M38A1 unit markings advise

[wingnut]

Hi Dan thank you for your help in this. I have give some consideration to the choices of the units you so kindly provided and I think I would pick the Lord Strathcona's horse in the 1968 time frame . Sorry for the delay in replying but been a bit tied up today. Kind Regards. Bernard.

[Dan Martel]

Originally Posted by wingnut

I think I would pick the Lord Strathcona's horse in the 1968 time frame.

Excellent choice. A fine and proud unit.

Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) took over as the armoured regiment from the Fort Garry Horse in 1967 and served in 4 CMBG until 1970. It was quartered at Fort Beausejour in Iserlohn. Fort Beausejour was a pre-war German Army cavalry barracks. The regiment operated 56 Centurion Mk11 main battle tanks.

Tactical markings on the vehicles would not have changed from those being used by the FGH, as all markings were laid down in regulations. According to 'Staff Duties in the Field' the unit sign for an armoured regiment in an infantry brigade group was a red over yellow rectangle containing the serial '2' in white. The photograph below shows this on a centurion tank.

Centurions in Sennelager cropped.jpg

The formation sign would be the red rectangle with a gold maple leaf of 1 Canadian Infantry Division. Please see the example below.

1 CID.JPG

I don't have a photograph of a jeep with the correct unit and formation signs on them, but the picture below will show you how they would have been positioned on the front of the vehicle.

ENTAC 1347231921.JPG

Note that the unit sign is on the driver's left, front and rear, while the formation sign is on the driver's right, front and rear.

The size and placement details are as follows:

Section 2 - Formation Signs
8. Descriptions
a. The approved designs are described hereunder:
(1) 1st Canadian Infantry Division. A red rectangle with a gold maple leaf superimposed.
(8) Canadian Base Units Europe. A blue diamond with a horizontal red bar.

9. Sizes
(a) Approved sizes are:
(1) Rectangles and Diamonds
Large - 9" wide, 6 1/2" high
Small - 7" wide, 5 1/2" high
(b) The small size will be used only where the available surface is too small to accommodate the large size.

10. Location
d. On all other vehicles, the sign will be placed in line with the unit sign where possible, on the rear, on a prominent vertical surface as near to the extreme right as possible, and on the front, in one of the positions shown in order of preference below, so as to be visible from a ground-level position directly behind and in front of the vehicle respectively:
(1) on the front surface of the right front fender; or
(2) on a vertical or near vertical surface as near as possible to the extreme right front of the vehicle; or
(3) on a plate attached to the right front of the vehicle.

Section 3 - Unit Signs
13. Description
a. Regular Field Units
(1) A serial number, as allotted by the field commander concerned, in white, superimposed on a coloured rectangle, as specified in Appendix F, Canadian Edition, "Staff Duties in the Field".

14. Size
Where practicable, unit signs will be 9 1/2" wide by 8 1/2" high or, for circular signs, 8" in diameter. Other wise signs will be 7" wide by 5" high or, for circular signs, 6" in diameter.

15. Location
d. On all other vehicles, the sign will be placed on the rear, in line with the formation sign where possible, on a prominent vertical surface as near to the extreme left as possible, and on the front, in one of the positions shown in order of preference below, so as to be visible from a ground-level position directly behind and in front of the vehicle respectively:
(1) on the front surface of the Left front fender; or
(2) on a vertical or near vertical surface as near as possible to the extreme left front of the vehicle; or
(3) on a plate attached to the left front of the vehicle.

Table 3 Unit Signs Vehicle Markings
Serial 1 / RCAC / Rectangular / Red upper left, yellow lower right diagonal.


If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Cheers,
Dan.

[wingnut]

Hi. Dan Thank you very much for the information you have provided for me. I am very pleased that I will now be able to do justice to my jeep and mark it up in a livery more in keeping with it's past history. When I have finished repainting the jeep I will apply the markings as you described and post some photos here on this thread for your approval . Many thanks and Kind Regards. Bernard