"Jobs" suggests to me batches of vehicles being painted by different groups, possibly? M, K, and X might refer to troops within the regiment? Maybe you've gleaned what the battery and troop structure of the regiment was. The 44 is the "Arm of Service" number. I guess it's a moot point that the number could have been different based on time and location. If you wanted to depict a vehicle of the regiment at Anzio, it would have been different. So hopefully you're not fussed about the date.
Its many a year since I built models, all Airrfix when I was a lad in the 50''s or so I think. I would do nothing without consulting the Oracle on RA . Derkek Barton Royal Artillery in World War 2 - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 He lists Units where and when, also Insignia. 92 (5th London) Field Regiment RA (TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 Vehicle Markings - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 Ps one of my sons and myself put this together for a neighbour's 90th. He was in 19th Field Regt RA in 1950. 1:76 Airfix £4.99 bought online two years ago. Too small to put insignia on it with our limited skills. Its suffered from severe dusting as his wife aged 88 insists on dusting it regularly. Lesson No1. Get one big enough to withstand dusting or put it in a glass case!
Cheers Chris. I’ve not gleaned an awful lot re vehicle markings to be honest - the only things I’m certain of are the Y (on a black background) and the 44. And there’s no way I can possibly know the right serial number for the doors, of course. As Uncle suggests, probably a good idea to ask Derek for his advice. Mind you, I can’t do anything at all until I track the Quad kit down. Not sure if I’ll get lucky again so soon after finding the 25 pdr .
Thanks for this. I will certainly give Derek a shout as and when I track down the elusive Quad. I’ve not put a model together since I was a boy, so the whole thing will be a challenge I’m sure, possibly an excessive glue-fest and badly painted disaster (I’m certainly not in the same league as Neil. Actually, I’m not even on the same model making planet as Neil).
At least two points that do not appear to have been made yet. First, concerning the 25 pounder gun. Guns with a muzzle brake also have a hefty squarish counter weight above the breech, which, if present on a kit, needs to be removed for a gun without a muzzle brake. Second, the 42/43/44 series of AoS numbers are for vehicles in NW Europe. Vehicles in Sicily would almost certainly be carrying the Middle Eastern numbers which were 88/71/53. As far as I can ascertain, 92 Fd Regt were the middle artillery regiment in 5 Div at the time of the Sicily campaign, so they would have carried the middle number of the three shown above.
Thanks for the tip re the counter weight Chris, when I get round to making the kit I shall have a look for that. Re the 44, that’s thrown the proverbial cat among the pigeons. I was basing my thoughts both on Idler’s photo of a regimental vehicle in the Middle East in 1943, in which you can see the number clearly (thread post #7), and also in the entry from the Regiment’s war diary from April 1944, when it was at Anzio, which I posted above. Food for thought indeed…I wonder if any other of the 92nd’s diaries that I have will throw any more light on this.
Sorry for being so late joining in but my internet has been down for a few days. With reference to the 'Jobs' mentioned above this is referring to the RA Tac Signs. The Tac Sign showed the role of each vehicle with a system of letter(s) & sometimes numbers as well. For instance the CO's vehicle would be Z & the Battery Commanders X. Gun tractors would carry the letter of the gun - A to H. These were carried on a blue square with a red corner for the gun batteries, the position of the red portion indicating the battery. HQ vehicles used a red over blue square. You can find an illustrated guide to the system on my site. Derek
At some point in IIRC 1944 divisions in Italy changed to use the same numbering system for regiments as those in Northwest Europe.
Thank you so much Derek, very happy to see you! I have looked at your excellent site and note that you mention 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battery re the Tac signs - from what I can see, there appear to have been only three Batteries in the 92nd: 365, 368 (my grandad’s) and 467. Would it therefore follow that 368 was the 2nd Bty, was it as simple as that? (so red square bottom right). I have no way of knowing, of course, which letter of the gun my grandad’s Quad may have been “showing”, or if there would also have been a number, but I only just now remembered a diary page from February 1944 (attached), which shows 368 Bty consisted of C and D Troops - would that be the same thing? (Funnily enough, the Mirror Models Quad kit painting/marking guide doesn’t seem to allow for any Tac signs, just the Formation and AoS, as you can see below, so not sure I’d have a Tac option anyway). Sorry for the questions, but I really value your expert knowledge.
Thanks again Chris. I’m 99% convinced I’m looking at AoS 44 - that diary entry can’t be wrong, unless I can find something else different somewhere in the Sicily/Italy diaries to further confuse my addled old brain.
Not to worry Wobbler. If you really cock it up you could copy this scenic view of Banana Ridge 21st April1943.. Burnt out Quad 446 Battery 67th Field Regt. Only us on here will know your Grandpa wasn't there! The Windscreen is still intact In the Gulf War they kicked them out before the shooting started! Don't sniff the glue, wear appropriate PPE. You'll look like Darth Vader! (Personal joke, will tell you all one day, maybe).
Spot on, yes it is as simple as that. Also, I agree with Chris re the '44', I remember reading somewhere that the AoS numbers in Italy changed to the same as the UK. As for the gun & tractor Tac Sign for 368 Bty, C Troop would be A, B, C & D & D Troop E, F, G, & H. The 2 spare tractors each towing 2 Trailers Artillery No. 27 would be CD & EF. Derek
Marvellous stuff Derek, thank you so much again. If I can incorporate a Tac sign too, I will just have to choose one of the letters randomly as I’ll never be sure which was “his”. Maybe the G for our name. Now just got to hope the Quad kit turns up as miraculously as the gun and trailer set did!
I know of the Italeri kit David, but I confess to not knowing how good they are. Whether it covers your period is also beyond my ken, but the markings supplied apparently include 50 Division for October ‘42: ITALERI Models | ITALERI 7027 MORRIS QUAD TRACTOR with 25 pdr. GUN Contents for Morris Quad Tractor with 25 pdr Gun, Italeri 7027 (200x) - In-box reviews There are better people than me to advise on whether the Quad in this kit fits the brief for 1941/42 though .
This has me utterly bewildered, Derek. Were they using a two-letter system rather than a letter and a number?
Perhaps I have missed something and jumped into a half understood thread. Field guns are lettered within lettered troops A-H across the battery with the troops lettered A-F across the Regiment. AA and Anti tank guns have a letter and number within a lettered troop.across a regiment e.g. A1, F6, G2
Here's a wobbler for Wobbler. Perhaps Derek or Sheldrake might help. At Anzio 1944 they seem to have begun designating Batteries P, Q and R. This seems to have carried on Post War.