Cal. .50 M2 Ammo Can / BoxThe steel M2 Ammunition Can / Box was adopted 21 September 1942 for .50 caliber machine gun ammunition, replacing the M17 .50 cal. ammunition chest and other earlier containers. The M2 ammo can was designed to hold link belts of 105 cartridges of .50 cal. ammunition for the M2 Browning machine gun, but was in fact also utilized for other ammo calibers and packaging.
Caliber .50 M2 Ammunition Can / Box
Construction details of the M2 .50 cal. ammunition can / box:
When the lid latch is closed, a small metal loop protrudes through a hole in the latch panel. A cotter pin, attached to a ring, is inserted in a hole in the metal loop to fasten the latch securely.
The M2 ammunition box was painted semi-gloss olive drab. Two shades were used, one a little lighter than the other. Both are authentic for this ammo can. Embossed markings on the front say "Amm. Box Cal. .50 M2." One end panel will have the Ordnance flaming bomb and manufacturer's name embossed (eg, BELMONT, UNITED.) The lid has two cartridge shapes embossed, one on each end, to indicate the direction of loading. The box was often stencil marked to indicate the contents, usually in yellow on the back panel (opposite the latch.) The dimensions of the M2 .50 cal. ammo can are approximately 7.5 inches high, 6 inches wide, and 12.25 inches long. It weighs about 35 pounds, loaded with a belt of .50 cal. cartridges. The M2 .50 cal. ammo box / can was superseded by the Cal. .50 M2A1 Ammunition Box during the 1950s, but remained in use in the U.S. military for decades. Material on this page adapted from research provided by Thomas Chial. Recommended Book about Browning Machine GunsFind More Information on the InternetThere are many fine websites that have additional information on this topic, too many to list here and too many to keep up with as they come and go. Use this Google web search form to get an up to date report of what's out there. For good results, try entering this: m2 ammo can or box. Then click the Search button. Especially recommended: |