Now I know they carried some, but I have seen some models where they had gas cans lined up all the way around the main gun on some vehicles.
Now if I was a soldier back then that would scare me to death, to have all them bombs so easy to hit, to set me on fire.
A enemy bullet hit one of them cans, and they will all go, now I would imagine they had to have some exposed, but I'd think if they would carry more then that, they would have them in a safer place as to not to be exposed to a sniper, wouldn't you.
That gas cans wouldn't seem to be the extra item to have extra of on a vehicle moving with a big gun.
I don't know what do you think?

Hi, Understand what you mean here straightedge, and I can remember seeing a photo of a Panzer III somewhere or other with these cans all lined up on the turret top just above the gun. Like you said, this would be kind of a dumb place to put extra gas. On second thought I wonder if these cans carried in such an exposed position(s) as this weren't for carrying extra water instead of gas?

Just a thought here.

Take care, Sgirty

Maybe they were full of sand for a bit of added protection?

In a time when smoking was the norm, even inside tanks from what I've been told, I'd rather have the extra cans outside than in, which is really the only alternative. Most vehicles in WW2 photos have them on the front or rear.

With the gas mileage (or lack thereof) that those monsters got, they probably were empty half of the time anyway. Besides, remember it ain't the liquid that burns - it's the fumes. Keep the cans full and no problems.
Ciao for now
Rob

weren't they filled with diesel, not gasoline?

I have read that the germans used to load up with jerry cans when they were going on long marches but would remove them before reaching the contact point with the enemy ...I've even seen pictures of tigers with 55 gallon drums on the back ...Can you say Massive MOLOTOV! ... There is also the fact that alot of water was carried in these cans too...

Rick

Stormfront,
I guess you're right in some circumstances. Sorry I was thinking with an American mind. Remember that our tanks (sorry steel coffins) were easy to "brew up" since we started with Gasoline engines. Besides, didn't the Allies just copy the German design since the British square type of fuel can was prone to puncture easily or even explode? Hence the term "Jerry can."
Ciao for now
Rob

I have never seen a reference photo with a tank loaded up so much.
I have supply trucks totally loaded front to back.
I've seen the back side of an tank loaded - away from sniper fire.

The jerry cans in such precarious positions would have been filled with water. I recall reading an account in either Panzer Aces or Panzer Commander in which the Panzer commander knew he just had a near miss on his panzer because he was suddenly doused with water from his hit jerry cans. That would wake you up!

where would you put them on the inside anyways? its cramped up enough w/ just the crew in there

Rob,
your right us Brits did copy the German design as it was bigger and better (25 ltr)built than the british type (flimsies) they were nicknamed these were just a copy of civi fuel cans of the time.

The German can must have been a good design as we still use it today with slight modifactions

I'm building a Hanomag kit right now, and I've loaded it with alot of stowage, and there are about 7 Jerrycans all over it, a mix of water/fuel cans, and the majority of them are strapped to the front, and on top of the engine bay. I saw a pic of something similar where the vehicle was carrying alot of jerrycans, so I've adopted it for my build. Yes, it can be unconventional, and very dangerous, but there could be many different scenarios to why they are all over the bloody place, they could just be empty, or have liquid of some kind in there.
So if someone looks at your build and says that there are too many jerrycans about and it's incorrect or wrong, just think that there could be tons of reasons why, and you are not necessarily wrong in doing it.

Just don't forget that the Germans added a white cross to their water cans so that they didn't mix them up ...So be sure to show the difference on which is which on your kit. The Americans had different colored caps and or stenciling. I'm not sure what the British used to show the difference ..Does anyone out there know?

Rick

He's right they were filled with sand to foil enemy's. It was like a second skin.

I know it is just a model, but your going for the look of reality, and it just might be me, but I have learned a great respect for gas cans, if it was hit empty, it could explode, and if it was hit full, then it would splash all over everything, and catch the whole thing on fire.
Now to me either way it is dooms day, but if you want gas cans all over your tank, it's your tank, I was just giving my opinion.
Now I did remember watching some movies where some of them did paint their water cans with an white X so not to mix them up.