Block Number
In 1941 block numbers were added to designations to show minor equipment variations between production blocks. The block number appears in the designation between the model suffix and manufacturers code (for example F-100D-85-NH). Initially they incremented in numerical order -1, -2, -3 but this was changed to -1, -5, -10, -15 in increments of five. The gaps in the block numbers could be used for post-delivery modifications, for example a F-100D-85-NH could be modified in the field to F-100D-86-NH. Not all types have used block numbers.
Read more about this topic: 1962 United States Tri-Service Aircraft Designation System
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