As we know, the Germans stored water on their AFVs in jerry cans
and marked them with a white cross.

What did Americans do? Did they store water in jerry cans and if
so, how did they distinguish water from fuel?

Any special markings?

Thanks,
Joe

US water cans were 5 gallon cans and are very similar in appearance to the gasoline can, except for the cap. While the gas cans have a screw-on lid, the water cans have a flip-off lid that's larger and shaped differently. The water cans are also painted/coated a cream color inside. Also painted OD, I suppose some could have been marked in the field, but that lid is an easy differentiator.

Asuka/Tasca makes some excellent 1/35 copies of the US water cans.

Thanks Rick!

Found some pics and I now see the difference
with the caps, based on your description.
Cheers,
Joe

It's a very logical safety feature if you think about it. In the dark, a soldier would immediately know if it was water or fuel.

It wasn't unknown for units to stencil cans with "water" "oil" "gasoline" "diesel" etc. and unit designations or bumper codes. Made things "dummy proof" and kept cans from walking away.

I have seen water cans marked with large "W" as well.