military vehicle ID numbers

[DIESELGREEN]

My truck was used in the Navy Seabees, and judging by the wadded up papers found in the bed and GL decals it came from Fort Hood. I was curious about the numbers on the front bumper and tailgate. One side is stenciled "ORD.73" and the other "TAC 18". just wondering if anyone out there had some knowledge of these identifying marks. Unit number on the doors, painted over (likely self-explanitory) is 94-24386.

 

[OL AG '89]

Curious, I spent 20 years around the Ft. Hood area never once saw a NAVY Seabee, how did you conclude it was used by them if its out of Hood?

 

[DIESELGREEN]

On one of the GL fender decals, which i found in the bed of the truck, looked like it had been applied over another decal and was pulled off. Part of the decal stuck to the back of the GL decal had a date on it, unfortunately incomplete as about half the sticker was torn off. But, in the remaining portion, It had the soldier logo with Fort Hood, Texas beneath it. I'm not sure this is where it was stationed, but there is another decal in the driver's side door jamb with a barcode on it. It was applied at the top of the VIN plate, covering up the part where it says PROPERTY OF UNITED STATES. underneath the barcode, it reads "TEXCOMM". Just another something I found related to Texas anyhow.

 

[tbearatkin]

My truck was used in the Navy Seabees, and judging by the wadded up papers found in the bed and GL decals it came from Fort Hood. I was curious about the numbers on the front bumper and tailgate. One side is stenciled "ORD.73" and the other "TAC 18". just wondering if anyone out there had some knowledge of these identifying marks. Unit number on the doors, painted over (likely self-explanitory) is 94-24386.

ord 73 and Tac 18 are not any numbers I know of that are associated with the Seabees. Spent 24+ years in the Seabees. Doors would have a yellow Seabee stencil on the side and the bumpers would have BEEP stickers on them with the battalion number in the the center. These stickers were usually red or white diamond or triangle shape.

 

[K9Vic]

All my current and past CUCV except my 85 M1010 & 87 M1028 are from Fort Hood. They were all used as laser target vehicles less the M1009 that did not have the Velcro strips on it. The company name on some of my repair paperwork is TESCO. These were all very well maintained and some of the best CUCV I have seen from auction.

Current Fort Hood
1984 M1009 - TSC 312
1984 M1028 - TSC 24


Sold Fort Hood
1986 M1008 - TSC 363
1987 M1008 - TSC 13

 

[DIESELGREEN]

ord 73 and Tac 18 are not any numbers I know of that are associated with the Seabees. Spent 24+ years in the Seabees. Doors would have a yellow Seabee stencil on the side and the bumpers would have BEEP stickers on them with the battalion number in the the center. These stickers were usually red or white diamond or triangle shape.

On the doors of my truck, as stated, reads US NAVY, FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY, 94-24386, and below that is the roind seabees logo. Decals on the doors painted over, but can clearly make them out on both the doors. Ord.73 on one end of the bumper and tac18 on the other, same is stenciled on the lower corners of tailgate.

 

[tbearatkin]

On the doors of my truck, as stated, reads US NAVY, FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY, 94-24386, and below that is the roind seabees logo. Decals on the doors painted over, but can clearly make them out on both the doors. Ord.73 on one end of the bumper and tac18 on the other, same is stenciled on the lower corners of tailgate.

If you look at this site you can see the red diamond on the front bumper
Google Image Result for http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/US_Navy_030318-N-5862D-073_Seabee_Equipment_Operators_drive_the_Medium_Tactical_Vehicle_Replacement_(MTVR)_through_the_training_course_at_the_Naval_Construction_Training_Cente
THis is NMCB 1 seen in the center of the diamond and then of course the Yellow Seabee on the door which your vehicle does have as well as the correct CESE numbering for it.

Never saw ORD 73 or Tac 18 on our equipment. There might be a TA41, TA-31, or TA-21

Those stand for how something is normally shipped . An NMCB TOA is divided into three echelons: the air detachment (TA41), air echelon (TA31) minus the air det, and sea echelon (TA22). The echelons are based on anticipated prioritization of personnel, material, equipment, and the availability of airliftversus sealift support.

 

[SGT Estum]

They were all used as laser target vehicles less the M1009 that did not have the Velcro strips on it.

Velcro strips were likely for MILES gear. Really expensive laser tag that never really works quite right.

 

[Recovry4x4]

The 94 number is 100% correct for the Navy. I'm wondering if the unit might have been creativly moved from one branch of the DOD to another. Hey, it happens, especially in theaters of war.

 

[DIESELGREEN]

You know recovry, I was really starting to have that same thought. I have seen another member on here who has a seabees truck with the doors labeled just like mine, his avatar has a picture of the door,his was numbered 94-24510. Maybe mine originated there and was used elsewhere at another point... Really curious about those other numbers!!!

 

[DIESELGREEN]

If you look at this site you can see the red diamond on the front bumper
Google Image Result for http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/US_Navy_030318-N-5862D-073_Seabee_Equipment_Operators_drive_the_Medium_Tactical_Vehicle_Replacement_(MTVR)_through_the_training_course_at_the_Naval_Construction_Training_Cente
THis is NMCB 1 seen in the center of the diamond and then of course the Yellow Seabee on the door which your vehicle does have as well as the correct CESE numbering for it.

Never saw ORD 73 or Tac 18 on our equipment. There might be a TA41, TA-31, or TA-21

Those stand for how something is normally shipped . An NMCB TOA is divided into three echelons: the air detachment (TA41), air echelon (TA31) minus the air det, and sea echelon (TA22). The echelons are based on anticipated prioritization of personnel, material, equipment, and the availability of airliftversus sealift support.

I just remembered. When you open the hood of my truck, there is a red diamond shaped decal with the number 40 in black numbers affixed to the top of the radiator support. Does this shed any new light?

 

[Recovry4x4]

You know recovry, I was really starting to have that same thought. I have seen another member on here who has a seabees truck with the doors labeled just like mine, his avatar has a picture of the door,his was numbered 94-24510. Maybe mine originated there and was used elsewhere at another point... Really curious about those other numbers!!!

It's usually the other way around though. The Seabees scrounge the CAN yards and gather up enough discards to construct themselves a vehicle. I seem to remember a story fron Desert Storm where the Iraqis got there convoy back to Iraq pummeled along the only highway out. Certain members from a certain Seabees unit went out at night shopping. After some time scrounging and building there unit mysteriously turned up with a few desert tan Unimogs complete with USN and Seabees logos.

There was a TM in the manual section (when we had one) called NAVFAC-300. It explained all of the NAVY markings. The prefix 94 would cover vehicles up to about 1 1/2 tons. The deuces started with 95 and 5 tons with 96. I do still have that manual but it locked up in a broken laptop.

Edit, here is a link! http://64.78.11.86/uxofiles/enclosures/NAVFAC_P-300.pdf

 

[tbearatkin]

I just remembered. When you open the hood of my truck, there is a red diamond shaped decal with the number 40 in black numbers affixed to the top of the radiator support. Does this shed any new light?

The sticker would be for NMCB 40 that is homeported in Port Hueneme Calif. However most Beep Stickers were put on the front or back bumper. This was done during a turnover from NMCB to another. Once the incoming NMCB inspects the gear their sticker is placed on it. Navy Seabees do not normally transport their gear with them to normal deployment sites. They use the gear from the previous NMCB and then pass that on to the next NMCB.