Flea market find: U-boat ammo box!

spripple33 · 02-25-2021, 10:06 PM

Look what turned up in a flea market in Ostend, Belgium!

I AM SO EXCITED! I never thought I would ever be lucky enough to add one of these to my collection! It's in kind of rough shape and missing the label on the inside of the lid, but I just couldn't pass it up. The early 3-lobed crown/M mark on the top of lid is still fairly legible.

Edward Tinker · 02-25-2021, 10:32 PM

That is really cool. I went to many flea markets in the netherlands and Belgium, never found anything like that, not that I knew about them when I was there 93-00

Are you living or visiting there?

Ed

spripple33 · 02-25-2021, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

That is really cool. I went to many flea markets in the netherlands and Belgium, never found anything like that, not that I knew about them when I was there 93-00

Are you living or visiting there?

Ed

Actually, I live on this side of the pond. I bought this from a collector in France that I have struck up a friendship with. He has found quite a few great items in flea markets and small out-of-the-way shops around Europe.
-Jason

gunnertwo · 02-25-2021, 11:25 PM

Outstanding find! Jealous!

G2

m1903a3 · 02-26-2021, 01:58 AM

Congratulations! There are only a few of us lucky enough to own one of these.

One minor point: Although they are often called "U-Boat" ammo boxes, there is no actual historic basis for that as far as I am able to ascertain.

From known labels we certainly know they were originally used for P.04 ammunition by the Imperial Navy, but it is most likely that they were used by Torpedo boats and Minesweepers as well as U-Boats. Those vessels all had the P.04 as the primary crew weapon, that is the weapon they trained on in basic training and they are all comparatively "wet" environments.

spripple33 · 02-26-2021, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1903a3

Congratulations! There are only a few of us lucky enough to own one of these.

One minor point: Although they are often called "U-Boat" ammo boxes, there is no actual historic basis for that as far as I am able to ascertain.

From known labels we certainly know they were originally used for P.04 ammunition by the Imperial Navy, but it is most likely that they were used by Torpedo boats and Minesweepers as well as U-Boats. Those vessels all had the P.04 as the primary crew weapon, that is the weapon they trained on in basic training and they are all comparatively "wet" environments.

Mike, thank you for the correction. I debated on how I was going to label this post because I agree with you. After finding a couple other posts also referring to it as a 'U-boat ammo box' I thought this was the best way to go to preserve a commonality between the posts for future reference.

In support of the U-boat theory, I would think they would be a little more common if used aboard all these other smaller ships as well. Some boxes, including this one, have apparently been found near ports with known U-boat activity.

Lastly, this box is deceptively small for the claim of being able to hold 800 rounds of 9mm ammo. I have been aboard a modern U.S. nuclear submarine and space is VERY limited. Every nook and cranny is utilized for storage. Even a small surface ship would probably have a palatial amount of room compared to a U-boat... Jmho but I absolutely agree no official documentation exists. Thanks for weighing in.

-Jason

Norme · 02-26-2021, 04:24 PM

The box can certainly hold 800 rounds of 9mm ammo if you stack 50 standard cartons, containing 16 rounds, each on end, I've checked. Sturgess speculates that the Navy switched to different sized cartons containing 25 or 50 rounds which would limit the box to 700 rounds (I haven't checked).
Norm

Edward Tinker · 02-26-2021, 09:33 PM

Norm that is an outstanding label.

tenbears · 02-28-2021, 06:49 PM

The collector gods have been kind to you with the flea market ammo box find.

LU1900 · 03-02-2021, 02:34 AM

Very nice find : one more saved !
Like "P-Kasten" and "P08m.Tasche" , those boxes begins to be more rare and rare

Vlim · 03-02-2021, 05:32 AM

To me it would make more sense to equip u-boats with pocket pistols and .32 auto ammo.

cirelaw · 03-02-2021, 08:59 AM

Its harder than finding a good wife!

George Anderson · 03-02-2021, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlim

To me it would make more sense to equip u-boats with pocket pistols and .32 auto ammo.

The crews of U-boats needed pistols adequate to the task of boarding and capturing enemy freighters.

Vlim · 03-02-2021, 12:09 PM

Reminds me of a documented case where a US crewmember 'liberated' the captains Mauser HSc from a u-boat in WW2.

I'm thinking about equipping them with Gew.98's just to see the mess it would make on board

lugerholsterrepair · 03-02-2021, 03:49 PM

The U-boat captain's pistol was simply a badge of office. He would have never been in a boarding party and needed a real combat pistol.

02-25-2021, 10:06 PM	#1
spripple33 User Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Gettysburg, PA Posts: 84 Thanks: 137 Thanked 166 Times in 53 Posts	Flea market find: U-boat ammo box! Look what turned up in a flea market in Ostend, Belgium! I AM SO EXCITED! I never thought I would ever be lucky enough to add one of these to my collection! It's in kind of rough shape and missing the label on the inside of the lid, but I just couldn't pass it up. The early 3-lobed crown/M mark on the top of lid is still fairly legible. Attached Thumbnails

02-25-2021, 10:32 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,876 Thanks: 1,952 Thanked 4,461 Times in 2,062 Posts	That is really cool. I went to many flea markets in the netherlands and Belgium, never found anything like that, not that I knew about them when I was there 93-00 Are you living or visiting there? Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

02-26-2021, 01:58 AM	#5
m1903a3 User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 197 Thanks: 26 Thanked 315 Times in 112 Posts	Congratulations! There are only a few of us lucky enough to own one of these. One minor point: Although they are often called "U-Boat" ammo boxes, there is no actual historic basis for that as far as I am able to ascertain. From known labels we certainly know they were originally used for P.04 ammunition by the Imperial Navy, but it is most likely that they were used by Torpedo boats and Minesweepers as well as U-Boats. Those vessels all had the P.04 as the primary crew weapon, that is the weapon they trained on in basic training and they are all comparatively "wet" environments. __________________ - Mike Life member: NRA, OVMS, VGCA Member: NAPCA, N-SSA(Veteran) Si vis pacem, para bellum

02-26-2021, 04:24 PM	#7
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,406 Thanks: 213 Thanked 2,555 Times in 923 Posts	The box can certainly hold 800 rounds of 9mm ammo if you stack 50 standard cartons, containing 16 rounds, each on end, I've checked. Sturgess speculates that the Navy switched to different sized cartons containing 25 or 50 rounds which would limit the box to 700 rounds (I haven't checked). Norm Attached Thumbnails

03-02-2021, 02:34 AM	#10
LU1900 User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: FRANCE Posts: 887 Thanks: 27 Thanked 444 Times in 187 Posts	Very nice find : one more saved ! Like "P-Kasten" and "P08m.Tasche" , those boxes begins to be more rare and rare __________________ Best regards from France...Patrice https://www.fichier-pdf.fr/2016/03/1...nd-snail-drum/

02-25-2021, 11:25 PM	#4
gunnertwo Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Nampa, Idaho Posts: 576 Thanks: 772 Thanked 852 Times in 327 Posts	Outstanding find! Jealous! G2

02-26-2021, 09:33 PM	#8
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,876 Thanks: 1,952 Thanked 4,461 Times in 2,062 Posts	Norm that is an outstanding label.

02-28-2021, 06:49 PM	#9
tenbears User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 370 Thanks: 3 Thanked 26 Times in 15 Posts	The collector gods have been kind to you with the flea market ammo box find.

03-02-2021, 05:32 AM	#11
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 4,986 Thanks: 1,009 Thanked 3,697 Times in 1,143 Posts	To me it would make more sense to equip u-boats with pocket pistols and .32 auto ammo.

03-02-2021, 08:59 AM	#12
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,129 Times in 2,173 Posts	Its harder than finding a good wife!

03-02-2021, 12:09 PM	#14
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 4,986 Thanks: 1,009 Thanked 3,697 Times in 1,143 Posts	Reminds me of a documented case where a US crewmember 'liberated' the captains Mauser HSc from a u-boat in WW2. I'm thinking about equipping them with Gew.98's just to see the mess it would make on board

03-02-2021, 03:49 PM	#15
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,741 Thanks: 4,728 Thanked 3,046 Times in 1,411 Posts	The U-boat captain's pistol was simply a badge of office. He would have never been in a boarding party and needed a real combat pistol. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

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