Bofors 40mm Spare barrel box question???

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks Rob, that’s a big help.

Alex found the wooden box I posted above on a site and suggested to a mutual friend with a Ford F60S LAAT this may be a Bofors spare barrel box. Now seems it isn’t one as it is considerably longer than the wartime one.

[tankbarrell]

It might still be a Bofors spare barrel box, just for the L/70, rather than the wartime L/60. Is it about 400mm longer?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

That’s what Alex suggested, too. The one for sale is 45 cm longer compared to the dimensions listed by Rob.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Yes, it would have been so nice to add an original box to Egbert's LAAT!

A real shame the seller, or a previous owner, sanded off the original paint and markings.....but chances are that if it was/is a Dutch post-war 40L70 barrel box (which I think is likely), it was just green overall with small white lettering. Sometimes these former army boxes end up in thrift stores here in Holland; I recently found a box for a Leopard shock absorber for sale!



To add to the Bofors box data on the forum:
Here is a box I pictured at the Gunfire museum in Brasschaat, Belgium, last year. I have no idea if this is an original wartime box, or a postwar one dressed up to look like an original. I did take some measurements at the time for modelling purposes, but somehow I can't find them now! If I find them, I will add them here.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Two more....


By the way; I remember seeing detail pictures of a somehwhat rotten, but original wartime, box here on the forum..but I can't remember who posted it...maybe the Hammond crew? Rob Fast? Dave Pope?

[rob love]

There was this one that Rob Fast posted many years ago here: http://mapleleafup.net/forums/showth...1384#post81384

[rob love]

Here are some shots of my crate with the original packing label in the lid. Another shot shows the wool brush in it's holder, the next two are the lifting tools in their brackets.

My muzzle cone wrench does not fit in the bracket. It may be assembled wrong. I think I have another I'll try.


Does anybody know what the "box, Tallow, 1lb" looks like? Or the sponge, ejector? I have some steel ejectors, but don't think I have a sponge type.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by rob love

There was this one that Rob Fast posted many years ago here: http://mapleleafup.net/forums/showpo...4&postcount=38

Hi Rob; I tried hard to find the pictures of the rotton one here on the forum, but I can't find them......maybe I am just getting old and I am seeing things!

Meanwhile I did find the measurements I took of the Barrel box in Brasschaat, Belgium. It's 2614mmx260mm230mm. So, the length matches the size mentioned earlier; the height is similar, but there is a difference in width. I think there is a difference between boxes for just the barrel and one for barrel and ancillaries (?) Or is it a British vs Canadian difference? Wartime vs postwar?
Now, I am not sure if the one in Brasschaat is wartime; it definately doesn't match the boxes of the Robs.

Your box and Rob's look really nice. and the wider box also matches more with the space reserved in the back of the LAAT under the seat. I also see the "C428" on the paper on the lid, which I presume sis the offical name of the barrel box.

Rob, can I ask if you have any overall pictures available? Sorry...this is a scale modelling question. I am tring to work out where all the booden blocks, handles and hinges go.

Since the blank box turned up for sale here in Holland, more boxes have popped up for sale....all about 3meter length, so they could well all be 40L70 boxes.