M109A4 arrives

[Jon Skagfeld]

I see that its call sign is ?5F,

Dont Arty using Golf C/Ss?

Yet, someone posted about RCR signage on it.

Colour me confused.

[rob love]

It is 15F. I recall seeing the G prefix on some equipment back in the 80s, but didn't see it when I got to the artillery in the mid 90s. Some of the FOO APCs perhaps?

A battery vehicles bore the colours of the RCR on their guns. There was a comraderie in Korea which resulted in the RCR presenting the colour to A bty, to be renewed every 15 years. There is unsubstantiated rumour that it was the result of a promise/bet by A bty not to have a FF incident and shell the RCR in error, but I went looking for solid information on that and could not find it. There was a point where the RCR had to call in danger close, so that wouldn't count.

These days, A bty has both the RCR and 2VP colours honored to them. The 2VP I believe was as a result of support in Afghanistan. The current guns (M777) do not bear the crest ordinarily these days, but rather have plaques put onto the shields for parade purposes.

I had the RCA museum's M109A4+ into the shop the other day and noted the RCR crest was getting pretty faded. A search quickly found one of the old decals still hiding out at the regiment, which has now been installed.

[James P]

Arm Indicators such as Golf, India, Tango or Echo are used to designate attached call signs to a domestic net. The T-G-E-I Arm Indicator should not be painted on the vehicle, but does not mean it never happened.

[rob love]

I know for sure I saw one back in the late 80s on the side of the carriers. One of our lesser mechanics went to recover a carrier in 2VP. He came back with the right call sign, but only problem was it had that big G in front of the callsign. He had drug home one of 3RCHA's vehicles. Later towed it over to the RCHA lines, then had to head out to retrieve the 2VP carrier.