Red kangaroo and 'ARMY'

[Magellan]

Gedday all, can anyone please advise when the kangaroo and 'ARMY' first started appearing on the mudguards of Landies?

cheers, Daryl

[Diana Alan]

They started appearing during the Malayan Emergency (Borneo) in the early sixties but were frowned upon and command instructions were issued to both not apply them and to remove them if already applied.  In Vietnam they became standard and in fact the RAAF applied one to Air Force One when President LBJ visited Australia.

[Mike C]

As Diana says, the 'red rat' (and the 'white rat' for Vung Tau based units) have been around since Borneo/SVN, but the combination of the National Symbol and the word 'ARMY' was introduced later as part of ABCA Quadripartite Standardization Agreement  1079 - common vehicle marking and identification (STANAG 1079).

The emblem of the Kangaroo and word 'ARMY' was to appear in International Orange colour immediately below the three colour 'tree'  which indicated the Unit Serial Number (USN) - (or four colour 'tree' for units with a USN of  2000 or higher).

Not sure of the date of introduction, but I think in the late 1970s - early 1980s? - others on this forum will have a better idea of the date than I do. I understand the symbols are no longer in use, but have no confirmation of that.

Mike 

[303Gunner]

The emblem of the Kangaroo and word 'ARMY' was to appear in International Orange colour

Mike

Mike, can you clarify that colour? Is it an FS or BS numbered colour, or is it a trade or proprietary colour, ie International Harvester?

[Mike C]

The SOVO simply states 'International Orange' (or 'Orange International', depending on where it appears). The further reference is DEF(AUST) 1000C - Packaging, part 5, section A, which might have the paint specifications for the various colours, but I don't have a copy of that Defence standard, so cannot help.

In practice, I've seen the word 'ARMY' and the Kangaroo in different shades of orange, and even in yellow. There are three examples on Leopard tanks provided as colour images on page 168 of my book 'Leopard AS1 in Australian Service' from Trackpad Publishing.

Mike 

[Ravvin]

Not sure if this is relevant, but it lists the RGB numbers and the Hex code.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_orange

Greg.

[303Gunner]

Not sure if this is relevant, but.... Wikipedia.....lists International Orange:

From that link:

"The source of this colour is Federal Standard 595, a U.S. Federal Government standard set up in 1956 for paint colors which is mostly used by military contractors and also in engineering. International Orange is designated as Federal Standard 595 colour FS 12197."

Thanks Ravvin.

[Magellan]

Well once again thankyou all for your informative replies.  It all helps with maintaining authenticity

Daryl