442ndRCT Soldier's Forum

Thanks to some info passed on to me by Tim, and therefore leading to me finding the designation of the AR that dictates everything I believe I have the markings for our jeeps down.

This contains the original AR 850-5 including later changes, but none affect what I'm doing.
http://jeepdraw.com/images/AR-850-5.pdf

This site has the vehicle markings section from the above:
http://www.lonesentry.com/panzer/jeep-markings.html

But if I read things correctly then our jeeps can be:


L Bump----R Bump

34-----------HQ
442I----------5

34-----------HQ
442I----------6

In long notation these are:

34-442I-HQ-5 and 34-442I-HQ-6

These stand for:

(Read it backwards essentially)

5th (or 6th) Vehicle, Headquarters Company (since the recon platoon is under the Regimental HQ Company), 442d RCT (The I stands for Infantry), 34th Inf. Division.

The dashes are added in the "bumper" models to connect the words because they squish together when I post the message.

Also I do not know what the vehicle numbers would be. I'm assuming that every vehicle assigned to the HQ Company for the Regimental HQ is counted in the numbers, so realistically they can be what we want them to be.

If we go the Red Raiders route I think that all you have to do is replace the 442I with 133I since I'm assuming this rough and tumble group would answer only to the Regimental Command group.

Some pictures of 442 or 34th jeeps would be helpful but I think that according to the book this is correct.

[

Some pictures of 442 or 34th jeeps would be helpful but I think that according to the book this is correct.

Picture of some actual 133rd regiment soldiers


Here is a unit of the 100th Battalion out patroling the streets of Leghorn, Italy in July 19, 1944.

Thanks Dave. But I need to see the markings on either the front fender or the back "bumperettes"

barcelonablom wrote:Thanks Dave. But I need to see the markings on either the front fender or the back "bumperettes"

How's this, 34th Infantry soldier


Here is a blow-up of the bumper

It looks like 34X-_ _ 4-O


34th Infantry Jeep Serial Number
s/n 20711994, 5th Army, 34th Infantry Div, Cassino, Italy, 1944.

The middle is a 3 digit number for sure. I think that means it belongs to a higher headquartered unit. Thats a good start and I think that can make me feel a little better about what I've come up with.

Here's an interesting one. Note the overspray on the side star.

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft1199n6c9/hi-res

This appears to be the same jeep with the same overspray. The Nisei sitting next to it is holding an Armalite grease gun and I assume the jeep is up on the ramp to get maintenance and all required points lubricated. This was suppose to be routine maintenance.

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft0t1n99s6/hi-res

Another good one, a Seep next to a Jeep.

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft696nb34h/hi-res

I'm fairly sure all three of those pictures show the same jeep so you get good shots of the front and rear markings. Note the hood markings are the light blue drab like Boston has on his jeep. In practice blue hood numbers were only used in the continental US and once overseas was typically overpainted with white numbers.

I gave Mayo a lot of material for you to study including about the serial number on the hood. Not two worry, Jean already has hood numbers so you don't have to come up with anything for that.

Awesome Tim but I think just those pictures alone confirms my theory. I'll see if we have the "Army Stencil" font and when I get a chance I'll do 'em up.

Hah! Now that I'm AWAKE!... I've gone back and really looked at those jeep pictures I posted. They are not the same jeep, but three different ones. They look to be fairly brand new and just issued. Very clean and very 'right off the factory floor' look to them. Very cool actually.

davep wrote:It looks like 34X-_ _ 4-O

I don't think that's a X. I think that bumper has been over painted at least once and what looks like an X is actually a very common marking. Not a letter but a symbol, a triangle for Armored. Possibly this jeep was 'appropriated' or the bumper was stripped off a damaged jeep. If it is an X that's the marking for Cavalry.

I thought I saw a Triangle in there...

Hmmm I have a font that matches, but I need to see what it looks like when I get a free moment.

But how do we want them is another question.

There's a few different combinations. I've kinda posted what i'm thinking but its ultimately Tim and the unit's decision obviously. (I'd say just the unit's but everyone would say Tim's, and then he'd say, its the unit's , so I'm cutting it down here I think I know you all too well )

I'm good with it.

Waits to see if anyone else chimes in...


¬_¬

Are thinking of the full version?

34-442I-HQ-5 and 34-442I-HQ-6

I think that's great

davep wrote:Are thinking of the full version?

34-442I-HQ-5 and 34-442I-HQ-6

I think that's great

That can only work for the front, and is one option I'm considering. I think I saw a photo of a jeep done like that. Though I think accord to the regs you have to have it split on each side of the front bumper.

I like the two lines on the back, looks better and will be legible from behind, it also gives you a two stage effect with a path going down the middle (cookie to whoever can name that reference).