Jerrycans on British & Commonwealth vehicles

[LarryH57]

What was the earliest point in WW2 when a Jerrycan would be seem on a British & Commonwealth military vehicle? Was it early 1942?

[Degsy]

The first ones would probably have been seen on vehicles in North Africa during 1941 having been captured from the Afrika Korps.

[LarryH57]

Degsy, thanks, however I have realised I should have said British & Commonwealth made Jerrycans! Doh!

[Lauren Child]

At a guess I'd say 1943. 1942 sounds a bit early to me, and I can see a 1943 one on a quick google search.

 

There's a definite switchover point that you can see on CMP vehicles where the POW can holder changed to a universal type that could hold the old style cans and jerricans depending on what was around.

[wally dugan]

l think you will find that by 1942 the british were manufacturing there own jerry cans

[Lauren Child]

Ah yup - theres a 1942 one photographed here http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/equipment-field-gear/british-1942-jerry-can-436393/

[LarryH57]

Presumably British & Commonwealth vehicle photos can be dated as such if they show Jerrycan holders rather than the ones for flimsy cans?

[Richard Farrant]

Presumably British & Commonwealth vehicle photos can be dated as such if they show Jerrycan holders rather than the ones for flimsy cans?

 

Larry,

There were no holders for "flimsy" cans. There were holders for the standard 2 gallon can, which dates back to pre-WW1. The so called flimsy was a four gallon can and for bulk transport of petrol. The smaller vehicles continued right through after the war with only holders for 2 gallon cans.

[David B.]

The smaller vehicles continued right through after the war with only holders for 2 gallon cans.

 

Some larger vehicles also had revised partitions in their 2 gallon racks later in the war in order to accommodate jerrycans.

[LarryH57]

Richard; my error as I thought all British cans were called flimsies. Interesting to note that flimsy can holders were still being produced on British vehicles until after WW2. Does that mean that the Jerrycan holders I see on MVs at shows are a post-war mod?

[Lauren Child]

Richard; my error as I thought all British cans were called flimsies. Interesting to note that flimsy can holders were still being produced on British vehicles until after WW2. Does that mean that the Jerrycan holders I see on MVs at shows are a post-war mod?

 

No, there was a mix. The jerry can is a better design but it wasn't universally introduced, so both types of can were in use.