All British Army armoured vehicles are equipped with one or two ‘boiling vessels’. These are effectively a small hot water urn that ensures that crew always have a supply of hot water on tap to heat rations and most importantly brew tea. These are extremely heavy metal containers that run on 24v current, recently I picked up a pair of them:The outer box is made of steel, with an aluminium inner that holds the water, a heating coil is built into the BV between the two layers:The top is fitted with a rubber seal and when the water is boiling this can create a vacuum, leading to a burst of boiling steam to the unwary who try and open it when the water has come to the boil! The lid is secured by a pair of metal clips:A heavy duty insulated handle is fitted allowing the top to be raised without burning the operator’s hand:A spigot on the front allows water to be drawn off by depressing a button and holding a cup beneath:As mentioned the BV works off the vehicles 24v system, and a large multi-pin socket is attached to the front to connect up to the power with:Note the warning sign attached above the socket. This is one of several warning notices on the BVs, the main one is on the lid of the vessel:It is interesting that it warns that food is not to be directly cooked in the BV, this rule seems to have been universally ignored:

I loved that little grey plastic and metal contraption. Many a hot meals and drinks had with it. Nothing like filling it with water(only about half way), throwing in some ration packs, doing a live fire battle run, clearing guns, and opening it up to see some nice hot and steamy meals all ready to go.

All the Boiling Vessels seem to have been manufactured by ‘Electrothermal Engineering Ltd’ and this is indicated on the data plate screwed to the side:The popularity of these boilers is such that other nations have since copied the British and installed them in their AFVs, although as they probably have a lower tea consumption rate they prepare other drinks!