USMC markings?

[sandcobra164]

On the more current stuff, the USMC number is not the serial number but the "Registration Number". It's stamped on the data plate. I'll go take a look at some M109's and some M939 series trucks in the morning to see if that applies to them as well as far as having the number stamped on the data plate. I know they are all marked USMC XXXXXX on the exterior. I also have an M151 Jeep that I'll look at and see if they've been doing it this way for some time. I'll add, I'm talking about trucks at work and not about stuff sitting in my yard but one can dream!!!

 

[M813rc]

On the deuces, M809 series (including my own M813), and M939 trucks I have looked at, the USMC ###### on the hood is also what is stamped on the data plate (including the USMC) under "Identification Number". See attached photo for an example.
Sandcobra, I'd be interested to see an example off one of the newer trucks to see how it compares.

Yellow lettering on tactical vehicles went out with the overall Marine Green colour in the early 1970's. Non-tactical, or admin vehicles, are still overall green with yellow markings. Off-the-shelf motorpool cars and some pickups are in whatever colour they came from the dealership and often the only military marking is the license plate.

Cheers

 

[M715VFD405]

Well I didn't get a shot of the glove boxes but I'm thinking the dash plates are gonna be gone. It's good to know I can get those replaced using the hood numbers but not being able to trace where is came from is kinda a bummer.

 

[sandcobra164]

M813rc,
Do you realize that "Conversion by MCLB Albany" on the dataplate means that truck was likely an M54 in it's earlier life? The Marines converted about 1,500 of them to M813's by installing the Cummins and doing a frame off rebuild of most everything else during the early 80's just prior to the M939 series trucks becoming mainstream.

 

[M813rc]

I suspected it might be a conversion from an M54 because of that tag. I don't know how to find out what was rebuilt and what was new build though. Mine is dated 1973. That is not my ID number on the tag, of course, I changed it before posting.

Cheers

 

[F18hornetM]

My son is also active Duty USMC and he's upset that I'm marking both of my MVs as USMC but they're both originally USMC vehicles so that's what they're going to look like!

Just a dumb question, why would your son not want you to paint your trucks with USMC marking? Both my trucks [M35 and M813] were national guard trucks. One PA and One MD. They both are marked as USMC trucks now. I marked them according to old pictures I had.

M813RC has pictures in this post that helped me as well. Also sometimes trucks were transfered from Army to Marines and the Marines had a prefix for that I believe.

 

[F18hornetM]

Here I found an old post, may help.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?88471-markings-on-deuce

 

[M813rc]

Okay, went and did some measuring yesterday on my M813's original markings for Bob.

All markings are 2" tall.

The letters in USMC are all spaced 1/4" apart, so closer than you can get with brass stencils.

The measurements for the M are diagrammed on the attached picture. It is NOT a scale drawing, just a quick whip-up!
Note that while it is a similar style to the later ones in Sandcobra's pictures, the v part of the M is a little deeper on the older trucks (deuces and M813s, etc.).

I don't think I mentioned earlier, but note that the C is slightly different than the stencil C, slightly shorter and 'unangled' on the open side.

I added a close-up shot of more M813 markings. There is a 1 as second to last digit, which is a tad hard to see because it was painted black on black!

Cheers

 

[M813rc]

Hey! Aggiebob! Show us how your markings came out!

Cheers

 

[AggieBob]

Well, it's not perfect but the immediate goal was to get the Deuce street legal as a FMV, which in Texas involves showing up at the tax office with a title, pictures of the truck (including markings), and a checkbook. After having looked at a number of postings, I located and downloaded the Phantom Stencil font, printed what I wanted using a LaserWriter, and then cut out the letters with a razor blade. At some point, either when I rendezvous with other Deuce owners or visit a base where hardware is on display, I'll see what changes need to be made to do it "right".
Thanks to everyone for the help and education!

 

[RodUSMC1962]

If you look at my avatar you can see the numbers on the hood,numbers also on back bumper. deuce markings in same place.In pic I am standing in front of tac markings. This pic was taken in 1963. At that time we didn't have any 5 tons.Things might have changsd after the mi 60`s.

 

[TehTDK]

Okay, went and did some measuring yesterday on my M813's original markings for Bob.

I see you put the width of the marking on the "template", but you didn't put the height of it?

 

[CUCVFAN]

M813rc,
Do you realize that "Conversion by MCLB Albany" on the dataplate means that truck was likely an M54 in it's earlier life? The Marines converted about 1,500 of them to M813's by installing the Cummins and doing a frame off rebuild of most everything else during the early 80's just prior to the M939 series trucks becoming mainstream.

Interesting discussion. Not sure how I missed it originally...

Is the truck in question wearing an ISO bed and super singles? They did not come from the factory that way. I think this plate is more likely from the conversion when the M813 was singled out and received it's ISO bed and lockers.

I've never heard of an M54 being converted to an M813. That CERTAINLY does not mean that it did not happen. But, it just does not make sense to me. Since the M813 was around since the late 60's/early 70's, I can't see the point. The entire front sheetmetal is different, along with the frame length (and, possibly strength/bracing to support the Cummins?).

From what I have found, MCLB Albany converted most of the 5-tons to have the super singles and ISO beds in the 90s, including both M809 and M939 trucks. I have seen that verbiage on lots of USMC 5-ton data plates.

 

[M813rc]

I see you put the width of the marking on the "template", but you didn't put the height of it?

I didn't put it on there because it's mentioned earlier in the thread, probably should have for clarity. All the ID markings are 2" tall. Tire pressure etc are 1" (usually).

Cheers

 

[quickfarms]

On the trailers I have seen the registration number is the serial number

 

[sandcobra164]

Interesting discussion. Not sure how I missed it originally...

Is the truck in question wearing an ISO bed and super singles? They did not come from the factory that way. I think this plate is more likely from the conversion when the M813 was singled out and received it's ISO bed and lockers.

I've never heard of an M54 being converted to an M813. That CERTAINLY does not mean that it did not happen. But, it just does not make sense to me. Since the M813 was around since the late 60's/early 70's, I can't see the point. The entire front sheetmetal is different, along with the frame length (and, possibly strength/bracing to support the Cummins?).

From what I have found, MCLB Albany converted most of the 5-tons to have the super singles and ISO beds in the 90s, including both M809 and M939 trucks. I have seen that verbiage on lots of USMC 5-ton data plates.

Not sure how I missed your comments either. Shoot me a PM and I'll give you an e-mail address to message me at. I'll send you a TM that discussed the converting of about 1,500 USMC trucks from M54's to M809 Series trucks. Some where made A1's in that conversion as well.

 

[tagoins888]

Thanks for all the good info on here guys. Our son is USMC and is currently deployed in Afghanistan. I was pretty sure when we got it that the markings on our M923A1 were not correct. I am going to paint them and figured while I'm at it, why not make it right for his unit? Anyway, thanks again for the help and Happy Thanksgiving.
Tom