| Kaoschallenged | 21 Apr 2013 4:14 p.m. PST |
A Cople of photos of a M18 Hellcat with Tank Destroyer insignia on the front and what appears to be a white or yellow painted rear with a large 3-1.Does anyone know what the markings were for? Was the white or yellow painted rear for air recognition? Robert
link
link |
| Neroon | 21 Apr 2013 5:23 p.m. PST |
As per Zaloga's Osprey books on the M18 and US Armored units in the MTO: 805th TD Btn. in Italy. Black numbers on white background. 3-1 is 3rd ptn, 1st vehicle. Company is identified with the usual bumper code. In the upper photo the light area on the rear deck might be a cloth panel rather than paint. cheers |
| Onomarchos | 21 Apr 2013 5:30 p.m. PST |
I would disagree that it is black on white. Look at the white of the star insignia, snow and 'bumper' codes … it does not match the color of the background for the 3-1. My guess is that this color is tank destroyer yellow. This was a paint that was available … it was used as the background for the bridge weight markings. Mark |
| Kaoschallenged | 21 Apr 2013 5:53 p.m. PST |
It might be KB. Though in this closer shot it does look like the rear was painted also. Just not the grills. Robert link |
| Neroon | 21 Apr 2013 5:56 p.m. PST |
Yes. I think you are right. It looks like the entire rear has been painted white. Bizarre. cheers |
| Kaoschallenged | 21 Apr 2013 10:22 p.m. PST |
I also find it interesting that in one photo there is a star and circle on the side and in the other there is the Tank Destroyer insignia in the same area. Robert |
| donlowry | 22 Apr 2013 9:41 a.m. PST |
I also noticed that the star is only in one photo, leading me to believe that these are two different TDs, which means that the numbers do not mean 3d platoon 1st TD, as they can't both be the 1st TD of the 3d platoon! The Squadron/Signal booklet on US Tank Destroyers, by Jim Mesko, has a color drawing (painting) in the centerfold of an M18 of the 701st TD Btn in the Po River Valley of Italy, spring '45, that has similar markings: 2 – 2 in a dark color, probably OD, on white. This is repeated, smaller, on the side of the turret. The engine deck is not white, but OD with the white circled star insignia. It doesn't say what the numbers mean, and I don't see in corresponding photo in the booklet. |
| Jemima Fawr | 22 Apr 2013 10:31 a.m. PST |
As has been said, there are clearly white markings painted over that pale colour, so yellow is also my bet. |
| Kaoschallenged | 22 Apr 2013 2:09 p.m. PST |
I wonder what the significance of the color can be. Robert |
| Andy P | 23 Apr 2013 3:23 a.m. PST |
Air recognition panels were yellow were they not?
So painting the rear engine deck yellow would make it more obvious from the air? |
Marc33594  | 23 Apr 2013 6:53 a.m. PST |
The ID panels are usually in red, orange or yellow with several being carried. The concept was a color of the day. However given the problems of communicating that to all units not sure how much that was honored. So doubtful was painted that way to emulate the panels. It may however have been painted merely to aid in air identification period. The M-18 was a bit unique for the Americans and it, and the M-24 Chaffee were often mistaken for enemy vehicles hence the more frequent use of stars and circled stars when other units were painting them out. |
| Kaoschallenged | 23 Apr 2013 11:35 a.m. PST |
"Air recognition panels were yellow were they not?
So painting the rear engine deck yellow would make it more obvious from the air" Depending on the color shade of yellow. Early in the war the national insignia was in Air Corps Yellow, No. 4 Lusterless the idea being it would be low-viz. Robert |
of 
