A jerrycan or jerrican (also styled jerry can or jerri can)[1] is a fuel container made from pressed steel (and more recently, high density polyethylene). It was designed in Germany in the 1930s for military use to hold 20 litres (4.4 imp gal; 5.3 US gal) of fuel, and saw widespread use by both Germany and the Allies during the Second World War.
The development of the jerrycan was a significant improvement on earlier designs, which required tools and funnels to use, and it contained many innovative features for convenience of use and robustness. Today similar designs are used worldwide for fuel and water containers, in both military and civilian contexts. The designs usually emulate the original steel design, though some are also produced in plastic.
- ^ "Historien". blitzcan. Retrieved 13 April 2023.