I've been trying to figure out some odd stripes on the front glacis of a French tank Ile De France as seen coming ashore in Normandy, and wonder if they are a variation on the British "Blue/Yellow/Red" system to mark the three stages of waterproofing on vehicles? The marks are next to the front lifting eye, just above the "C" unit marking, and are a medium-shade stripe on top, a darker one in the middle, and a very light (white? yellow?) one underneath. Here are details from the only two photos of this tank that I've seen:




I know the French used a three-stripe shipping code, but the top & bottom stripes should be the same colour. And for this unit my understanding is that code would have been buff/maroon/buff. Using the waterproofing scheme, I'd interpret the stripes as red/blue/yellow. Anyone know if the French used this scheme? Or can anyone tell me what these stripes really were?

Thanks in advance!

Tom

Hello, it is likely that the bands are blue; White, red. Here is a link on the French marking by the sherman

http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=636&Itemid=74

Hi Steph,

I thought about that, but the "white" band is at the bottom of the three and that seems odd. The dark one in the daylight pic is closer to the tone of the dark blue in the "map" symbol on the side armour and the blue stripe of the hull flags, so I'm happy with that interpretation, and the red is just a guess. The light stripe certainly does seem to be more akin to the white of the flags, rather than the yellow if the unit markings...

Tom

I think I make a small mistake, the white stripe on the front glacis help pilot, it is "the plug" boarding of the LST. I put some other photos showing her
http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=943
http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1103
http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=967

Hi Steph,

I think we may be talking at cross-purposes. The big white square above the machine-gun is a paper label, taped to the tank. The stripes I am interested in are circled here:



Tom

It st the TQM code, but I do not know the colors corresponding for the 12e regiment de chasseur d'affrique. I put it 2 pictures or see it on the front under the tactical sign. steph

http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=776
http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=737

We see TQM code on a plank of bison decals #35094
https://picasaweb.google.com/bisondecals/Instructions3500135099#5355974867373320098

I thought so too, but the TQM markings on other 12e RCA tanks are on white squares, on the nose of the tank. The only other ones with similar markings are Perthus, seen here and Vivarais. In both cases the stripe on top looks darker than the one at bottom.

I wish we had good colour photos!

Tom

Hello TOM. I found this phto on my PC. There are 3 color without white background bands.cordially steph

Interesting picture! I see what you mean about the TQM marks. Any idea what unit this tank belonged to?

Tom

Sherman M4 105 mm LA MOSKOWA 501 RCC 2 ° company
steph