2 pounder anti tank gun

[derk derin]

Hi Rod,
Very nice collection! I noticed in one of your pictures an ammo can that holds 8-2 pounder rounds and it has a tray to secure the rounds on top of the bottom half of the can.

I have a Canadian ammo can that has been identified as a 2 pounder can but never knew how they were secured until I noticed your picture and then it made sense to me how it was done.Would you have a close up shot of the tray and any other inserts inside the can to hold the rounds secure? I also never knew why the cans were not stencilled until I saw one that had a paper label identifying the contents of the can as ammunition.The top of the lid is stamped;
GSW/CANADA 1942 MK II







Derk.

[Rod Bellars (RIP)]

okay you have selected a red Aussie tin but the rounds are held the same as the Canadian tin only real diference being the Aussie tins are same as British with handle on top of lid to aid removal and more squarish . The rounds are held in the ww2 tins in eight cardboard tubes that are stepped on the outside as they line up with tin top the two loops located at each side of the top of the lower tin then has bar that fits snugly in the loops and may be either pressed tin or solid bar and its secured with split pins when all tubes are in place to secure them .

many tins are found gutted as post war use did not have a need for the tubes .In the early days of my collecting there used to be a large amount of the tins in two scrap yards very rusted from years in weather where they were stripped from ther two can storage tins .After many hours ripping open rotted tins we salvaged a number of tubes and even rarer star clips that go on back of rounds that had fell ,over use, down side of tubes into bottom of some tins .

The same use of tubes and clips was in the 6pdr tins as well, the later post war tin used by navy here for landing party use and sub calibre devices had steel racks inside for rounds and did not use the tubes as cardboard tubes were found to react over time with the brass cases

I do have a nice pair of canadian tins with all internals and if I remember in next week will try and get you some shots for this thread just next few days are a bit full on and i have back issues suffering an injury a week ago dragging a German trench mortar , wont do that again

regards