Silly question of the day

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woof

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Maybe it's not a silly question, I don't know. Seems silly but I can't be the only one to not know:

What's up with ammo cans? I know ammo has to be stored somewhere and carried somehow, but how did the uniform shape and type of ammo cans evolve? Why not an ammo backpack or something made of plastic? Of course as far back as ww2 many materials we take for granted today weren't available. Is there a whole niche of people collecting ammo cans and studying ammo can history? Maybe someone can post how far back they go and why they are designed the way they are.
 
If you have ever seen the military logistics system at work you will quickly understand the ammo can. When your ammo is being pitched off of a helicopter or the back end of a truck it is a good thing that it is protected by that can.
 
Also cans stack and store better than bags.

Cans mount on weapons platforms better. (Maw Duece being a prime example)

Cans store ammo air and water tight. (Important during amphibious assaults)

Cans are durable and reuseable. (for more than just ammo)

Cans make great field seats when waiting around in cold wet weather...
 
I expect the modern ammo can was designed around the need to store machine gun ammo around the turn of the century. The width of the cans is determined by cartridge OAL. They need to be big enough to hold a usefully-long belt of ammo, but not so big as to be too heavy to move around. They need to pack together well, and need to seal out water. Presto, you've got an ammo can.

There definitely are can collectors, and a bit of variety in cans. For instance, early German ones had the handles mounted on top along one side, rather than in the center. That allowed a soldier to easily carry two in each hand (turn one around so the handles are right next to each other). Every country with machine guns had their own particular style of ammo can...wood or metal, opening at the side or end, metal or leather handles, special tripod adaptations, etc.
 
that is a good point. they seem kinda heavy duty considering their purpose.

Then again, ammo is so expensive, it makes sense to put a few bucks of 11 gauge sheet metal around a hundred .50 BMG rounds, or whatever they hold.

Note: approx 1200 45acp's fit in a 50bmg ammo can loosely packed.
 
Just think, if women were running the military, they might have come up with ammo purses. They would've held the ammo just as effectively but also would have made a bold fashion statement and added a splash of color and style to the heat of an otherwise drab and dreary battle.

Whew! Lucky for us, huh?
 
U.S. ammo cans are basically standardized in widths based on the length of the .30,.50, and 20 mm rounds. WW II cans are little different in shape from recent issue ones. Other types of ordnance and ammo have been fitted into these in varrious ways.


Steel ammo cans are just plain terrific for almost any storage task. And if you get sick of them, you can fill them will water and expired JELLO powder--let it set up--and add some lead to the mix.
 
Just think, if women were running the military, they might have come up with ammo purses. They would've held the ammo just as effectively but also would have made a bold fashion statement and added a splash of color and style to the heat of an otherwise drab and dreary battle.
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:) "Good shot soldier! Got him right in the purse!"

I have a couple plastic ammo cans, or dry lockboxes or whatever they are called and they aren't nearly as strong as metal ones. You can feel the lid flexing and worry about the handle popping off when you've got a load in it.
 
Steel cans have also been known to be used for stoves, cooking pots and latrines.
 
Ours are great, up until the recent rules regarding the 'parts thereof' bit of our end of range declaration they made quality spares boxes, toolboxes in fact anything that you wanted watertight, H83 (900x 5.56) were good for a complete landrover toolkit while the 200x 7.62 were good for general spares
 
Just think, if women were running the military, they might have come up with ammo purses. They would've held the ammo just as effectively but also would have made a bold fashion statement and added a splash of color and style to the heat of an otherwise drab and dreary battle.
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Those are called Bandoleers;)
 
if anyone has seen eddie izzard, the purse comment would fit his routine quite well. He says: "transvestites should be encouraged to join the military. After all the best attack is suprize... What does the enemy think when 30 seals break through the door wearing fantastic makeup" :neener:
 
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