RE: [MV] Correct gas can
Lars Svaasand (lars.svaasand@valmarine.no)
Wed, 28 Apr 1999 09:08:33 +0200
With all this confusion about different gas gans, it is worth mentioning
that not only the US made
5 gallon gas cans during WWII. The Germans came up with the idea (hence the
name Jerry-can).
This can is actually 20 liters (close to 5 gallons), has 3 handles so it is
easy to pass the can from
one man to the next, has a cross-like indentation on the sides to allow for
expansion, and a quick open-close
cam lever opening (quite small), which it is actually possible to pour from.
When filled, it has enough room left for
air to allow it to float if dropped in water. When the British saw this in
action in North-Africa, they soon realized
that this can was vast superior to their leaky tin-cans, so they went ahead
and copied the german design down
to the last detail. They also used all German cans they could get hold of.
The Americans preferred to use their design, I don't know how much the
german can
influenced this design.
So the "correct" gas can for a Jeep could be of several types, at least if
it is restored as an ETO-veteran. If you
look at pictures from WWII, for example from the CCKW's carrying hundreds of
gas can on the red ball express,
you see that all types are present.
-Lars, Norway
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