watertight gas can?

[Pyotr]

I have severalWW2 German gas mask cans. One is marked "D" on the bottom. I have read this means either it is watertight, or that it was made by Drager in Luebeck.

If it is water tight, I can't see why it is, and why they would make it so. If it is water tight when made, was there a gasket/seal on the lid? If there was a rubber seal, does anyone reproduce this seal?

Given that most cans were not marked "D" and most countries had the gas mask in a canvas sack, I can't see any reason for a watertight can. (I have hear it was made for the invasion of England, but I still can't see any point in it. The Normandie invasion certainly didn't see allied forces in watertight containers. Even now in the US military, the case when I was in are just a nylon bag.
What is the consensus on the "D" marked cans?
Patrick

[Karl-heinz Henschel]

The US Army had water tight rubberissed bags for their Gas mask on D Day, I have filled mine with air and used it as a pillow before,

The German D marked tin is supposed to be water tight, I've never tried mine to see, and like you I don't see the point

[peiper1944]

They are for Kriegsmarine/Coastal Artillery troops

Peiper

[erikbozwo2]

They are for Kriegsmarine/Coastal Artillery troops

Peiper

Nope. The D stands for "Dicht". Wich means sealed or closed. Not for keeping water out, but a seal against dust.

[peiper1944]

They are for Kriegsmarine/Coastal Artillery troops

Peiper

Nope. The D stands for "Dicht". Wich means sealed or closed. Not for keeping water out, but a seal against dust.

That's interesting where did you read that Erik
as I read the "DW" was for "Dicht-Wasser"

[erikbozwo2]

I've never seen one stamped "DW". I believe it was originally invented to cope with the moist and dust deteriorating the mask and it's filter after experiences in the Russian steppes and the Afrika Korps. The earliest Can that I have with the D is from 1942.

Oh, and I have seen someone go swimming with a "D" marked can but it filled with water quickly.

Where is your information from that those cans where issued to Kriegsmarnie/Kustenartillerie? The D is a standard stamping from '42/'43 and on. This should mean that every 43/44/45 was meant for the KM.

[peiper1944]

I've never seen one stamped "DW". I believe it was originally invented to cope with the moist and dust deteriorating the mask and it's filter after experiences in the Russian steppes and the Afrika Korps. The earliest Can that I have with the D is from 1942.

Oh, and I have seen someone go swimming with a "D" marked can but it filled with water quickly.

Where is your information from that those cans where issued to Kriegsmarnie/Kustenartillerie? The D is a standard stamping from '42/'43 and on. This should mean that every 43/44/45 was meant for the KM.

Yes mate ive got my information from various
ref books that mention the subject, where did
you get your info from ? also I have seen
examples that dealers were selling that
were listed as "water tight" gas mask tins,
a dealer named "Battleflag Militaria" had
one a while ago painted in KM grey and listed
as the KM water tight version, it is also
mentioned in the "Deutsche Soldaten" book
off the top of my head, none were stamped
"DW" I never said that but the D stands for
Dicht-Wasser, to be fair looking at it logically
you wouldn't need a tin to keep out dust as
this wouldn't harm a respirator in my view,
water would as the filter would be water logged,
as far as I can tell these "D" type tins were
originally made for KM troops but later I think
all branches recieved them as I have seen and
owned some In a variety of service colours tbh

[erikbozwo2]

So all these cans with D below are KM? Sorry, but the D stamping is standard after 42 !


1937, Camo, makers logo with WaA:



I can't descipher this maker but it is from '39:



frn42, note the rubber ring in the lid:



frn44:


pfk44, camo:

[GraemeMac]

Nice straps on the fm42. Love the leather tipped ones.

[peiper1944]

Ive just said mate if you read my last post
properly, I said originally the "D" stamped
cans were for KM but later were issued to
all branches, the ones that were actually
waterproof and worked were the ones with
the rubber seal, I haven't seen many but I have
one wartime example, altogether I have four
WW2 stamped cans, two have the "D" mark,
not all cans had the "D" stamp but the ones
that have the rubber seal as well these are
the ones that were issued to KM and Coastal
Units, I will post some pics asap but all my gear
is in storage...watch this space

[erikbozwo2]

My frn42 can with the rubber ring was issued and used by a Uffz in the 21st Pz Div.

[peiper1944]

My frn42 can with the rubber ring was issued and used by a Uffz in the 21st Pz Div.

Fairplay Erik as you know the guidelines for
issuing gear went out the window mid/late
War but the original intended location of
these cans were KM and Coastal as far
as I can tell going with the info at my
disposal but obviously some of these
"waterproof" cans found their way with
other units imho

[Konzert-Meister]

Good afternoon,

Erik is right, the 'D' was a standard from 1942 (I believe the earliest ones found are 1941 but I'd have to check).

The 'D' stands for 'Dicht', whether it's 'luft-dicht' or 'wasser-dicht' I'm personally uncertain. As not all of these cans have the rubber seal in the lid.

I'd like to ask Erik if the one that went swimming had the rubber o ring.

My 'D' canister is produced in 1945 and it lacks any rubber O ring, showing no evidence or one ever having been in place. (condition unissued). Not surprising for a 1945 dated can that it lacks rubber, or indeed earlier ones. As rubber was in extremely short supply.
The famous quote of a German soldier late in the war that went something like this ''How can we win the war, we are fighting an enemy that can equip all it's men with rubber soled shoes, we haven't got enough for airplane tires.''

It's plausible for it stand for 'Luft-Dicht', to protect against dust. As the Wehrmacht in dusty areas (one might say tropical) were issued a dust cover. See attached.

I wouldn't take any dealers word for any information given about a product, often one knows more about the items for sale than the dealer does. As for the book 'Deutsche Soldaten', it has several mistakes and post war items within it's covers. Don't get me wrong it's a good book, but more for the happy amateur collector.

It's definitely not special costal artillery or kriegsmarine.

[erikbozwo2]

Doing a quick lookup on WAF when I bought the frn42 can I've read that all of the cans with the D marking originally had a rubber ring in them but it was later ordered to be removed for recycling or later discontinued to save rubber.

Why say that the "D" marked cans are meant for KM only when KM masks are stamped differently on A the mask and B inside the canister sometimes?

The one used for swimming did not have a rubber ring in it.

[peiper1944]

Why say that the "D" marked cans are meant for KM only when KM masks are stamped differently on A the mask and B inside the canister sometimes?

Yes mate the stamp on the tin ie: "the embossed D" was done at the factories, the ink stamps of
various Units found on the inside lid and on the
mask/filter these were stamped at its final
destination ie: the Unit supply depot, hence the
different unit stampings, just my two cents
obviously different resources/ref books give
different explanations, going from the different
comments no one can say for certain, basically
as I said above these type of can were designed
for KM use then later had the rubber seals
removed and were issued en- masse to all Units
imho