FOX TAC Signs...

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Group...
Listen up...
Brother Dirk is in the final stages of restoration with His CMP FOX and is in dire need of the Correct TAC signs and markings for it..
Who would be able to help Mr.
Leegwater out with those markings..?
(Pinky...I'm waiting ...)
Thanks
Jump in if you can help..

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

...ask away. Has Dirk settled on a unit? His makings thus far were for the 4th Princess Loise Dragoon Guards, 1st Canadian Infantry Division.

[Colin Macgregor Stevens]

Technically speaking old chaps, "Tac signs" are ONLY the Tactical signs occasionally placed on vehicles e.g Squadron symbol or temporary tactical markins (e.g. big number on back of a Sherman turret).

In addition to these the tac signs were:
1. WAR DEPARTMENT NUMBER (the original WD # is likely be stamped into the armour on a flat surface - likely starboard side. This was the case with WWII Lynx and UC e.g, F123456 or CF123456. I have original WWII Canadian issue stencils obtained from a WWII Cdn signpainter who served overseas and painted vehicles. If in Canada might have its WD number AND a DND number e.g. 55-123
2. BRIDGE SIGN
3. UNIT SIGN
4. FORMATION SIGN (I have original WWII decals, unused for the three Cdn tank/armoured brigades, all the Cdn divisions, the 2 Cdn corps, the First Cdn Army etc. )
5. CONVOY WHITE AREA AT REAR UNDERNEATH
6. VEHICLE NAME (optional in armoured units)
7. RAC red & white (early on)
8. AIR RECOGNITION MARKINGS (Roundel till 1943, then US white star)
9. GAS DETECTION PATCH
10. TIRE PRESSURES (NOT the US pattern "TP##"! OK, this was used but very RARELY. They used British style instead.)

Colin Stevens' web page on Cdn veh markings

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally posted by Bruce Parker
...ask away. Has Dirk settled on a unit? His makings thus far were for the 4th Princess Loise Dragoon Guards, 1st Canadian Infantry Division.

Thanks Bruce..
Just waiting for Dirk to jump in here...
Are you going to CC6 with the Fox..?

[Dirk Leegwater (RIP)]

Originally posted by Alex Blair
Group...
Listen up...

Hi Guys, thanks for your help.

I remember also James Gosling's question to Mark W. Tonner, May 30th 2005,
about:
"Any idea which unit these Foxes were with" ? We talking about
the Fox of the picture in The Hague, 8 May 1945. Mark's answer
was:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hague, 8 May 45 - they are possibly from the 4th Reconnaissance Regiment
(4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards), C.A.C. (1st Cdn Inf Div - Recce Regt).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the 8th, 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade (R22eR; CYR; WNSR) entered The Hague,
along with other elements of the 1st Cdn Inf Div.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stefan and I like to paint the right sign's and markings for our "Dutch" Fox AC.
Every tip plus advice is more than welcome.

Mvg. Dirk

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Dirk, is the picture below from the same series as this one?

The markings on this Fox are 'Provost', and the 79 on the left fender would agree this vehicle is being operated by the military police. 79 on a black square is the unit sign for a Provost company within an infantry division. There would have been three: 1st Cdn. Provost Coy in the 1st Division, 2st Cdn. Provost Coy in the 2nd Division and 4th (3rd?) Cdn. Provost Coy in the 3rd Division. From a black and white photograph, you can't tell the colour of the division sign (it looks 'light' to me so I'd suggest it's the grey 3rd Division sign) so knowing which division was at this location in 1945 may be the best way to identify it. It's likely that if the provost company in one division was issued with Fox, the others would have been as well.

The black looking rectangle on the left fender beside the division sign is a mystery to me.

The vehicle colour is probably overall olive drab (I don't think I see any camouflage?). This would have been repainted over the factory colour of 'Khahi No.3'. Fox, on arriving in England in 1943 seem to have been repainted in overall 'Brown' No.2 with dark brown micky-mouse camouflage. Looking at the bridge class sign on the front right hull is the-give away. If it is a yellow ring with a stylized 9 in the centre, it's factory applied, if it's a yellow disk with a stencilled 9, or missing or relocated, then the vehicle has been repainted.

[Dirk Leegwater (RIP)]

Originally posted by Bruce Parker
Dirk, is the picture below from the same series as this one?

Bruce, the picture of the "Provost" Fox is not from the serie of
The Hague, May 8th 1945. The other "The Hague" pictures
here below, tell's me only more secrets.

Mvg. Dirk

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Dirk Leegwater
the serie of The Hague, May 8th 1945

Dirk,

Yes, those were a great find, eh?
Good to see you are going to repaint the Fox in the The Hague scheme. I think it is a good reason to reshoot Zwartboek

Hanno

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

There's a few clues. The beret on the commander (guy on the left) is black, so it's an armoured regiment. Given the date, and the reference to the 3rd Bde. being there at that time, any unit other than the 4 PLDG would be unusual. Do I see camouflage on the right side of the turret? There's no sign of unit markings on the fenders. Could this be because of a new paint job for the big day?

[Dirk Leegwater (RIP)]

Originally posted by Bruce Parker
Any unit other than the 4 PLDG would be unusual....

Hi Guys, many thanks Alex - Colin - Bruce - Hanno
plus special thanks to Mark W. Tonner.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hague, 8 May 45 - they are possibly from the 4th Reconnaissance Regiment
(4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards), C.A.C. (1st Cdn Inf Div - Recce Regt).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The painting job is just finished for the huge KTR event in Neede,
The Netherlands. See the note in MLU's "Event" forum.

Mvg. Dirk

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by Dirk Leegwater
Hi Guys, many thanks Alex - Colin - Bruce - Hanno
plus special thanks to Mark W. Tonner.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hague, 8 May 45 - they are possibly from the 4th Reconnaissance Regiment
(4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards), C.A.C. (1st Cdn Inf Div - Recce Regt).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The painting job is just finished for the huge KTR event in Neede,
The Netherlands. See the note in MLU's "Event" forum.

Mvg. Dirk

Again Dirk, I'm glad I could help, the Fox looks Great!

Cheers

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by Bruce Parker
Dirk, is the picture below from the same series as this one?

The markings on this Fox are 'Provost', and the 79 on the left fender would agree this vehicle is being operated by the military police. 79 on a black square is the unit sign for a Provost company within an infantry division. There would have been three: 1st Cdn. Provost Coy in the 1st Division, 2st Cdn. Provost Coy in the 2nd Division and 4th (3rd?) Cdn. Provost Coy in the 3rd Division. From a black and white photograph, you can't tell the colour of the division sign (it looks 'light' to me so I'd suggest it's the grey 3rd Division sign) so knowing which division was at this location in 1945 may be the best way to identify it. It's likely that if the provost company in one division was issued with Fox, the others would have been as well.

Hi Bruce;

If I'm not mistaken, the Fox in the photo was identified back in December 2004 has belonging to the 2nd 4th Provost Company, C. Pro. C., of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, CAOF.

See the thread entitled "GM Foxes in N.West Europe", located here.

Al Nickolson, also posted the below image in the same thread.

Cheers

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Dirk Leegwater
The painting job is just finished for the huge KTR event in Neede,

Dirk, looks great!
Next stop is Den Haag for some then & now photos?

H.

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Dirk, looks great!
Next stop is Den Haag for some then & now photos?

H.

Hanno, you beat me to it!

Dirk/Stefan, you have your mission!

[Stefan Leegwater]

Hi Hanno/Geoff,

Yes sure, we only need some people to decorate the scene for the picture, maybe for a start you guys can dress up like the people that sit on top!

Cheers,

Stefan

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Stefan Leegwater
Hi Hanno/Geoff,

Yes sure, we only need some people to decorate the scene for the picture, maybe for a start you guys can dress up like the people that sit on top!

Cheers,

Stefan

Be careful what you ask for, Stefan! I've got the battledress and the haircut...

Of course, we'll have to put Hanno on a diet first.........

[Stefan Leegwater]

OK Geoff, that part is set then eh!

Cheers,

Stefan