Unit Marking Question

[RonD2]

After disassembly, blasting, priming, and painting, I'm getting to reassemble and mark my 1951 Dunbar Kapple M100 as it would have been in service shortly after it was issued. It has all three data plates (worn thin, but readable) so I have the serial number. I've marked my M38 as belonging to the Headquarters and Service Company of the 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division (3-15-I) with an order of march number of HQ-7, according to what I believe is the correct Army Regulation (AR) in effect during 1952. I also found a copy of the TO&E for the Infantry Regiment in 1952 and HQ&Svc Co. is correct (not a separate Service Company at that time, so it's HQ not SV). And no stars either!

This is my question for the Soldiers out there: it's not clear to me in the AR that trailers got an order of march marking at all. Which makes sense to me (an ignorant jar-head). Why would the Army mark a specific trailer in sequence for a specific jeep, for example if the jeep is HQ-7 then it's trailer would be HQ-8? Why not just grab any trailer and go (no order of march marking for trailers)? I'm inclined to put 3-15-I on the lower left rear cross-member of the trailer and leave it at that. Would it be wrong?

Your advice and experience in this appreciated. I have a few photo's from the period, but none with trailers, and have searched this and the G forum with no joy.

[4x4M38]

Hey Ron,
I stumbled across this on the G:
http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=153146

Take care,

[wesk]

Did you notice what I posted on that G503 post under my 2nd name Cuz over there. That TB is in our downloads.

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... it&lid=151

As I recall the vehicles (including trailers) that were assigned to the motor pool used any acceptable number that the motor pool wished to use since they had no real "Order of March". S I think it is safe to assume that checkout vehicles and trailers from motor pools would not have a unit specific order of march number. However a trailer that belonged to a unit would have an order of march # that would usually attach it to a specific tow vehicle.

[DanS]

In my experience, after the early 70s, trailers were usually assigned to a certain tow vehicle. So if HQ-8 was the tow vehicle, the trailer usually was HQ-8T, designating it as the towed piece of equipment. Of course, all this is really up the commander at what ever level decides per particular unit, ie, company, battalion or brigade level.

Dan

[RonD2]

Thanks for the replies! But the solution is still about as clear as mud to me. I found and read a copy of the AR 850-5 with Change 6 (up to January 1949) today and it's not definitive either. Came across a few photos of M38's and M100's in 1952 Germany and see trailers with only U.S.A. registration numbers on the aft end and no unit marks, as well as some with unit marks. No stars on any of them, deuces, jeeps, or trailers. The photos with marked jeeps and trailers were too fuzzy to see clearly if they're numbered in sequence (ex: HQ-7 jeep towing HQ-8 trailer, or towing HQ-7T trailer). I like Dan's experience with the "T" designating the towed load, but the "after the early 1970's" makes me wonder if they'd have used that method in the early 1950's? Understand unit commanders preference, I'd just like to see some 1950's photo evidence to support it.

I guess I'll keep looking for something definitive for the time being and just put the U.S.A. registration number and 3-15-I on the tail end for now. Then again, what the hey! It's paint, not a stripped bolt.

Thanks again.

[kenperkins]

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j61/f ... lksec2.jpg

from another thread

[RonD2]

Ken, that's perfect! Thanks much!

Enough evidence for me that my M38 is marked HQ-7 and I can mark the trailer with the same.