Australian 101 TAC Plates

[Lotz-A-Landies]

The formation sign, red background, crossed swords, kangaroo and crown (Australian Army) is Field Force Command.

Training command is the crossed swords, kangaroo and crown over dark green, yellow, dark green horizontal bands.

The blue, yellow red horizontal bands tac/unit sign is a RAEME unit (possibly LAD), will have to look up the serial,

The blue/white/blue formation sign will have to look up also.

Diana

[Lotz-A-Landies]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/10/448.jpgThe formation sign, red background, crossed swords, kangaroo and crown (Australian Army) is Field Force Command.

Training command is the crossed swords, kangaroo and crown over dark green, yellow, dark green horizontal bands.

The blue, yellow red horizontal bands tac/unit sign is a RAEME unit (possibly LAD), will have to look up the serial,

The blue/white/blue formation sign will have to look up also.

DianaAccording to VUS Mar 1982 unit serial "925" is RAEME Training Centre, so the blue white blue formation sign is actually a Training Command sign with the yellows faded out.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/101-forward-controls-variations/65340d1378800045-micks-101-projects-trgcomd.jpg

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Not completely up with TACs however one shows what Command the vehicle is in (Operational Vehicles are 1 Div and training vehicles are Training Command).

I believe the one you have with Kangaroo and Cross Swords in a green and yellow paint livery is Training Command. Where the Roo and Cross Swords with a red and gold livery it is 1 Div. I believe the other Tac - the 50 and in your case the 925 with the gay colour scheme are the unit displays.

Garry
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/101-forward-controls-variations/65311d1378723825-micks-101-projects-100_0784.jpg
Garry

The Arty unit tac with 50 and Field Force Command formation sign is correct for 16 AD Regt. :)

[101RRS]

Garry

The Arty unit tac with 50 and Field Force Command formation sign is correct for 16 AD Regt. :)

Yes I know ;)

As far as I know there are only two TAC sign combinations for 101s, as per my pic above for the operational vehicles and Mick's layout for the training vehicles. Noting that any particular vehicle could have spent time during its life in either command depending on needs at any particular time.

garry

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Yes I know ;)

As far as I know there are only two TAC sign combinations for 101s, as per my pic above for the operational vehicles and Mick's layout for the training vehicles. Noting that any particular vehicle could have spent time during its life in either command depending on needs at any particular time.

garryAm I correct is understanding that the 101s were only allocated to Artillery units, mostly those equipped with the rapier system?

If that is the case Mick's is unusual in that it was allocated to the RAEME traning centre, probably for the craftsmen to learn the 101.

Most of the others would have had the arty tac with serial 917 for the school of artillery. I know that we used to see them around the northern beaches in Sydney, many times broken down.

The AAMME has a 101, but I believe it's only because it came to them post service. It has the AAMME tac.

[101 Ron]

I Know when I was in 23 fd reg RAA , North head had four 101s.
Rapier missles were at one point of time fired from north head.
I remember one day two 101s being driven into Kograh HQ Bat, the distinctive noise they make ,made me ask and wonder what they were.
At the time we still had series 3 landrovers and we all wanted one.

[101RRS]

As far as I am aware - 16AD and RAEME only. I think the ones at North Head were RAEME vehicles but not sure.

Garry

[Lotz-A-Landies]

As far as I am aware - 16AD and RAEME only. I think the ones at North Head were RAEME vehicles but not sure.

GarryThe ones at North Head were the School of Artillery, (same place as they filmed one series of the biggest loser), the RAEME Training Centre is at Bandiana AFAIK.

[101RRS]

The ones at North Head were the School of Artillery, (same place as they filmed one series of the biggest loser), the RAEME Training Centre is at Bandiana AFAIK.

Were they School of Artillery or visiting from parent units? If School of Artillery they would have Training Command TACS.

Of course 16AD was/is in SA but vehicles are seen elsewhere including North Head - while the RAEME Training Center is at Bandiana their staff and vehicles also were located elsewhere where training was being conducted - North Head firings were conducted for both operational purposes (training) with RAEME being involved in a support/training function. Over the years both 16AD and RAEME vehicles spent time at North Head.

If 101s were permanently based there and part of School of Art - then would have Training Command livery.

Now having said all the above - I have no personal experience and base my comments on those I know who actually drove 101s.

Cheers

Garry

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Garry

I have some information from an ex-RAEME Artificer (subsequently WO1) who used to do the work for 1/15 RNSW Lancers and other units.

"Diana, I was a close friend of one of the last ASM's at the School of Artillery, before the move to Puckapunyal, so I have some knowledge to answer your enquiries.
The School of Artillery was within Training Command and the Technical Support Troop (RAEME) was part of the establishment of the school, thus the TAC signs would have been Training Command and the unit sign for the RAEME vehicles would have been 917, on a blue/yellow/red background in decending colour order.
When I visited the school, the Tech Support did not have any 101 vehicles on issue to the troop. All 101 vehicles were assigned as missle or radar towing vehicles. This I know as a fact, as I had a chance to examine them because it was the first time that I seen a 101, in the green.
The Tech Support used Series 2A Workshop or GS vehicles as support, when a course went to the range for a live fire.
The rapier were fired from the gunnery range down at Jervis Bay.
I know that RAEME Training Centre (RTC) and 16 Air Defence Regiment workshops were equipt with 101 Technical Support vehicles.
Our remaining 101 is .X RTC."

So this answers our question the 101's had four tac/formation sign configurations. RTC had Training Command and the RAEME tricolour with serial 925 (same as Mick Marsh's)
School of Arty had Training Command and the RAA Corps dual colour with serial 917.
16 AD Regt had Field Force Command and the RAA Corps dual colour with serial 50 (same as yours)
RAEME 16 AD Regt Workshops had Field Force Command and the RAEME tricolour with serial 50 (or may have had three signs - FFC + 16AD + RAEME)

[Mick_Marsh]

RAEME 16 AD Regt Workshops had Field Force Command and the RAEME tricolour with serial 50 (or may have had three signs - FFC + 16AD + RAEME)


That explains why Dave Jump's 101 had three TAC plate holders.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

It is quite common to find ex-RAEME vehicles, particularly workshops with three tac signs.

[Mick_Marsh]

Thought I'd move this to a thread on it's own.