M38A1 CDN3 markings

[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.

[Gunner]

Hi Jim:

My own experience is that the recce tac sign was used on vehicles only by recce units. Inf recce platoons would have the battalion level marking on them not platoon level. It is my impression that the tank track symbol was jealously guarded by sub-units with Lynx and the "plain" recce symbol was used by militia regiments, however, as Ed has noted it was a time of liberal interpretation by unit and bde commanders so there are lots of variations!

You absolutly right that all the M38A1s came from the factory painted semi-gloss OD. The cam paint was added starting late 1975 or early 1976 at the unit level. I remember my Warrant at the time handing me a book of drawings (I still have the book somewhere) and a bunch of chalk so I could go out and mark the trucks to spec. I got in sh*t if I strayed more than three inches from the drawings! We did the unit's trucks (71 Bty, 26 Fd RCA) over a weekend. All hand painted with brushes!

Cheers! Mike

[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