Box Transporting Explosives

[pedro]

A number of different BTE were used in Aust service, mostly mirroring UK practice. Here is one that was last used in Nov 44. Contents two rolls of Propellant MDT (tubular) Outside Diameter 5 Inside Diameter 2. This box saved, in 2010, from a job I was on in Melbourne, Propellant was made at Salisbury SA (MS) and sent to Melbourne for use in filling .303in cartridges at MF. After use this box was turned to a different purpose. Brass hinges and a brass hasp/staple have been fitted and the box lined with thick yellow felt. Not sure of the exact date after WWII but by 1954 the term 'Cordite' was largely replaced by 'Propellant' as the descriptive noun with Propellant code letters (WM, MDT, NQ/M, NH, FNH) and sizes used to form the full name of such items. But is the rank and file Cordite certainly lived on much longer being used as the term for Powder of whatever sort in whatever weapon.

 

[hangarman]

Hi Pedro, Unusual box you have there. Can't say I have seen any like that over in the UK but I guess they must be lurking somewhere. Cheers Gary

 

[pedro]

Containers for components at factory level were quite different from Service packages as they are not subjected to the rigours of service field or maritime use. Propellant boxes of this type had screw down lids, to prevent easy opening. The colour is not significant. When I worked Proof & Experimental in the 1980's Propellants could still be found in similar wooden containers. Interestingly when making DB propellants in Aust the limitation of each batch of NC/NG paste was about 10lbs. So only very small runs of DB propellant were possible. In order to make a Lot big enough to meet service needs propellant production runs were blended.. in a not so scientific process I once observed.. picture a room devoid of all but benches around the walls, on the benches are similar flat rectangular wooden boxes about 900x400x200mm without lids, in each box is cord/tubular propellant. the last box is empty and sitting on scales and zeroed. Now take some factory workers dressed in their flannel, clean-conditions clothing.. each one takes 3 sticks of propellant from each box, moving around the room and placing the resultant bundle into the empty, but rapidly filling, container. When the container is filled to the required net weight close and seal the box, apply required Lot markings and start again with a new empty box. All this supervised by a Foreman and recorded on daily room records and Lot records such that at some point in the future an investigation could reveal that Lot X, consisting of production lots A,B,C,D etc, was blended at MX factory in Room Nn under control of Mr Bloggs. All in the days before PC or data processing.. all manual records and data cards