The World of Playing Cards Logo

Ordnance Recognition

Published March 03, 2015 Updated February 13, 2023

Ordnance Recognition Playing Cards cards designed to help people at risk from unexploded bombs

United Kingdom Army Education Military Safety Wartime

Ordnance Recognition Playing Cards

A set of four packs of educational playing cards designed to help people at risk – whether they are soldiers, civilians, aid workers or deminers - to identify and learn about the threats they face from unexploded ordnance. Careful thought has been given to helping the recognition and learning process. Each card has a good clear image of the item, together with its country of origin, type and basic details. The cards are published by CKA and Fenix, operational bomb disposal companies, working mainly in post-conflict zones on the clearance of mines and other types of unexploded ordnance. The mines, UXO and IED cards were designed by Colin King. The cover design and backgrounds for the small arms packs were produced mostly by Darren Fletcher.

“Danger Mines” playing cards were designed to help people living in mine-affected regions to identify the dangers of unexploded landmines.

“UXO Recognition” playing cards are designed to help people to learn more about, and to avoid, common examples of unexploded ordnance (UXO).

“IED Recognition” playing cards are designed to help you recognize some of the key components used to make improvised explosive devices (IED).

Small Arms Recognition cards show representative examples of commonly used firearms.

These cards are bought by UN and government agencies, often for distribution to their own staff and to local people. The funds raised then allow us to donate cards to smaller organisations and the people we meet or work with in affected countries. Feedback has been very positive and we sincerely believe that these cards help to save lives and limbs.

REFERENCES

Notes by Colin King, Mine Action & ERW Consultancy

To purchase packs visit: Cadet Direct

avatar
1,478 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.

Related Articles

1863 Victorian grocer’s scale plate

Victorian grocer’s scale plate

Large flat plate decorated with highly coloured English cards and royal arms.

1972 The UCR Deck

The UCR Deck

Giant-size cards designed by Thomas Sanders to advertise courses and facilities at UCR.

2024 Queen of Arts

Queen of Arts

A wide variety of women artists celebrated on cards with illustrations by Laura Callaghan.

1990 The Glasgow Pack

The Glasgow Pack

Issued to celebrate Glasgow’s reign as European City of Culture in 1990, with city views and works o...

2007 Verkeers Kwartet

Verkeers Kwartet

A helpful quartet game celebrating the 75th anniversary of road safety exams making traffic safer.

2018 Cathedrals, Abbeys & Minsters playing cards

Cathedrals, Abbeys & Minsters playing cards

54 pictures of different famous cathedrals, abbeys and minsters in England and Wales.

2018 Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols playing cards illustrated by Stuart Dilks

1798 Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Playing cards as metaphors in 18th century art - from fate, chance and social hierarchy t...

1920 Question and Answer Games

Question and Answer Games

A card game called “Impertinent Questions and Pertinent Answers” was launched in the early 1920s by ...

1711 Dr Sacheverell

Dr Sacheverell

Dr. Henry Sacheverell's impeachment in 1710 sparked widespread public unrest and political upheaval,...

1990 Leadmill playing cards

Leadmill playing cards

Promotional pack for an arts centre in Sheffield with designs by Martin F. Bedford.

2024 Agatha Christie and card games

Agatha Christie and card games

Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and mot...

2024 English Heritage

English Heritage

52 different colour photos of historic sites managed by English Heritage.

2022 Clear Skies

Clear Skies

‘Clear Skies’ playing cards paying tribute to the Ukrainian people in the face of war.

2022 The Malt Whiskies of Scotland

The Malt Whiskies of Scotland

Three packs featuring photographs by Duncan McEwan of malt whisky distilleries in Scotland.

2010 Typographic Playing Cards

Typographic Playing Cards

Typographic Playing Cards designed by Jim Sutherland, c.2010.