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  #1  
Old 07-10-07, 13:12
Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon is offline
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Default Aust TAC Sign "S"

Hi, A friend of mine just purchaced a nice C15A. The drivers door is in original camo paint with It's ARN.
In the middle of the door is a black square with a white S.
Does anyone know what this might mean.
Pictures comming soon.
Jeff
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  #2  
Old 24-10-07, 16:08
James Baxter James Baxter is offline
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Hi Jeff,

This could mean the vehicle being fitted with radio supression. I bought an ex-Australian Army Jeep a few years ago, and, when rubbing down the paintwork, I found an S painted on the side of the cowl - not the bonnet - which refered to the vehicle being radio suppressed. Could be the same for your friend's C15A?

James
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  #3  
Old 25-10-07, 13:41
Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon is offline
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Hi James, I think that is only US trucks and even WLA's have a 2 inch S on them foe radio suppression,
This Blitz is an 8 Inch Tac sign in the centre of the door white S on a black background.
Jeff
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  #4  
Old 25-10-07, 14:13
JackM JackM is offline
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Jeff,

I can only add to the mystery about your "S" - it may well have been a common type of marking.

I restored a Blitz a few years ago and it had what sounds like a similar marking except that in this case it was a W5 - see pic.

At least it had a very usable AIF ARN


Jack
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  #5  
Old 25-10-07, 14:37
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Keith Webb Keith Webb is offline
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Default 'S' on door

My F15 has an 'S' stencilled onto the passenger door just to the right of the top hinge, about 2" high.
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dsc_6673_60.jpg  
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  #6  
Old 25-10-07, 21:47
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Among my photo collection I have a few photos of these 'Tac' signs painted on the doors of Australian Army Vehicles similar to the photo from the AWM below which was taken in Greece during 1941.

It always appears to be on vehicles overseas working with British forces and I believe it is a unit sign and not what is commonly called a Tac sign. It is also during these campaigns that the A.I.F. was more normally painted in front of the vehicle ARN as well so this would fit to the 'W5' painted on the door in the photos above.

Keith the small 'S' on your vehicle is not a unit sign but did stand for Radio Suppression.

Hope this Helps
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  #7  
Old 26-10-07, 00:07
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Keith Webb Keith Webb is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by cliff

Keith the small 'S' on your vehicle is not a unit sign but did stand for Radio Suppression.
Normally supression means everything is bonded to each other as with some of the late model CMPs - this one has none, but I suppose could have had a wireless fitted at some point. I was under the impression the 'S' was normally a US thing.
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  #8  
Old 26-10-07, 00:13
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Quote:
Originally posted by Keith Webb
Normally supression means everything is bonded to each other as with some of the late model CMPs - this one has none, but I suppose could have had a wireless fitted at some point. I was under the impression the 'S' was normally a US thing.
Keith what would an Aussie CMP be doing with a 'US thing' marking on it?
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"and on the 8th day he made trucks so that man, made on the 7th day, had shelter when woman threw him out for the night"
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  #9  
Old 26-10-07, 00:15
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I've got it......S = secret so don't ask 'cause if we tell you we gotta kill you!
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Cliff Hutchings
aka MrRoo S.I.R.

"and on the 8th day he made trucks so that man, made on the 7th day, had shelter when woman threw him out for the night"
MrRoo says "TRUCKS ROOLE"
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  #10  
Old 26-10-07, 11:09
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Tony Smith Tony Smith is offline
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The "S" in a square IS a mystery.

The W5 marking is the 5th Workshop section vehicle attached to an AA Regt HQ. Signals Sections vehicles will have an "S", but will be numbered, such as S1, S2, etc..
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  #11  
Old 26-10-07, 11:10
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Tony Smith Tony Smith is offline
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Keith's door shows the remains of a hexagon in the centre of the door. This is the type used for detachment vehicles of troop of a mobile searchlight battery (LAD, etc), and should also have letters and numbers indicating which Tp and vehicle number.
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  #12  
Old 26-10-07, 11:28
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Keith Webb Keith Webb is offline
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Default Markings

I'll give it a gentle rub-down - I noticed it there but think it may have been on top of the cam paint which is very fragile and has turned to powder. It just disappears as soon as it is touched.

One of the appealing things about this truck was the state of the wartime cam pattern - pity the truck was so rusty overall.
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42 FGT No8 (Aust) remains
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  #13  
Old 26-10-07, 13:51
jim sewell jim sewell is offline
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Default S markings on door

Please see attached pic which shows the S and a number as referred to in an earlier post.
This vehicle is a C15 Wireless van.
Regards
Jim S.
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  #14  
Old 26-10-07, 21:47
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Default Re: S markings on door

Quote:
Originally posted by jim sewell
Please see attached pic which shows the S and a number as referred to in an earlier post.
This vehicle is a C15 Wireless van.
Regards
Jim S.
Probably stands for - Signals #4 truck.
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Cliff Hutchings
aka MrRoo S.I.R.

"and on the 8th day he made trucks so that man, made on the 7th day, had shelter when woman threw him out for the night"
MrRoo says "TRUCKS ROOLE"
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  #15  
Old 26-10-07, 22:04
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Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) is offline
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Default Re: Markings

Quote:
Originally posted by Keith Webb
I'll give it a gentle rub-down...
Careful, you might get it excited...

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  #16  
Old 31-10-07, 07:27
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cliff cliff is offline
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Default Re: 'S' on door

Quote:
Originally posted by Keith Webb
My F15 has an 'S' stencilled onto the passenger door just to the right of the top hinge, about 2" high.
Keith in this original factory photo that has been put up before the vehicle pictured has the small 'S' next to the top door hinge as well.

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Cliff Hutchings
aka MrRoo S.I.R.

"and on the 8th day he made trucks so that man, made on the 7th day, had shelter when woman threw him out for the night"
MrRoo says "TRUCKS ROOLE"
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