U.S. Army Vehicle Markings, 1944

By Jean Bouchery and Philippe Charbonnier

An illustrated guide to the markings used on WWII Era U.S. Army tanks, lorries and Jeeps—an invaluable reference for historians, modelers and collectors.
 
The markings of a 1944 U.S. Army Jeep are an iconic image of American military and the Second World War. But few people know what the distinctive white letters, numbers and symbols actually mean. This uniquely detailed guide explains how these and other markings were integral to organizing the U.S. Army on the move.
 
U.S. Army Vehicle Markings 1944 covers all the markings used on American military vehicles to denote their unit and classification. It also covers tactical markings and the debarkation codes used in the Normandy landings. Hundreds of contemporary photographs are paired with precise color diagrams to show exactly how markings appeared on vehicles, including the exact measurements. The volume explains all the variations in the use of these markings and includes a chapter on the varieties of camouflage used on vehicles.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Casemate Publishers
• Release date: Jun 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781612007380

Book preview

Introduction

Whatever your motivation, collecting and renovating military vehicles or modeling, you will without doubt find this book of interest. It will readily find a place in the grubby workshop of the Mechanic of the Impossible or next to the paintbrushes of the most meticulous modeler.

However it is not aimed exclusively at modelers, and so also presents previously unpublished facts to the local history enthusiast, baffled by photographs taken on a summer’s day in 1944, during the liberation of the village where his grandparents lived: Who is this American unit with lined-up Jeeps and Dodges along a high street decorated with Allied flags?

It also provides all the details needed by the collector who wants to make the final touches to the vehicle he has restored with so much care: the markings are authentic and coherent.

As soon as the choice of the vehicle—the most representative of which are illustrated throughout these pages—has been made, the only thing left to do is to define the positioning of the national markings and the units that you want to represent, as long as the vehicle was ineed part of its table of equipment. This is, in fact, the main focus of this book. Each chapter includes a detailed and generously illustrated explanatory section. We have compiled a volume of accessible information that will allow the aficionado to make credible representations. Careful observation of the equipment displayed in museums or at association meetings have shown us that this is not always the case—this book will help you ensure your representation is correct.

Jean Bouchery, 2017

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Army maneuvers in Montana in the 1930s, with peacetime markings clearly visible. These 1½-ton Dodge trucks, 4x2 (1934 model) carry on their doors the fully spelledout 4th Infantry Regiment, Service Company, and the insignia of the 3rd Division. (P. Charbonnier Collection)

figure ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY

In this chapter we look at the United States during World War II and summarize data on the production of military matériel and its diversity.

The Neutrality Act was passed on November 4, 1939, repealing laws that forbade the export of war equipment. Freedom to reinstitute exports was granted to private enterprises, provided that the clients pay cash, with the producer being responsible for the delivery of the goods: the Cash and Carry clause. At that time in the war, this measure exclusively benefited France and Great Britain, the powers of the Axis having practically no way of resorting to it.

On March 11, 1941, while the U.S. was still neutral, President Roosevelt obtained from Congress approval for the Lend-Lease Act, which allowed to give, lend or rent any material, service or information destined to a nation whose actions were considered by the president as vital for the defense of the United States.

Compensation could be made as payments, return of the goods or any other direct or indirect advantage that the president deemed satisfactory.

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The strength of the American economy is demonstrated in this photograph, taken at an armored vehicle park in Great Britain before the D-Day landings. Note the added armor soldered over the original white star marking.

LEND-LEASE DELIVERIES

USSR

Great Britain

France

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Taken from a commemorative leaflet from the Chrysler Society, these images show the assembly lines of its Dodge subsidiary.

Even before the U.S. officially entered the conflict, such measures allowed its industry to prepare for war.

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May 3, 1945, Grabow, Germany. A Sherman M4A2 (76) from the Red Army. In order to standardize the Soviets asked for diesel-engine tanks, as in their models of national construction. (National Archives)

TOTAL PRODUCTION OF WHEELED VEHICLES, SELECTION

ARMORED VEHICLES

¹ Of which 12,785 GPA amphibian jeeps

² Of which 11,283 diesel engine M4A2s, used only by the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater and for resources provided to the Allied armies, as well as 7,499 M4A4s given solely to the British and French armies.

³ White Motor Co. production exclusively for the U.S. Army, International Harvesters (IHC) were reserved for the Allied armies, see appendix pp 140-41.

Note that the production figures vary depending on the source.

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Technical Manual TM 9-876

Parts list SNL G-683

Manufacturer: Cushman Motor Works

Use: parachutable motorcycle

Allocation: airborne units

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Technical Manual TM 10-1177/10-1359/10-361/10-1175/10-1331 (Harley-Davidson), TM 10-1279 (Indian)

Parts list SNL G-523 (HD), G)524 (Indian)

Manufacturer: Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Model WLA (photo), Indian Motorcycle Co. Model 640-B.

Use: dispatch transport, reconnaissance troops and military police

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Technical Manual TM 10-1303/10-1133

(Chevrolet), TM 10-1375 (Ford), TM 10-1149/10-1151 (Plymouth)

Parts list SNL G-520 (Chevrolet), G-521 (Plymouth), G-522 (Ford)

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Motor Division (General

Motors Corp.), Ford Motor Co. (photo), Plymouth

Division, Chrysler Motor Corp.

Use: transport of senior officers and generals

Allocation: all unit types, divisions and above

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Technical Manual TM 10-1103/10-153 (Willys),

TM 10-1101/10-1349 (Ford)

Parts list SNL G-503

Manufacturer: Willys Overland Motors Co., Ford Motor Co.

Use: personnel and light cargo transport, reconnaissance, 37mm antitank gun tractor

Allocation: most units

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Technical Manual TM 10-1263

Parts list SNL G-504

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Co.

Use: staff transport on land or in water

Allocation: engineers units, reconnaissance

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Technical Manual TM 9-808/9-808A/9-808B

Parts list SNL G-502

Manufacturer: Dodge Brothers Corp. (Division of Chrysler Corp.)

Use: senior officer transport on the battleground, vehicle equipped with a radio

Allocation: most tactical units at the beginning of the war, often replaced by the Jeep which was more discreet at the front

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Technical Manual TM 9-808/9-808A/9-808B

Parts list SNL G-502

Manufacturer: Dodge Brothers Corp. (Division of Chrysler Corp.)

Use: tactical truck

Allocation: most units

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Technical Manual TM 9-808/9-808A/9-808B

Parts list SNL G-502

Manufacturer: Dodge Brothers Corp. (Division of Chrysler Corp.)

Use: transport of ill or wounded, four patients on stretchers or eight sitting patients

Allocation: Medical Department units

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Technical Manual TM 9-810/9-1808A

Parts list SNL G-507

Manufacturer: Dodge Brothers Corp. (Division of Chrysler Corp.)

Use: tactical truck, for personnel and light cargo,

57mm M1 antitank gun tractor

Allocation: most tactical units

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Technical Manual TM 9-901

Parts list SNL G-508

Manufacturer: General Motors Corporation

Use: transport of personnel and supplies

Allocation: most tactical units and services

Note: similar trucks by Studebaker and Reo were mostly delivered to the USSR

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Technical