what color are WWII water cans?

Manufacturers, production numbers, configurations, etc.
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JAB
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what color are WWII water cans?

Post by JAB » Mon May 23, 2022 10:11 am

I went through 7 pages of results and couldn't find an answer. I thought they might be a similar flat blue drab as the registration numbers (as mine seems to be) but it looks like maybe they were OD with a W or Water stencil? I was gifted a WWII water can from one of my former Eagle Scouts and would like to refurbish it and mount it on my '43 GPW as a display of gratitude.

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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by Frank USMC » Tue May 24, 2022 3:19 am

I have several here, all of them are OD. They still even have the WW2 unit markings on them. I have never seen a blue one.
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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by JAB » Tue May 24, 2022 3:59 am

OD, who would've thought that? Those 18 and 19 year olds years ago were a lot smarter than our kids today! Or was it a problem during the war, putting gas in the water cans of the same color? These days I have to keep the OD gas can mounted to the jeep to get away with filling it because it's not red and the attendand doesn't notice me filling it when it's "part" of the jeep! Thanx!!!
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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by YLG80 » Tue May 24, 2022 6:12 am

Frank USMC wrote:
Tue May 24, 2022 3:19 am
I have several here, all of them are OD. They still even have the WW2 unit markings on them. I have never seen a blue one.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET
Same here, all OD original Water jerrycans left by the US Army in 1945. With a White W marking.

Yves
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by JAB » Tue May 24, 2022 12:53 pm

YLG80 wrote:
Tue May 24, 2022 6:12 am
Frank USMC wrote:
Tue May 24, 2022 3:19 am
I have several here, all of them are OD. They still even have the WW2 unit markings on them. I have never seen a blue one.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET
Same here, all OD original Water jerrycans left by the US Army in 1945. With a White W marking.

Yves
Thanks Yves!

Was the white marking a "standard", consistent through out at least 1943? It's a '43 can. I was all set to stencil the word "water" on it tomorrow or Thursday when the primer and OD are dry (going trial riding with it this weekend!) but "W" is a lot easier! Would you happen to have a picture? I did a search and see that some have the word "water" on the front and back and a "W" on the sides. I was going to put the word "water" sideways on the side, but after seeing it with the "W" I think I'll go with that idea.
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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by YLG80 » Thu May 26, 2022 10:55 pm

Hi Jeff,
Yes I have photos of that water jerry can. Monarch 1943

Please note that the black traces are Tanik used to stop the jerrycan from rusting while in storage especially at the bottom seam.
Yellow W on both sides.
IMG_4228s.JPG

Marking-both_sides_Monach_water-can-1943.JPG

Creamy color of the coating inside
Monarch_43_inside_creamy-coating_for_water.JPG

MONARCH_water_can_marking_43s.JPG

Watercan_1943_MONARCH.JPG


Rubber gasket and not cork in 1943. -> Correction : After verification: the gasket is indeed a cork gasket, not rubber.

Gasket_no_cork-still-rubber-in-1943.JPG
Yves
Last edited by YLG80 on Fri May 27, 2022 4:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by JAB » Fri May 27, 2022 4:15 am

Thanks Yves! Until I made and installed a cork gasket our cans were identical! I painted mine yesterday but spelled the word water on front and back, in white (I was painting the stars yesterday) but used “W” on the sides. I guess I need to dig out the cork and make a rubber gasket now, but I doubt I'll change the paint color, at least not any time soon. Thanks for the help!!
IMG_0038.jpg
IMG_0051.jpg
IMG_0050.jpg
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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by YLG80 » Fri May 27, 2022 4:34 am

Your jerry can is very beautiful!
Yves
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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by YLG80 » Fri May 27, 2022 4:45 am

JAB wrote:
Fri May 27, 2022 4:15 am
Thanks Yves! Until I made and installed a cork gasket our cans were identical! I painted mine yesterday but spelled the word water on front and back, in white (I was painting the stars yesterday) but used “W” on the sides. I guess I need to dig out the cork and make a rubber gasket now, but I doubt I'll change the paint color, at least not any time soon. Thanks for the help!!

IMG_0038.jpgIMG_0051.jpgIMG_0050.jpg
Hello Jeef,
:oops: Do not change your gasket.
I have double checked my jerry can gasket by scratching it and it is indeed cork not rubber.
The cork is frozen and hard.
Sorry.
Yves
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by JAB » Fri May 27, 2022 4:57 am

:D
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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by dpcd67 » Fri May 27, 2022 6:46 am

Yeah, those guys back then were not dumb and could recognize a water can lid from a gas can lid.
And all I have and have seen, are green. No markings. I have some gas cans with markings on them.
And we used to mark ours with the tank number, but that was not WW2. Your sister company will steal them, and will steal muzzle covers too. Bastards.
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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by JAB » Fri May 27, 2022 9:15 am

dpcd67 wrote:
Fri May 27, 2022 6:46 am
Yeah, those guys back then were not dumb ....................... Your sister company will steal them, ............ Bastards.
LOL!! I was just out driving the GPW getting it ready for the weekend and thinking about that. I have the non-key ignition switch in it and was wondering how often an unattended jeep was "midnight requisitioned" when these things were in service. Maybe that's why the steering column has that spoke to eye padlock thing welded on it.
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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by OldJeepBob » Sun Dec 18, 2022 12:13 pm

Jeff: Once an Eagle, always an Eagle, unless one dishonors it and it is surrendered. Signs up OldJeepBob
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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by JAB » Sun Dec 18, 2022 2:42 pm

OldJeepBob wrote:
Sun Dec 18, 2022 12:13 pm
Jeff: Once an Eagle, always an Eagle, unless one dishonors it and it is surrendered. Signs up OldJeepBob
Absolutely correct!
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Re: what color are WWII water cans?

Post by dpcd67 » Mon Dec 19, 2022 6:36 am

I don't know what they did in WW2, but we NEVER left a vehicle unlocked; wheeled vehicles had a chain and padlock from the steering column to the clutch pedal, and tanks and tracks had the hatches pad locked.
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