of instruments made to the same specification and which are functionally and dimensionally interchangeable but with differing range of spares, e.g. 6A/5268/1, 6A/5268/2, etc. Where identification of the suffix was required reference was made to the provision branch—E.5. Air Ministry Order (A.M.O.) A.205/58 - Allocation of reference numbers to instruments produced by different contractors, give guidance on the subject.

The expression "Vocabulary of Stores" was used in the RAF in a restricted sense to include those sections of AP1086, AP1086C and associated volumes 3 pertaining to equipment listed in the vocabulary of sections of book 1 of AP1086. The vocabulary covers the range of equipment for which the Director General of Equipment (DGE) was responsible for provisioning, storage and distribution. It does not refer, as in the RAAF, to the whole range of equipment as listed in the groups and sections listed in the table of contents. In the RAF the various other directors were each responsible for the production of a catalogue to cover the range of equipment provisioned, stored and distributed, and where doubt as to responsibility may have existed the matter was referred to a coordinating committee for decision. The term "Vocabulary" was used to refer to the publications covering the equipment which the DGE supplied. There were other vocabulary ranges for equipment such as medical or works.

3. The Vocabulary of RAF equipment includes the following publications:-

a) AP1086 which is divided into 15 books, two of which are further sub-divided into parts. Details of the method of sub-division, and of the equipment concerned are shown as follows:

Book 1 - Contains a memorandum of instructions, table of contents, vocabulary of sections and an index of main items with a cross reference to the relevant vocabulary section

Book 2 - Covers hand and machine tools contained in sections 1A, 1B, 1C, 1E, 1G, 1H , 1J, 1K , 1L, 2A, 3A , 3AP, 3B, 3D

Book 3 - Parts 1 and 2. Electrical equipment contained in section 5A, 5B, 5CW, 5CX, 5CY, 5CZ, 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, 5J, 5K, 5L, 5P, 5Q, 5QP, 5UA, 5UB, 5UC, 5UD, 5UE, 5V, 5W, 5X, 105L, 205L

Book 4 - Parts 1, 2 and 3. Radio, radar, telephone and telegraphic equipment contained in section 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4DB, 4F, 4FE, 10A, 10AB, 10AC, 10AD, 10AE, 10AF, 10AH, 10AJ, 10AK, 10AL, 10AM, 10AP, 10AQ, 10AR, 10AS, 10AT, 10AU, 10B, 10BB, 10C, 10CV, 10D, 10DB, 10E, 10F, 10FB, 10G, 10GP, 10H, 10HA, 10HG, 10HS, 10J, 10K, 10KB, 10L, 10LB, 10P, 10PB, 10Q, 10QB, 10R, 10RB, 10S, 10SB, 10T, 10U, 10UB, 10V, 10VB, 10W, 10Y, 10Z, 110A, 110AB, 110B, 110BB, 110C, 110D, 110DB, 110F, 110FB, 110G, 110H, 110J, 110K, 110KB, 110L, 110LB, 110M, 110P, 110Q, 110QB, 110S, 110T, 110TB, 110U, 110UB,110V, 110X, 10XA, 110Y , 210G

Book 5 - General ground and air armament equipment contained in sections 7A, 7B, 7E, 7G, 7H, 7Q, 7R, 8A, 8B, 8C, 9, 9A, 9B, 9CA, 9D, 11A, 11C, 40H, 50CC, 50H, 50J, 50Q

Book 6 - General ammunition and explosives, war gases, mines, bombs, torpedoes and rockets contained in section 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12G, 12H, 12J, 12K, 12L, 12LL, 12M, 12N, 12Q, 12S, 12T, 12TT, 12Z

Book 7 - Instruments, models, navigation and plotting equipment, aircraft automatic pilots contained in sections 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6G, 6H, 6J, 6S, 6T, 6TA, 6TB, 6TC, 6TF, 6TH, 6TL, 6W, 6Z, 13, 52, 54A

Book 8 - Photographic equipment contained in section 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D, 14H, 14J, 14K, 14L, 14M, 14N

Book 9 - Clothing and accoutrements contained in sections 19, 22, 23

Book 10 - Barrack equipment contained in sections 20, 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D, 21E, 21F, 21G, 21H, 21K, 21M

Book 11 - General aircraft equipment contained in sections 6F, 15A, 15D, 25A, 25B, 25D, 27A, 27B, 27BA, 27BB, 27C, 27D, 27DA, 27F, 27G, 27H, 27HS, 27KB, 27N, 27P, 27QA, 27U, 27U, 27V, 27W, 27WW, 27Z, 27ZA, 28A, 40C, 40E, 40F

Book 12 - AGS (Aircraft General Spares) and general hardware contained in sections 28A, 28D, 28DU, 28E, 28F, 28FP, 28G, 28H, 28J, 28K, 28M, 28N, 28P, 28Q, 28R, 28S, 28T, 28U, 28W, 28X , 28Y, 29

Book 13 - Metals, timber, materials, paints, chemicals and oils contained in sections 30A, 30B, 30C, 31A, 31B, 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 33A, 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E, 33F, 33G, 33H, 33J, 34, 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D, 34E, 40D, 40P, 40R, 40S

Book 14 - D.A.I.S. test apparatus and associated equipment contained in Section 63A, 63B, 63C, 63D, 63F, 63G, 63H, 63K

Book 15 - Workshop, ground, hangar, marine and compressed gas equipment contained in sections 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4F, 4FZ, 4G, 4GA, 4GB, 4GC, 4K, 4L, 4M, 4N, 4Q, 4R, 4S, 4T, 16F, 16G, 16H, 16P, 39B, 39E, 39G, 40B, 40J, 40K, 40L, 71A, 71B

For a full listing of section number to their descriptions follow this link

(b) AP1086C, a general RAF vocabulary of american equipment. This was a war time publication and was discontinued. References in the "100 series" sections remained current where the equipment was procured in the United States. Where equipment began to be manufactured in the United Kingdom the items were re-referenced in the appropriate sections of the AP1086.

(c) Volumes 3 part 1, schedules of spare parts for airframes, aero-engines, motor transport, marine craft and various major assemblies. These publications were in the nature of appendices to AP1086. The vocabulary sections and the Air Publication concerned are listed in book 1 of AP1086.

(d) Vocabulary details were also listed in the modification leaflets contained in the various volumes 2, where all items contained in modification sets were listed. Whilst the information was incorporated in AP1086 or the relevant Volume 3 by amendment, it was not always incorporated as a modification set.

(e) Certain ranges of equipment bearing inter-Service or Joint-Service references which were listed in the relevant inter-service or Joint-Service catalogue. These catalogues had been used as RAF vocabularies, this detail was re-promulgated in sections of AP1086. Some vocabulary sections already included items bearing Joint-Service references in AP1086 which were not shown in the Joint-Service catalogue, e.g. sections 10AK, 10AL, 10AP, 10CV, 10D, 10F, 10H.

Additional ranges of equipment were listed in the following publications:-

(a) Medical and dental equipment - AP3130
(b) Meteorological equipment - MO268
(c) Works and airfield construction services equipment - AP3033. Royal Engineers' vocabulary of stores - AP3034
(d) Office machinery, stationery - AP3194
(e) American equipment received under the Mutual Defence Assistance Programme - The relevant USA, USN or US Signal Corps Supply Catalogues

The responsibility for compilation and amendment of the various publications was decentralised after the war, and may be summarised as follows:-
(a) AP1086 was produced and amended by E.15 on information and recommendations received from the relevant provision branches. The format was determined by E.15, who also had arbitrary powers in the allotment of vocabulary sections and sub-sections, and in the allocation of equipment to particular sections. Where differences of opinion could not be resolved, the matter is referred to the final arbitration authority -D.D.E.8 (E.57).

(b) AP1086C was produced and amended in Washington by A.D.E. (U.S.A.), but after the war there was no provision for amendment.
(c) Volumes 2 are produced by Ministry of Supply (Air Technical Publications Branch).
(d) Volumes 3 are appendices within the framework of AP1086 and the responsibility for production and amendment was delegated to various responsible departments. E.21 for airframes, engines and associated equipment, E.25 for radio equipment, D.M.T. (M.T.5) for motor transport.
(e) Vocabularies for works (airfield construction equipment), medical and dental equipment were all produced and amended in the respective directorates. In the case of medical and dental equipment the Ministry of Health acted as a central cataloguing authority and produced and amended the UK catalogue of medical equipment. This was a common catalogue incorporating all items used by all three services with items referenced under common references. Each service, however, produced its own vocabulary, listing only such items as were applicable, but recording usage in respect of the other services.

The main considerations in the allocation of section numbers and subsection indexes were:-
(a) The nature of the equipment.
(b) Its affinity to other equipment already allotted to a section or sub-section.
(c) The Design Authority responsible. The design authority (Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE), RAE, service headquarters, or the contractor) decided the category in which a new assembly or range of spares would fall, and the provision branch advised on the allocation to an appropriate section.

Section numbers were allotted to cover the broad classes of equipment, sub-sections to cover specific divisions within each broad class. It had been found expedient, at times, to sub-divide sections either because they become unwieldy as in the case of section 10, radio equipment, or section 28, AGS, or to assist in provisioning as in the case of equipment such as photographic equipment where the useful shelf life necessitates shorter provisioning periods. This obviates the need for the PSCO to list the complete range of equipment when only a limited range is due for provisioning. A further tendency to link the allocation of subsections with provisioning requirements is seen in the introduction of sub-sections in section 27 to cover particular manufacturer's ranges of equipment such as:

27VA Aircraft Controls, Dunlop
27VB Aircraft Controls, Hymatic
27VC Aircraft Controls, Palmers

Consideration was given to the sub-division of sections 6A and 6D.

American Air Stores and Equipment for Naval Purposes—General Guide to Classification, Identification, Demanding, etc.

From the prospective of the RN, RAF Sections for various reasons, notably the close association between the RAF and RN in the procurement and supply of radio and electrical equipment, found it desirable to adopt the RAF classification. This in effect meant all items falling within the USN Classes 16 and 17, received a reference number in Sections 110 and 105 of the RAF vocabulary (AP1086C).

RAF Section 110 - USN Class 16
RAF Section 105 - USN Class 17

A range of spares and equipment for Vengeance aircraft were procured from RAF and RAAF sources. These items bear RAF reference numbers in the section "100" series. The same principle applied to spares and equipment for Canadian-built Mosquitoes.

The following items, which are procured from RAF sources for use with American-produced equipment, were also demanded and stocked under the RAF sections indicated :-

Section 106C - Tools for the repair of artificial horizons and direction Indicators manufactured by the Sperry Gyroscope Co
Section 106JA - Spares for the above
Section 106L - Spares for Link trainers, types D, D2 and AN-T-18

NSN

In the supply systems of the Military and Civilian Departments there are millions of apparently different items worth a huge amount of money, which are identified as different solely because item names, descriptions and identification numbers are not uniform in the various systems. Experience of the armed forces in World War 2 emphasised the necessity for a single identification system for efficient procurement and distribution of materials to operational formations. Such a system would have saved “many thousands of pounds and hundreds of lives”. In addition,operations with allied forces would be facilitated if all operatives had a common system of supply cataloguing. These diverse considerations dictated the eventual adoption of the ABCSC system i.e. American British Canadian Supply Cataloguing System into the various arms of the Australian defence forces. The ABCSC system of cataloguing originated out of joint discussions held between the United States and the United Kingdom shortly after the end of the second World War. Adopted in the United States under the title of Federal Supply Classification and with the backing of a Public Law, it was accepted by the United Kingdom and Canada under the title of “American-British-Canadian Supply Classification System”. To this system, Australia was invited to subscribe and accepted the invitation in October 1958, the Minister for Defence approving the introduction of ABCSC cataloguing into the three Services and the Department of Supply. It is of interest that in January 1957, the NATO group of countries adopted the system under the title of NATO Supply Classification System. Notwithstanding the different names given to the system, it is essentially the same. The method of differentiating one item from another is known as “Item Identification”. The essence of item identification is to provide such a description of an item that the cataloguing authority, without physically sighting the item and merely by comparison of descriptions, no matter by whom prepared, can determine whether or not that particular item has been catalogued previously. This is achieved in one of two general ways, either by the selection of the appropriate one from a very great number of standardised description patterns (questionnaires) and the preparation of a written description of the item to be catalogued in the format of the pattern, or by the submission of a card giving the manufacturer’s name and part number for the item.
In order to indicate the country which first catalogued the item, a two digit number is inserted between the four digit group and class indicator and the seven digit item identification number. Hyphens are used to isolate this nation code number from the other two numbers.
Where an item designed in one country is manufactured in another, the normal national code number is replaced by a special “reproduction” nation code number.
The full identification number is referred to as the Defence Stock Number and is written in the form 1234-00-789-9876.

Last update 01/01/09

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