Well let me load it up them. The reason I ask about the time frame is I am not familiar with the term you are using for the camoflauge,MERDC . Probably because we called it some slang and not the proper term. Do you have an example of it? I served in Chap ? Vulcan, units from 1983 until the Chaps became a divisional asset in 1988.
There is a few photos of how I remember them. You actually probably have a lot of artistic freedom with the markings as most our vechicles during the pre CARP paint era were repainted on unit level. This means the camo pattern, the markings were quite random. The Black Star may or may not be there as it depended on the Squad Leaders wishes if it was there or were it was located. It is much more common today with contract painters who do every vehicle exactly the same. Also You saw things added such as Crew names in 1" black stencils. Usually Rank and last name. It was also not uncommon for these to be wrong as Rank and Personnel changed, Just depended on the individual and time available when it was corrected.
The Vehicle could also be named in 1" black stencils. Usually a name starting with the compa ny letter. My Vulcan for example was named Bouncing Betty cuz of bad shocks. Bumper number B-33. These could change with the crews as well.
Odd markings done at unit level were also possible. Looking at this vulcan pic as an example.
The black blotch on the forward side is a siloutte of the ADA crossed cannons and missle over the Tara leaf which was the 24th Infantrys patch. This mark was only on 2nd platoon A-batterys vulcans.
The Half circle is the ADA umbrella tactical symbol. A graphic that would be used on a map to show unit type and location at a glance. You know those things Generals move around the map during the battle. The Ubside down V is interesting as this is a practice carried on today. The V was meant to symbolize the Victory division. Nick name for the 24th Infantry. Fort Stewart GA. is even shaped like a V. The direction of the V was determined by the company or battery. A would be upside down. B the angle would point right. C would point left and Headquarter units like a normal V. Of course the Division also required V’s on everything even our helmet covers. So you see a lot of V’s and it is still around even though the Divison became 3rd Infantry Division during restructuring in 1995-96.
Here are some decal examples of modern markings
The yellow background for the bumper numbers is wrong. Was always sand or tan with black numbers during this time. Never yellow.The little yellow dashes are simply reflective tape. Required because the european based tanks drove on the city roads and highways. A Safety visability thing. Also the yellow and red squares you see on the bradley decal sheet will be there as well. These were NATO reflective stickers required by structly enforced regulation. They will be on the back in eack corner on all vehicles wheeled and tracked during the 1980’s.
They actually had little holograms of the differnt unit patches in them. Your tax dollars at work!.
The bumper numbers were always like the bradley decal sheet with the tan background. The Chap will be a letter C-31 or a D-13 as oppossed to the A and B on the decal.
The triangle thing you ask about is again the map symbol for armor. On the Vulcan decal sheet it means 2nd Armored Division 2nd battalian of the 5th Air defense Artillery. ADA could also be shortened to just AD .
The 3I on the Bradley decal is for 3rd infantry. If the I was a triangle it would be 3rd Armored. Does that make sense?
Ok the six character MV6096 you ask about will not be there on the Chap in Europe. The Dersert Storm version yes. That is a UIC unit identification code that is used to identify the unit in the early compurerization of the Army. Every vehicle in that unit will have the same number.
The desert chap will be eather WEZMOC or WEZMOD located really small. almost to small to be worth it in 1/35 on the front and sides. These were placed ther during deployment on ships and ports as a tracking tool. Since been replaced by bar code stickers. Handy when they lose your tank during a deployment. Don’t laugh it happens!
Again the European on will not have this being pre Desert Shield. The US Army and Serial number was also very rare to see. Mostly long painted over. We wrote down the serial numbers on everything so much we had them memorized pretty quick.
I think I answered your questions probably went overboard but if you look at those pics and use those NATO stickers you should be accurate. Feel free to ask more if I didn’t bore you to death. [zzz]
