British Vehicle Markings - a rough guide

I've started a visual timeline of the changing composition of the independent armoured brigades.

Before I go any further with it - does the general layout make sense?

 

Looks good - but doing time lines for the Tank Brigades is going to be a challenge. Some of them were around for a long time!

Also, in your table 1944 got repeated after Jan 45!

 

Well spotted!

And yes, the tank brigades could prove to be a nightmare. So I'm chickening out somewhat and only covering the fifteen months I've got here, as it's the period most modellers and wargamers focus on.

I ought to include some indication of where the brigade was active, too, whether Italy or NW Europe.

 

Okay, here we go.

As ever, feedback, comments, corrections all welcome!

 

Nice looking chart!

Some brigades had a slightly hectic organisational history, which might be tricky to fully express in that chart. For example, 33rd Armoured Brigade – part of 79th Armoured Division from 18 Jan 45 (History of 79 Armd Div says 29 Jan 45) to 3 Apr 45 and from 24 Apr 45 until 22 Aug 45 when it was disbanded, comprised the following units during the period considered:

1 N YEO – 17 Mar 44 to 18 Aug 45
1 E RIDING YEO – 16 Aug 44 to 23 Apr 45
144 RAC – 17 Mar 44 to 28 Feb 45, then becomes 4 RTR – 1 Mar 45 to 30 Mar 45
148 RAC – 17 Mar 44 to 16 Aug 44, then disbanded, then dissolved 27 Aug 44
11 R Tks – 27 Jan 45 to 30 Mar 45 and 26 Apr 45 to 19 Aug 45
STAFFS YEO – 26 Apr 45 to 26 Jun 45

thus including up to four regiments between 27 Jan & 30 Mar 45, down to only two between 1 & 23 Apr 45, and just one on 24-25 Apr 45.

Michel

 

Thanks Michel.

I'm going to produce a separate chart for the 79th Armd Div anyway, so that'll come in very useful.

Although it sounds so convoluted I think I'll have to find a way to draw in four dimensions rather than two!

 

Corps Troops AoS serials, based on info in 21st Army Group Organisation & Markings by Bellis.

Europe - Higher Formations

 

You'll need to correct your refs to Divisional troops and units to read Corps.

I'll stress it's just a feeling without checking, but I don't think the Salvage Coy was part of Corps troops as late as 1944?

No separate HQ RA, the Artillery Commander's staff was included in Corps HQ. There was also a Counter Battery Officer's Staff in Corps RA, small unit but worth a mention I think.

There was an Electrical and Mechanical Section (later Platoon, not sure when they changed the nomenclature) attached to the RE Field Park in the same manner as a Bridging Platoon/Troop was to Div Engrs.

Gary

 

Well spotted, thanks Gary. It's what I get for copying templates.

 

been there, done that...

 

If you want a complete Corps layout, this may be of use. Berar in mind that some smaller Corps units tucked themselves away with their bigger brethren and are very difficult to find and id!
RAOC - The Corps's own MLBU was a type A: the Div Increment MLBU's were Type B (and later removed from Corps control). It should be Corps Troops OFP.
Also Corps Troops Ordnance Maintenance Coy, Mobile Ammunition Repair Unit, Mobile Industrial Gas Unit, Mobile Officers' kit Shop & Field Salvage Unit.
RASC - it's a Motor Ambulance Coy (sometimes Column - not sure if there's a difference!): Corps Transport Coy (carried the Corps HQ & assorted hangers-on): Corps Troops Composite Coys; HQ Corps Troops Column RASC.
Corps RE, RASC, RAOC and RA components were radically changed in November 44.
have fun!

 

Hi
I have AoS of First Canadian, First Australian and Second Australian armies. Here is the AoS First Canadian army, it might help you. I prepared it based on the books of Malcolm A Bellis, Peter Hodges & Michael Taylor, several internet sources (some internet pages are not available, but found in archive.org), reels of Canadiana heritage. I also compared the existence of the units in the First Canadian army with several ORBAT files (WO33/2083, WO212/138) and reels of Canadian heritage.

AoS Color Bar Unit
HQ units
9 Bk Ar HQ First Canadian Army
Bk Ar Defence Coy, HQ First Canadian Army
Bk Ar HQ 1 AL Group
10 Bk Ar 1 Air Survey Coy

Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC)
459 G/Bl Ar 32 Recce Regt
465 G/Bl Ar 25 Tank Delivery Regt

Royal Regiments of Canadian Artillery (RCA)
18 R/Bl Ar AL Secs
160 R/Bl Ar 1 Callibration Tps
165 R/Bl Ar 11 LAA Regt
168 R/Bl Ar 109 HAA Regt
170 R/Bl Ar HQ 2 AGRCA
174 R/Bl Ar 191 Fd Arty Regt
175 R/Bl Ar 3 Med Regt
176 R/Bl Ar 4 Med Regt
177 R/Bl Ar 7 Med Regt
178 R/Bl Ar 15 Med Regt
179 R/Bl Ar 1 Hvy Regt (??) According to ORBAT such unit was not found
240 R/Bl Ar HQ 1 Canadian AA Bde
250 R/Bl Ar 7 LAA Regt
260 R/Bl Ar 2 HAA Regt
1148 R/Bl Ar 16 AA Ops Room
1165 R/Bl Ar 660 AOP Sqn
1166 R/Bl Ar 661 AOP Sqn

Royal Corps of Canadian Engineers (RCE)
9 Bl Ar HQ Army Tps RCE
9 Bl Ar 30 Air Svy Liaison Sec RCE
316 Bl G 3 RCE Bn
317 Bl G CE RCE
334 Bl G 1 Road Construction Coy RCE
344 Bl G 1 Mechanical Eqp Coy RCE
371 Bl G 1 RCE Bn
372 Bl AG CE of Canadian attachment to 21st AG
374 Bl G 2 Road Construction Coy RCE
386 Bl G 2 RCE Bn
412 Bl Ar 1 Fd Svy Depot
431 Bl Ar 2 Fd Svy Coy
432 Bl Ar 3 Fd Svy Coy
433 Bl Ar 4 Fd Svy Coy
951 Bl G 2 Tunneling Coy
979 Bl Ar ??
992 Bl Ar 1 Workshop and Pk Coy
1207 Bl Ar 5 Fd Coy
1208 Bl Ar 20 Fd Coy
1209 Bl Ar 23 Fd Coy
1210 Bl Ar 10 Fd Pk Coy
1211 Bl G 1 Mechanical Eqp Pk Coy
1215 Bl G 1 Engrs Store Sec
1223 Bl G 1 Canadian Construction Workshop
1224 Bl G 1 Railway Operating Group
1225 Bl G 1 Railway Workshop Coy
1226 Bl G 1 Railway Operating Coy
1227 Bl G 2 Railway Operating Coy
1252 Bl G CRE Works
1253 Bl Ar 4 Army Tps
1260 Bl G 1 Electrical and Mechanical Eqp Sec
Bl G 1 ME Sec
1267 Bl Ar 24 Fd Coy
1268 Bl Ar 55 Fd Coy
1269 Bl Ar 629 Fd Coy
1272 Bl Ar 145 Fd Pk Coy
1741 Bl Ar 1 Army Tps
1742 Bl Ar 2 Army Tps
1743 Bl Ar 11 Fd Pk Coy
Bl G 4 Electrical and Mechanical Sec(Type A)
1744 Bl Ar 32 Fd Coy
1745 Bl Ar 33 Fd Coy
1746 Bl Ar 34 Fd Coy

Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCS)
9 W/Bl Ar HQ Army Sigs
W/Bl Ar Air Support Sigs
41 W/Bl Ar 3 Army Sigs Pk
439 Bk Ar 1 Air Support Sig Unit (ASSU)
444 W/Bl Ar 3 Sp Wireless Sec(Type A)
445 W/Bl G 1 Sp Wireless Sec(Type B)
446 W/Bl G 2 Sp Wireless Sec(Type B)
448 W/Bl G 1 Canadian LoC Sigs
1459 W/Bl Ar 1 Relay Telephone Coy
W/Bl G 1 Railway Telegraph Coy

Supply and Transport
121DID R/G G 121 Detail Issue Depot
9 R/G Ar Army HQ Car Coy
50 R/G Ar HQ, Commander RCASC First Army
53 R/G Ar 41 General Transport Coy
544 R/G Ar 42 General Transport Coy
550 R/G Ar HQ 2 Canadian General Transport Column
551 R/G Ar 63 Army Transport Coy
552 R/G Ar 64 Army Transport Coy
577 R/G Ar 82 Artillery Coy
578 R/G Ar ???
589 R/G Ar ???
591 R/G Ar 47 Army Transport Coy
406 R/G Ar 35 Army Tps Composite Coy
849 R/G Ar 45 Army Transport Coy
856 R/G Ar 82 Artillery Coy
865 R/G Ar 69 General Transport Coy
866 R/G Ar 65 Tank Transport Coy
1301 R/G Ar 87 Artillery Coy
1302 R/G Ar 85 Bridge Coy
1303 R/G Ar 86 Bridge Coy
1304 R/G Ar 66 Tank Transport Coy
1310 R/G Ar HQ, Army Transport Column
1356 R/G Ar 36 Army Tps Composite Coy

Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC)
CFDS Bk Ar 9/10/11 Fd Dressing Station **(C prefix is used for Canadian RCAMC units and unit number will be added before the AoS. For an example 9 FDS used 9CFDS as AoS)
CFSU Bk G 5/6/7/8 Fd Surgical Unit (Similar to FDS)
CFTU Bk Ar 4/5/6/7 Fd Transfusion Unit (Similar to FDS)
602 Bk Ar 14 Fd Hygiene Sec
627 Bk Ar 6 CCS
645 Bk Ar 2 Adv Depot for Medical Store
648 Bk G 6 General Hospital
649 Bk G 11 General Hospital
1516 Bk Ar 17 Lt Fd Amb

Canadian Dental Corps
604 Bk Ar 2 Dental Coy
620 Bk Ar 4 Dental Coy
621 Bk Ar 5 Dental Coy
622 Bk Ar 9 Dental Coy
628 Bk Ar 6 Dental Coy
632 Bk Ar 1 Army Dental Store

Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps (RCOC)
MARU Bl/R/Bl Ar 1/2 Mobile Amn Repair Unit (Similar to FDS)
72 Bl/R/Bl Ar 10 MLBU
660 Bl/R/Bl Ar ???
674 Bl/R/Bl Ar 1 Ord Rail Head Coy
684 Bl/R/Bl Ar 4 MLBU
685 Bl/R/Bl Ar 5 MLBU
SAL Bl/R/Bl Ar 2/3/5 Salvage Unit (Similar to FDS)

The Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Enginners(RCEME)
70 Bl/Y/R Ar HQ Commander RCEME First Army
73 Bl/Y/R Ar 4 Armd Tps Workshop
Bl/Y/R Ar 2 Inf Tps Workshop
679 Bl/Y/R Ar ???
1001 Bl/Y/R G 1 Adv Base Workshop
Bl/Y/R G 2 Adv Base Workshop
1002 Bl/Y/R Ar 1 Recovery Coy
1003 Bl/Y/R Ar Army Tps Workshop

Canadian Provost Corps (Pro)
9 Bk Ar HQ, Traffic Control
808 Bk Ar 11 Provost Coy
1413 Bk Ar 21 Traffic Control Coy
1414 Bk Ar 27 Traffic Control Coy

Canadian Auxiliary Services
870 Bk Ar HQ Army Tps Canadian Aux Services
871 Bk Ar 1 Canadian Aux Services
875 Bk Ar 2 Canadian Aux Services

Canadian Postal Corps (CPC)
AP Bk Ar First Army Postal Unit

Canadian Intelligence Corps (CIC)
9 Bk Ar 16/17 Fd Secy Sec
Bk Ar 1 Army photographic Interpretation Sec
Bk Ar 1 Interrogation Sec

Miscellaneous
9 Bk Ar 1 Chemical Warfare Lab
Bk Ar First Army Meterological Group
Bk Ar First Army Reception camp
Bk Ar 1 Fd Punishment Camp
702 Bk Ar 11 Fd Cash Office

Please correct me, if there is any mistake.
Regards
Shams

 

Great job on the First Cdn units

Gary

 

Seconded! Tons of info there!

 

Thanks all. However, can anyone please guide me how to paste word/ excel table in the forum post? I have a table of AoS of Australian units (Field army, Corps and Divisions). Whenever I post a table, it destroys the alignments and looks clumsy.

 

You can't paste a table into the body of a post without wrecking its format (believe me, I've tried, too!), because the current forum software displays tabulations or multiple spaces as a single space. However, you can attach an Excel file to a post.

Michel

 

What I do, some times: print the table (or graph or ppt-page, etc.) to pdf, and then cut out a piece ("take a snapshot", I believe it's called) and copy it to ppt or Word or some other MS format, and then select that and save it as a jpg. Then, it can be inserted and still look as it was intended to. If there is an easier way, let me know!

 

If you want to post the table as a jpg, a more direct way would be to make a screengrab of your Excel table, crop the resulting jpg as required and post it. Works fine with me

But I prefer attaching the Excel file as it enables readers to save the data itself rather than an image of it, and thus to further work on it as desired.

Michel

 

As Michel says, posting (attaching) the original document as a Word or Excel file is by far the easiest way - and does allow other members to add/subtract or otherwise manipulate the data. Especially as some many have "particular" interests and want to include only those bits of information relating to their own interests.
chris

 

Based on the table in Taylor's Warpaint, here's a diagram for BEF Corps Troops:



I've only been able to draw on the one source for this one, so there's bound to be omissions and errors. Comments, corrections, feedback etc as ever!

Europe - Higher Formations