Jeff, since you clearly know abut the bradley numbering system, perhaps you can solve a mystery for me.
The marking on this M3A2 appears to be '91.
At first I thought the apostrophe might be part of a forward facing chevron but that is not the case.
And is that a chevron to the right of the '91, if that is indeed what it is? Does it geo down further and is obscured by dust?
What does the mark in front of the 91 mean? It clearly ends on the bottom.
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Looks like it may be blocked from view by the armored panel with the step ?
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I thought it might be a slash going all the way to the bottom, but it clearly stops before disappearing behind that armor,
And if it is a slash, wold an upward pointing chevron still be plausible?
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Slash maybe, I’d think if it were a chevron the top of the other leg would be visible where it rises above the armor panel.
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Ah, but the real question is, would they use a slash and a chevron? Is that what the second image is? Ir a weird shadow? And I don’t recall seeing a number that high.
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Yes, apparently 3-7 CAV, 3ID did during the Iraq invasion. Not sure why.
This may actually be the same vehicle as above, or from the same troop.
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They are very similar, but based on so much of the stowage being different (which can of course change, but all of it?) I’d say they’re different. Plus there’s the missing white sticker on the front armor, the boogered up mud flaps, and of course no MCD on your photo. Either way, that looks like proof enough both symbols were used. So thanks for that photo. The one with the MCD is the M3A2 I’m building with the older track.
Also interesting that both have a tank style towing shackle on the front left. One faces forward, the other rearward. I’ve already captured that on mine.
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Looks like another road trip is in order.
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I’d say the same vehicle. All the markings are an exact match, down to the bolt in the “1”. Stowage gets used, taken down and put back up. That’s why you bring the stuff.
Second image probably is later in the campaign, given the add-ons and mudflap damage.
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Possible, but either way I want to put that MCD on it.
Edit:
I did notice how the markings line up perfectly with the bolts, but if you were an OCD soldier you might design a stencil that actually fits onto those bolts. You know how commanders are about things like that. Which is ironic, given thsat 3 ACR started painting all of their markings over.
At any rate, it looks to me like the MCD version is A 15. The other is ?14. The markings are also not quite in the same location.
The big question is, would the crew have two names for the launcher - one on the stowed position and one in the firing position? Your Mother and Absolutely Freaky(?)
Of course I can see where it would be funny to to have it say Absolutely Freaky and then when you raise it is says Your Mother.
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I was referring to the second one from Alamy, with the MCD.
Museum of the US Army at Ft Belvoir, VA? If so, it is a really nice museum. Well worth the trip.
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Sorry for the delay, its not a Bradley specific numbering system. These numbers were put out by either USAEUR or V Corps for both 1st Armored and 1st Infantry Divisions to use, and each division assigned the numbers differently.
In 1st Armored Division they were:
00 = Division HQ
01= 1st Brigade
02= 2nd Brigade
03= 3rd Brigade
Etc
90= HTT 1/1 CAV
91= A Troop
92= B Troop
Etc
They would use ^>v</_ to signify what platoons the vehicle belonged to.
Your picture above appears to be from OIF? Different theater, different command.
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Sorry its taken me so long to reply, but you are correct with these pictures. The Bradleys you pictured above are actually IIRC from 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. They started deploying around Feb-Mar 1996 to help backfill us because we were short handed. The entire 1st Brigade was in country by the six month mark, and when the mission changed from IFOR to SFOR in late 96, 1st Armored Division was sent home, while 1st Infantry too over. Thats why you see both IFOR and SFOR in the above pics.
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I found a better quality version of “Absolutely freaky” and it is indeed A14 .
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I’m glad you found proof. I knew those had to be two different vehicles.
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What is the story of the Missile Countermeasure Device (MCD)? I read about it a long time ago and then I forgot much about it. I think that it didn’t quite work for technology at that time. Thanks.
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