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AMMO BOX B166 - need to know everything about it ;-)

E

ethlinn

Member
Hi guys, as I promised when I introduced myself, here is my AMMO BOX.
I found it in my grandparent's house, located in a site where british army has been for long time during WWII.

I post some pics and every single word I have been able to read on it, hoping not to wrong because the box is ruined.

I know it was used to contain 6 pieces of 3" mortar bombs. And that's all I know... please be kind with a lady and telle me everything you know :tinysmile_kiss_t2:


1. the box size is cm 49x21, heigth cm 35, green colour with parts in very light blue

2. on top there are embossed these words:

B166
II
1943 CB/C

​
3. on front and back are written in yellow stencil:
B1024 A
CAN

3.IN.MORTAR.H.E.
180 035 SRS.SMML.ESS (or ES5)

6 AUG. CTG'S

152 A
FUZE

6 BOMBS

a stamped red coloured double circle with an 8 at the center
​

4. on both sides is handwritten in white the number 240 and in yellow stencil:

B1204 A
3IN.MOR

​
WP_000301.jpgWP_000307.jpgWP_000303.jpgWP_000302.jpgWP_000304.jpg
 
Hi Mary,
Welcome to BOCN. I will try and help with your box.

B166 is the box number
1943 is the year the box was made
3 in mortar is what is inside the box
6 aug ctg's means 6 augmenting cartridges. These were used to give the mortar additional range.
152 A fuze . This means the bombs were fitted with a number 152 fuze.
6 bombs. The quantity of bombs contained in the box.
The red double circle with 8 at the center is the Explosives class label.
240 i think is the lot number
B1204 A is the batch number

I'm sure other members can fill in the gaps.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Hangarman
 
Mary,

The box was made by Clare Brothers, Preston, Ontario, Canada - CB/C

180 035 SRS.SMML.ESS (or ES5) - This will identify the propellant - the last part, I suspect is 'Smokeless'


TimG
 
woah! you guys are really great! I mean, to me it's like doing a puzzle... I like to find out the history of old objects. What can I tell??? well... maybe thank you is a good start :tinysmile_kiss_t4:
 
Last edited:
Hi,
Yes your box contained ammunition for the 3 inch mortar weapon that was used by the British and other allied armies in WW2.
TimG has noted that your box was made in Canada and it is quite possible that the contents were also made there. ( The Mortar specialists on BOCN may advise on this)
It is nice to see a box that has not had its original markings removed.
What else have you found in your grandparents house?
 
a German Army elmet, gunpowder and other stuffs to do ammunitions for guns (I think my grandad used them for hunting), a Mussolini bronze head to put on desktop and fix papers, but there is still a room I have not visited yet because there are too many spiderwebs lol
 
It is usually a bad idea to repaint historical items. Collectors would be very happy to purchase the box with the original paint. Repainted items are worth much less because they aren't original.
 
I believe the number 240 in white actually means it was the 240th box in that batch of mortar bombs, otherwise I agree with Hangarman.
 
as about the restoration of the box, I think I'll treat the rust with alcool and then I'll give only a transparent opaque varnish... but I'm open to any other idea, since you are the experts.
 
Mary welcome to bocn and thanks for posting the photos of your box.
You will find everyone very helpful on here......as far as restoration goes, less is more as far as collectors go. Endel is by far an expert in this field, I'm not sure how he does it but take a look at this thread........

http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/34860-Before-and-after

There are lots of was to restore, before you do anything I would take advice from other members as to the best way to preserve what you have.

all the best
regards Kev
 
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