-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Pe0WYEkrjudubvZ2SJEzpOWKKTV3P/i3pPJB73V/mF+2vyPWav609PZz9vDX3cnI
 jS6C576w1hc6dviTWidrfw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000909413-07-000044.txt : 20070726
<SEC-HEADER>0000909413-07-000044.hdr.sgml : 20070726
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070726121959
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000909413-07-000044
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070724
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070726
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070726

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:			SCHRECK PETER G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001238570

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13071
		FILM NUMBER:		071001621

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12001 NORTH HOUSTON ROSSLYNN
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77086
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2814478787
</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>2007-07-24</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001238570</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHRECK PETER G</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>VP - Treasury &amp; Planning</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1090</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.66</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37149</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>114</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F2">Balance as per plan statement dated 5/29/07.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on November 22, 2006 to sell 1,090 shares on July 24, 2007 in the open market to cover the tax obligation associated with the vesting of restricted shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Susan G. Miller, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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