OS markings on ww2 british equipment

[wendel daniel]

Hello
would anyone be able to explain to me the meaning and origin of the markings on equipment starting with OS ?
thanks for your help
regards
daniel from france

[wendel daniel]

[Ed Storey]

I believe OS stands for Optical Stores.

ED

[wendel daniel]

thanks for your answerd, but have you a document about this ? An other personne tell me OS Optical Signals equipment, like ZA for Wireless/detectors/optronic signals equipment or YA for line signals equipment.

[Ed Storey]

Unfortunately I don't have any supporting documentation on hand.

[WpgBinocular]

I believe it’s Ordnance Stores.

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by WpgBinocular

I believe it’s Ordnance Stores.

Isn't the Broad Arrow marking the indicator of Ordnance Stores?.

[WpgBinocular]

The Broad Arrow is in indicator of ownership and is also seen on other non-military government property. OS is a VAOS (Vocabulary of Army Ordnance Stores) coding.

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by WpgBinocular

The Broad Arrow is in indicator of ownership and is also seen on other non-military government property. OS is a VAOS (Vocabulary of Army Ordnance Stores) coding.

So, then getting back to Daniel's question, is there a document which lists the VAOS codes?

[wendel daniel]

Thanks for this information, as ed i will intersted about document about this.
The mystery on the tabby case is OS for the army, but juste before Patt is for the navy. Thanks for your help

[Richard Farrant]

I have seen OS stock numbers appertaing to Optical items and parts, such as sights, telescopes, etc. OS may mean Optical Stores, although I have not seen reference to that.

[WpgBinocular]

The VAOS catalogues are voluminous containing literally thousands of codings for practically all military equipment and parts used by the U.K. and Commonwealth armies (not navies). They were introduced about 1868 and were phased out upon with the introduction of NATO Stock Numbers in 1956. Attached is a typical cover page from a British 1940 VAOS Catalogue and an overview of the VAOS system written by Clive Elliott which unfortunately is no longer available on-line. Also see Clive Law’s “Without Warning, Canadian Sniper Equipment in the 20th Century” pages 54-55 and 81-86.

[rob love]

I'm not so sure about the Ordnance Stores being this OS abbreviation. For artillery parts, the prefix is FL, Tools and Accessories are CM, certain gauges are MC, and optical items are OS. There are others.
I am a believer that the initials mean something, and are not just random or added alphabetically.