M38A1 CDN3 markings

[rob love]

I'll add my 2¢ to the discussion on the tac sign. In my teen years I was light recce with the FGH. If memory serves, we used the oval with the one diagonal bar. It also seems to me that we had the two small bars on top, and put the initials of our unit to the right of the symbol. Pretty much all the Western reserve units did it the same way.

[Gunner]

Poor Chris!

Chris; look for photos of 1H jeeps from the time but if the oval makes you feel good go for it!

The little wheels underneath were never used on vehicle tac signs just in map marking.

The pictures that Jim posted are exactly the ones we were issued. Its interesting that the jeep pictured looks like a "51 pattern" (hi Ed!) M38. It didn't matter, as all 'jeep' like vehicles (M38 family, M151 family) got slathered with the same pattern by young soldiers under varying degrees of coercion and with varying degrees of enthusiasm! That's why I frequently use exterior latex house paint for top coating... easy on, lasts a long time , easy cleanup and cheap... also hold brush marks well for that authentic slapped on paint job! If you want to really capture the look, consider using an old mop to apply the paint!!

You haven't discussed call signs yet. About 6 inches tall, a simple font like "Arial" and usually two digits and a capital letter- ie: 22C. On jeeps these were under the doors or in the area just ahead of and below the windshield on each side. I can recite from memory all the Herbie (Gunner) call signs but check with a Zipperhead like Jim or Daryl to confirm the armoured recce C/S.

Cheers! Mike

[rob love]

In our unit the call signs were never permanently applied. Usually they were just put on with chalk the day of the ex, since you could never count on which jeeps would be available, or which drivers would show up.

Even today you can usually tell a reserve force MLVW from a regular force MLVW by the lack of callsigns on the doors.

[Gunner]

Good point, Rob: The only vehs in 71 Bty with permanent C/S were the gun tractors, the CP (command post), and, I think, 29's (the Battery Commander's) jeep. Most other vehs were borrowed from the Third Herd (3RCHA) for weekend ex's.

(parentheses added for the jargon impaired! )

Cheers! Mike

P.S: Rob: amazing work you're doing on the 105mm C1!!! I bow in admiration and jealousy!

[rob love]

Thanks for the compliment Mike. It is coming along nicely, and it seems every trip to Westbourne finds something new. I was out a couple days ago and found the case for the panoramic sight. I thought I found the brass ends for the cleaning rods, but turns out they are for the 155, as they are too big a diameter to stow in the trails.

There are a couple impossible to find pieces yet, but the list keeps getting shorter.

[Gunner]

Rob: If you want to part with the 155 ends I need several (I think four but will have to check). I have asked a machine shop in Ottawa to estimate the ends in brass and in aluminum but I think they will be prohibitively expensive. Stuart Beeney is also looking for some.

Cheers, Mike

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Gunner

Rob: If you want to part with the 155 ends I need several (I think four but will have to check). I have asked a machine shop in Ottawa to estimate the ends in brass and in aluminum but I think they will be prohibitively expensive. Stuart Beeney is also looking for some.

Cheers, Mike

Mike
Shoot me a PM on this....I think we can work something out. Unless a 155 falls into my lap in the next while, I am not actively looking for one and these are of no use to me.