I am almost finished with my M1A1 build from Tamiya kit # 35156. I painted it sand color without the APU on the rear fender. I would like to finish it as a ODS era Abrams or about any small smoke grenade box no IFF panel or APU tan Abrams. I am ignorant of the meanings of the the numbers and symbols on the front and rear and would like help in putting the correct ones in place for such a vehicle. Are the decal accurate for a ODS era Abrams without APU? I also have the Tamiya M1 with mineplow and a M1A2 kits that I can use the decal sheets out of, could the decals be mixed and matched to come up with correct bumper codes?

Another question about tan M1s. During the 1990s did the they still carry the V symbols or were these only for the ones deployed during Desert Storm?

Thanks again,
CWatson

The decals can be used and mix and matched, but you have to be careful since some units deactivated or reflagged in the 90s.

There are two different types of Vs. A large inverted chevron was just a Desert Storm coalition marking. There is a smaller one used in conjunction with a 2-digit number that was a platoon designation. The V would point in one of four directions to designate 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th platoon.

The kit has the inverted "V"s but it does not show the platoon "V"s, just the number 40. The instructions state the markings are for the 1st Armored Division. Would the "40" be accurate for other tanks in the same platoon?The bumper code shown for this tank is D-33 which shows it with the APU. Other codes provided are HQ 66, B 64, and HQ 66-XO, are the accurate for the same unit as D-33?.

Are the Tamiya decals based on a real vehicle ? If so are there any pics of it or tanks from that unit during that time period?

I have found lots of good pics online of the M1As used during OIF but pics for the ones used during Desert Storm seem elusive to me, can you guys steer me to good source for them?

Sorry if some of these questions seem repetitive, I am just trying to make a generic looking but accurate ODS era scheme preferably without APU M1A1 and seem stuck with jumbling around the kit decals because I have not found any aftermarket ones for this era. Looks like when I get to my next Abrams project going, a OIF I will be luckier because Echelon makes several interesting choices there.


Thanks again and you guys have a happy Independance Day!

CW

I'd have to look at one of my kits, but a vehicle with HQ or -66 or -65 would not have a platoon chevron because they are headquarters tanks (HQ is battalion HQ, -66 o -65 is commander or XO tank).

Not familiar with a tank that would use -64 as a bumper number.

The "40" number on the side would be for either the battalion commander or XO's tank. Each battalion has a 2-digit number. HQ is the "0", A Company is the "1" (i.e. 41), B Co. would be 42, C is 43, D is 44.

The coalition inverted V was just a Desert Storm invasion marking. If they remained on a vehicle, it was because it did not get repainted after the war. Tanks get repainted more often than trucks or support equipment so the V would have disappeared shortly after return from the war.

Please do and let me know what you think.

Typo on my part the numbers are D 33, HQ 66, HQ 66-X and B 65

Does the bumper code, D 33, for this vehicle seem incorrect?


My Google-Fu really sucks,can you recommend a good reference source for armor used during Desert Storm, either online or print?

Thanks again,
CWatson

Bumper numbers for a tank would be like this:
(X= A, B, C or D)
HQ-65, HQ-66, X-65, X-66
X-11, -12, -13, -14; X-21, -22, -23, -24; X-31, -32, -33, -34

D-33 is a valid bumper number, but if the side battalion code is a number in the forties (40, 41, 42, 43, 44), then the side number would have to be 44 (second #4 equates to D Company). There would be a smaller chevron next to the number 44 denoting the platoon (D-33 is a third platoon vehicle).