A Guide to British Vehicle Markings

[67burwood]

Your doing a great job keep it up, I can only imagine it’s a massive time consuming task.  👍

Edited August 31, 2020 by 67burwood

[Rootes75]

I think its a great resource and totally agree the time put into this is huge. 

Its of benefit to so many on the forum.

[SquireBev]

3 hours ago, 67burwood said:

Your doing a great job keep it up, I can only imagine it’s a massive time consuming task.  👍

 

2 hours ago, Rootes75 said:

I think its a great resource and totally agree the time put into this is huge. 

Its of benefit to so many on the forum.

Glad to be of service!

 

I've updated the Higher Formations Insignia page today:

https://tank-markings.blogspot.com/p/formation-insignia-higher-formations.html

[SquireBev]

Possibly of some interest: MMP books are in the process of reprinting Taylor's Warpaint series.

https://mmpbooks.biz/ksiazki/30

[SquireBev]

I've added Commonwealth infantry division insignia. Not a complete set - I'm afraid I'm being rather neglectful of the CBI/Pacific/Far East theatre, but I will get around to it eventually.

https://tank-markings.blogspot.com/p/divisional-insignia-infantry-formations.html

[SquireBev]

Bit of a shameless plug, but I've started a Twitter account to run alongside the website: https://twitter.com/squire_bev

 

I thought it'd be useful to have one central place to post updates, and I'll also be posting brief histories of particular units and formations, along with snapshots of their structure and markings.

[Rootes75]

Very useful I'd say. Easy to follow if its all in a central location.

[SquireBev]

I aten't dead!

After a long hiatus I've managed to pull my finger out and write a separate page for Royal Artillery tactical markings:

https://tank-markings.blogspot.com/p/royal-artillery-tactical-signs.html

Comments, corrections, feedback etc all welcome!

[Morris C8]

These were printed to show where to put the Signs/markings.

  Keith

[Rootes75]

That's really good to see Keith.

I am just in the process of determining what marking we will use on our Commer.

[Morris C8]

Just made a 80 page hardback book to keep the veh signs in, i could not put the original front cover on it as i dont have a high res scan of it [ I do now] . so off to the printers to get my copy made.  Book came in the post today.
Keith

[rupert condick]

Hi

This page has come along, I can see some good work ha been done,

I am trying to identify these markings,

there is a white diagonal running from lower left to top right.not broken as in the later post 1943 unit signs.

and quite thin.

I have not seen this except for a REME markings earlier in the post.

this marking appear on Austin K2Y ambulance in c1941 but where?

its all a bit of a mess as the Bridge Plate would have been painted over this(AMF regs) when in Queensland.

I have given the WD number plate a miss for now as this should be on the passenger wing, but they did change sides or did the Austins keep them on the drivers sides?

Middle or Far east.pre May 1942.

the 7 is a positive the / runs over a 0 so looks like

227- 7/1 2 , but is 7/0."0" painted over,

the number look like they are painted over a light green/grey, trouble is this would probaly have had the caunter scheme, and so maybe not painted in the far east.looking like the Far East Batavia.

 a standard layout.for a MAC 502 ambulance.later war,

which I now know that the white bar \ is for HQ unit

I am warming to the mark being 27/2 or 27/12.

also i found unit serial numbers early (1940) were written ,_____/1,2,3 etc.

say medical unit serial / No1,No2, No.3,etc

all I have to now is find an MAC,etc with sub units.

I found this what does it mean?

I doubt is 10 to 8 tons. as for bridge plates.

regs

rupert

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 25, 2022 by rupert condick
more information,TYPOS

[Morris C8]

Vehicle Markings India 1945 and the CMF RASC hardback book i had printed came in the post today.
Keith

 

[SquireBev]

It's been a bit of a nightmare to collate, but here's my first attempt at a timeline for the North African campaign.

Feedback and corrections welcome as ever.

If anyone can shed any more light on the 4th and 7th Armoured Brigades in 1940-41 I'd be very grateful, as I'm sure the 7th and 8th Hussars couldn't be in two places at once!

Apologies for the enormous image size. You might have to open them in a new tab to view them properly.

Middle East - Armoured Divisions

[John F]

On 2/8/2021 at 9:16 AM, SquireBev said:

I aten't dead!

 

You are Granny Weatherwax & I claim my £5 prize :-)

[rupert condick]

Hi there well done,

I tried(ing) with the stepsister convoy (suez to Singapore/Australia)the same sort of thing, but the dates are very hard to confirm, I think a lot of information was written a little after the event.

An extension of trying to trace the old ambo's history,

I have some medical RAMC, (Rob All My Comrads as dad would say). movements

I will try to find.

this is may help but I am sure its posted elsewhere.and is common knowledge

and Australian,but its all I have. 

 

 

 

regs

 

 

[Morris C8]

Cdn signs

[rupert condick]

Hi found those notes,

not much I know,

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2021 by rupert condick
more information

[SquireBev]

Big changes!

I've decided to move the site to a new home and a new host, so I can upload PDF versions of the diagrams, which will hopefully prove more useful and more readable.

Please update your bookmarks!

http://www.uk-tank-markings.co.uk/

[rupert condick]

Hi

hes a pic for you,

502 MAC(Austin K2y, 1941 model contract A1445) c1942

16 Area is Alexandria, do not know why the unit serial is 238 and not 2388 for 502 MAC

there was also a 17 area, but i do not have a picture.

and a lot more.

16 HQ area and 17 area operated from 1941-1944.

 

Edited February 25, 2022 by rupert condick
more info.

[SquireBev]

Now that's one I don't recognise!

[rupert condick]

So for the 502 MAC , M.E.

which appears to have been HQ based, I have the following, Formation / unit signs.

Formation /Unit. 16 Area ( Alexandria) H.Q.

Formation/ Unit 16 Area H.Q. c1942-1944

Unit and Formation 16 Area H.Q. c1944

unit sign H.Q. bar \, c 1944.

Found this for M.E.  March 1944.

although the hand sign is not mentioned here,

But in the text, 

a suitable sign to indicate that the vehicle is right hand drive and is not fitted with trafficators is provided for in M.E.G.O. 115 of 4 febuary 1944.

The sgin is quite faded here. on this 502 MAC Austin K2Y.

 

as the old ambo at home left the M.E. in 1942, there will not be a unit sign on the offside front wing, it maybe however the WD no. M.E..

Edited February 25, 2022 by rupert condick
more information

[Scammell4199]

Just found this thread, and found it interesting.

I'm trying to determine where to put the numbers and stars on our Scammell Pioneer that we're nearing the completion of its restoration. I knew there was a book published originally as a set of guidelines, and see that Morris C8 posted a picture of said book. 

Can anyone give any guidance on where to put the H number and stars. Does the number go on side of bonnet or cab doors? Do i put a star on bonnet or cab roof? Star on sides of back body or on cab doors? etc etc

Many thanks. Richard

[67burwood]

2 hours ago, Scammell4199 said:

Can anyone give any guidance on where to put the H number and stars. Does the number go on side of bonnet or cab doors? Do i put a star on bonnet or cab roof? Star on sides of back body or on cab doors? etc etc

I would imagine the census number would go on the doors but I’ve seen pictures of both door and bonnet 🤔

[rupert condick]

Hi Richard,

There must be some pics about, I do not have any,

I will have a better look ,

try and airfix kit or Acruate armour,

Try Rob Van Meels books,

www.robvanmeel.nl

for army reprints vehicle markings may help.

regs

rupert

Edited February 23, 2022 by rupert condick
missed information