As the saying goes, when military forces do not arrive, grain and fodder come first, which is the reason why logistics materials are important to the front line. However, guns and ammunition, such logistics materials, cannot go to the front line without a very important auxiliary tool, namely ammunition boxes.  At the 2018 Beijing Defense Electronics Show, the author saw many domestic air-dropped ammunition boxes, which was refreshing.

Early ammunition boxes were mainly made of wood.

In the past, ammunition boxes were mainly made of wood.  Because in the process of transportation, collision is easy, metal boxes are easy to produce sparks, so wooden boxes are used for safety reasons.  Moreover, the wooden box can be slightly lighter in relative weight, which is better than other toughness.  Another point is that with the development of modern science and technology, high-tech detection equipment is very sensitive to the reaction. Due to the confidentiality and safety considerations of ammunition depots, traces are minimized.

Ammunition boxes should be strong and easy to disassemble.

However, reporters learned at this exhibition that ammunition boxes have now been produced using new materials and new processes. For example, polymer composite materials have high strength, light weight, and strong and sturdy characteristics.

The reporter also learned in the interview that while the ammunition box is strong and reliable, it should also be easy to disassemble. If the ammunition box is not easy to open, it may be a serious problem in battle.  It is said that the Italian army suffered from this during World War II.

In the African battlefield during World War II, an Italian army of more than 500 people was ordered to defend a field airport. Italy was the first country to study airborne paratroopers and set up paratroopers. For example, 185 Vogel paratroopers performed very well in the African battlefield. They had solid concrete, sufficient ammunition and even received two giant cannons supported by the Mendes.  The Italian army was prepared to resist the onslaught of the main force of the British army Montgomery Army here. As a result, it was unexpected that the Italian army did not organize much resistance and surrendered soon.  It should be noted that the attacking side had only 400-strong British troops and did not even have any decent heavy weapons. Faced with the 500 Italian soldiers behind the airport's perfect fortifications, the British commander did not expect much from the attack and even made plans to withdraw. However, it was strange that the attack had just begun and the Italians were flying white flags.  When the British officers received the news of the Italian army's surrender, they still couldn't believe it. They thought it was a deliberate plot by the Italian army. Only after asking did they realize that the Italian defenders didn't have the proper tools, and many ammunition boxes couldn't be opened quickly. They faced the dilemma of no ammunition available.  From this, we can see the drawbacks of Italy in designing ammunition boxes at that time.3

Plastic materials are lighter than wooden ammunition boxes. Why not use plastic as ammunition boxes?

Answer: Static electricity!

Plastics have excellent electrical insulation properties, because most of its molecular chains are composed of covalent bonds, which can neither ionize nor transfer free electrons. Therefore, once charged due to gain and loss of electrons in the friction process, the roots are difficult to disappear through conduction, so plastic products are easy to carry a large amount of static electricity.

For example, nylon-thread clothes are easier to rub out electric sparks than cotton-padded clothes and are more likely to be charged.  Foamed plastic will spark when contacted with nails after friction, etc.

Therefore, if the magazine and the bullet box are made of plastic, the friction generated during transportation will easily cause the plastic to generate static electricity and detonate gunpowder, thus causing potential safety hazards.  So most of the magazines are made of wood instead of plastic.

Of course, now that science and technology are developed and various new types of plastic products are gradually becoming antistatic, military enterprises are turning their eyes to light, cheap and highly reliable plastics.

Shanghai Canggu Plastic Science and Technology Co., Ltd.' s Baishidun series rotomoulded ammunition boxes are light, cheap and highly reliable. The boxes are made of modified granulated materials, and the air tightness of the boxes which are resistant to deformation at -50℃~70℃ will not be affected.