5.5-in ammunition box?

[Ed Storey]

Hanno:

I believe what you have is a steel Box, C.224 Mk I and this will be embosed on the box lid, so that you will have to confirm.

The markings are as follows:

5.5 CARTs 4 in white is 5.5 Inch Cartridges, Charge 4

6 Cartridges in yellow - 6 cartridges, this is the charge propellant, in this case Charge 4. There are several different charges that can be used depending on the range required to send the shell to the target.

3 in circle in red - the Government Explsovie label

E in open ended square in yellow - Propellant Code Letter

B.L. 5.5 IN in yellow - Breach Loading 5.5 Inch

4th Charges 9 LB. 2 OZ WM. 108 in yellow - Charge 4 and the weight with the rest I cannot figure out, should be the mark could be the propellant lot number.

Pg/C 9/43 Mk I FOIL in yellow - Packing date September 1943 although I am not sure what Mk I FOIL is

O.C. 4194 in yellow - could be filling station initials

On the end - 6 Cartridges B.L. 5.5 IN in yellow - 6 cartridges of 5.5 inch Breach Loading ammuncition

4th Charges in yellow - charge 4

O.C. 4194 in yellow - filling station code

167 in white - packing serial number of box

Hope this helps,

ED