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The Benghazi burner or Benghazi cooker was an improvised
The burners were subsequently used during the Italian Campaign and in the North-West Europe Campaign.
The Benghazi burner was superseded by the introduction of the
The Benghazi burner or Benghazi cooker was an improvised petrol
Gasoline (North American English) or petrol ( Commonwealth English) is a petrochemical product characterized as a transparent, yellowish, and flammable liquid normally used as a fuel for spark-ignited internal combustion engines. When formul ...
stove
A stove or range is a device that generates heat inside or on top of the device, for - local heating or cooking. Stoves can be powered with many fuels, such as natural gas, electricity, gasoline, wood, and coal.
Due to concerns about air pollu ...
or brazier
A brazier () is a container used to burn charcoal or other solid fuel for cooking, heating or rituals. It often takes the form of a metal box or bowl with feet, but in some places it is made of terracotta. Its elevation helps circulate air, feed ...
used by British Army
The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...
and Imperial troops in the Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, during and after the North African Campaign
The North African campaign of World War II took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943, fought between the Allies and the Axis Powers. It included campaigns in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts (Western Desert campaign, Desert Wa ...
.
The Western Desert campaign
As used in theWestern Desert campaign
The Western Desert campaign (Desert War) took place in the Sahara Desert, deserts of Egypt and Libya and was the main Theater (warfare), theatre in the North African campaign of the Second World War. Military operations began in June 1940 with ...
, the Benghazi burner itself consisted of a single empty steel fuel can - usually a 4 gallon (18 litre) type, known as a "flimsy
The flimsy, officially known as the Petrol, Oil and Water can, was a World War II fuel container used by the British Army. They held of fuel, which allowed them to be moved by a single person.
The flimsy was well known for leaking; when used ...
"
– or a biscuit tin
Biscuit tins are utilitarian or decorative containers used to package and sell biscuits (such as those served during Tea culture#United Kingdom, tea) and some confectionery. Invented by Huntley & Palmers in 1831, they are commonly found in house ...
. The sides of the top half would have some holes pierced in it, and the bottom half would be filled with sand. Petrol would be stirred into the sand and it would then be ignited. A second can of the same size could be placed on top and used as a cooking vessel. It was used because the standard pressure stove issued to armoured vehicle crews, known as the "Cooker, Portable No 2", was prone to blockages caused by sand. The Benghazi burner had the advantages that it was silent, fast and that empty cans, sand and fuel were readily available in the desert.
The disadvantage was that it was unpredictable and the fuel would often burn out too early; it was tempting to add petrol to the hot sand with explosive results.
An additional use was as a beacon to illuminate desert airstrip
An aerodrome, airfield, or airstrip is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for public or private use. Aerodromes in ...
s.
Later developments
The burners were subsequently used during the Italian Campaign and in the North-West Europe Campaign.
The Benghazi burner was superseded by the introduction of the boiling vessel
A boiling vessel is a water heating system fitted to British armoured fighting vehicles that permits the crew to heat water and cook food by drawing power from the vehicle electrical supply. It is often referred to by crewmembers (not entirely in ...
or "BV" which supplied hot water heated by a vehicle electrical system, however the Benghazi burner design had a brief revival by British forces in the Gulf War
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of 1990–91, albeit made from ammunition box
An ammunition box or cartridge box is a container designed for safe transport and storage of ammunition. It is typically made of metal, wood, and corrugated fiberboard, etc. Boxes are labelled with caliber, quantity, and manufacturing date, ...
es.
See also
* Kelly Kettle – a type of patent stove, known as a 'Thermette' in New Zealand, that was also sometimes called a "Benghazi boiler" in World War II *Pebble-bed reactor
The pebble-bed reactor (PBR) is a design for a graphite- moderated, gas-cooled nuclear reactor. It is a type of very-high-temperature reactor (VHTR), one of the six classes of nuclear reactors in the Generation IV initiative.
The basic desig ...
– inspired by the burner
* Tommy cooker
References
{{reflist, colwidth=35em British Army equipment Military equipment introduced from 1940 to 1944