The logistic necessities of transporting fuel were well recognised before the out-break of War in 1939 and in the UK the
RASC set up a committee in 1935 headed by William Frasier (later Sir WIlliam), the deputy chairman of the Anglo-Iranian Oil
Company, to address the problem of petrol supply and distribution, this was a problem before the BEF left for France
as roadside pumps were virtually non-existent over there and analysis of the fuel suggested it was unfit for the UK
military engines of the time (!), the domestic French supply being by can any way.
The British had two containers in production at the time, the pressed steel 2 (Imperial) gallon rectangular can that you
see carried on early UK and CMP vehicles as reserve fuel and made only in the UK. The quantity available or
produceable was a tiny proportion of the projected requirement. The second being the 4 (Imperial) gallon "flimsy" tin
plate container already in production here and in the Middle and far East, whilst its shortcomings and fragility were
well known these containers were available in quantity, used little raw material, could be made in third world factories,
were non-returnable and believed to be robust enough if packed in a wooden crate two at a time.
The North African desert and the often stony going proved differently, losses often reached 30% or more, trucks could
be seen leaving depots trailing fuel and vehicle losses owing to leaked fuel fires outstripped enemy action by a
handsome margin. Even so the 8th Army was awash with fuel all trucked across some difficult terrain by the Bedfords,
Morris's, Austins, Albions etc, Aussie Maple Leafs and the healthy supply of CMP's.
The flimsy was rightly loathed for all reasons although empty ones had further uses as general containers for all
manner of things including the making of defences by filling with sand or concrete to produce a substantial "brick".
Most importantly the cut-down flimsy would be part filled with a shovel of sand, some stones, a healthy glug of petrol
and lit for boiling the kettle to make tea, so essential to keep the British forces rolling and an effective smokeless
stove.
As far as is known, it seems that the Italians in Africa invented the jerry can (in Italian "tanica"). The Germans just
adopted it somewhere around 1936/37and called it "Wehrmachtskanister". Previously they had used a triangular
prism shaped device with the filler central on the top edge.
The 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 and easier to use in the field , 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 and they were better than
cash amongst the troops. Samples were sent to the US for production under lease-lend arrangements but it went
rather awry.
The US factories claimed they could improve on it and a lot of time was wasted making alternate samples and
bickering at inter governmental levels. The US Military kept to their modified design for the moment but eventually
production of the jerrican as is was started, this was actually too late for the North Africa campaigns and the Allied
forces, after the Torch landings, were all supplied by the RASC using captured jerricans and the desperately bad
flimsies.
The german design of two stamped halves, outlasted the american design of rolled seams, welds etc and survives to
this day...
Apart from production differences there are a number of other design differences, primarily it is the 'pouring'. The
Italian/German/British) Jerry can has a ventilation tube welded inside the can, which equalizes the air pressure
outside/inside the can when pouring. This tube opens right under and inside the lid. This makes for very easy pouring
without spilling. But with the spout locked in place, this ventilation ceases to function. The US can just has a hole
drilled right above the lid opening (but under the gasket for the lid) which works with or without the spout, but not very
leak-proof.
In the early 70's water and fuel cans became seperate items and the majority of countries started manufacturing the
water cans in a form of plastic and generally black, though cans in other colours have been seen. It is understood that
US Army water cans sometimes come with a fibre-pile "jacket" for use in below-zero areas.
The contents of a fuel jerry can are, these days, usually denoted by the addition of a coloured tag. Most countries use
either the NATO or Warsaw Pact codes for fuel identification. Warsaw Pact codes were supplemented by the colour of
the fuel inside the can and are as follows:
A-72 - Fuel is coloured Pink and used for UAZ-69, UAZ-452, BTR-60 series
A-76 - Fuel is coloured Yellow and used for GAZ-53A, GAZ-66, ZIL-130, ZIL-157.
A-93 - Fuel is coloured Red/Orange and used by URAL-375
In 1940, the cross was reinforced by a rectangle and the Maker's name is stamped in the rectangle at the center
of the cross with the date at the bottom
The German fuel jerry can was marked from top to bottom: "Kraftstoff 20L" and below "Feuergefährlich" ("Petrol 20l"and
"Flamable") in letters 24 and 18mm high, with the date of manufacture in figures 18 mm high below it. On the center
panel, the logo or initials of the manufacturer, and at the bottom "Wehrmacht", "Luftwaffe" or "SS", depending on which
arm of the forces originally owned the jerry can.
Usually the colour was:
- Feldgrau (Wehrmacht)
- Sand (Afrika Korps)
- Salmon (SS in western campaign)
- Black (Waffen SS)
- Grey (Blue) (Luftwaffe)
- Red [unpainted and as supplied from the manufacturer]
The German water jerry can was marked from top to bottom: "Wasser 20L" (Water 20l) in letters 24 and 18mm high,
with the date of manufacture below in figures 18 mm high. On the center panel, the logo or initials of the manufacturer,
and at the bottom "Wehrmacht", "Luftwaffe" or "SS", depending on which arm of the forces owned the Jerry Can.
Normally the 'cross' would be painted white while the can would be painted as follows:
- Feldgrau (Wehrmacht)
- Sand (Afrika Korps)
- Salmon (SS in western campaign)
- Black (Waffen SS)
- Grey (Blue) (Luftwaffe)
- Red (Unpainted and as supplied from the manufacturer)
After the introduction of the jerry can, and in common with other military stores, british jerry cans were marked with the Broad Arrow which has been the
sign of British Government property since the times when Sir Philip Sidney was Master General of Ordnance to Queen Elizabeth I and ordered all
supplies thus marked with the Broad Arrow (or Feon) that was his family armorial device. It is placed between the letters W /I\ D (War Department)
which are in 25 mm (1") lettersl, below that the year of manufacture in 12.7mm (½") high letters, and in the raised panel where the reinforcing ribs
meet are the initials of the manufacturer in letters 12.7 (½") high.
