1945 2.25″ Rocket Container Mk 2 Mod 0 — WWII Navy Ammo Crate

History isn’t just in books — it’s in the steel boxes men packed, hauled, and trusted with their lives. This 2.25″ Rocket Container Mk 2 Mod 0, stenciled “439195 1HWM US D.M.F. 1945,” is one such survivor.

Born in the final year of World War II, this steel chest was built for one job: to carry four rocket heads safely from a munitions depot to the deck of a ship where young ordnancemen waited to arm the next sortie. Heavy steel walls, a thick rubber gasket, six stout latches — all to keep the payload dry, sealed, and ready in salt air and rough seas.

The stenciling still shows through the years, the spray paint and scratches whisper of docks, decks, and days when victory was measured in tons delivered and targets hit. Pick it up, feel the heft, and picture it strapped down deep in a carrier’s hold while sailors, barely old enough to shave, made sure every rocket was ready when the call came.

Condition

As rugged as the men who used it: honest wear, scratches, scuffs, and patches of oxidation from decades at sea and in storage. Latches close tight, gasket seals true. Markings remain clear — no guesswork, just a piece of the arsenal that helped win the war.

Specs