I want to add a bit more color to the stowage on my Sherman and was wondering if it's correct that oil was transported in RED jerry cans on US vehicles during WWII?

Feedback is very much appreciated.

I've never seen a picture of one (doesn't mean it didn't happen) and it would seem also to be very unliklely. This would surely be against any camoflage doctrine and would only serve to create a very conspicuous and flammable target.

Again, not to say it didn't happen, but I would think it to be an unlikley exception rather than the rule. Now that I've said that, I'm sure someone will come up with photos to show otherwise.....lol



Bob

I saw a Stuart tank recently built and displayed here at Armorama. It had a red jerry can on it. Looked good. And hey let's remember that anything goes in a time of war. Heck, I just posted a picture of soldiers in Iraq with pink bunnies attached to their helmets.


https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/123639&page=1

-Matt

Color identification panels were often used on US vehicles. These add a nice bit of color, and were usually flourescent red or yellow. They were often draped over whatever stowage was being carried on the back of a vehicle.
They are available from Archer, or you can make your own by painting foil or tissue.

The only other color I'm familiar on jerry cans is that water cans sometimes had white crosses painted on them.

Norm Samuelson

The M25 Pacific Dragon Wagon held a 5 gallon jerry can inside the can full of oil to lubricate the drive chains as needed. It was OD.

As for anything goes -- I'd ask: "Why?" Who would take time to paint cans red? Sure almost anything goes but let's stay closer to practicality, I'd say.

If military ETO issue, no. The oil cans, round, that I have seen were OD or black painted. The can that comes with the Tamiya M4 is a not to bad example. Is this can a 5 gal Jerry can? M4's carried cans inside the hull in the sponsons labeled oil. These were OD. US Jerry can style water cans had a larger openning with a flip clamp lid and were coated inside. The ones for gas and oil had a screw on cap.

If this is for your Pacific M4's I have heard of red painted cans in use by the Navy. The Marine "can" had a openning like the British and German cans, but no doubt they borrowed from the Army and Navy at times, so who knows.