| AuvergneWargamer | 21 Aug 2018 12:19 a.m. PST |
Greetings from the centre of France Chaps, Correct colour for landing craft 50 cal machine gun ammo boxes? Just wondered as I'm painting LCVPs and LCMs so need to know! Cheers, Paul |
Marc33594  | 21 Aug 2018 2:56 a.m. PST |
Like almost all American equipment the ammo boxes would be OD and have yellow stenciling on it. |
| Rich Bliss | 21 Aug 2018 4:05 a.m. PST |
When in doubt paint it green. Marc is correct. Olive drab |
| Martin Rapier | 21 Aug 2018 4:53 a.m. PST |
You can't usually go wrong with dark green. |
 ColCampbell | 21 Aug 2018 6:26 a.m. PST |
But for landing craft which were in Navy service, wouldn't they be painted the same gray as the rest of the craft? link Jim |
| Pan Marek | 21 Aug 2018 6:30 a.m. PST |
Yep. OD with yellow stenciling. I've seen real ones. |
 miniMo | 21 Aug 2018 7:43 a.m. PST |
For Naval service, swabbies have a lot of time on their hands for re-painting everything in sight! Also, some were issued in Navy Gray; found this: link |
| jdginaz | 21 Aug 2018 11:35 a.m. PST |
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| 14Bore | 21 Aug 2018 2:14 p.m. PST |
Everything in the army was OD |
| D A THB | 21 Aug 2018 2:45 p.m. PST |
miniMo interesting Blog thanks. |
| Tommy20 | 21 Aug 2018 5:06 p.m. PST |
Everything in the army was OD That may be true, but since the LCVP's were Navy/Coast Guard, I think it's more likely they were grey. |
| rmaker | 21 Aug 2018 8:01 p.m. PST |
When in doubt paint it green. Unless it's a rock. Those get painted white. |
| Thresher01 | 21 Aug 2018 9:34 p.m. PST |
14Bore has it right. Even supposedly, some of the food. |
| Marc33594 | 22 Aug 2018 11:37 a.m. PST |
Folks it is simple. On 3 September 1942 the 50 cal ammunition box submitted by the Model Steel Equipment Company, Geneva, Illinois became the standard. At least 14 companies would produce this box for US forces during WW II. The official designation was Box, Ammunition, Caliber .50, M2. "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.)" Olive Drab site link The yellow stenciling apparently began at the end of 1943. MiniMo. The M19 can was produced from 1946-1953 and the M19A1 1954 to present. |
| Tommy20 | 22 Aug 2018 12:59 p.m. PST |
It's on the internet, so it must be true. |
| Marc33594 | 23 Aug 2018 5:26 a.m. PST |
I eagerly await your sources Tommy20, always happy to be proven wrong as it means I learned something new. |
| carne68 | 09 Nov 2018 9:59 a.m. PST |
As a USN Gunners Mate, I can say from personal experience, GREEN. The only ammo cans that would be grey are for things that aren't also used by the Army. For instance, all small arms up to and including .50 cal. Green. 25mm Green It is the same Bushmaster gun as on Bradleys and LAV's 20mm Depends on what kind. Green for the Electric primed short case ammo for M-61 Vulcan Gatling used on CIWS. Gray for the long case percussion primed ammo used in a Mk. 16 (Navy version of the HS-404) 76mm-Gray, 3"/50-Gray, 5"/54 powder charges-Gray, 16"/50 powder charges-Gray 40mm same as for Mk.19 used by the Army-Green |
