5.5-in ammunition box?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I own this ammunition box, but other than gleaning from the markings it once held 5.5-in ammo, I know nothing about it.

Who can give me some more details? What do all the markings mean?

Thanks!

[Ed Storey]

Hanno:

I believe what you have is a steel Box, C.224 Mk I and this will be embosed on the box lid, so that you will have to confirm.

The markings are as follows:

5.5 CARTs 4 in white is 5.5 Inch Cartridges, Charge 4

6 Cartridges in yellow - 6 cartridges, this is the charge propellant, in this case Charge 4. There are several different charges that can be used depending on the range required to send the shell to the target.

3 in circle in red - the Government Explsovie label

E in open ended square in yellow - Propellant Code Letter

B.L. 5.5 IN in yellow - Breach Loading 5.5 Inch

4th Charges 9 LB. 2 OZ WM. 108 in yellow - Charge 4 and the weight with the rest I cannot figure out, should be the mark could be the propellant lot number.

Pg/C 9/43 Mk I FOIL in yellow - Packing date September 1943 although I am not sure what Mk I FOIL is

O.C. 4194 in yellow - could be filling station initials

On the end - 6 Cartridges B.L. 5.5 IN in yellow - 6 cartridges of 5.5 inch Breach Loading ammuncition

4th Charges in yellow - charge 4

O.C. 4194 in yellow - filling station code

167 in white - packing serial number of box

Hope this helps,

ED

[Clive_Dakers]

It could be 1 of 2 boxes.

C.255 Length 25.1" Breadth 16.4" Depth 10.8" held 5.5-in. B.L. gun Cartridges Charge 4
or
C.224 Length 24.7" Breadth 15.25" Depth 10.125" 5.5-in. B.L. gun Cartridges 3rd and 4th Charge

Check the dimensions if the identifier isn't embossed on the lid.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Ed, Clive,

The lid is embossed:

C224
Lay C / I 1942

Thanks for all the information, very helpful!

All I need to do now is find the matching 5.5-in gun . . .

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

All I need to do now is find the matching 5.5-in gun . . .

...And the missing contents!

[Clive_Dakers]

C.224

Size: Length 24.7" Breadth 15.25" Depth 10.125"
Empty Weight 11 lb. 8 oz.

Used for:
3-in. Q.F. howitzer Smoke

Number Packed: 12
Gross weight: 144 lbs

4.5-in. B.L. gun Cordite W- 1st Charge

Number Packed: 6
Gross weight: 57 lbs

4.5-in. B.L. gun Cordite W- 2nd and 3rd Charges

Number Packed: 6
Gross weight: 90 lbs

5.5-in. B.L. gun 3rd and 4th charge

Number Packed: 6
Gross weight: 88 lbs

6-in. 26-cwt. B.L. howitzer 4-lb. 6-oz. 4-dr charge

Number Packed: 10
Gross weight: 80 lbs

M.L. 8-in. projector, Generators Smoke, No. 23

Number Packed: 12
Gross weight: 100 lbs

[Lynn Eades]

I passed my heavy trailer licence towing one (possibly this one)with a Mk5 Inter(national)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I see my photos of my amunition box are used on the BOCN forum: https://www.bocn.co.uk/threads/c-224-mk-i.27838/

I gather "LCplCombat" is a member of MLU Forum, too.

[tankbarrell]

Further to Ed's explanations, WM 108 is the propellant code, Waltham Modified and the size of tubular grain.

Pg/C is not an abbreviation for packing but the packers code, Pickering Filling Factory of Ontario followed by /C for Canada.

Mk 1 FOIL is just that, a piece of tin foil, crumpled up in the charge bag to prevent coppering of the rifling. As it burns it combines with the copper residue from the drive band and forms a brittle substance that reduces the fouling.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks for the additional info, Adrian. Re. "Pg/C": good to see there is a Canadian connection.

I cleaned this box and have lightly oiled it. I use this box to safekeep some of my militaria as it creates a good environment free of nasty critters.

[Barry Churcher]

The Pickering Filling Factory became The Town of Ajax. Janet's father was a foreman at the plant and had lots of stories. Being a foreman gave him a bit more liberty to leave the restricted area so him and another foreman would travel to Whitby to the Spruce Villa with a couple of "key" women employees for lunch and ???
When I was a kid my brother and I spent considerable time down by Lake Ontario playing in the huge berms and backstops.
Barry