Introduction:

An ammunition box is a container designed for safe transport and storage of ammunition. Most small arms ammunition is packed in watertight metal boxes. The boxes for .30 cal and .50 cal ammunition are the most common, but there are actually a large number of sizes and shapes of ammo cans to accommodate the vast variety of military cartridges and munitions. Some boxes are special purpose containers made for one item exclusively, while others are more general purpose and can be packed with inner cartons, bandoleers, linked belts, dividers, or loose cartridges of many types of calibers. Although there is a lot of variation, ammo cans are often marked by embossing or stencil to indicate the orientation of the ammo contents, the box nomenclature, the manufacturer and manufacturing lot numbers.

The M2A1 Ammunition Can was designed to hold link belts of .50 cal ammunition for the M2 Browning Machine Gun. The M2A1 holds 100 rounds of .50 caliber cartridges.

Review:

Live Resin offers a number of accessory sets for 1/35 scale M2 Browning .50 cal weapon sets. This review covers their M2 Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun ammo boxes, ammo belts (LRE-35052).

The accessory set is packed in a zip-lock bag safely secured between a firm cardboard backing. The boxart image on the front shows all the kit parts, while the one on the back displays some of the possibilities of using the set. The box states this accessory set is compatible with all Live Resin kits featuring M2 machine guns, but also with any .50 cal machine gun produced by other manufacturers.

The set contains 11 pieces cast in grey resin. The cast is really good and I found no imperfections in the resin whatsoever. The carrier blocks are pretty large and the ammo belt segments extremely delicate, so I would suggest patience when cleaning the pieces.

This set depicts M2A1 ammo can, one of the most common ammo containers in the US Army inventory. The M2A1 measures 12' x 6' x 7,5' and holds 100 rounds of .50 cal cartridges linked into belts. It is often deployed with the M2 machine gun, in an ammo can holder on the left side of the weapon. Six M2A1 ammo cans in 1/35 scale are included in this set: three are depicted closed with their lids on, two opened with their lids cast separately, while the last can is shown in ammo can holder. This type of ammo can holder is designed to function with the MK93 Machine Gun Mount. Three 11-round .50 cal ammo belt segments are included in the set as well. These fit perfectly to the opening of the M2A1 ammo can.

The M2A1 ammo cans in this set are accurately sized and the details are well rendered. They feature nicely defined flat folded handle and quick-release latch mechanism. The ammo belts look really good and the details on both the ammo rounds and belt links are masterfully executed in 1/35 scale. The only thing this set craves for are the stencils, which are available from various decal manufacturers.

Conclusion:

This accessory set represents one of the most common ammo boxes in the US Army inventory: the M2A1 ammo can. The set includes six cans in slightly different setups and three short .50 cal ammo belt segments. Whether you are thinking of displaying your machine gun fed from the ammo boxes on the ground or in the ammo can holder on the left side of the weapon, this is the set for you.

References:

Olive Drab website
Browning MGs
MilSys Group