|
Well known recognition
markings include the five pointed star painted on Allied
vehicles hours before the D-Day landings and the inverted V
used during the Gulf War. Such markings are intended to aid
recognition and reduce the risk of casualties resulting from
'friendly fire' where the forces of more than one country
operate together.
The recognition markings shown
opposite (drawn by Jean-Louis Martin) have
been used by the French Army on its vehicles including the
M201 and include an indication of the weight category of the vehicle
concerned. |
|
 |
armée de Terre
1950's & 1960's
 |
|
During the 1950's and
60's the French Army recognition mark was a
white flaming grenade on each side of the
jeep as shown but the position could be as
low as just above the step. In the case of a
jeep it included the number 1 painted in
black to indicate that it was it belonged to
the lightest class of four categories of
military vehicles (1 - 4). This information
was used to calculate how many vehicles could
be safely loaded on to French Railway wagons
for transportation. The marking was hand painted so these
varied to an extent in both size and style though the
official dimensions are given above. A tricolour was painted
to the left of the registration number and
unit badges were sometimes also painted on
the bumper and / or windshields and even the side of the
jeep. |
|
armée
de Terre 1970's
 |
In the 1970's the flaming grenade
was replaced by a white painted circle or vinyl sticker. The
system of classification was also revised to include five
classes (0 - 4), zero being the lightest group. The official
dimensions are given at the top of the page but when jeeps
were repainted variation in exact size, placement and style
became common and the zero was sometimes stencilled on.
(Photo: Domaines)
A vinyl
tricolour sticker was placed to the left of the registration
number on the front bumper and rear number plate or
cross-member. |
| |
 |
|
armée
de Terre 1980 & 90's
 |
During the 1990's a
silver-grey 'Sword and Tricolour' vinyl sticker was added to
each cheek of the jeep. This new armée de Terre symbol
also replaced the standard tricolour on the front bumper and
at the rear of the jeep, usually on the cross-member.
(Photo: Domaines)
On some jeeps the zero was
on a grey circle background. Relatively few jeeps remaining
in service rather than in reserve received these later
recognition markings. |
 |
The vinyl sword and tricolour sticker
applied to the left and right 'cheek' (left) was about 160mm
in diameter in that the examples on my 106 SR were 156mm but
vinyl stickers are apt to shrink a bit in the sun.
The bumper sticker
(above) varied in colour from mid-grey to silver-grey. |
|
Trois tons centre Europe / Central European Camo
 |
During the latter period of
active service a considerable number of jeeps were
painted in Central European camo (Trois tons centre
Europe).
According to Jérôme Hadacec (M201
no. 03432) he first saw the camo pattern in service at
Mourmelon in 1986 at which time it was only in use by
the FAR (Force Action Rapide).
On these jeeps the 'zero'
recognition mark was painted on a brown circle rather
than white. (Photo: Domaines) |
|
|
