El Bibliotecario Posted November 28, 2021 Share #1 Posted November 28, 2021 I am curious as to the approximate service period of ammunition cans as pictured in the attachment. It is of stamped construction, side-opening, and stamped on the end 'ACME' with the letters US on either side of the ordnance corps insignia. I do not see this as some rare collectable item, in that I imagine they were made by the millions--just curious. If any ammunition can gurus read this, I would also be curious to know when this pattern was replaced by the can with an end-opening removable lid attached by a piano hinge and fastened by a tension clamp on the lid end opposite the hinge. I am speculating the two patterns of cans coexisted for a time, but most older cans were expended in Korea and/or for MAP programs. TIA Link to comment
robinb Posted November 29, 2021 Share #2 Posted November 29, 2021 November 1942 until sometime in the 1950's. Link to comment
Taber10 Posted November 29, 2021 Share #3 Posted November 29, 2021 You are correct in that they overlapped considerably. I was stationed in B-52Gs in the early '70s, which were armed with four .50 M3s in the tail, each gun had 600 rounds of ammo. After a complete "fire-out" which was done often at the end of a month-long alert period, the entire 2400 rounds had to be replaced. Cal. .50 linked came in that size cans, each holding 105 rounds with links. Of the roughly 24 cans, we would get several of the older style "side opening" cans along with the newer end opening type. Link to comment
Taber10 Posted November 30, 2021 Share #4 Posted November 30, 2021 Neither my typing nor my math worked: the above post--I can't figure out how to edit--should read 105 rounds in links per can. Then it is roughly 24 cans for the full load. My apologies. Link to comment
917601 Posted November 30, 2021 Share #5 Posted November 30, 2021 Is the yellow lettering on the can? If so, it will have the type, amount, and Lot number and manufacturers letter code. That will pin it down to what was last loaded into the can. Link to comment
917601 Posted November 30, 2021 Share #6 Posted November 30, 2021 Here is a WW2 issued .50 API repack. The DM ammo plant was shut down in late 44. Link to comment
917601 Posted November 30, 2021 Share #7 Posted November 30, 2021 A note: this can was WW2 issue as it still has the cotter key and ring on the latching mechanism. Link to comment
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