C8A HUA sign and markings

[Cschibsted]

Hello out there !
Have I taken wrong about the sign "77" ? Baybe it is painted 75 on front shell.
Look on rear diff....... ! Anyone who knows something about this marking ?
Thanks
Christian

[Alan McGuinness]

For some inspiration, you may be interested in this well know photograph: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205205808

Best of luck with the project.

[Ian McCallum]

Originally Posted by Cschibsted

Hello out there !
Have I taken wrong about the sign "77" ? Baybe it is painted 75 on front shell.
Look on rear diff....... ! Anyone who knows something about this marking ?
Thanks
Christian

Hi Christian,

I would agree with previous comments in that due to the allied stars it is unlikely it served in Italy or North Africa during the war. Which really only leaves three alternatives.:

'77' as an arm of service (AoS) number, white on black, is common to all three Infantry Divisions as a Field Ambulance Unit.

1 Div. - 77 = 9 Can. Field Ambulance
2 Div. - 77 = 18 Can. Field Ambulance
3 Div. - 77 = 23 Can. Field Ambulance

Now it appears however that the number on the diff. is '75'? It was common practice to paint the AoS number on the diff so when illuminated by the convoy light it was known what vehicle organisation was being followed.
So did the vehicle transfer between units at some time?

As with the '77' the '75' was also used by all of the three Divisions to denote a field ambulance unit.

1 Div. - 75 = 4 Can. Field Ambulance
2 Div. - 75 = 10 Can. Field Ambulance
3 Div. - 75 = 14 Can. Field Ambulance

However, 1 Infantry Division did not arrive in Europe until 1945, so although possible allied stars were not always painted on vehicles so late in the war.

2 Infantry Division was a gold Maple Leaf on Blue, and 3 Infantry Division on Grey so have a look on the opposite side of nose. Also try the top corners on the rear or lower corners of the door.

I attach a photo of a HUA I once owned, now with Nick Bullock.

[Larry Hayward]

It could be that this vehicle received a replacement rear axle with 75 on it as in most parts of the NW European front, there were Army scrap yards that recovered useful bits from damaged vehicles. In my opinion this is more likely than the front end of the vehicle being changed and 75 being the existing unit

As for the colour originally your vehicle might have received a paint scheme of SCC.2 Brown (or the Canadian equivalent). Other vehicle types painted SCC.2 were camouflaged with Black or Dark Brown over the SCC.2. Ambulances don't seem to have been camouflaged very often. This scheme ended in September 1943, probably just after your HUA was built!

The new scheme was British SC.15 Olive Drab which was used as the new colour from the factory, and when repaired older vehicles were repainted in SC.15 especially post D-Day in 1944-45. So your vehicle may have green paint for this reason. Are the Stars painted over Brown or the Green?

I hope this helps

[Ian McCallum]

Forgot to say the HUA that I restored was your one's older brother or sister. Date of delivery was September 14th. 1943 as part of Order No.: LV1512.

[Cschibsted]

Thank you for your answers so far ! I will take your hints and study the body of the amb. some more.
Do you know if its possible to get blueprints or photo of the rear original inside the amb.? all original equipment is no longer there.

[Cschibsted]

Have studied the body and doors on my HUA........ The stars on rear side doors are painted on the canadian brown color. Then its a green olive color painted very nice around the white markings . Then it seems that the hole body was overpainted whith another green color. Maybe before shipped as a part of the Marshall help to Norway.
I know that the HUA came to Oslo harbor in 1948. It was bought out of Oslo by a Car dealer and then sold later to a little Norwegian community for serving as a firetruck, until about 1980.
I am very greatful for all help I can get.....!