Uses
Today similar designs are used for fuel and water containers, some of which are also produced in plastic. The designs usually emulate the original steel design and are still known as jerrycans, although they have also been called "jerryjugs" (or "jerry jugs", just as jerrycan is sometimes spelled as two words as well). Generally their use is denoted by the coloring, and occasionally, imprinted labeling on the container itself. This is to prevent the mixture of different fuels, as well as preventing water containers from being contaminated with fuel or vice versa.
The US version of the jerrycan is covered by military specification MIL-C-1283 and has been produced since the early 1940s by a number of US manufacturers, according to a current manufacturer, Blitz. The National Stock Number is 7240-00-222-3088. It is considered obsolete, having been replaced with plastic versions.
Typically, the following NATO color coding is used:
| Color | Use |
|---|---|
| Red | Gasoline (lead-replacement) |
| Green | Gasoline (unleaded) |
| Yellow | Diesel |
| Blue | Kerosene |
| Tan, Light Blue or Black | Water (usually labeled) |
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