Cal. .50 M2A1 Ammo Can / BoxThe steel M2A1 Ammunition Can / Box (also called Chest Ammunition: M2A1 or Box, Metal, M2A1) was introduced during the 1950s for .50 caliber machine gun ammunition, replacing the M2 .50 cal. ammunition can / box.
Caliber .50 M2A1 Ammunition Can / Box
The M2A1 ammo can was designed to hold link belts of 100 cartridges of .50 cal. ammunition for the M2 Browning machine gun, but was in fact utilized to transport and store many other ammo calibers and packaging. Construction details of the M2A1 .50 cal. ammunition can / box:
The lid skirts originally angled down from the hinge end, then ran parallel to the top as the skirt approached the latch end. Later model M2A1 boxes have a lid skirt that is shorter and parallel to the lid for the full length. The M2A1 ammo can is painted olive drab. Stamped markings may include the manufacturer's name (eg SCF, EMCO), the model M2A1, and year made. A cartridge shape may be embossed in the lid to indicate direction of loading. Paint (usually yellow) will be used for stenciled markings identifying the contents.
The M2A1 ammunition box has been used by the U.S. military for small and medium caliber cartridges, for artillery fuses and more, including this partial list:
The M2A1 ammunition can measures 12 1/32 in. (30.56 cm) x 6 3/32 in. (15.48 cm) x 7 1/2 in. (19.05 cm) in its outside dimensions. It is defined by MIL-DTL-3060F (drawing number 7553296, Box, Ammunition, M2A1 Assembly) or earlier specs in the MILB-3060 series. Two M2A1 boxes are packed into a wirebound, wood shipping crate (drawing number 7553347 - Box, Wirebound: Boxes, Ammunition, M2A1). The M2A1 ammunition box is covered by NSN 8140-00-960-1699 and the shipping crate NSN 8140-00-078-8969. 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: |