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Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
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17 Pounder ammo storage.
b2nhvi
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Nevada, United States
Joined: June 17, 2016
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Posted: Wednesday, January 22, 2020 - 10:35 AM UTC
Working on a South African M4A1 (76)W. One of the reference photos shows a wooden(?) box mounted between the MG storage rack brackets on the rear of the turret. Logical choices would be 76mm crate or 17 Pounder. But both are too short. The photo shows the crate fitting on top of the brackets. The 76mm and 17 Pounder crates I have barely touch both brackets. 105mm crates? (6th SA Armored did have M7 Priests for a while, till they re equipped with Sextons) Also, the metal 17 Pounder containers ... C288 & C317 ... were empties used for general storage? I'm thinking no. Looks like the only access to them is the two caps on the end. Not too practical for storing personal kit in, I'd think.
Golikell
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Noord-Holland, Netherlands
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Posted: Thursday, January 23, 2020 - 11:30 PM UTC
Maybe a few pics would enhance your question?
ALBOWIE
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New South Wales, Australia
Joined: February 28, 2006
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Posted: Friday, January 24, 2020 - 09:53 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Working on a South African M4A1 (76)W. One of the reference photos shows a wooden(?) box mounted between the MG storage rack brackets on the rear of the turret. Logical choices would be 76mm crate or 17 Pounder. But both are too short. The photo shows the crate fitting on top of the brackets. The 76mm and 17 Pounder crates I have barely touch both brackets. 105mm crates? (6th SA Armored did have M7 Priests for a while, till they re equipped with Sextons) Also, the metal 17 Pounder containers ... C288 & C317 ... were empties used for general storage? I'm thinking no. Looks like the only access to them is the two caps on the end. Not too practical for storing personal kit in, I'd think.



3.7" AA ammo box for two rds were found in use ?on Shermans
b2nhvi
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Nevada, United States
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Posted: Friday, January 24, 2020 - 04:10 PM UTC
Near as I can figure the boxes would be (SWAG) 50.75 inch X 7 inch.
RLlockie
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United Kingdom
Joined: September 06, 2013
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Posted: Friday, January 24, 2020 - 07:18 PM UTC
Can’t comment on the ones I can’t see but the upper example in the photo was used for 3.7” AA and 4.2” mortar rounds. C235 from memory although I have one in the garage so could check later. A couple of manufacturers produce them although I scratchbuilt one as the shape is just a box with added outer panels for the pressings.

17pdr metal boxes were end-opening so probably not as useful for storage although the similar but smaller 6pdr version shows up on Churchills.

Where wooden boxes are used they are often 105mm - some Sherman units had 105mm tanks in SHQ but not sure about the S Africans.
b2nhvi
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Nevada, United States
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Posted: Friday, January 24, 2020 - 09:40 PM UTC
I don't think the South Africans had 105 mm Shermans but the 4/22 artillery had M7 Priests until they switched to Sextons in late 44. (think that might be about the time they got the M4A1 (76)Ws) Fortunately I have a Sherman Vc and an Ic coming I can use up the 17 Pounder crates on. The Bronco set has some wooden 17 Pounder crates. What size were those? Or German 88mm (single round) crates? They the right size?
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