Armor-piercing projectiles are associated with which color?

• A. Blue
• B. Orange and Brown
• C. Grey Green or Black
• D. White

Answer: (B)

Color coding on ammunition is there to let sailors quickly identify the type and apply the proper handling and loading procedures. Armor-piercing rounds are marked with an orange and brown combination, which stands out from other ammunition types and signals that the round is designed to penetrate armor rather than to explode in the air or on impact. The orange helps visibility, while the brown reinforces the designation as a hardened, penetrating round. Other colors are used for different purposes (training, inert, tracer, high-explosive, etc.), but the orange-and-brown pairing specifically flags armor-piercing capability in standard references.