Unit Identification Markings for U.S. Military Vehicles

Regulations:

The prescribed guidelines for “Unit Identification Markings on Vehicles and Equipment” in the United States Army Regulations (AR) were outlined in AR 850-5. While these regulations establish the fundamental framework for unit identification markings, photographic evidence reveals that numerous vehicles belonging to various units did not consistently adhere to the specified guidelines. The following passage is extracted from Section 10 of AR 850-5, dated August 5, 1942.

10. Unit markings. – Gasoline solvent paint or paint as prescribed by the War Department will be used.

a. Unit markings. – National symbol.

(1) A white five-pointed star will be the national symbol of all motor vehicles assigned to tactical units. Administrative motor vehicles operating in an active theater of operations will be similarly marked when directed by the theater commander.

(2) The size of the national symbol will be determined for each type of motor vehicle and will be large enough to take advantage of the surface upon which to be painted. See figures 1 to 34.

(3) Whenever requirements for camouflage and concealment outweigh the requirements for recognition, the national symbol may be covered by lusterless olive-drab gasoline solvent paint, camouflage nets, oil and dirt, etc., or will be removed.

b. Unit identification symbols.

(1) Front and rear markings. – See figures 1 to 34 for location.

(a) General. – Front and rear markings are identical and consist of four groups in consecutive order, from the left to right when facing the vehicle, separated by a dash 1 inch long. Markings may be on a single line or on two lines, but in no case will groups be broken nor order of groupings be changed. If two lines are used, the first and third groups will be on the top row. Composition of groups is indicated below.

(b) First group. – The first group will designate the smallest appropriate unit listed below in accordance with the following code:

WWII USA VEH Markings 1st Group

Unit	Designation	Remarks
Division (infantry)	Arabic numeral.	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Division (armored)	Arabic numeral followed by triangle 3 inches high with ¼-inch stroke. Δ	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Division (cavalry)	Arabic numeral followed by letter C.	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Corps (army)	Roman numeral.	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Corps (cavalry)	Roman numeral followed by letter C.	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Corps (armored)	Roman numeral followed by triangle 3 inches high with ¼-inch stroke. Δ	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Army	Arabic numeral followed by letter A.	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Air force	Arabic numeral followed by a star 3 inches high. ★	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Zone of communications	ZC	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Army Ground Forces	AGF	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Services of Supply	SOS	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
General Headquarters	GHQ	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Zone of interior	ZI	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Reception center	RC	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Replacement training center	RTC preceded by arm or service symbol. A or C or Δ or ★	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Training center	TC preceded by arm or service symbol. A or C or Δ or ★	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Firing center	FC preceded by arm or service symbol. A or C or Δ or ★	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
All others	Nonconflicting letters.	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Airborne Division	Arabic numeral before Gr.2 (AB or A/B)

(c) Second group. – The second group will designate separate regiment, separate brigades; groups, separate battalions, or separate companies, and similar units by appropriate number or symbol, followed by arm or service in accordance with abbreviations listed below. When indicating headquarters and headquarters companies or special companies of units identified in first group, the second group will consist only of the letter “X.” When indicating brigades, the numeral will be underlined.

WWII USA VEH Markings 2nd Group

Arm or service	Designation	Remarks
Airborne	AB or A/B	Also seen "ABN"
Army Air Forces units	Star 3 inches high. ★	Wings and Propeller from 1945
Antiaircraft	AA
Amphibious	AM	APH from 1945
Armored regiment	Triangle 3 inches high with ¼-inch stroke. Δ
Cavalry	C
Chemical Warfare Service	G
Coast Artillery Corps	CA
Corps of Engineers	E
Field Artillery	FA	F from 1945
Infantry	I (preceded by dash ½-inch square)	The dash in front of I and O is to avoid confusion with numbers
Medical Department	M
Military police	P
Ordnance Department	O (preceded by dash ½-inch square)	The dash in front of I and O is to avoid confusion with numbers
Quartermaster Corps	Q
Signal Corps	S
Tank Destroyer	TD
Tank group	TG	Not used from 1945
Mountain	(See Remarks)	MN from 1945
Bombardment Group / Bomber Gr. (Airforce)	BG	by AVM
Fighter Group (Airforce)	FG	by AVM See also 3rd Group

(d) Third group. – The third group will designate companies and similar organizations by letters in accordance with the following code:

WWII USA VEH Markings 3rd Group

Organization	Designation	Remarks
Headquarters and headquarters company (or headquarters and headquarters and service company) of lowest unit identification in previous groups.	HQ	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Service company of lowest unit identified in service groups.	SV	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Headquarters and headquarters company of battalion not previously identified.	Numerical designation of battalion followed by letters HQ.	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Service company of battalion not previously identified.	Battalion number followed by letters SV.	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Lettered company	Letter designation.	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Separate company identified in second group.	X or abbreviation of company.	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Antitank	AT	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Maintenance	MT	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Heavy weapons	HW	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Cannon	CN	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Reconnaissance	R	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Train	TN	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Weapons	W	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Name" company (other than headquarters company, headquarters and service company or service company).	Nonconflicting letters assigned for identification purposes, preceded by the battalion number, when necessary.	AR 850-5 Aug. 1942
Automatic weapons	AW	Ind. Co. codes from Oct. 1942
Construction	CON	Ind. Co. codes from Oct. 1942
Depot	DP	Ind. Co. codes from Oct. 1942
Direct Support	DS	Ind. Co. codes from Oct. 1942
General Auto	GAM	Ind. Co. codes from Oct. 1942
General Support	GS	Ind. Co. codes from Oct. 1942
Heavy Weapons	HW	Ind. Co. codes from Oct. 1942
Mortar	MR	Ind. Co. codes from Oct. 1942
Maintenance	MT	Ind. Co. codes from Oct. 1942
Parachute maintenance	PM	Ind. Co. codes from Oct. 1942
Reconnaissance	R	Ind. Co. codes from Oct. 1942
Repair	RP	Ind. Co. codes from Oct. 1942
Transportation motor pool	TMP	Ind. Co. codes from Oct. 1942
Fighter Group (Airforce)	FG	by AVM See also 2nd Group
Fighter Squadron (Airforce)	FS	by AVM
Bombardment Squadron / Bomber Squadron (Airforce)	BS	by AVM

(e) Fourth group. – The fourth group will designate the serial number of the vehicle in normal order of march within the organization to which it is assigned. Vehicles assigned to any headquarters will be combined for purposes of numbering with those of the appropriate headquarters company or similar organization, and will be given the smaller serial numbers used therein.

WWII USA VEH Markings 4th Group

Remark	Designation
AR 850-5 (1942)	The fourth group will designate the serial number of the vehicle in normal order of march within the organization to which it is assigned. Vehicles assigned to any headquarters will be combined for purposes of numbering with those of the appropriate headquarters company or similar organization, and will be given the smaller serial numbers used therein.
Additional information by AVM	Group 4 Vehicle Serial Number Assigning serial numbers to vehicles based on their normal order of march is a standard practice. Vehicles allocated to headquarters will be consolidated with HQ vehicles and designated with lower serial numbers. Typically, a systematic convoy order numbering format is adopted, where HQ vehicles are numbered 1-10, the 1st platoon 11-20, the 2nd platoon 21-30, and so forth. The numbering, stenciled in white and limited to a maximum height of 4 inches, is applied on both the front and back of the vehicle. Groupings are distinguished by a one-inch dash. It is permissible to place Groups three and four on the opposite end of the bumper. When arranged in two lines, Group 1 is positioned over Group 2, and Group 3 over Group 4. Furthermore, a trailer is assigned the same bumper number as its towing vehicle.
Additional information by AVM	For the 4th group within the artillery units, the vehicle number also served as an indication for the specific battery. For example: Battery A started at vehicle 10, Battery B started at vehicle 20, Battery C started at vehicle 30, Battery D started at vehicle 40, and so forth. This systematic numbering provided a clear identification of both the vehicle and the assigned battery within the artillery unit.

(2) Examples.

WWII USA VEH Markings - Examples

Example	Example	Example	Gr.1	Str.	Gr.2	Nat. Symb.	Gr.3	Str.	Gr.4	Remarks
(a)	1—X—HQ—10	10th vehicle, Hq Co, 1st Inf Div.	1	-	X	★	HQ	-	10
	1—X—1S—10	10th vehicle, 1st Sig Co, 1st Inf Div.	1	-	X	★	1S	-	10
	1—X—1R—10	10th vehicle, 1st Rcn Tr, 1st Inf Div.	1	-	X	★	1R	-	10
	1—16-I—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 16th Inf, 1st Inf Div.	1	-	16-I	★	A	-	10
	1—F—HQ—10	10th vehicle, Hq Btry, Div Arty, 1st Inf Div.	1	-	F	★	HQ	-	10
	1—33F—D—10	10th vehicle, Btry D, 33d FA Bn, 1st Inf Div.	1	-	33F	★	D	-	10
	1—1E—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 1st Engr Bn, 1st Inf Div.	1	-	1E	★	A	-	10
	1—1M—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A (Coll), 1st Med Bn, 1st Inf Div.	1	-	1M	★	A	-	10
	1A—493M—COLL—10	10th vehicle, Coll Co, 493rd Med Bn, First Army.	1A	-	493M	★	COLL	-	10	by AVM
	1—1Q—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 1st QM Bn, 1st Inf Div.	1	-	1Q	★	A	-	10
(b)	1Δ—X—SV—10	10th vehicle, Serv. Co, 1st Armd Div.	1Δ	-	X	★	SV	-	10
	1Δ—81R—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 81st Rcn Bn, 1st Armd Div.	1Δ	-	81R	★	A	-	10
	1Δ—1Δ—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 1st Armd Regt, 1st Armd Div.	1Δ	-	1Δ	★	A	-	10
	1Δ—27F—A—10	10th vehicle, Btry A, 27th FA Bn, 1st Armd Div.	1Δ	-	27F	★	A	-	10
	1Δ—16E—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 16th Engr Bn, 1st Armd Div.	1Δ	-	16E	★	A	-	10
	1Δ—6–I—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 6th Inf, 1st Armd Div.	1Δ	-	6–I	★	A	-	10
	1Δ—TN—HQ—10	10th vehicle, Hq Co, Div Tn, 1st Armd Div.	1Δ	-	TN	★	HQ	-	10
	1Δ—1-O—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, Maint Bn, 1st Armd Div.	1Δ	-	1-O	★	A	-	10
	1Δ—1Q—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, Sup Bn, 1st Armd Div.	1Δ	-	1Q	★	A	-	10
(c)	1C—X—HQ—10	10th vehicle, Hq Tr, 1st Cay. Div.	1C	-	X	★	HQ	-	10
	1C—X—1S—10	10th vehicle, 1st Sig Tr, 1st Cav Div.	1C	-	X	★	1S	-	10
	1C—91R—A—10	10th vehicle, Tr A, 91st Rcn Sq, 1st Cav Div.	1C	-	91R	★	A	-	10
	1C—X—27-O—10	10th vehicle, 27th Ord Co, 1st Cav Div.	1C	-	X	★	27-O	-	10
	1C—1C—HQ—10	10th vehicle, Hq Tr, let Cav Brig, 1st Cav Div.	1C	-	1C	★	HQ	-	10
	1C—12C—HQ—10	10th vehicle, Hq Tr, 12th Cav, 1st Cav Div.	1C	-	12C	★	HQ	-	10
	1C—F—HQ—10	10th vehicle, Hq Btry, Div Arty, 1st Cav Div.	1C	-	F	★	HQ	-	10
	1C—61F—A—10	10th vehicle, Btry A, 61st FA Bn, 1st Cav Div.	1C	-	61F	★	A	-	10
	1C—8E—A—10	10th vehicle, Tr A, 8th Engr Bn, 1st Cav Div.	1C	-	8E	★	A	-	10
	1C—1M—A—10	10th vehicle, Tr A, let Med Sq, 1st Cav Div.	1C	-	1M	★	A	-	10
	1C—1Q—A—10	10th vehicle, Tr A, 1st QM Sq, 1st Cav Div.	1C	-	1Q	★	A	-	10
(d)	2A—21Q—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 21st QM Regt, Second Army.	2A	-	21Q	★	A	-	10
	3A—61Q—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 61st QM Bn, Third Army.	3A	-	61Q	★	A	-	10
	★—1Q—SVAV—10	10th vehicle, 1st QM Co, Serv Gp, (Avn) AAF.	★	-	1Q	★	SVAV	-	10
	3A—21Q—CAR—10	10th vehicle, 21st QM Car Co, Third Army.	3A	-	21Q	★	CAR	-	10
	3A—56Q—COM—10	10th vehicle, 56th QM Sales Comm Co, Third Army.	3A	-	56Q	★	COM	-	10
	3A—67Q—REF—10	10th vehicle, 67th QM Ref Co, Third Army.	3A	-	67Q	★	REF	-	10
	4A—79Q—DP—10	10th vehicle, 79th QM Depot Co, Fourth Army.	4A	-	79Q	★	DP	-	10
	1A—87Q—RHD—10	10th vehicle, 87th QM Rhd Co, First Army.	1A	-	87Q	★	RHD	-	10
	1A—132Q—TRK—10	10th vehicle, 132d QM Trk Co, First Army.	1A	-	132Q	★	TRK	-	10
	★—862Q—MT—10	10th vehicle, 862d QM L Maint Co, AAF.	★	-	862Q	★	MT	-	10
(e)	GHQ—101M—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 101 Med Regt, GHQ.	GHQ	-	101M	★	A	-	10
	II—40M—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 40th Med Bn, II Army Corps.	II	-	40M	★	A	-	10
	3A—1M—VET—10	10th vehicle, 1st Vet Co, Third Army.	3A	-	1M	★	VET	-	10
	II—701M—SAN—10	10th vehicle, 701st Sn Co, II Army Corps.	II	-	701M	★	SAN	-	10
	II—3M—EV—10	10th vehicle, 3d Evac Hosp, II Army Corps.	II	-	3M	★	EV	-	10
	II—3M—EVAC—10	10th vehicle, 3d Evac Hosp, II Army Corps.	II	-	3M	★	EVAC	-	10	by AVM
	3A—53M—GEN—10	10th vehicle, 53d Gen Hosp, Third Army.	3A	-	53M	★	GEN	-	10
	1A—151M—STA—10	10th vehicle, 151st Sta Hosp, First Army.	1A	-	151M	★	STA	-	10
	3A—63M—SUR—10	10th vehicle, 63d Surg Hosp, Third Army.	3A	-	63M	★	SUR	-	10
	3A—16M—VET—10	10th vehicle, 16th Vet Evac Hosp, Third Army.	3A	-	16M	★	VET	-	10
	1A—1M—DP—10	10th vehicle, 1st Med Sup Dep, First Army.	1A	-	1M	★	DP	-	10
	3A—2M—LAB—10	10th vehicle, 2d Med Lab, Third Army.	3A	-	2M	★	LAB	-	10
(f)	1A—101P—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 101st MP Bn, First Army.	1A	-	101P	★	A	-	10
	ZI—704P—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 704th MP Bn, ZI.	ZI	-	704P	★	A	-	10
	IV—X—44P—10	10th vehicle, 44th MP Co, IV Army Corps.	IV	-	X	★	44P	-	10
(g)	IX—18E—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 18th Engr, IX Army Corps.	IX	-	18E	★	A	-	10
	II—62E—D—10	10th vehicle, Co D, 62d Top Engr, II Army Corps.	II	-	62E	★	D	-	10
(h)	1A-41-O—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 41st Ord Bn, First Army.	1A	-	41-O	★	A	-	10
	I—1-O—HQ—10	10th vehicle, Hq & Hq Det, 1st Ord Bn, I Army Corps.	I	-	1-O	★	HQ	-	10
	3A—X—60-O—10	10th vehicle, 60th Ord Co, Third Army.	3A	-	X	★	60-O	-	10
	★—714-O—AB—10	10th vehicle, 714 Ord Co, AB, AAF.	★	-	714-O	★	AB	-	10
(i)	IIΔ—1S—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 1st Sig Bn, I Armd Corps.	IIΔ	-	1S	★	A	-	10
	III—26S—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 26th Sig Bn, III Army Corps.	III	-	26S	★	A	-	10
	★—X—S—10	10th vehicle, Sig Co, AAF.	★	-	X	★	S	-	10
	III—X—280S—10	10th vehicle, 280th Sig Co, III Army Corps.	III	-	X	★	280S	-	10
	ZI—1S—SV—10	10th vehicle, 1st Sig Serv Co, ZI.	ZI	-	1S	★	SV	-	10
(j)	1A—2G—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 2d Cml Bn, First Army.	1A	-	2G	★	A	-	10
	3A—3G—MT—10	10th vehicle, 3d Cml Co Maint, Third Army.	3A	-	3G	★	MT	-	10
	3A—3G—DP—10	10th vehicle, 3d Cml Co, Dep, Third Army.	3A	-	3G	★	DP	-	10
(k)	II—13F—HQ—10	10th vehicle, Hq Btry, 13th FA Brig, II Army Corps.	II	-	13F	★	HQ	-	10
	I—17F—A—10	10th vehicle, Btry A, 17th FA, I Army Corps.	I	-	17F	★	A	-	10
	1A—6F—A—10	10th vehicle, Btry A, 6th FA Bn, First Army.	1A	-	6F	★	A	-	10
	GHQ—71F—A—10	10th vehicle, Btry A, 71st FA Bn, GHQ.	GHQ	-	71F	★	A	-	10
	I—1FOB—A—10	10th vehicle, Btry A, 1st FA Obsn Bn, I Army Corps.	I	-	1FOB	★	A	-	10
(l)	3A—33CA—HQ—10	10th vehicle, Hq Btry, 33 CAC Brig, Third Army.	3A	-	33CA	★	HQ	-	10
	1A—2CA—A—10	10th vehicle, Btry A, 2d CAC, First Army.	1A	-	2CA	★	A	-	10
	AA—302CA—A—10	10th vehicle, Btry A, 302 CAC, AA Comd.	AA	-	302CA	★	A	-	10
(m)	2A—601TD—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A. 601 TD Bn, Second Army.	2A	-	601TD	★	A	-	10
	TD—693TD—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, 693 TD Bn, TD Comd.	TD	-	693TD	★	A	-	10
(n)	★—850E—A—10	10th vehicle, Co A, Engr Bn Avn, AAF.	★	-	850E	★	A	-	10

(3) How marked. – Unit identification markings will be painted in white letters on olive-drab background.

(4) Height of letters and figures. – Letters and figures will be of a character style and dimensions as designed for use for traffic signs. Where space does not permit this size, letters and figures will conform to space available. See figure 35.

(5) Marking not required. – Rear marking only is required on trailers, except on trailer, bomb, M5 and trailer, tractor, crane (see figs. 29 and 30). Unit marking will be placed on motorcycles when practicable.

(6) Removal of unit markings. – The first two groups of unit markings will be removed from all motor vehicles when leaving home stations for movement to theaters of operations or ports of embarkation and in the theater of operations when directed by the theater commanders.

(7) Administrative vehicles, motor vehicles assigned to administrative units or functions at posts, camps, and stations or similar activities will substitute abbreviations or words for the first two groups in order to show station and activity represented, Abbreviations will be those commonly used and where practical will conform to those prescribed in these regulations.

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