6th South African Armoured Division (Italy 1944 - 1945) - Colour Schemes, Tactical Markings & Insignia’s

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Colour Schemes, Tactical Markings & Insignia’s
By J.C von Winterbach, Lt. Col. William Marshall

All Images & Tactical Markings are used with Permission from Lt. Col. William Marshall.
http://www.sacolours.co.za
· Camouflage and Markings of the 6th South African Armoured Division: North Africa and Italy 1943-1945: Part 1: Armoured Vehicles – W. Marshall (Model Centrum Progres, 2010)
· Camouflage and Markings of the 6th South African Armoured Division: North Africa and Italy 1943-1945: Part 2: Wheeled Transport and Artillery – W. Marshall (Model Centrum Progres, 2012)
· 1:35 Decals: 6th South African Armoured Division in Africa and Italy 1943 - 1945 – Starmer’s Armour (mikestarmer18@gmail.com)

M4 Sherman:

Camouflaged in accordance with the 1943 Pattern in Light Mud & Blue/Black. AoS Signs & Divisional Emblem (On a White background) was added to the Front & Rear. Names & WD Numbers were added in Blue/Black to the Hull Sides. Some Artillery OP Tanks had Tactical Emblems added to the Rear & Sides of their Turrets. The Pretoria Regiment made use of a 6-Pointed Golden Star on the side of the Hull as their Emblem.

After the refit, all Shermans were camouflaged in Olive Drab. AoS Signs & Divisional Emblem (On a White background) was added to the Front & Rear. Names & WD Numbers were added in White or Blue/Black to the Hull Sides. Some Artillery OP Tanks had Tactical Emblems added to the Rear & Sides of their Turrets. The Pretoria Regiment made use of a 6-Pointed Golden Star on the side of the Hull as their Emblem.

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Main Gun Barrel Markings for Sherman Firefly Tanks:

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M7 Priest:

Camouflaged in accordance with the 1943 Pattern in Light Mud & Blue/Black. AoS Signs & Divisional Emblem (On a White background) was added to the Front & Rear. Artillery Tactical Emblems & WD Numbers (In White or Blue/Black) were added to the Hull Sides.

Sexton:

After the refit, all Sextons were camouflaged in Olive Drab. AoS Signs & Divisional Emblem (On a White background) was added to the Upper Front Hull & Rear Sand Fenders. Artillery Tactical Emblems & WD Numbers (In White or Blue/Black) were added to the Hull Sides. Bridge Class Markings was also added to the Front Fender.

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M5 Stuart Recce:

Camouflaged in accordance with the 1943 Pattern in Light Mud & Blue/Black. AoS Signs & Divisional Emblem (On a White background) was added to the Front & Rear Fenders. Names (In Blue/Black), Tactical Emblems & WD Numbers (In Blue/Black) were added to the Hull Sides. After the refit all M5 Stuart were painted in a single colour of Olive Drab. The Pretoria Regiment made use of a 6-Pointed Golden Star on the side of the Hull as their Emblem.

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Universal Carrier:

Camouflaged in accordance with the 1943 Pattern in Light Mud & Blue/Black. AoS Signs & Divisional Emblem (On a White background) & Names (In White) was added to the Front Hull & Fender. WD Numbers (In White or Blue/Black) were added to the Hull Sides. After the refit all Universal Carriers were painted in a single colour of Olive Drab.

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Jeeps:

Camouflaged in accordance with the 1943 Pattern in Light Mud & Blue/Black. Bridge Class Markings & AoS Signs & Divisional Emblem (On a White background) & Names (In White) was added to the Shield below the Window. After the refit all Jeeps were painted in a single colour of Olive Drab.

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Morris 40mm SP:

Camouflaged in accordance with the 1943 Pattern in Light Mud & Blue/Black. AoS Signs & Divisional Emblem (On a White background) was added to the Front Hull & Fender. Unique Artillery Tactical Symbols were added to the Hull Sides. Star Air ID’s (In White) were added to the top of the Bonnets. After the refit all Morris 40mm SP’s were painted in a single colour of Olive Drab.

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Soft-Skinned Vehicles & Trucks:

Camouflaged in accordance with the 1943 Pattern in Light Mud & Blue/Black. AoS Signs & Divisional Emblem (On a White background) & Bridge Class Markings was added to the Front Hull & Fender. Names (In White) & WD Numbers (In White or Blue/Black) were added to the Bonnet Sides. After the refit all Soft-Skinned Vehicles & Trucks were painted in a single colour of Olive Drab.

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Daimler Dingo:

Camouflaged in accordance with the 1943 Pattern in Light Mud & Blue/Black. AoS Signs & Divisional Emblem (On a White background) along with Names (In White) was added to the Front Hull. WD Numbers (In White or Blue/Black) were added on the side of the Hull. After the refit all Daimler Dingo’s were painted in a single colour of Olive Drab.

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Artillery, AA & Anti-Tank Guns:

Camouflaged in accordance with the 1943 Pattern in Light Mud & Blue/Black.

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Personal Identification Marks:

Examples of Insignia’s Painted on Tanks & Vehicles like the 6-Pointed Star used by the Pretoria Regiment.

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Examples of Names painted on South African Tanks & Vehicles:

PAT 3
SHANGAAN
CHEETAH
KLIPSPRINGER
ELAND
PLATBERG
NEMESIS II
UMZINTZANTI
BASHFULL
WALRUS
ZEPHUR I
JANNIE SMUTS
WILCO
NELSON II
RESOLUTE III
MARAUDER II
CURLY
KOEDOE
MAITLAND
MATABELE
JUPITER III
KIWIET
PERIWINKLE
HEATHER
ROSE
BOERE NOOI
MOOI NOOI
MAMMA MIA
MAFUTA

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WD Numbers:

Each vehicle had a white serial number assigned to it. The “T” series of numbers belongs to the Shermans, Stuarts & Universal Carriers. The “S” series belongs to the Self-Propelled Artillery Vehicles & M10’s. The “H” series belongs to the Recovery Vehicles & Maintenance Trucks. The “F” series belongs to the Armoured Cars. The “M” series belongs to the Jeeps & the “Number Only” series belongs to the Soft-Skinned Vehicles & Trucks.

Examples of WD Numbers painted onto South African Tanks & Vehicles:

T 213375
T. 231939
T-289021
S 900372
S. 213690
S-234439
H 4752371
H. 482669
H-4782338
M 5187356
M. 474973
M-5187210
F 48188
F. 54697
F-385489
36784
123842
75688

Air Recognition Symbols:

Most Soft-Skinned Vehicles & Trucks had a large Roundel painted on the bonnet or the roof of the Vehicles and Tanks had a similar large Roundel painted on the top of the Turret or the back of the Tank which acted as an Air Recognition Symbol. After the refit most Soft-Skinned Vehicles & Trucks had a large Star painted on the bonnet and Tanks on the top of the Turret or the back of the Tank replacing the Roundel as the new Air Recognition Symbol.

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Examples of the South Africa Roundel & US Star.

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Bridge Classification Numbers:

Bridge Classification Numbers identified whether a vehicle was able to cross a bridge or not. Most vehicles only have one bridge weight on the front of the vehicle.

Examples of Bridge Classification Numbers.

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Maj. Gen. William Henry Evered Poole Command Tank

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