U/C markings
 

just wondering if anyone has a pic of a carrier with both eht star and the red and white markings. and when did the star replace the red and white markings?

thanks
dave

Basically speaking, the red & white bars were Italian campaign markings, while the star (often painted cockeyed) was Northwest Europe. There IS evidence that some of the Italian campaign vehicles which accompanied their units from Italy to Holland in 1945 retained their original markings through to the end... but that close to the end of the war, there was little demand to add stars, and in fact, many of the NW Europe campaign vehicles had already had their original stars painted out.

Re: U/C markings
 

Hi Dave;

Just a brief note regarding the use of the AFV Recognition Sign of red/white/red by the Canadian Army (Sicily/Italy), it gives a date of 11th April 1944 as the 'official' date that it was discontinued, but like Geoff pointed out, it could still be seen on some vehicles right through until the war's end.

The AFV Recognition Sign of red/white/red that was used on Cdn AFVs/carriers from Sicily through the Italian Campaign, up until the spring of 1944, when the US star was adopted as the standard AFV Recognition marking. This sign was carried on either the transmission housing or lower glacis and lower hull sides of tanks, and was also carried on the front/sides/rear of most armoured cars/scout cars and carriers. The red/white/red Recognition Sign was used in combination with a roundel of red, white and blue, similar to early war RAF roundels. These roundals were carried on turret tops, engine decks/covers, where space permitted. Even with the adoption of the U.S. type star, the red/white/red Recognition Sign was still seen being carried for sometime after the official date of it being discontinued, which was 11 April 1944.

Hope this helps.

Cheers :)

What about T-16s ?
 

Gents,

I understand that the cockeyed star was painted by Canadian crews who resented that "American" symbol on the Carriers.

What about the American built T-16? Did they get a proper star painted square to the hull ( formerly "straight", but you cannot say that term anymore in Canada ).


Stewart