The Jerrycan’s Clever Design Helped Soldiers Win World War II

Photo 53623825 © Reshoot | Dreamstime.com

As simple as it looks, the jerrycan is packed with details that make it extremely durable and portable for military use. Its design is so brilliant, it’s been credited for aiding soldiers into their victory in World War II.

A compelling video by artist Calum Raasay describes this enduring “secret weapon,” designed in Germany and replicated around the world, in great detail.

One of the most noticeable traits of the gasoline can is its stackability, but there’s so much more to its portability than that. The container can be carried in one hand by a single soldier, but if help is required, another can step in to grip onto the second handle; this means two comrades can handle three filled cans.

For thermal control, the cans have indents and protrusions that allow them to expand or contract according to the temperature. This protects the liquids within from extreme weather changes.

Photo 75285077 © Paketesama | Dreamstime.com

The jerrycan also has purposeful rounded corners that prevent it from crushing surrounding objects or incurring damage itself. Further, each unit is manufactured in two halves, which are then welded together, creating concavities on the sides that protect it from getting misshapen or punctured.

The cans proved to be so essential to the US military, President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed after the war: “Without these cans, it would have been impossible for our armies to cut their way across France at a lightning pace which exceeded the German Blitzkrieg of 1940.”

[via Digg, Calum Raasay, UX Collective, images via various sources]