.30 and .50 calibre ammo cans (Canadian)

[derk derin]

Ed,
I have in my collection of .50 cal stuff a wooden ammo box made like the wooden .303 vickers boxes but this one is wider and will fit a full belt of .50 cal in it.The wooden top is missing but the bottom is stamped;
H51 CMK
DLDC-45
The box construction is thin plywood (3 ply) with metal edging and wire handles and wire hooks that fold in to hold the wooden top. I don't know what country made the box but the vickers boxes are the same construction.
Derk.

[Ed Storey]

Your H51 is a Commonwealth box, most likely British or Canadian, that was manufactured in 1945. Generally these wooden boxes could be used to carry different types of SAA either boxed, bandoliers or belted and were used just like the Canadian military now use the M2A1 boxes for different types of SAA. The H51s were shipped two inside a metal H50 box which was also stenciled with the appropriate contents. Depending on the contents, there could also be a metal insert for the H51.

I believe (am pretty sure) that you will not see .30 nor .50 US ammunition delivered in these boxes; although in the field someone may transfer a belt over to this type of box (for whatever reason) and of course this could turn up in a photo.

[marco]

There are .30 Cal ammunitionboxes exactly like the one shown on the photo with the difference that they have "No 33" stamped instead of "M1".

I have several of these and have been told that these No33 boxes were manufactured in Canada.

Marco

[Clive_Dakers]

Originally Posted by derk derin

Ed,
I have in my collection of .50 cal stuff a wooden ammo box made like the wooden .303 vickers boxes but this one is wider and will fit a full belt of .50 cal in it.The wooden top is missing but the bottom is stamped;
H51 CMK
DLDC-45
The box construction is thin plywood (3 ply) with metal edging and wire handles and wire hooks that fold in to hold the wooden top. I don't know what country made the box but the vickers boxes are the same construction.
Derk.

http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/h-51-t27507.html

Follow the link for pictures of the H.51 2 x H.51 were contained in an H.50 and contained an H.52 tin box

It was developed for use as "Jungle Pack". The are a few other boxes that have the same type of construction, G.114 for example which I believe held grenades.

[derk derin]

Thanks Ed for clearing that up for me.Like I said,I have been collecting this stuff for 25 years but will now start to learn what is proper and how this stuff was issued and used.The ordnance site looks interesting but will stick to using MLU forum for now so I spend some time restoring my CMP this winter and not sitting behind the computer! Rob Love warned me once I get a computer,I won't get as much work done on my vehicles and I see he was right! Although it's nice to learn and gather information from others!
Derk.

[Ed Storey]

Marco:

Can you attach some images of a No. 33 Box? Thanks.

[marco]

Hello Ed,

Hereby a photo from the No33 ammobox.

Sorry for the delay, I had to sent this from work because I can't connect to the MLU site at home since I have a new computer..

Marco

[Ed Storey]

That is an interesting photograph, I will have to see what I can find out about the No. 33 Box.