Ammunition Chest, M1

[Peter Wells]

I have only recently obtained Volume iii of Dolf's Browning series. Browsing it today came upon fig 368/369 showing the AMMUNITION CHEST M1A1. This chest, being an M1A1, must have had an M1 as it's predecessor.

I have in my collection an aluminium can which I assume is that predecessor. It is marked AMMUNITION CHEST, M1 and is very simiar to the M1A1 illustrated. It is 42cm long, 16cm high and 9.5cm wide. The handle appears identical but the lid is cut on the slant and it is lined with a brown composition material.

It strikes me that this may be a scarce item if Dolf was not able to find a specimen to photograph.

Anybody here able to comment, especialy on how such an item landed up here in SA? I didn't get it from a collector or other individual who may have imported it for personal use so must assume it was in service here at some time.

As usual, best regards to all.

[britplumber]

Is this the type you mean

handcartz.smugmug.com/MACHINE-GUNS/AMMUNITION-CHEST-30-CAL-M1/1971086_enWci#65731212_eBe7c

or this.

www.olive-drab.com/od_firearms_ammo_cans_30cal_m1.php

[Peter Wells]

Very similar to pic #14 in the handcartz thread but differently marked - 'AMMUNITION CHEST M1' - and with hard, pressed fibre lining.

[britplumber]

I wunder if the fibre lining is for somthing else, possibly lined for some other ordnance. I did read that these containers were used to hold other ammunition types, which would be stenciled on the outside. Perhaps we need to find reference to the stenciled words and there contents.

Cheers, Chris.

[phoenix]

I have found Dolf's Vol3 a bit dissapointing, I know it's easy to be critical, but there is a lot missing.I think the can you have, is as you say the earlier version of the Ammunition chest.These did have fibre in them, as they were designed originally for the cavalry, a version of the same chest was used for BAR mags.They are quite scarce.I wonder if any came over to the UK with the .30 cal stuff for the Home Guard and then out to SA or picked up in North Africa, as the US troops were still using up a lot of early equipment during operation Torch.Pete

[Peter Wells]

Hi Pete

Sorry for the lengthy delay but only saw your response while checking through old posts.

The whole issue with US equipment found locally is shrouded in mystery. e.g. The SA Army Stock List of 1976 shows 1917A1 tripods but no 1917A1 guns. I know these tripods are compatible with the 1919 series but how/why did they land up here? I also have a wooden ammo chest still filled with 1942 made belt and W.R.A. 42 ammo (all ball) as I got it - locally sourced.

There was a wooden chest specific to the Colt 1915 so, to be absolutely correct, I will try and find one of those to go with my gun.

[britplumber]

didn't the 1917A1 tripod get re-used for one of the recoil-less rifles, then they renamed it the 1917A2

[Peter Wells]

Could be Chris, but the only recoil-less rifle we use here is your 106mm which, as I'm sure you know , was Jeep mounted via a large 3man tripod. Still in servce with our airborne guys. If we had a need for a tripod for captured Soviet and Chinese recoil-less guns (which were extensively used by 32Bn in the late 70s and 80s), the M2 would have been a better bet and we had/have plenty of those.