M38A1 CDN3 markings

[maple_leaf_eh]

I was in the Reserves during that period. The flags front and back. Two Canada licence plates with the same 5 digit number, and the year and 5-digits stickered on the top centre of the dash

No tire pressures - they are shown on the data plates IIRC, and except for an unreliable compressor from the Deuce And A Half, we didn't have any way of pumping up the tires.

No CFR number stencilled under the door.

The basic paint should be a coarse 3-colour camoflage. Before that, it would have been monochrome semi-gloss dark green with the 4-pointed FMC sticker on the opposite front fender from the flag.

[Gunner]

Hi Chris:

The lines should be about 1/2 an inch thick all around.

Terry and Rob have raised an interesting question about tire pressures. The books I have indicate that the TP should be on the inside of the driver's door or on the dash, if there was no door, as follows: TP: F36 R40. Sometimes the words Tire Pressure(s) were written out. Some units seem to have adopted the US style of marking over the wheel arches or on the sides of the fenders so both could be historically accurate but on the door or dash would be more correct.

Cheers! Mike

[Ed Storey]

Images of post-1975 Canadian military vehicles show that vehicle markings were and still are very subjective. Some units adhere quite strictly to marking doctrine, while others seemed to ignore it completely. The Regular Force seems to have been far better at marking their vehicles according to official guidance although there are still differences between the various brigades and how they applied the markings. I have several hundred images of numerouss Canadian military vehicles from this period that I use as reference and although I did not get a photograph of every vehicle at every CF base across Canada, I have a very good cross-section of vehicle types in use by DND. From the images that I have, I could not find many vehicles with tire pressure markings and only a few with comprehensive tactical markings. Naturally CFR plates seem to be the only common factor with the Canada flag decal being the next common marking element.

[45jim]

The "Recce" tac symbol provided is incomplete...Infantry units used that symbol. Armoured units had the track symbol in the center added to denote an Armoured unit rather than a Grunt unit. This would always be on a Recce vehicle Reserve or Regular.

The M38A1's I drove in the Militia had the CFR repeated on the dash and under the engine hood in white. We (Lorne Scots) had one jeep that was still gloss green under the hood and on the inside of the tub. I believe that's they way they were produced (Gloss or semi-gloss Green) and the cam paint was added later. I remember that it appeared that the cam paint was brush painted on, not sprayed.

[rick25]

Ed, Do you have any of these pics hosted online?
Thanks,
Rick

[Ed Storey]

No, they are not on line.

[servicepub (RIP)]

Therea are a number of M38A1 photos on-line at RamTank.ca. Few are the 3-tone cam. Those that are solid green do not show 'TP' markings over the wheel-well although most show the number below the door sill. The tac sign is unseen in any of the images but that is to be expected.

[Dano McLaren]

Hi Ed, Do you have any photos for M-152 in the 1967 timeframe?

[Ed Storey]

No, I don't have anything prior to 1975.

ED