This is a very rare American wooden ammunition crate for 81mm mortar rounds. It is missing its lid which was ripped off during use when the bombs were taken out to be fired. The box is in very nice condition the wood still retains most of its original brown colour with most of its yellow stamped markings all clear to see and readable. The crate has dirt attached to it which has ingrained on it from all the years being lost in a building in the village. The box has some small amount of damage there are some split and knocks in the wood but nothing to bad at all. The wood is still very solid. It is not breaking up or falling apart but has been very wet and dried out many times.
Any American crate from the Ardennes is rare. This one has been nicely cleaned and is perfect for display or any collection and come with A5 laminated information card.
The box was found in 1997 during building works in the village and was bought at the famous militaria fair the same year in the village of Le Gleize. Le Gleize, during the war was captured by the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler. The battle fought in December 1944 during the Ardennes Forest. The crate comes with A5 laminated information card. The German forces in the village were surrounded by American forces at La Gleize, 800 survivors of the 1st Panzer SS lead by Peiper fled on Christmas Eve, leaving behind 135 armoured vehicles including the 69 tons King Tiger.
This is a very rare American wooden ammunition crate for 81mm mortar rounds. It is missing its lid which was ripped off during use when the bombs were taken out to be fired. The box is in very nice condition the wood still retains most of its original brown colour with most of its yellow stamped markings all clear to see and readable. The crate has dirt attached to it which has ingrained on it from all the years being lost in a building in the village. The box has some small amount of damage there are some split and knocks in the wood but nothing to bad at all. The wood is still very solid. It is not breaking up or falling apart but has been very wet and dried out many times.
Any American crate from the Ardennes is rare. This one has been nicely cleaned and is perfect for display or any collection and come with A5 laminated information card.
The box was found in 1997 during building works in the village and was bought at the famous militaria fair the same year in the village of Le Gleize. Le Gleize, during the war was captured by the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler. The battle fought in December 1944 during the Ardennes Forest. The crate comes with A5 laminated information card. The German forces in the village were surrounded by American forces at La Gleize, 800 survivors of the 1st Panzer SS lead by Peiper fled on Christmas Eve, leaving behind 135 armoured vehicles including the 69 tons King Tiger.
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