British Tank Markings - A Guide

[SquireBev]

Hi, SquireBev and thanks for this fantastic resource you've created!

I'm looking for something pretty specific - maybe you can help me out?  What was used on vehicles for 8th Army's (more specifically XXX Corps') RASC bridging company?  I'm specifically looking for Sicily, so July 1943 if that makes a difference.  I'm trying to figure out what markings to put on the lorries supporting my RCE Bailey Bridge project!

I figure I could use markings for 2nd Field Park Company RCE, but if I understand the logistics, the bridge parts would be delivered to the bridging site by XXX Corps bridging company.  But I'd be fine with being corrected if I am wrong!

Best,

Will

Hi Will. I'll hit the books and let you know what I find.

Data on Corps- and Army-level units can be a bit thin on the ground, unfortunately, especially for Sicily and Italy, but I'll see what I can dig up.

If anyone else has answers and wants to jump in, please don't hold back!

[Will Bailie]

Thanks for replying so quickly!  I have been digging into this and have not come up with an answer yet.

What I've got so far is this:
The bridge was constructed by 3 Field Company RCE but the materials were delivered from the beachhead to the construction site by the appropriate RASC bridging company.  At some point, the materials may have been transferred to 1st Canadian Division RCE lorries, but it seems more likely to me that they'd just use the RASC lorries to haul to the site, and avoid the extra handling.  But I might be wrong (and maybe just a little crazy to be obsessing over which tiny rectangle to paint on one model that no one else will even notice, much less care about!)

Cheers!

Will

[modelwarrior]

Not sure if this helps. I read somewhere that RASC units transported vehicles from vehicle pools to front line units with only chalk markings consisting of 5-6 digits on them ? The vehicles would be then marked up accordingly on arrival at the new unit. Not sure if this would apply to a bridging unit as it would only be temp attached ?

[Will Bailie]

thanks, MW.  As far as I can determine, the Bailey bridge equipment was shipped in standard 3-ton loads.  RASC would deliver the loads from the bridgehead to where it was needed, where it would be handed off to the appropriate RE (or RCE in this case) unit.  A complication is that each RE Field Park company kept 80' of bridging in its immediate stores, but these were supposed to be maintained as a reserve, and they were supposed to use equipment delivered by RASC where possible, rather than deplete and restore their reserve.

So the RASC bridging company would deliver the equipment to the construction site, where the RE or RCE Field Company would build the bridge.  If I want to cut out the RASC, i could simply use a blue rectangle with white 48 to represent the Division's Field Park Company.

Enough to make your head spin! 

[SquireBev]

A tricky one indeed!

In the meantime, I've decided to move the site to a new home and a new host, so that I'll be able to upload PDF versions of the diagrams - particularly the timelines - as the pure image file versions can be difficult to read.

Please update your bookmarks!

http://www.uk-tank-markings.co.uk/

[Etranger]

and bookmarked!

[Will Bailie]

That's great, SquireB.  Easier to navigate now!

[SquireBev]

Independent Armoured Brigades timeline updated to show Motor battalions and AoS markings.

I've even thrown in a PDF version if you follow the link:
https://www.uk-tank-markings.co.uk/formation-timelines/#IndyBrig

[SquireBev]

Quick one today.

I've updated the Independent Brigades diagrams to reflect the recent revelations about 4AB using blue/green rather than red, and 33AB apparently NOT using 151-154 serials after all.

https://uktankmarkings.wordpress.com/2021/05/12/updates-12-05-21/

[Eclaireur]

interesting squirebev - and always good to see your new work  where did this revelation about 4th Armoured Brigade AoS come from?
EC

[SquireBev]

There's quite a lengthy thread about it on Missing Lynx:

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missinglynx/arm-of-service-marking-dilemma-t327113.html

[Eclaireur]

yep, apologies should have followed the link on your blog before posting here,
EC

[SquireBev]

And you thought the Far East would send you mad... 

"Why not include the divisional commanders?", I thought, "It can't be that difficult."

[Jemima Fawr]

"Why not include the divisional commanders?", I thought, "It can't be that difficult."

You ok, Hun? 

[SquireBev]

Apart from shouting the names of miscellaneous Brigadiers in my sleep...

Full timeline is getting there anyway. I've done the Guards and the 1st Armoured Division so far.