container

Abstract

An ammunition container is provided comprising a base, two end walls extending operatively upwardly from opposing ends of the base, and two sidewalls extending operatively upwardly from opposing sides of the base. The sidewalls and end walls meet to define corner sections, each with a lower corner at the base and an upper corner at an open end of the container. A plurality of reinforcement ribs are disposed on at least the sidewalls, extending at least partially from the base to the upper end of the sidewalls. The container is characterised by at least one connecting rib extending from a lower corner of the container in a direction away from the corner, the connecting rib spanning at least two of the reinforcement ribs to facilitate load transfer from the bottom corner to the reinforcement ribs.

Description

[0001] CONTAINER

[0002] BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0003] THIS invention relates to a container, and more particularly but not exclusively to an ammunition container made, at least partially, from a non- metallic material. The invention also relates to a container having improved corner reinforcement.

[0004] An ammunition box or container is a container designed to store and transport ammunition safely. These containers are typically made of materials like steel, plastic, or aluminum, and they come in various sizes and configurations depending on the type and quantity of ammunition they're meant to hold. The containers play a crucial role in military operations by providing secure storage and easy transport for ammunition to the frontline or other deployment locations.

[0005] Historically, these containers were predominantly made of steel due to its durability and ability to withstand harsh environments. Steel ammunition containers were widely used during World War I and World War II, as well as throughout much of the 20th century. There has, however, been a relatively recent transition away from steel, with the introduction of alternative materials such as plastic and aluminum. These materials offered advantages in terms of weight reduction, corrosion resistance, and costeffectiveness. Plastic ammunition containers, for example, are lightweight and resistant to rust, making them ideal for modern military applications.

[0006] However, conventional ammunition container designs, regardless of the material of fabrication, must satisfy many operational constraints, resulting in implicit design limitations and requirements. These include, but are not limited to, weight restrictions, strength requirements, moisture permeability requirements, flame and / or fragment retarding requirements, and very specific labelling requirements.

[0007] Weight will always be an important consideration, as ammunition containers must be handled frequently, and often during difficult and uncontrolled circumstances. Although the weight of an ammunition container is reduced when manufacturing the container from plastic or some other composite material, it results in reduced strength, which has to be compensated for. This can, for example, be done by introducing ribbing and other structural reinforcement elements.

[0008] Strength becomes particularly important when it comes to the requirement of ammunition containers to withstand certain specified structural drop tests. The most vulnerable area of a plastic container is the corners of the container due to the concentration of forces when the container is dropped onto a corner. Although reinforcement ribs are included on end zones of some of the plastic containers available in the marker in order to strengthen such end zones, the degree of reinforcement may still not be sufficient to withstand point loads during drop tests, particularly in low temperature conditions when plastic tends to become brittle. This concern is less pronounced on the lid side (upper end) of the container because of the added strength from the lid and ribbing. One would think that the obvious solution is to increase the strength and number of ribs, but excessive reinforcement is also impractical due to geometric constraints, i.e. the container must adhere to standard dimensions to fit into existing equipment, such as storage compartments, transportation containers and / or weapon systems.

[0009] Another requirement mentioned above is that ammunition containers must be moisture impermeable. While plastic containers offer cost and weight advantages, they are not inherently as waterproof as steel containers. This is due to the permeability of the material and potential shortcomings in the sealing between the container and lid, especially if not designed properly.

[0010] A lid design that does not provide a proper seal furthermore results in a risk of ingress of moisture, dust and other contaminants, which is also problematic. Sealing mechanisms such as seals or O-rings are generally used to maintain the integrity of an ammunition container and its contents, but the lid still has to be designed with sufficient rigidity and stability kept in mind, failing which a resilient seal will also not be able to provide a sufficient seal.

[0011] A further requirement alluded to above relates to the flame and fragment retardant abilities of ammunition containers. Ammunition containers are required to resist ignition and combustion when exposed to flames or high temperatures. This could involve using fire-resistant materials in the construction of the containers or by incorporating additional protective measures such as fire-retardant coatings or layers. At the same time, the design of ammunition containers should minimize the risk of fragmentation from nearby explosions or impacts.

[0012] Traditional ammunition containers often also lack versatility in terms of customization and adaptability to different types of ammunition. They typically have fixed compartments or configurations, which may not always accommodate the specific needs of various weapon systems or mission requirements. In some cases, carboard sheets are used to create partitions, but it will be appreciated that this is not a solution that will provide secure partitioning.

[0013] Finally, due to the nature of the use of ammunition containers, signature reduction is also an important consideration. In the context of ammunition containers, signature reduction refers to the efforts made to minimize or conceal the distinctive features or characteristics of the container that could potentially reveal its presence or contents to adversaries. This involves implementing design features and materials that reduce the container’s detectability through various means such as visual, thermal, electromagnetic, or acoustic signatures. Although plastic and organic material have a reduced signature, the answer is not simply to manufacture ammunition containers from low signature materials, due to all the other limitations and design requirements discussed above.

[0014] To address all the above limitations and very specific design requirements, there has been ongoing innovation in ammunition container designs. Modern solutions include modular and stackable designs that allow for more efficient use of space and easier handling. Additionally, advancements in materials science have led to the development of lightweight yet durable containers that offer enhanced protection for ammunition while minimizing logistical burdens. Overall, while steel ammunition containers have a storied history in military logistics, modern militaries are increasingly turning to innovative designs and materials to meet the evolving demands of warfare. These advancements aim to improve the efficiency, flexibility, and effectiveness of ammunition storage and transport in military operations. Existing designs are, however, far from optimal at this stage, and there is an ongoing need for new and improved designs that will alleviate some or all of the above shortcomings.

[0015] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an ammunition container that will, at least partially, alleviate the above shortcomings. It is also an object of the invention to provide an ammunition container which will be a useful alternative to existing ammunition containers.

[0016] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] According to the invention there is provided an ammunition container including: a base; two end walls extending operatively upwardly from opposing ends of the base; two sidewalls extending operatively upwardly from opposing sides of the base; the sidewalls and the end walls meeting to form corner sections, with each corner section having an operatively lower corner located at the base of the container, and an operatively upper corner located at an open end of the container; and a plurality of reinforcement ribs provided on at least the sidewall of the container, the reinforcement ribs at least partially extending from the base to an operatively upper end of the sidewalls; characterized in that the container also includes at least one connecting rib that extends from a lower corner of the container in a direction away from the corner, wherein the connecting rib extends between at least two of the reinforcement ribs in order to be able to transfer loads from the bottom corner to the reinforcement ribs.

[0018] There is provided for the connecting rib to be straight or curved.

[0019] When in a curved configuration, there is provided for the curved rib preferably to curve away from the base of the container towards an open end of the container. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of diverging connecting ribs extend from the lower corner of the container in a direction away from the corner.

[0020] There is also provided for the reinforcement ribs to extend substantially parallel relative to the corner sections of the container.

[0021] The corner ribs may be limited to a zone adjacent the corner sections, but may also be provided across the entire sidewall.

[0022] There is provided for the container to be at least partially made from a composite material, for example a polypropylene or a polyethylene composite.

[0023] A further feature of the invention provides for at least parts of the base, end walls or sidewalls to be constructed from multiple materials or from materials that are different to that of other parts of the base, end walls or sidewalls.

[0024] In one embodiment, there is provided for higher strength structural support members to be provided at corners and / or edges of the container. The structural support members may be secured to the corners and / or edges, or may be integrally formed with the corners and / or the edges, and may be made from a suitable structural support material, for example a suitable metallic material such as steel, or a composite material of higher strength than the rest of the container, such as fiber glass or carbon fiber.

[0025] In another embodiment, there is provided for at least one of the base, sidewalls or end walls to be made from a composite material, and for at least one of the base, sidewalls or end walls to be made from a structural support material, for example a suitable metallic material such as steel, or a composite material of higher strength than the rest of the container, such as fiber glass or carbon fiber.

[0026] In yet another embodiment, there is provided for the at least one of the base, sidewalls or end walls to be made from a combination of a composite material and a structural support material. There is provided for the structural support material to be integrated into the composite material by way of overmolding or insertmolding.

[0027] There is also provided for the structural support material to be integrated into a complementary lid of the container.

[0028] A further feature of the invention provides for the container as described above to include an internal divider for dividing an internal volume of the container into smaller sections.

[0029] In one embodiment there is provided for the internal divider to be integrally molded with the container.

[0030] In another embodiment there is provided for the container to include integrally formed receiving formations configured for receiving discrete but complementary internal divider members.

[0031] In yet a further embodiment there is provided for the internal divider to be a separate tray configured and dimensioned to fit, preferably slidingly fit, into the container.

[0032] A still further feature of the invention provides for at least one of the base, end walls or sidewalls to include a moisture impervious layer. There is provided for the moisture impervious layer to be molded with the composite base material, for example by way of an in-mould labelling (IML) process.

[0033] The moisture impervious layer may, for example, be an aluminium layer.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the base, end walls, sidewalls and lid all include a moisture impervious layer.

[0035] Another feature of the invention provides for the ammunition container to include a retardant liner, suitable for use in fire and fragment retardation.

[0036] In one embodiment the retardant liner may be in the form of a retardant bag or box configured and dimensioned removably to be locatable inside the ammunition container.

[0037] The retardant bag or box may include handling formations to facilitate easy removal of the retardant bag or box from the ammunition container.

[0038] The handling formations may be removable.

[0039] There is provided for the retardant bag to be a substantially rigid subcontainer allowing the ammunition contained in the ammunition container to be removable as a single unit for use with a weapon.

[0040] There is provided for the retardant liner to be made from, or to include, heat resistant fibers and resins, and / or to have a foaming nature when exposed to heat.

[0041] There is also provided for the retardant liner to contain ceramics and / or layers of insulating material, for example aluminium foil. There is still further provided for the retardant liner to be provided on the outside surface of the base, end walls and sidewalls.

[0042] The retardant liner may also be the water impervious liner.

[0043] A further feature of the invention provides for the ammunition container to be made from a composite material that also includes a radar absorbent compound.

[0044] The radar absorbing compound may, for example, be a compound such as a ferritic powder of carbon nanotubes.

[0045] A further aspect of the invention provides for the ammunition container to include digital communication means.

[0046] The digital communication means may be secured to the container, or may be integrally formed with the container, for example by molding the digital communication means into the base, end walls or sidewalls during the manufacturing of the container.

[0047] The digital communication means may be in the form of one or more near field communication (NFC) chips, and / or one or more radio frequency (RF) chips.

[0048] There is also provided for the container to include a data logging means.

[0049] Preferably, the data logging means is able to measure moisture, temperature, vibration.

[0050] As still further feature of the invention provided for the container to include marking, for example laser engraving, printed marking or an attached label. There is provided for part of a side wall to include a marking surface, for example a coarser surface allowing more secure attachment of a label or coating with printing ink.

[0051] According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an ammunition container including: a base; two end walls extending operatively upwardly from opposing ends of the base; and two sidewalls extending operatively upwardly from opposing sides of the base; characterized in that at least parts of the base, end walls or sidewalls are constructed from multiple materials or from materials that are different to that of other parts of the base, end walls or sidewalls.

[0052] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described by way of a nonlimiting example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0054] Figure 1 is a top perspective view of an ammunition container in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

[0055] Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the container of Figure 1 ;

[0056] Figure 3 is a side view of the container of Figure 1 ;

[0057] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional end view of the container of Figure 1 ; Figure 5 is a top perspective view of a lid for use with the container of Figure 1 ;

[0058] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional end view of the lid of Figure 5;

[0059] Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of an ammunition container in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; and

[0060] Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of an ammunition container in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.

[0061] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0062] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. It is noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the," and any singular use of any word, include plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one referent. As used herein, the term “include” and its grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or added to the listed items. Referring to Figures 1 to 6, in which like numerals indicate like features, a non-limiting and simplified example of an ammunition container in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

[0063] The ammunition container 10 includes a receptacle comprising a planar base 20, two end walls 30 extending operatively upwardly from the base 20 and two sidewalls 40 also extending operatively upwardly from the base 20. The sidewalls 40 extend between the two end walls 30 so as to form a continuous wall extending about the base 20, which defines an internal cavity of the container 10.

[0064] The base 20 has two opposing side edges 21 , being the major sides of the base 20, and two opposing end edges 22, being the minor sides of the base 20. Each end wall 30 has a lower end 31 that extends from the end edge 22 of the base, and an upper end 32 forming the open end of the container. Likewise, each sidewall 40 has a lower end 41 that extends from the side edge 21 of the base, and an upper end 42 forming the open end of the container. The end walls 30 and the sidewalls 40 meet, in order to define corner sections 50 of the container. Each corner section 50 includes an operatively lower corner 51 adjacent the base 20, and an operatively upper corner 52 adjacent an opening of the container.

[0065] Reinforcement ribs 43 are provided on the sidewall 40, and in the present example are configured substantially parallel with the corner section 50, therefore being substantially vertical when the container is in an upright position. Although there is provided for the reinforcement ribs to extend across the entire sidewall 40, in the embodiment shown the reinforcement ribs 43 are only provided at end zones of the sidewall 40 adjacent the corner section, so as to provide a flat labelling area 47 where a label can be attached, printed, embedded or moulded. In the example shown in the drawings, fourteen ribs are provided on each side, but it will be appreciated that fewer or more ribs may be utilized, depending on the application and size of the container. It will be appreciated that reinforcement ribs may also be provided on the end walls 30.

[0066] Receiving formations 45 are intermittently spaced along the length of the upper end 42 of the sidewall for receiving complementary engagement hooks 83 provided on a complementary configured lid 80, as is described in more detail below. A sealing groove 46 is furthermore provided adjacent the upper ends (32 and 42) of the end walls 30 and the sidewall 40.

[0067] Connecting ribs 60 are furthermore provided on the sidewalls 40, and more particular extend from the lower corners 51 upwardly and away from the lower corner 51 . The connecting ribs 60 may be curved, as is shown in the drawings, but may also be straight, provided they extend from the lower corner 51 across at least some of the reinforcement ribs 43, thus assisting to transfer a load exerted on the lower corner 51 to the reinforcement ribs 43. In the example shown, three diverging connecting ribs 60 are provided, but it will be appreciated that more or fewer connecting ribs may be utilized, depending on the application and size of the container. In the example, the connecting ribs 60 are of a curved configuration, with each rib curving away from the base of the container towards an open end of the container.

[0068] Both the reinforcement ribs 43 and the connecting ribs 60 are integrally formed with the sidewall 40 of the container, and more particularly are molded as part of the sidewall 40.

[0069] The purpose of the connecting ribs 60 is to improve load distribution during impact and rough handling. The ammunition container 20 also has to undergo drop tests at low temperatures, where the composite material becomes brittle, and the lower corners 51 are therefore weak points of the container 10 due to the concentrated loads that can potentially be exerted thereon. The connecting ribs 60 transfer at least some of the loads from the lower corners 51 of the container to the rest of the sidewall 40, and particularly to the reinforcement ribs 43, thus significantly increasing the structural strength of the lower corners 51 . Although other forms of corner reinforcement may be envisaged, it should be taken into account that there are significant dimensional constraints that have to be considered, as the outer dimension of the container has to adhere to standard dimensions. The connecting ribs 60 therefore alleviates the existing shortcomings without increasing the outer dimensions of the container.

[0070] In the example shown, the container is typically moulded from a suitable composite material, for example a polypropylene or polyethylene composite.

[0071] The container 10 includes a complementary lid 80, having a base 81 and a circumferential skirt or rim 82 depending from an edge of the base. Rim and lid configurations are well known in the art, but in this case the lid 80 also has engagement hooks 83 configured to engage the receiving formations 45 provided on the sidewalls 40, in order to improve the engagement, and thus sealing, between the container 10 and the lid 80.

[0072] The invention also extends to containers that are made from composite materials (i.e. not from metal as is mostly used in prior art ammunition containers), but which include other reinforcement measures, in addition to or instead of the use of reinforcement or connecting ribs. For example, the invention therefore extends to an ammunition container that also includes a base, sidewalls and end walls, but where at least parts of the base, end walls or sidewalls are constructed from multiple materials or from materials that are different to that of other parts of the base, end walls or sidewalls.

[0073] One example is shown in Figure 7, where structural support members 70 are provided at corners and / or edges of the container. The structural support members may be secured to the corners and / or edges, or may be integrally formed with the corners and / or edges. These support members may be made from a metallic material, for example steel, or a higher strength composite material, such as fiber glass or carbon fiber, where it may not make sense for the entire container to be made from such higher strength composite material.

[0074] Although not shown in the drawings, it is also possible for at least one of the base, sidewalls or end walls to be made from a composite material (for example a polypropylene or polyethylene composite), and for at least one of the base, sidewalls or end walls to be made from a structural support material, for example steel or a higher strength composite material, such as fiber glass or carbon fiber. This approach therefore entails the use of different materials for different parts of the container. Alternatively, at least one of the base, sidewalls or end walls may be made from a combination of a composite material (for example a polypropylene or polyethylene composite) and a structural support material having stronger structural properties which serves as a structural support member. In this case, there is provided for the structural support material to be integrated into the composite material by way of overmolding or insertmolding. This approach therefore entails the use of different materials for manufacturing the same part of the container. The structural support material may also be integrated into the complementary lid of the container.

[0075] The above design methodology essentially entails using stronger materials than that of the base material of the container itself to enhance the strength of the container. This design methodology may be used in combination with, or alternatively to the use of reinforcing and connecting ribs. For example, when a container is smaller, the number of ribs that can be used may be limited due to the required labelling area 47. In addition, even if there are no or at least no prohibitive labelling space requirements, additional ribs may interfere with external equipment such as machine gun holders which require a stringent dimensional fit, and in some cases, this is easier to achieve when no ribs are present, or if the presence or ribs can at least be minimized.

[0076] Figure 8 shows a retardant liner 80, suitable for use for fragment retardation, that can be used with the container 10. The liner is 80 is in the form of a retardant bag or box configured and dimensioned removably to be locatable inside the ammunition container. The retardant bag or box may include handling formations 81 to facilitate easy removal of the retardant bag or box from the ammunition container 10. The retardant liner is made from, or includes, heat resistant fibers and resins, and / or may have a foaming nature when exposed to heat. The retardant liner may, for example contain ceramics and / or layers of insulating material, for example aluminium foil.

[0077] Although not shown in the drawings, the container 10 may also include an internal divider suitable for dividing an internal volume of the container into smaller sections. In one example, the internal divider may be integrally moulded with the container, in particular when the container is made from a composite material. The divider may, however, also be in the form of one or more discrete dividers which are separate from the container, but which is securely receivable inside the container by providing a suitable receiving formation, for example elongate slots, on the inside of the end walls 30 and or sidewalls 40 of the container 10. It will be appreciated that multiple receiving formations could be provided in order for the container to be dividable in various different configurations according to the particular requirement. It is, however, also possible for the internal divider to be a separate tray (similar to the removable liner shown in Figure 8) configured and dimensioned to fit, preferably slidingly fit, into the container.

[0078] A further feature of the present invention provides for at least one of the base, end walls or sidewalls to include a moisture impervious layer, in particular when the container is made from a composite material. The moisture impervious layer may be moulded with the composite base material, for example by way of an in-mould labelling (IML) process, and may for example be an aluminium layer. Preferably, the base, end walls, sidewalls and lid will all include a moisture impervious layer, but the invention is not limited to this limitation. The moisture impervious layer is used to prevent the ingress of moisture into the container, in particular when the base material is a polypropylene or polyethylene composite, which is somewhat moisture permeable.

[0079] In addition to in-mould labelling, which is already discussed above, further methods of applying markings or labels to the ammunition container, and in particular the labelling area 47, can be utilised. These methods include laser engraving for permanent and tamper-resistant identification, inkjet printing using appropriate primers to ensure adhesion to the composite surface, and the application of adhesive labels following manufacture. To enhance the effectiveness of these marking techniques, specific areas of the container surface, for example the labelling area 47, may be engineered to improve adhesion characteristics. For example, these areas may be moulded with a coarser surface texture than the remainder of the container to promote better ink retention and sticker adherence. This surface texturing can be incorporated directly during the moulding process.

[0080] Another benefit of the present design is that it is also well suited for the incorporation of signature reduction characteristics. In practice, radar images can be used to identify differences between time-lapse photos, in so doing identifying equipment, such as ammunition containers that have been moved, and which can therefore be used to ascertain the position of soldiers or trenches. Signature reduction in the multispectral domain is inherently enhanced when using organic and non-metallic materials. In addition, radar reduction materials may also be used in the composite container by embedding such materials into the composite material, or as an add-on layer applied to the outer faces of the container. The use of polypropylene or polyethylene composites as a base material will already reduce the radar signature of the container, but in accordance with the invention this will be further improved by the introduction of a radar absorbent compound such as a ferritic powder of carbon nanotubes, or the application of a radar absorbent liner.

[0081] Finally, another advantage brought about by the use of composite materials, but which could also find application with conventional steel containers, is that near field communication (NFC) or other radio frequency (RF) communication chips can be moulded in, or glued to, the ammunition containers. These chips can then be used to identify the content of various ammunition containers. In a more advanced arrangement, these chips may enable communication with the weapon systems fire control system (FSC), transmitting shot count based on vibration or sound sensors, and / or internal and / or external temperature of the container measured by temperature gauge(s) to improve the ballistic solution. In this setting these chips may be power by the FCS, for example by means of induction. As mentioned above, the benefit of the container being made from a composite material is that the chip(s) can be moulded into the body of the container, thus negating the need to glue or otherwise secure the chip(s) to the container.

[0082] It will be appreciated that the above are only some embodiments of the invention and that there may be many variations without departing from the spirit and / or the scope of the invention. It is easily understood from the present application that the particular features of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged and designed according to a wide variety of different configurations. In this way, the description of the present invention and the related figures are not provided to limit the scope of the invention but simply represent selected embodiments. The skilled person will understand that the technical characteristics of a given embodiment can in fact be combined with characteristics of another embodiment, unless otherwise expressed or it is evident that these characteristics are incompatible. Also, the technical characteristics described in a given embodiment can be isolated from the other characteristics of this embodiment unless otherwise expressed.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An ammunition container, including: a base; two end walls extending operatively upwardly from opposing ends of the base; two sidewalls extending operatively upwardly from opposing sides of the base; wherein the sidewalls and the end walls meet to form corner sections, each corner section having an operatively lower corner located at the base of the container, and an operatively upper corner located at an open end of the container; and a plurality of reinforcement ribs provided on at least the sidewall of the container, the reinforcement ribs extending at least partially from the base towards an operatively upper end of the sidewalls; wherein the container further includes at least one connecting rib extending from a lower corner of the container in a direction away from the corner, the connecting rib extending between at least two of the reinforcement ribs in order to transfer loads from the bottom corner to the reinforcement ribs so as to reinforce the corner.

2. The ammunition container of claim 1 , wherein the connecting rib is straight.

3. The ammunition container of claim 1 , wherein the connecting rib is curved.

4. The ammunition container of claim 3, wherein the curved connecting rib curves away from the base of the container towards an open end of the container.

5. The ammunition container of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement ribs are limited to a zone adjacent the corner sections.

6. The ammunition container of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement ribs extend substantially parallel relative to the corner sections of the container.

7. The ammunition container of claim 1 , wherein the container is at least partially made from a composite material.

8. The ammunition container of claim 7 wherein the composite material is a polypropylene or a polyethylene composite.

9. The ammunition container of claim 8 wherein at least parts of the base, end walls or sidewalls are constructed from multiple materials or from materials that are different to that of other parts of the base, end walls or sidewalls.

10. The ammunition container of claim 9 wherein structural support members are provided at corners and / or edges of the container, with the structural support members being secured to the corners and / or edges, or being integrally formed with the corners and / or the edges.

11. The ammunition container of claim 10 wherein the structural support members are made from steel, or from a composite material of higher strength than the rest of the container, such as fiber glass or carbon fiber.

12. The ammunition container of claim 9 wherein at least one of the base, sidewalls or end walls are made from a composite material, and wherein at least one of the base, sidewalls or end walls to be made from a structural support material.

13. The ammunition container of claim 12 wherein the structural support material is steel, or a composite material of higher strength than the rest of the container, such as fiber glass or carbon fiber.

14. The ammunition container of claim 9 wherein at least one of the base, sidewalls or end walls is made from a combination of a composite material and a structural support material.

15. The ammunition container of claim 14 wherein the structural support material is integrated into the composite material by way of overmolding or insertmolding.

16. The ammunition container of claim 1 , further comprising a moisture impervious layer integrally formed with at least one of the base, the end walls, or the sidewalls.

17. The ammunition container of claim 16, wherein the moisture impervious layer is an aluminum layer formed by an in-mold labeling process.

18. The ammunition container of claim 1 , further comprising an internal divider arrangement for dividing an internal volume of the container into smaller sections.

19. The ammunition container of claim 18, wherein the internal divider arrangement is integrally molded with the container.

20. The ammunition container of claim 18, wherein the internal divider arrangement is configured as a separate tray configured slidingly to fit into the container.

21. The ammunition container of claim 18, wherein the internal divider arrangement includes integrally formed receiving formations configured for receiving discrete but complementary internal divider members.

22. The ammunition container of claim 1 including a retardant liner, suitable for use in fire and fragment retardation.

23. The ammunition container of claim 22, wherein the retardant liner is removably locatable within the container.

24. The ammunition container of claim 22, wherein the retardant liner includes heat-resistant fibers and resins.

25. The ammunition container of claim 22 wherein the retardant liner is also a moisture impervious layer.

26. The ammunition container of claim 1 , wherein the container includes a radar absorbent compound embedded within the composite material.

27. The ammunition container of claim 1 , wherein a digital communication device is integrated into or securely attached to the container.

28. The ammunition container of claim 27, wherein the digital communication device includes at least one near-field communication (NFC) chip or radio-frequency (RF) chip.

29. The ammunition container of claim 1 , wherein part of the container surface includes a marking surface with a coarser texture for securing labels or enhancing adhesion of printed markings.

30. An ammunition container, including: a base;two end walls extending operatively upwardly from opposing ends of the base; and two sidewalls extending operatively upwardly from opposing sides of the base; characterized in that at least parts of the base, end walls or sidewalls are constructed from multiple materials or from materials that are different to that of other parts of the base, end walls or sidewalls.

31. The ammunition container of claim 30 wherein structural support members are provided at corners and / or edges of the container, with the structural support members being secured to the corners and / or edges, or being integrally formed with the corners and / or the edges.

32. The ammunition container of claim 31 wherein the structural support members are made from steel, or from a composite material of higher strength than the rest of the container, such as fiber glass or carbon fiber.

33. The ammunition container of claim 30 wherein at least one of the base, sidewalls or end walls are made from a composite material, and wherein at least one of the base, sidewalls or end walls to be made from a structural support material.

34. The ammunition container of claim 33 wherein the structural support material is steel, or a composite material of higher strength than the rest of the container, such as fiber glass or carbon fiber.

35. The ammunition container of claim 30 wherein at least one of the base, sidewalls or end walls is made from a combination of a composite material and a structural support material.

36. The ammunition container of claim 35 wherein the structural support material is integrated into the composite material by way of overmolding or insertmolding.

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