Vehicle Markings

Jim Price · #1 29-01-09, 18:55

In addition to the company and division markings on my F8, I need to have stars on both doors as well as the top of the cab. What size stars do I need to use for each location?

I also need to have the vehicle number stenciled on the doors. What size should the letters/numbers be?

Regards,
Jim

Hanno Spoelstra · #2 29-01-09, 20:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Price

I need to have stars on both doors as well as the top of the cab. What size stars do I need to use for each location?

Jim,

I think you did a great job restoring your F8. But why do you "need" to have stars on your truck? These were NW European invasion markings, and by this time the 8-cwt truck was no longer in front-line use. As per the manual, by 1944 they were "used only in limited numbers in the UK as general purpose load carrier for supplies and stores over good roads by CRU (Canadian Reinforcement Unit) or other base units."

Why not do it up as one of the trucks that were in use in at the "home front" in the UK or back in Canada?

Regards,
Hanno

cletrac (RIP) · #3 29-01-09, 21:14

You could always put a roundel on the roof like they had in Italy.

Jim Price · #4 29-01-09, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

I think you did a great job restoring your F8. But why do you "need" to have starts on your truck? These were NW European invasion markings, and by this time the 8-cwt truck was no longer in front-line use. As per the manual, by 1944 they were "used only in limited numbers in the UK as general purpose load carrier for supplies and stores over good roads by CRU (Canadian Reinforcement Unit) or other base units."

Why not do it up as one of the trucks that were in use in at the "home front" in the UK or back in Canada?

Hanno,
Thanks for your quick response and kind remarks! Lately I've been apprised that there were 8 cwts in limited use in Europe after the invasion. This information served as the basis for my using the markings of The Queen's Own Rifles on my truck. It's my understanding they were used as radio trucks as well as ammo/supply trucks.

I will say that the preponderance of pictures show the 15 cwt and larger trucks in European service.

Regards,
Jim

Hanno Spoelstra · #5 29-01-09, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Price

What size stars do I need to use for each location?

Jim,

If you made up your mind already and are adamant to add stars, simply follow the wartime "Recognition marks White stars five pointed" instructions courtesy of Steve Guthrie in the Crooked white star thread.

Hanno

Hanno Spoelstra · #6 29-01-09, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Price

Lately I've been apprised that there were 8 cwts in limited use in Europe after the invasion. This information served as the basis for my using the markings of The Queen's Own Rifles on my truck. It's my understanding they were used as radio trucks as well as ammo/supply trucks.

Jim,

You are of course free to mark your truck any way you like, but for history's sake, I would like to see some evidence of 8-cwt CMP trucks in service in NWE after D-Day.

You could consider marking the truck as a Queen's Own Rifles' vehicle during training in the UK before D-Day, when no white stars were applied yet?

Thanks,
Hanno

Jim Price · #7 29-01-09, 22:43

Hanno,
I'm not attached to the stars at all, I just want the truck to be correctly marked. Personally, I could never understand why it was necessary for everyone to use the white star and certainly appreciate why the Canadians tilted it to differentiate their vehicles from an American ones.

I'll certainly consider your suggestions and, for the interim, will limit my additional markings to the bridge plate and the vehicle number. After all I've put into this truck I don't want to spoil its looks with inapproprite markings!

Regards,
Jim

Mike Kelly · #8 29-01-09, 23:24

I would think that it is likely the 8 cwts saw more active service in Nth. Africa than any other region. I mean front line service with bullets flying around. They were issued to allied and Commonwealth forces there in fair numbers.
Mike

Mark W. Tonner · #9 29-01-09, 23:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Price

... I just want the truck to be correctly marked ... After all I've put into this truck I don't want to spoil its looks with inapproprite markings!

Hi Jim;

First off - In answer to your question, the height of the prefix (which would be the letters 'CZ' in this case) and numbers for the Census Number (in White) is 3½ inches.

Secondly - in regards to your "After all I've put into this truck I don't want to spoil its looks with inapproprite markings":

- your Arm of Service (AoS) Marking is off, it should be '60' on a Green background (see example attached) not on a Black background - the Arm of Service Serial '60' on a Green background was used by the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada from approx. 20 May 1942 onwards.

- the formation sign of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division was a Gold (or Yellow) Maple Leaf on a French Grey background (see example attached), yours seems to look more like that of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division - on a Royal Blue background (see example attached).

- the AoS and Formation markings on the front of your truck are on the wrong sides, they should be the other way around.

Sorry, but you did say that you didn't want to spoil its looks with inapproprite markings.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

cletrac (RIP) · #10 30-01-09, 00:23

This is the only reference I have of an 8cwt in northern Europe after Normandy. It's a wireless version and I can't tell if there's a star on the roof or not.
This is the maple leaf off my HUP.

Jim Price · #11 30-01-09, 01:34

Mark,
Thanks for the measurement on the census letters/numbers. By the way, do you have any suggestions as to what number might be appropriate for the truck's use by The Queen's Own Rifles?

The day I took the pictures of the truck that shows the markings it was overcast and made the colors look much darker than what they actually are. The "60" is on a rifle green background, the correct dark green background while the 3rd Division is actuall very close to the one one the left in your pictures. Mine might have a very,very slight light blue cast to it.

As for the markings on the front, I was given a drawing that shows the "60" on the left side front and back. Will post it in the near future.

Thanks for your interest in helping make my vehicle correct!

Regards,
Jim

Jim Price · #12 30-01-09, 20:10

Mark,
Below are the pages I received from one of the Forum members showing the placement which I used. Although not too clear, click to magnify them and you can see that the unit markings are shown to be on the port side front and back.

I checked Colin Steven's site and found the following:

" A typcial Canadian jeep in Normandy would have the following markings:
1. Unit sign - On starboard side of w/s and port rear bumperette.
2. Formation Sign - On front Port side and rear starboard bumperette."

Both methods make sense to me but I'd prefer to have the correct placement. If anyone else reading this post has any further information, please respond.

Regards,
Jim