Pale blue tactical markings for armoured car regiments?

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by marco

Here is a HUP from the RCCS troop attached to the XII Manitoba Dragoons.
It is marked "AC4", meaning "IM Shop" according to the list.
I do not know what "IM" means. Anyone?
.

It's nice to see the photograph match Jordan's archive material on tactical markings. The "AC4" is indeed a 'HUP', but it's hard to say what kind. It may be a wireless version or a screened in machinery van. Because of where it is in the list and looking at the other types shown I would say (and it's just a guess) 'Instrument, Machinery Shop' which would be a machinery van equipped to fix radio or line equipment. I would have said 'incoming message shop' but that's too slang and not the language I've ever heard before in the Signal Corps. Beside, there is a signals office vehicle for that.

Last word on the green over white. The SAR war diary talks about tanks, so it may not have been applied to soft skins. And the green, having thought about it more, may have been 'dry brushed' or lightly dabbed over the white to apply just a little dulling the same olive 'green' as the vehicle colour.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

It's nice to see the photograph match Jordan's archive material on tactical markings. The "AC4" is indeed a 'HUP', but it's hard to say what kind. It may be a wireless version or a screened in machinery van. Because of where it is in the list and looking at the other types shown I would say (and it's just a guess) 'Instrument, Machinery Shop' which would be a machinery van equipped to fix radio or line equipment.

I'd suggest "Instrument Mechanic", for the AC4 vehicle, as that was a WW2-era Signals trade (later renamed to Radio Mechanic and then to Electronics Technician). It may not have been just Signals, as there would be optical equipment (gunsights and similar things) to be maintained and repaired, but for a small unit it would most likely have been Signals, for Wireless and Telephone/Telegraph equipment maintenance.

Chris.