Libya / Unidentified Metal Boxes

Colleagues;

The several metal boxes in below pictures are just not clear to me. First I thought that they could be Italian "box mines". Particularily since they were found in an area where the LRDG was driving quite often (the Italians mined the tracks once they recogniced them...). However; they are definitely not of Italian origin.

Does anybody have a clue about?

 

i dont think they are boxes. I think they are those girder type things that the LRDG use to cross soft sand-on the side of the back section

 

Boxes. These pieces do not resemble the sand-channels on the sides of the LRDG trucks.

 

oh yeah... hmmmmmm they look as though they have soft interiors, so maybe used for transporting things that need to be muffled, like contraband items. Or items that can't be jostled???

 

Thought for spare-barrels of an MG; but does not look reasonable either...

 

Nice hole in one on the left, possibly something long like an MG barrel, looks like it does have long grooves in it...

 

I think machine gun barrels are normally transported in canvas bags

 

The box itself looks to have a really good seal as the top or bottom has a groove in which the other side fits very snuggly.

There also appears to be two bolts for securing the two halves.

Coupled with a soft padded and shaped interior, whatever it contained was meant to be transported in safety.

Could it be some special ops type explosive devices container? I have no knowledge of ammunition/explosives containers and my thoughts are purely based on what I can see from the Photos.

It certainly is intriguing!

Regards

Tom

 

I've looked up Bangalore Torpedoes and these come in wooden crates.

 

Is there any possibility that these may be more modern than WW2 ?

The boxes look more modern that 1940's ie the use of metal and plastic rather than wood?

Not wishing to start a international incident but:
SAS - Weapons - FIM-92 Stinger

They couldn't be could they ?

 

I don't know if this will help anyone.

I saved and zoomed in on the pictures. The 2nd picture, the 3rd box left to right has a bolt in the middle of it with a thread at the top which would suggest the boxes are secured together with the other half having a hole for the fixed bolt to go through and wing nut or similiar to secure them together.

 

I don't know if this will help anyone.

I saved and zoomed in on the pictures. The 2nd picture, the 3rd box left to right has a bolt in the middle of it with a thread at the top which would suggest the boxes are secured together with the other half having a hole for the fixed bolt to go through and wing nut or similiar to secure them together.


Drew,

I mentioned this previously on the thread as just pure observations from the photographs.
Not being ex military I thought it may prompt a response.

Regards

Tom

 

Munition of some kind (?) , the boxes are constructed to be fire proof (?)..( Sealed edges, the items contained appear to be circular ).
Mortar rounds was again a guess but again it does not look "right".
A puzzle

 

Cases for modern RPG rounds was my first thought. I can't find any pictures to prove it though.

 

Sorry Tom, I missed that.

I have some British 81mm mortar round cases and they are different from those. They tend to be designed to only hold two rounds and are fitted with a strap so troops can carry them.

Russian Mortar round cases


RPG Rounds and a holder


And a selection of other Russian Ammo boxes


I think its western and probably American. I like threads like this

 

On what looks / may be the "lid" of the boxes - two long metal screw threads , is thsi WW2 or circa 1950's - 60's ?
Pressed metal containers are heavy and more expensive to produce than modern day man made materials which are both stronger and lighter and easier to transport .

 

Thats a Barrett 50. cal Sniper rifle....I'm assuming the owner modified it to transport his 'Artillery' piece

Owen I think that box holds the Launcher. I wondered if there was a box for the missle itself?

 

On what looks / may be the "lid" of the boxes - two long metal screw threads , is thsi WW2 or circa 1950's - 60's ?
Pressed metal containers are heavy and more expensive to produce than modern day man made materials which are both stronger and lighter and easier to transport .


Haha You're as bad as me ...Tom mentioned it before I did earlier