M18

M18 is a designation used across several domains to label different, unrelated items. It is most commonly encountered in military ordnance, but also appears in road networks and product naming, with the exact meaning determined by country and context.

In military use, M18 refers to at least two widely known items. The M18A1 Claymore mine is a directional anti-personnel munition deployed by the United States and allied forces. It is designed to produce a controlled fan-shaped curtain of fragments when detonated, typically via command detonation or a tripwire system. The M18 smoke grenade is a hand-thrown device that emits colored smoke to mark positions, screen movement, or signaling; color and duration vary by variant.

In transportation, M18 designations appear as route or motorway numbers in several countries. For example, the United Kingdom uses the M18 motorway as part of its road network. Other nations assign M18 to regional or national highways as part of their standardized numbering schemes.

In industry and consumer products, M18 is used as a model or part number for a range of items, including machinery and electronics. Because M18 refers to multiple, unrelated items, it should be interpreted within its specific domain and country.

See also: M18 disambiguation.