Do modern US armored vehicles, support vehicles, and towed artillery pieces bear any form of standard marking like a serial number or unit marking? I suspect such markings are painted over for a combat deployment but are such markings standard in peace time?
World War II and Korean War era tanks almost always have a serial number on the rear flanks and unit markings on the front and rear plates. Sometime after the Korean War such markings disappear but every so often I see a vehicle with a serial number and/or unit markings. How is it done today?
Thanks!
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The markings do not get painted over in combat, but they all run the standard bumper numbers, and some units even sprayed some emblems on the vehicles as well.
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Modern US Army vehicles have standard bumper numbers. They do not have serial numbers.
Usually, the left side (when looking at the front or back) has Division and Bn markings, while the right has Company Letter and Vehicle number.
For example, the below M1A1 has 1st Armored Div, 1st Bn, 37th Armored Regiment ((1^1-37) with the ^ as a solid triangle for Armored Div) on the left side. On the right is A Company, Vehicle #66 (Company Commander’s vehicle) (A-66)
Modern USMC vehicles usually only have USMC and a serial number on the sides of their vehicles.
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I guess you should find info in these two publications
TB 43-0209, Color, Marking and Camouflage Painting of Military Vehicles, Construction Equipment and Materials Handling Equipment
TM 43-0139, Painting Instructions for Army Materiel
Some editions are available online but maybe not the latest ones…
H.P.
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