From: Neil E. Amrhein (neil@compu-powr.com)
Date: Fri Jun 04 2004 - 04:15:45 PDT
List,
I made a mistake in my last post. The data plate actually says "MARINE CORPS" (with the S on the end) under the Depot Maintenance Section.
Interestingly, the "USMC REG. NO." on the data plate is 02A-19468, which is the same number that is visible under the flaking paint, except it is preceded by "US ARMY", not "USMC".
Additionally, this is one of a pair of mules my father purchased. The other mule was delivered a month later, had the same contract number, but was a US ARMY mule. The two manufacturer serial numbers are 184 vehicles apart.
One other interesting note for the mule guys is that Baifield was apparently purchased/acquired by Automatic Sprinkler Corp in either November or December of 1968. My mule was delivered in November and was built by "Baifield Industries Emtex Division", while the other mule was delivered in December and was built by "Automatic Sprinkler Corp. Baifield Div."
Questions:
1) I know the Army procures all of the vehicles and the Marines, Navy and Air Force buy them from the Army, but would the Army buy a vehicle back from another agency?
2) I guess the Army might keep vehicles for themselves if the Marines decided they did not need or could not pay for them?
3) Is the date for the contract found somewhere in the contract number?
Thanks,
--Neil
----- Original Message -----
From: "Neil E. Amrhein" <neil@compu-powr.com>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2004 1:53 PM
Subject: [MV] Marine vs. Army vehicles, procurement
> List,
> I recently acquired a 1968 M274A5 mule from my father. It is equipped with the wide-tire (sand or TOW missile) up-grade kit. This mule has "MARINE CORP" listed under the "Depot Maintenance" section of the original data plate. This is not the same as my old M274A1 (also a Marine Corp mule), which had "USMC" in the same location.
> As I have set about cleaning it up, it is clear that the vehicle was used by the Army for some length of time (presumably a long time). I can see "US ARMY", followed by a registration number on each side, under the multiple layers of flaking paint. The paint is flaking, but is stuck to these letters, making them clearly visible. They almost appear to be decals. These letters appear to be white. It also appears to have been stenciled with US ARMY in black on the most recent paint layer (MERDEC camo).
> I know the letters and numbers were not put there by a civilian during a past restoration, since my father was the first civilian to own this vehicle. It was acquired in the mid-late 80's by a University and was bought by my father a few years ago, totally unmolested from it's military form. The engine and rear axle were rebuilt at Ft. Campbell in the early 80's, according to their tags.
> Once I actually get into stripping the paint, I will hopefully be able to tell if there are any USMC markings under all of the other layers of paint, but for now, all I see is US Army.
>
> Two questions:
>
> 1) Was there a change in nomenclature between 1963 and 1968 on data plates from "USMC" to "MARINE CORP"? Or was this determined by the manufacturer of the vehicle?
> 2) Does it happen very often that the Army procures a vehicle for the Marine Corp, but ends up keeping it for themselves? Or, do they buy them back from the Navy, Air Force, and Marines on occasion?
>
> Thanks,
> --Neil
>
>
> To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
> To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to <mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
> To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat May 07 2005 - 20:33:21 PDT