Help with deciphering bumper markings

Kendall · Post by **Kendall** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 3:14 pm

Please help me translate the markings on the bumpers of these jeeps. This photo is from the "Life" photos and was taken at Ft. Riley, KS so I know that they belong to the 1st Infantry, but exactly what do the numbers/letters stand for? Also are the Big Red One decals on the M38A1 standard markings?
My M38 jeep has the remnants of one of those decals on the windshield and would like to place 1st Infantry markings on the bumpers.
Thanks for your help,
Kendall
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DMCarpenter · Post by **DMCarpenter** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:27 pm

That photo was likely taken between 1957 and 1959. 1-16th IN was redesignated in 1957 as HHC 1st Battle Group, assigned to 1t ID. 13 Mar 1959, it was reassigned to the 8th ID. 1 April 1963, it was redesignated 1-16th IN and reassigned to 1t ID. However, the 1t Battle Group designation was dropped. Judging from the '1 GP' on the front bumper, this is from that short period in the late 50's.

Dave

Kendall · Post by **Kendall** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 8:34 am

Please excuse my ignorance but I don't understand. Does the 1-16-1 stand for 1st Infantry-16th Infantry Regiment-1st Battalion? What does "IN", "HHC", "1t" and "ID" stand for? So does the 1-GP stand for the 1t Battle Group?
Thanks for your help,
Kendall

DMCarpenter · Post by **DMCarpenter** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 4:09 pm

1-16-I is First Battalion Sixteenth Infantry (Regiment)

HHC is Headquarters, Headquarters Company

1t means First
ID means Infantry Division

1GP likely means First Battle Group

edited to add: IN means Infantry. Typically, a regiment is referred to as its branch type only, such as the 'First Infantry' for the First Infantry Regiment, or more specifically battalion and regiment, such as the 'Second of the Eighth Infantry', which means 'The Second Battalion of the Eighth Infantry Regiment', of the 'First of the Ninth Cav' which would be the 'First Squadron of the Ninth Cavalry Regiment'.

smokey1 · Post by **smokey1** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:34 pm

That A1 in the photo has its spare tire mounted on the side vs stock rear location. Just noticed that..

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 7:19 pm

The A1 also seems to be a radio vehicle.

Jim in Darkest Arkansas

smokey1 · Post by **smokey1** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 7:23 pm

A1's did not have a fold down tailgate so I'm not sure why they mounted the spare on the pass side.

However, was it uncommon for an A1 to be fitted with a Radio? I'm asking as I don't know how many were equipped that way?

Post by **wesk** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:20 pm

No, it was quite common for A1's to be fitted up with radios. The one in the photo has a very large set-up and must be a mobile Company CP jeep because it appear to be towing a trailer with a gas engined power unit and the cables are probably tied to the rear of the A1 necessitating relocation of the spare making it easier to access the rear of the radios as well.

miljeep52 · Post by **miljeep52** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 9:38 am

Thats a command setup just two RT-66,67, or 68's mix or matched what ever they needed didnt need a generator for that if it was a large settup you would see the rectifier and cabling for the 100AMP system in the grill, evan if there was a generator in the trailer they wouldnt runn with it working or cabled to the set why they moved the tire is for a reason we can only guess at. Scott out

Post by **wesk** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:32 am

The photo is not much help. I am offering a few speculations. Did you stop and think their purpose may have been to leave the jeep parked with the trailer and generator hooked up and use it in place as a stationary unit? Just the fact they have what appears to be two MP-50 antenna mounts forces the spare to move. I cannot offer any explanation why they didn't use the spare bracket mounted AB449 antenna mount. Can you?

Without more info and better photos anything we offer up is pur speculation and is only offered in that light.