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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 /jecn2rWfC5i2CAefG2wJw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000909413-07-000019.txt : 20070510
<SEC-HEADER>0000909413-07-000019.hdr.sgml : 20070510
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070510103038
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000909413-07-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070508
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070510
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070510

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:			Mckay Norman A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001326781

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13071
		FILM NUMBER:		07835377

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2814478787

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12001 NORTH HOUSTON ROSSLYN
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77086
</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>0001326781</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Mckay Norman A</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></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>22400</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>87600</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 units payable in common 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>2007-05-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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