2 Aust Infantry Division
Tony,
Your possible use of the 2nd Australian Infantry Division formation sign for your CMP throws up some interesting possibilities. The formation sign was first included in the approved list at the end of March 1942, but no individual spec was given for its layout (ie background and insignia colours).
In September 1942, the spec was quite specific, viz 'Signs will be painted in BLACK and WHITE in a Sand coloured background, embodied in disruptive painting scheme' (quoted as original with emphasis as original). This was the instruction specific to 2 Aust Inf Div, issued by 2 Aust Inf Div headquarters.
However, in April 1943, 2nd Aust Inf Div was simply included in the AHQ overall list without a specific specification, with all formation signs listed as being White insignia on a black background. Later the same year (August), the formation sign was again listed in the overall list, but no spec was given.
This has led to a series of interpretations of what the penguin over a boomerang should look like, including the black/white on green background shown in your image. None of the instructions actually say 'on a green background' - but the original instruction does say 'embodied in the disruptive painting scheme' (albeit the sand coloured part).
Once the Light Sand/stone colour was discontinued, and replaced by Light Earth (from mid-1942), then it is reasonable to assume that, in general, the formation sign was placed over a Light Earth background - and that is what appears to be the case in your carrier image.
Equally, some have interpreted the later instructions as being a black/white image over a BLACK background - the Penguin edges are detailed in a thin white line, and the boomerang is white, not black. This does, however, indicate a level of intricacy that the instructions specifically try and avoid by stating that the designs must be simple and easy to apply with a stencil.
So, what do you do if the truck is not going to be disruptively camouflaged? Well, that's an interesting question. Try finding some pics of 2 Div vehicles without camo and see how they interpreted the instructions!
Nice pic of an SAR-manufactured carrier, by the way.
Mike C
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