Ever purchase a Military Jeep and wonder what the markings mean or how to reproduce them?
In this post, we will attempt to shed some light on this often overlooked and little understood history surrounding military Jeep markings.
If you are one of those Jeep owners who doesn’t flinch at the high cost of years and money a great restoration can sometimes require, then chances are you an enthusiast who wants to get it right. But what do you do when your markings have been painted over by the military before being sold, or even worse, when they appear to have been lost forever?
First course of action: STOP. Before you take a sandblaster or stencil to your vehicle, examine the original markings, if any are visible. This is especially important for collectors, as markings are often used to verify a vehicle’s history and identity. The markings on your military Jeep can be used to identify the jeep itself as well as the unit and formation that it was serving in. A brief history about military regulations on vehicle markings:
According to the AR 850-5*, markings were to be made with gasoline solvent paint (or paint as prescribed by the War Department). Unit identification markers were to be painted in white letters on an olive-drab background.
National symbol: A white five-pointed star was the national symbol of all motor vehicles assigned to tactical units. (Sizing of this star was dependent upon the motor vehicle type and had to be large enough to take advantage of the surface upon which it is painted). When required for camouflage or concealment, the symbol was to be covered by lusterless olive-drab gasoline solvent paint.
Unit identification symbols: Front and rear markings were to be identical and consisted of four groups in consecutive order, from left to right, separated by a 1″ long dash. These markings were permitted to be on either a single line or two lines.
Special Note on Administrative Vehicles:
Administration vehicles were required to substitute abbreviation or words for the first two groups in order to show station and activity represented.
Want to know more? You can download the full versionof the AR 850-5.
*Source: AR 850-5(http://www.jeepdraw.com/images/AR-850-5.pdf) –
1942 publication containing official regulations for unit identification markings on vehicles and equipment.
If you are working on a military jeep restoration, check out our selection of stencils and decals. Or order our complete military stencil kit. This is a great kit and includes all the stencils you will need for your military vehicle restoration.