Looking for help from the combined knowledge of the forum. I am currently involved in the restoration of a recently recovered LVT-4 Buffalo. I am interested in researching its history prior to and up to its use in the 1947 floods. The markings are proving confusing for a number of reasons: 1. The condition of the paintwork 2. The fact that it was 3 years old at the time it was lost so there are possibly multiple markings 3. The possibility panels/parts were cannibalised from other Buffalo. A brief description of the markings by vehicle face/panel. Front: Arms of service, red square with white 55. Next to this is ‘R/370’ A small yellow triangle (Tacsign?) immediately below front towing eye. Slightly right of this is a large white ‘X’ Top right corner is the remains of 79th armoured division emblem. Front left on the upper hull, above driver’s compartment is a faint number 30. Sides: Front left is P6110490 Both sides on upper hull is the word ‘Serial’ slightly behind driver/gunner compartment. Central on the upper hull, both sides, is the number 47. Rear (ramp): Top left, 79th armoured division emblem Top right, arms of service, red square with white 51 likely. Center: Large number 47 with the remains of a triangle tacsign behind (no colour distinguishable). Below the 47 is 200mm circle which was possibly once the bridge rating. Other information: US Navy hull number is still painted on the rear of the bulkhead: C60954 Any help greatly appreciated....
Can only offer the yellow triangle, without checking, off the top of my head: the vehicles used on the Rhine Crossing had a yellow triangle for ID, that may have been for allied aircraft so not sure the position of your one matches? Alex.
White 30 by drivers compartment is vehicle chalk number I can think of 22 in a photo of one LVT of 79 armoured div
LVTs were routinely transferred from one unit to the other, and markings changed accordingly. The combination of 79 Armd Div Fmn Sign and AoS 51 over Red would mean 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry between 18 January 1945 and 18 August 1945. 79 Armd Div + AoS 55 over Red is 4th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment from 30 March 1945 to 9 Jun 1945. Large white individual vehicle numbers, either roughly hand painted or cleanly applied, appear to have been used by several units. For example: LVT4 #46 AoS 5x - Middlekirk, Ostend 1944: LVT4 #35, #33 of 4 RTR near Xanten, 21 Mar 45 (IWM BU1959): LVT4 #57 5 RTR, Rhine crossing 24 Mar 45 (IWM BU2102): Michel
That ‘46’ one is literally the one previous! Markings are identical. Any information on that particular picture? Many thanks
Source for the photo of #46: BBC - WW2 People's War - RASC Service, Juno Beach (D-Day) and Life in Wartime Birmingham Michel
I would say that looking at the way and font that SERIAL is written is the vehicle name. 11 RTR LVT names began with the letter S. Cheers Kevin
That was my initial thought also although’Serial’ seems a little odd as a name in light of some of the others. The area below the word serial seems to be Matt black which has raised the question was it for chalk writing? Thanks for your help so far.
Not sure if you have seen these but just found them on the net. But it looks like there are more to be found. Cheers Kevin
Very familiar with those. These formed some of our research into the initial search for the Buffalo. Thank you anyway.
Ah right. I did manage to find a couple of shots of British Neptunes used there. Do you think that one or 2 of those lost may be Neptunes? Cheers Kevin
