Fuel dropped by parachute!

In this drop container 4 British War Department drop cans could be delivered.

During WWII all kinds of military equipment was dropped in CLE (Central Landing Establishment) airborne containers to resupply allied troops behind enemy lines or fighters of the French Resistance.

To enable the supply of fuel, a cylindrical can was developed to fit inside one of the several drop container types. One drop container could carry four fuel cans.

This British Airborne fuel can was designed to withstand a rough landing in unforeseeable field conditions. It had corrugated sides to give it extra strength. The top handle was retractable and the first and second model of the closure was also designed to need a minimum of space.

The first model (RLL 1942, L.K.D 1942 and WHD 1943) had a screw type closure which was the same one as used with the standard 4 imperial gallon British rectangular can.

The second model (D.Ltd 1943) had a very flat version of the German cam-lock closure. The only main difference was a round pouring hole instead of an oval one used in standard Jerrycans. This spout was adopted by the British War Department while copying the German Jerrycans during WWII.

Here you can see how the container looks like when filled with 4 British War Department drop cans. These cans all still have their original paint which is sand colour. Philippe Chapillon told me that they also came in Royal Air Force blue.

Beside the drop can manufacturers seen on this website (RLL, L.K.D, D. LTD and WHD) several others like Beldray, BPL and S & W produced this kind of can. 

Thank you for reading this chapter. If you have one or more WWII drop cans in your collection, or wartime pictures of them in use, feel free to contact me via the form below. Every message is welcome!