U.S. Military Vehicle Numbering System

dkolojek · Post by **dkolojek** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:17 am

I have a question that I hope someone can help me with. Can someone help me with the vehicle numbering system for the U.S. Military? For example what would the number be for a tank in say first platoon, D company in the first squadron of the 3rd Armored Cavalry? At one time I had a copy of Brasseyâ€™s Encyclopedia of Land Force and Warfare and that had it in their but when we moved that book got lost

and I can not find the information now. If anyone can please help I would greatly appreciate it.

DrBig · Post by **DrBig** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 6:32 am

3C-D-#

my best guess

Gort · Post by **Gort** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:39 am

If I'm not mistaken that reads as Ist Infantry Division, Ist Sqn 4th ACR, B Co., 2nd Ptn, 1st vehicle.

regards

Steve

voltigeur · Post by **voltigeur** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 6:37 pm

OK if someone paints the fender numbers on micro armor where they can be read I'll just give up painting accepting I will never be worthy.

dkolojek · Post by **dkolojek** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:20 pm

No, I was not going to paint the number on fender, but rather on the base. But now that you mention it.

Mk 1 · Post by **Mk 1** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:49 pm

voltigeur wrote:OK if someone paints the fender numbers on micro armor where they can be read I'll just give up painting accepting I will never be worthy.

What you mean "IF", voltman?

Can't you tell by looking? I mean, the kit-bashed helmets and bent arms of the crewmen are a dead give-away. If you check out his latest posting in the AAR thread, you'll see that this tank is in JB's collection.*

*Then again, look at the tracks -- they were done in black before being overwashed with mud. That's not JB' style. Hmmm ... is it possible that JB had gotten Ritter to paint some of his moderns?!?

DrBig · Post by **DrBig** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:10 am

is this for WW2 or modern?

dkolojek · Post by **dkolojek** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 7:43 am

Dr. Big I am starting with modern and working my way back to WWII. And I would like to thank everyone for their help so far.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 7:59 am

I served in three different divisions between 1997 and 2005 and each one had a slightly different numbering system. As a general rule of thumb the number on the left bumper is division and battalion, and the number on the right bumper is the company and vehicle number. At least thatâ€™s how it was in the division. Corps units were a little different.

The vehicle number (right bumper) is usually a letter (for the company) and then a 1 or 2 digit number for platoon and vehicle. Thus, C34 would be a vehicle from 3rd platoon C Company. A8 would be a vehicle from A Companyâ€™s HQ element. And HHC 35 would be a vehicle from HHCâ€™s S3 section.

For standard 4 vehicle platoons (tanks and mech infantry) some units number them 1-4, and some units number them 5-8 to account for a 6 and a 7 vehicle.

Vehicles ending in 6 are almost always a commander, 5 is almost always an XO, and 7 is almost always the senior NCO (1st Sergeant or Command Sergeant Major). Thus, in a tank company (say B Company) the COâ€™s tank is B66 and his HMMWV is B6. The XOâ€™s tank is B55. The First Sergeantâ€™s APC is B77 and his HMMWV is B7. A battalion commanderâ€™s tank would be HQ 66 and the S3â€™s tank would be HQ33.

Hope this helps.

-Mike

DrBig · Post by **DrBig** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 12:24 pm

dkolojek, send me an email & I can send you some reference materials for WW2.

BattlerBritain · Post by **BattlerBritain** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:09 pm

Hey Gort - love the picture of that M1.

I've got some M1A1s to paint and I need some good reference material for the camo pattern - that'll do nicely

Cheers,

Battler

Gort · Post by **Gort** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:31 pm

Battler

If you need an all around view of the cammo pattern for an M1A1 check out this link.

http://www.armouredacorn.com/Refs-%20Th ... 3-tone.pdf

regards

Steve

BattlerBritain · Post by **BattlerBritain** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:41 am

That is just what the doctor ordered!

Spot on Dood

Thanks,

Battler