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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KYReKHg1EK8RuI+litRBXHiDP4qc6HVG+mOBxLGjsuM/Lp777MyPIF/pbyTNdyvE
 MTSWjLp2IerbKVThksHknw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000909413-07-000014.txt : 20070509
<SEC-HEADER>0000909413-07-000014.hdr.sgml : 20070509
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070509154917
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000909413-07-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070508
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070509
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070509

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HANOVER COMPRESSOR CO /
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000909413
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EQUIPMENT RENTAL & LEASING, NEC [7359]
		IRS NUMBER:				752344249
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12001 N HOUSTON ROSSLYN
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77086
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2814478787

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12001 NORTH HOUSTON ROSSLYN
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77086

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HANOVER COMPRESSOR CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960716

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HALL GORDON T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001190498

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13071
		FILM NUMBER:		07832377

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3300 NORTH SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY EAST
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77032-3411
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-05-08</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000909413</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HANOVER COMPRESSOR CO /</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190498</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HALL GORDON T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>12001 N. HOUSTON ROSSLYN RD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77086</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Chairman of the Board</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-05-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>27700</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>99800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This award represents a grant of restricted stock under the Company's 2006 Stock Incentive Plan and vests over a three-year period at the rate of one-third per year beginning on 5/8/08 and on each successive anniversary of the date of grant.  Vesting is subject to acceleration due to a qualifying change of control other than one resulting from the publicly announced merger between Hanover Compressor Company and Universal Compression Holdings, Inc.  This award will be forfeited upon termination of service or employment, unless the termination is due to death or disability.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Susan G. Miller, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-05-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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