Can anyone explain the meaning of the AOS flash seen on Ferrets in Aden 1963-1967?
Diagonally split square: red in upper left, yellow in lower right. Black number ‘101’ superimposed on square?
Thanks,
Paul
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“101” is the allocated number to an Armoured Car regiment assigned within a Corps sized formation; I don’t actually think the Army in Aden ever achieved that actual size - ie a Corps (ie 2 or more Divisions) but perhaps it was such a polyglot organisation and headed up by a 3 star Commander, that they adopted the Corps/Corps Troops numbering system.
The bi-sected square in red and yellow is representative of the Royal Armoured Corps.
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Brian,
Thanks for the clarification. As you are no doubt aware, AOS and Formation signs are quite complicated to understand … particularly for someone who has never had real experience of the military. I also not the ‘Arab Dhow’ motif on the Formation signs of many vehicles in Aden. Was this unique the theatre?
Incidentally, did you receive my personal message a few days ago? It included images of my latest small-scale diorama, ‘After the Riots’?
Paul
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Paul,
Don’t worry I am the British Army organisation Ninja - or at least I think I am!
The Dhow is the formation sign of British Forces Arabian Peninsula so that would encompass most of those serving in Aden, especially those troops posted there on a rotational basis.
I did see your NI dio and replied when it appeared on my normal email; clearly I should have checked, as it was obviously not compatible with whatever transmission medium was actually needed.
I believe I commented thus:
Nice work Paul, very nice.
I may have said it before but I spent most of my time in NI trying not to get killed.
‘Like the van; you can’t get much more authentic than actually burning the real thing!
I’m a little bogged down in my Bundeswehr What-If at the moment; as ever, it’s due to figures, or the lack of. I imagine that’s one advantage of working a small scale, figures are relatively easy to convert.
Stonehenge Modellers aren’t due to display until August and that’ll be at Avon (which is a really cracking show); thereafter, we’ll, hopefully, be at Yeovil too. See you there!
Regards,
Brian
Rest assured that if I can do anything at all to help a clearer understanding of British military organisation, you only have to ask and I will happily do so.
Brian
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Brian,
Many thanks for the explanation, and for your kind comments regarding my latest piece.
Paul
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Brian,
Is there any evidence that when applying the Light Stone colour as a camouflage scheme over the existing Bronze Green (on Ferrets in Aden), the area of the hull behind the wheels and suspension would have been left in the original colour? Obviously, the inner portions of the mudguards would have accumulated a fair amount of dust and dirt, but what would be a good base colour for these?
Paul
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I imagine that all Ferrets of the time would originally have been finished in Deep Bronze Green, even those repainted in say, Middle East Base Workshops (ie light sand); whether or not the area behind the wheels was re-painted I have no idea, but it’s a bit of a faff removing the wheels and having to spray behind them, so I would assume they’d be left on their original colour, and of course pick up dust etc, despite a probable weekly wash-down. If re-painting was carried out at unit level then I imagine it’s even more unlikely that such an area would be bothered with.
If you’re asking for a good Bronze Green colour then I use Revell enamel 65 with a gloss varnish but I do model mainly in 1:35.
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Brian,
Thanks for the clarification. This makes perfect sense.
Actually, I have used Humbrol 75 for the Bronze Green.
This is lighter than required, but after a coat of varnish
and an overall dark wash, the colour tends to be a good
scale match (1/72 scale). Rather than presenting the model
in an ‘Aden’ setting, I plan to incorporate it in a vignette as
a restored vehicle at a present-day military vehicle show, with
visitors admiring and photographing the exhibit. Consequently,
the paintwork will be near-pristine.
Paul
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Other than the ‘Arab Dhow’, what other Formation Badges would have been appropriate for Ferrets in Aden? I have several Royal Armoured Corps AOS decals, but trying to hand-paint the ‘dhow’ on a 2mm square yellow decal is proving to be very difficult. Maybe there will be something else in my spare-decals box that could be used instead …
Paul
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If you trawl back to one of your earlier posts “Ferret in Aden Queries”, you will note I referred you to a Star decals sheet which has a number of options on it (albeit for 1:35).
These are:
a. The Arab dhow - shown here on a Stalwart:
The formation sign for British Troops Persian Gulf (I believe units rotated through to Aden but would have thought it unlikely that they’d take any vehicles - they would just use those in situ); however, affixing this sign to your model would at least indicate British Troops in the Middle East):
24 Infantry Brigade were also in Aden but I am not sure for how long:
Personally, if I were attempting to paint a formation sign in 1:72/76 I’d probably stick with the Dhow - basically a black triangle on a yellow square - the others look a tad too difficult.
Remember that the AOS sign would be on the left (looking at the front of the vehicle) and the formation sign on the opposite - as per the Stalwart above.
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Brian,
Thanks for the follow-up information.
Yes, I am aware of the Star Decals sheet, and the options for Aden Ferrets,
and I have photos of vehicles with the other two markings.
Apologies if I seem to be labouring the point. Were I simply wanting to settle
for a nears-as replication of the Formation Sign (for a model that would be viewed
from a distance at a model show for example) I could get away with hand-painting
a basic shape on the square decal background. The fact is that the completed model
will be photographed close-up for publication in Military Modelcraft International, and
any discrepancy will be immediately obvious.
I have just come across various 1/76-scale decal sheets with the appropriate markings,
so I will check those out over the next couple of days.
Again, thanks for your help.
Paul
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Roger that; good luck with it all.
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Brian,
Just noticed … on the Star Decal sheet, the Queens Dragoon Guards vehicle has no Formation Sign visible. If I have no success with the elusive ‘Dhow’ marking, I can settle for that. The joys of working in small-scale!!
Paul
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Job done then Paul - job done!
'Hope it all comes off OK.
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