Census of all ammunition boxes

[gerard]

Hello everyone, There may be quite a few US crate fans here. I think it would be a good idea to do a post on the subject. It would allow us to take stock of what's available depending on the model and the different markings and colors.

 

 

[gerard]

Heavy Artillery

8 in Howitzer M1

240 mm Howitzer M1

Light Artillery

105 mm Howitzer M2A1-Carriage M2A2

Heavy Anti-Aircraft

3 in Anti-Aircraft Gun M3

90 mm Gun M1

Light Anti-Aircraft

Maxson Mount

37 mm Anti-Aircraft Gun M1

Anti-Tank

37 mm Anti-Tank Gun M3

3 in Anti-Tank Gun M5

[gerard]

1-Case of 30 cal (1200 - 1344 - 1500 - 1600 - 2400) bandoleers

2-Case of 50 cal (350 - 240 - 265)

3-Case of 45 cal (1200)

4-Cajot case for 220 cartridges of 50 cal

5-Case for USM1 (1600)

 

6-Crate for 25 MK2 grenades (white and yellow markings)

7-Crate for 50 MK3 grenades

8-Crate for 25 M14 incendiary grenades

9-Crate for 10 M9A1 AT rifle grenades (AT for anti-tank)

10-Crate for 10 M11A2 rifle grenades

11-Crate of flares

 

12-Crate of 20mm ammunition

13-Crate for 37mm guns

14-Crate for 40mm Bofors (24 rounds)

15-Crate of 57mm ammunition (2 rounds)

16-Crate of 75mm guns (4 rounds)

17-Crate of 75mm howitzers

18-Crate of 75mm ammunition (25 rounds)

19-Crate of 76mm guns (2 rounds)

20-Crate of 90mm guns (for...) Projectile

21-90mm case of 15 rockets

22-105mm long case for 2 projectiles (marking, black, yellow, and orange)

23-105mm short case for 2 projectiles

24-155mm triangular case with propellant charge in a tarred corton container

25-155mm short case for 2 propellant charges in a tarred corton container

26-155mm case for 25 rockets

 

27-Crate for 4 3-inch gun shells

28-Crate for 4.2-inch M2 and M3 mortars

29-Crate for 8-inch M1 gun

30-Crate for 8-inch M1 howitzer

31-Triangular crate for 3 containers, each containing 6 60mm mortar shells

32-Crate for 60mm mortar

33-Crate for 81mm mortar shells for 2 mortars

34-Crate for 81mm mortar shells for 4 mortars

35-Crate of 81mm mortar shell relay cartridges

36-Crate for 4.2-inch chemical mortar

37-Crate for 3 bazooka rockets

38-Crate for 5 M1 anti-tank mines

39-Crate for 155mm rockets

40-Crate for Bangalores torpedo

[gerard]

If you know of any others, I would be happy to add them to the list.

[gerard]

If there are any mistakes, please correct the mistake in the top list. Thank you.

[917601]

On 5/3/2025 at 1:26 PM, gerard said:

Hello everyone, There may be quite a few US car fans here.

I think you have no responses due to your original post…” car fans”. ??? Do you mean ammunition crates and containers?

[gerard]

23 minutes ago, 917601 said:

I think you have no responses due to your original post…” car fans”. ??? Do you mean ammunition crates and containers?

yes that's right, ammunition crates and containers, only I can't modify the text I think only the moderators can do it

[robinb]

Spelling corrected.

[Taber10]

Interesting list, Gerard, thanks for posting.  Also an interesting concept:  you are not listing actual ammo boxes, cans, packing boxes (crates) but you are closer to listing the contents of containers.  But whatever, please include me as a "fan" of ammunition containers of all types.

[917601]

Okay, I will start it off, pics of ammunition containers….the best part, all these ammo crates have the correct ordnance pieces inside. Normally in my “ museum”, but I drag them out to Events a couple times a year….a major effort.

[917601]

I will add it has taken years( decades)  to find the containers to match the rounds, most crate dates match the year marked on the round. Crates are much harder to find than the actual round itself.

[gerard]

On 5/4/2025 at 1:43 PM, gerard said:

1-Case of 30 cal (1200 - 1344 - 1500 - 1600 - 2400) bandoleers

2-Case of 50 cal (350 - 240 - 265)

3-Case of 45 cal (1200)

4-Cajot case for 220 cartridges of 50 cal

5-Case for USM1 (1600)

 

6-Crate for 25 MK2 grenades (white and yellow markings)

7-Crate for 50 MK3 grenades

8-Crate for 25 M14 incendiary grenades

9-Crate for 10 M9A1 AT rifle grenades (AT for anti-tank)

10-Crate for 10 M11A2 rifle grenades

11-Crate of flares

 

12-Crate of 20mm ammunition

13-Crate for 37mm guns

14-Crate for 40mm Bofors (24 rounds)

15-Crate of 57mm ammunition (2 rounds)

16-Crate of 75mm guns (4 rounds)

17-Crate of 75mm howitzers

18-Crate of 75mm ammunition (25 rounds)

19-Crate of 76mm guns (2 rounds)

20-Crate of 90mm guns (for...) Projectile

21-90mm case of 15 rockets

22-105mm long case for 2 projectiles (marking, black, yellow, and orange)

23-105mm short case for 2 projectiles

24-155mm triangular case with propellant charge in a tarred corton container

25-155mm short case for 2 propellant charges in a tarred corton container

26-155mm case for 25 rockets

 

27-Crate for 4 3-inch gun shells

28-Crate for 4.2-inch M2 and M3 mortars

29-Crate for 8-inch M1 gun

30-Crate for 8-inch M1 howitzer

31-Triangular crate for 3 containers, each containing 6 60mm mortar shells

32-Crate for 60mm mortar

33-Crate for 81mm mortar shells for 2 mortars

34-Crate for 81mm mortar shells for 4 mortars

35-Crate of 81mm mortar shell relay cartridges

36-Crate for 4.2-inch chemical mortar

37-Crate for 3 bazooka rockets

38-Crate for 5 M1 anti-tank mines

39-Crate for 155mm rockets

40-Crate for Bangalores torpedo

What would be good is to know if the list is complete ? I think there must be other models, as for the 105 mm model with black, yellow, orange, white markings I think that for each ammunition the box remains the same, just the marking which changes whether for 90, 75, 76, 105 and other models,  idem je pense pour la mitrailleuse browning les calibre de 30 et 50mm 

[gerard]

5 hours ago, Taber10 said:

Interesting list, Gerard, thanks for posting.  Also an interesting concept:  you are not listing actual ammo boxes, cans, packing boxes (crates) but you are closer to listing the contents of containers.  But whatever, please include me as a "fan" of ammunition containers of all types.

already good to make a census of all the wooden crates that exist from WW2, from the smallest caliber to the largest, i.e. 45mm bullets to 105mm shells and more, If we can already identify all the crates with the various color markings, that's already good, then we can see for the various models of ammunition which go with the crates, later we could make the packaging models of tarred cardboard container and iron model, if it is possible? already there I think there is a lot of research work to do, and my English is not very good I think you noticed ;)

[gerard]

an example like here, 4 different models of box or almost the ammunition which changes the markings but not the box, I think who has another model? Or are they the only ones? And is it the shell heads that change?

 

[gerard]

For those in the know, what does the big P mean on this box? Thank you for your response.

[gerard]

And what do the letters that we find on all the crates mean ?

 

R1QVA

R1QSA

R1QCA

[Taber10]

Gerard,

That five digit alpha-numeric code is called the "Ammunition Identification Code" (AIC) which was introduced by the U.S. Army in the 1920s and used until 1958.  It could be used to simplify the ordering of ammunition and make it easier for the troops in the field to identify the correct stocks without deciphering the entire nomenclature on a box or crate.

The R indicated artillery ammunition, 1 indicated fixed and semi-fixed ammunition, Q represents a specific weapon (obviously Howitzer 105mm M2...) the next letter indicated type and model of ammunition (V, S and C being various models of HE) and the final digit indicated the packing method, in the case of small arms ammo, cartons, linked, belted, etc.  If you search for Ammunition Identification Code, Wikipedia will show you more detail.

 

I have no idea, nor any reference indicating the meaning of the large "P" shown in your examples.

 

[gerard]

4 hours ago, Taber10 said:

Gerard,

That five digit alpha-numeric code is called the "Ammunition Identification Code" (AIC) which was introduced by the U.S. Army in the 1920s and used until 1958.  It could be used to simplify the ordering of ammunition and make it easier for the troops in the field to identify the correct stocks without deciphering the entire nomenclature on a box or crate.

The R indicated artillery ammunition, 1 indicated fixed and semi-fixed ammunition, Q represents a specific weapon (obviously Howitzer 105mm M2...) the next letter indicated type and model of ammunition (V, S and C being various models of HE) and the final digit indicated the packing method, in the case of small arms ammo, cartons, linked, belted, etc.  If you search for Ammunition Identification Code, Wikipedia will show you more detail.

 

I have no idea, nor any reference indicating the meaning of the large "P" shown in your examples.

 

Many thanks for your information which has already enlightened me a lot, another question for the weight of the US 105 boxes how to calculate with the ++ what does a + correspond to?

[917601]

From memory….I think the “P ++” indicates extra powder bags. The 105mm Howitzer projectile was not crimped in place,  in other words the case contained powder bags which were removed/ added when assembling, according  to range of the projectile. Shorter range two or three powder bags, longer range 5 bags of propellant. If I recall correctly, 4 or 5 was normally supplied, adding one or two more ( which were red in color) extended the range to maximum.

[gerard]

24 minutes ago, 917601 said:

From memory….I think the “P ++” indicates extra powder bags. The 105mm Howitzer projectile was not crimped in place,  in other words the case contained powder bags which were removed/ added when assembling, according  to range of the projectile. Shorter range two or three powder bags, longer range 5 bags of propellant. If I recall correctly, 4 or 5 was normally supplied, adding one or two more ( which were red in color) extended the range to maximum.

Thank you for your attention to this post, and thank you for your additional information, so the big P with the two ++ are additional replays in bags of powder, so more

[gerard]

In your opinion, how many models of 105mm cases are represented, training ammunition, gas ammunition, HE ammunition, smoke ammunition, were there others ?

I can't distinguish the ammunition identification colors on the side of the crates.

 

[gerard]

Two vertical blue stripes. A horizontal white stripe with two green stripes. Two vertical white stripes. Two separate horizontal white stripes.

[917601]

There was also “ cargo “ round that carried and dispersed propaganda leaflets.

[917601]

A quick search.

 

https://www.ima-usa.com/products/original-u-s-wwii-inert-105mm-m84b1-leaflet-propaganda-artillery-round-with-original-transport-canister-dated-1943?variant=40484182327365

[gerard]

11 hours ago, 917601 said:

A quick search.

 

https://www.ima-usa.com/products/original-u-s-wwii-inert-105mm-m84b1-leaflet-propaganda-artillery-round-with-original-transport-canister-dated-1943?variant=40484182327365

Thanks for the link, the shell of the link to match the top photo with the big P on the box