Australian Military Vehicle Identification
There are a number of properties which, in combination, allow for the identification of military vehicles.
Early Australian military vehicles were identified by a combination of their frame and engine numbers but by World War 2 most military vehicles were being fitted with identification plates that contained additional information, such as delivery and warranty dates, nomenclature, contract numbers, and manufacturer details. As time progressed, additional information such as census codes and NSNs were also added. Some plates also contain servicing and operating information, or there may be additional plates fitted elsewhere for this purpose. Early plates were made of brass but increasingly anodised aluminium has been used. The plates can be cast, stamped, etched or printed.
They are usually affixed to the firewall or under the dashboard of most vehicles. On motorcycles they are usually affixed to the frame, or they can be mounted on a removable panel such as a side cover or headlight surround. Where this is the case, care has to be taken to ensure that the correct plate is installed on the vehicle, usually be cross-referencing the frame and engine numbers.
Trials and unmodified commercial vehicles may not have had identification plates fitted.
Identification plates, particularly the brass ones, are popular with a subset of collectors and are often pilfered, making it difficult to identify the military provenance of a vehicle that has been defaced in this way.
Registration Numbers
Australian military vehicles have been registered under several different schemes over the years. Vehicles that have remained in service during a scheme change, particularly WW2 vehicles that were still in service post war, often had their registrations changed during this process.[1]
The Australian War Memorial holds 27 volumes of ARN ledgers, under record number AWM126, which have been digitised and made available online.[2] Date information within the records indicate that multiple volumes were being actively updated at the same time, meaning that ARNs were not necessarily allocated sequentially by date. Each of these volumes contains a notice affixed inside the cover from Brigadier Ernest Lawrence (Laurie) Palmer, who retired in 1978.[3] The notice reads:
NOTICE
These records have historical importance and are not to be destroyed under any circumstance.
(E.L. PALMER)
Col
A/D Sup
The Registry of Ex Military Land Rovers website hosts a database of ARNs,[4] as well as scans of some of the New ARN ledgers.[5] The primary focus of REMLR is ex-military Land Rovers and neither the database nor the scans are complete, particularly for non-Land Rover vehicles.
| Type | Description | Reference | Start | End | Pages | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIF | Early Army Registration Numbers. A prefix was added to specify the type of vehicle. | AWM126 1[6] | AIF 1 | AIF 6112 | 197 | AIF M1 was allocated to a 1938/39 Rolls-Royce Wraith, Chassis WRB40. |
| AWM126 2[7] | AIF 6113 | AIF 12325 | 198 | |||
| AWM126 3[8] | AIF 12326 | AIF 18867 | 198 | |||
| AWM126 4[9] | AIF 18868 | AIF 25974 | 19 | There is no data for rows 19220 to 25974. | ||
| ARN Series 1 | Number plates have white text on a black background, used from the early 50's to approximately 1972. | AWM126 5[10] | 1 | 13-807 | 196 | ARN 1-20 were reserved for Ministerial use. |
| AWM126 6[11] | 13-808 | 20-076 | 196 | |||
| AWM126 7[12] | 20-077 | 26-346 | 197 | |||
| AWM126 8[13] | 26-347 | 32-616 | 196 | |||
| AWM126 9[14] | 32-617 | 40-471 | 244 | |||
| AWM126 10[15] | 40-472 | 48-358 | 245 | |||
| AWM126 11[16] | 48-359 | 59-264 | 293 | |||
| AWM126 12[17] | 59-265 | 66-912 | 245 | |||
| AWM126 13[18] | 66-913 | 74-560 | 245 | |||
| AWM126 14[19] | 74-561 | 82-208 | 245 | |||
| AWM126 15[20] | 82-209 | 89-842 | 244 | |||
| AWM126 16[21] | 89-843 | 97-415 | 246 | |||
| AWM126 17[22] | 97-416 | 105-866 | 241 | |||
| AWM126 18[23] | 105-867 | 114-437 | 245 | |||
| AWM126 19[24] | 114-438 | 122-646 | 243 | |||
| AWM126 20[25] | 122-647 | 132-320 | 277 | |||
| AWM126 21[26] | 132-321 | 140-600 | 240 | |||
| AWM126 22[27] | 140-601 | 150-896 | 293 | |||
| AWM126 23[28] | 150-897 | 159-509 | 246 | |||
| AWM126 24[29] | 159-510 | 168-121 | 245 | |||
| AWM126 25[30] | 168-122 | 177-970 | 283 | |||
| AWM126 26[31] | 177-971 | 187-538 | 92 | No entries from 18066 to 187538. | ||
| AWM126 27[32] | Various | Various | 91 | Tanks, assault vehicles, recovery vehicles, carriers, trucks, armoured cars, scout cars, landing vehicles, and helicopter utility. Duplicates records from other volumes. | ||
| ARN Series 2 | "New ARN" Number plates have green text on a white background, used from 1973 onwards. | Book 9 Part 1 | 25-000 | 28-023 | TBD | Single volume scanned as 2 separate files. Section 2 is missing 4,152 records out of 7,308 (approximately 57%). |
| Book 9 Part 2 | 28-024 | 35-331 | TBD | |||
| Book 12 Part 1 | 35-332 | 41-975 | TBD | Single volume scanned as 2 separate files. | ||
| Book 12 Part 2 | 41-976 | 48-718 | TBD | |||
| Book 10 | 48-863 | 51-999 | 82 | Records not populated after 51-565. | ||
| Electronic | TBD | TBD | TBD | By the time of the XT600EB entering service in 1991 onwards, the first two or three digits represent a short year code. This may coincide with when records were migrated to electronic systems. |
AIF
Ledger 4
Ledger 4 is a single volume covering 7,107 records. It is not populated after 19-219.[9]
$wgTimelinePloticusCommand is set correctly.ARN Series 1
Ledger 26
Ledger 26 is a single volume covering 9,568 records. It is not populated after 181-066.[31]
$wgTimelinePloticusCommand is set correctly.Ledger 27
Ledger 27 is a single volume covering tanks, assault vehicles, recovery vehicles, carriers, trucks, armoured cars, scout cars, landing vehicles, and helicopter utility. It duplicates records from other volumes for these specific vehicle types. The last page contains the poem Waratah and Wattle from the 1905 collection When I Was King and Other Verses by Henry Lawson, written in cursive.[32]
ARN Series 2
By the time of the introduction of the ARN Series 2 in 1973, there is a marked reduction in the quality of the records kept, with many fields in the ledgers not populated, or not populated consistently. This is much more evident in the later books, where there may only be one or two fields populated for any given vehicle, making it impossible to determine the ARN of a vehicle from its engine or chassis numbers for many vehicles. The book numbers were not allocated in order.
Book 9
Book 9 is a single volume covering 10,331 records, scanned as 2 separate files. Section 2 is missing 4,152 records out of 7,308 (approximately 57%), due to the source ledger being in poor condition and sections being lost due to binding failure, some time between 2007 and 2009.[5]
$wgTimelinePloticusCommand is set correctly.Book 12
Book 12 is a single volume covering 13,387 records, scanned as 2 separate files.
$wgTimelinePloticusCommand is set correctly.Book 10
Book 10 is a single volume covering 3,1367 records. It is not populated after 51-565.
$wgTimelinePloticusCommand is set correctly.Nomenclature
Nomenclature is a structured naming convention identifying a particular type of military equipment by function and not necessarily by a specific make or model. This means that where multiple vehicles fit the same function they will most likely have the same Nomenclature, such as all scooters, which have a Nomenclature of SCOOTER, MOTOR, unless fitted with a sidecar in which case they are SCOOTER, MOTOR, COMBINATION.[33] Nomenclature is usually tied to the vehicle's Census Code.
Census Codes
Census codes, also sometimes referred to as Liability Numbers or Liability Codes, identify a vehicle by function and may not necessarily be a specific make or model. This means that where multiple vehicles fit the same function they will most likely have the same Census Code, such as all scooters, which have a Census Code of 6001, unless fitted with a sidecar in which case they are 6001A.[33] Census codes are usually tied to the vehicle's Nomenclature.
Mobility Categories
The Australian Defence Force classifies its post-war vehicles by Mobility Categories.[34]
| Category | Abbreviation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | MC1 | "Vehicles capable of sustained operation cross country but with an acceptable reduction in road performance." |
| Category 2 | MC2 | "Vehicles capable of sustained operation on roads and tracks with sufficient cross country capability for the deployment of force elements." |
| Category 3 | MC3 | "Vehicles capable of sustained operation on roads and tracks with sufficient cross country capability to reach echelons, supply distribution points and work sites." |
| Category 4 | MC4 | "Vehicles primarily for use on formed roads with a limited capability to operate on tracks and sufficient off road capability to seek cover from attack or make detours." |
| Commercial | CL | "Unmodified commercial vehicles." |
NATO Stock Number
Australia began codifying its military vehicles with a NATO Stock Number in the 1980s. Australia's Country Code, or NCB is 66.
Group 23 is assigned to Ground Effect Vehicles, Motor Vehicles, Trailers, and Cycles. Group 24 is assigned to Tractors.[35]
| Group | Description |
|---|---|
| 2305 | Ground Effect Vehicles |
| 2310 | Passenger Motor Vehicles |
| 2320 | Trucks and Truck Tractors, Wheeled |
| 2330 | Trailers |
| 2340 | Motorcycles, Motor Scooters, and Bicycles |
| 2350 | Combat, Assault, and Tactical Vehicles, Tracked |
| 2410 | Tractor, Full Tracked, Low Speed |
| 2420 | Tractors, Wheeled |
| 2430 | Tractors, Full Tracked, High Speed |
Unit Recognition Mark
<div class="thumbimage" style="width: 250px; height: Expression error: Unexpected < operator.px; overflow: hidden;">
<div style="position: relative; top: -Expression error: Unexpected < operator.px; left: -54px; width: 357px">
The "Christmas Tree" Unit Recognition Mark (URM) is used to identify the unit that a piece of equipment belongs to. It consists of a four-digit number at the top, four coloured bars arranged in a triangle, and a silhouette of a kangaroo at the bottom. This may have the word ARMY or AMF under it. The number and kangaroo are coloured International Orange, while the bars are coloured similar to resistor colour bands, with each colour denoting a number, relating to the number above.[36] The official colours use the BS381C specifications, however, BS381C does not have a specification for either white or black.
| Value | Colour | BS381C | Closest RAL | HEX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | International Orange | 592 | 2002 | #C44E33 |
| 1 | Signal Red | 537 | 3020 | #B73D37 |
| 2 | Azure Blue | 104 | 5000 | #7089AD |
| 3 | Golden Yellow | 356 | 1003 | #F0A606 |
| 4 | Grass Green | 218 | 6017 | #5A7E44 |
| 5 | Light Grey | 631 | 7042 | #929B94 |
| 6 | Light Buff | 358 | 1002 | #DCAC6D |
| 7 | Light Orange | 557 | 2011 | #D77131 |
| 8 | Deep Brunswick Green | 227 | 6032 | #394B40 |
| 9 | White | N/A | 9010 | #F0ECE1 |
| 0 | Middle Brown | 411 | 8007 | #72523C |
References
- ↑ "Australian Defence Force Number Plates". The Registry of Ex Military Land Rovers. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ↑ "Army vehicle registration books". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ↑ "PALMER Ernest Lawrence (Laurie) AO". Highgate RSL. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
- ↑ "Military Vehicle Registration details". The Registry of Ex Military Land Rovers. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Modern ARN Ledgers". The Registry of Ex Military Land Rovers. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 1 - Army vehicle registration books. AIF 1-6112". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 2 - Army vehicle registration books. AIF 6113-12325". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 3 - Army vehicle registration books. AIF 12326-18867". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "AWM126 4 - Army vehicle registration books. AIF 18868-25974". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 5 - Army vehicle registration books. 1-13807". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 6 - Army vehicle registration books. 13808-20076". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 7 - Army vehicle registration books. 20077-26346". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 8 - Army vehicle registration books. 26347-32616". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 9 - Army vehicle registration books. 32617-40471". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 10 - Army vehicle registration books. 40472-48358". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 11 - Army vehicle registration books. 48359-59264". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 12 - Army vehicle registration books. 59265-66912". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 13 - Army vehicle registration books. 66913-74560". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 14 - Army vehicle registration books. 74561-82208". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 15 - Army vehicle registration books. 82209-89842". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 16 - Army vehicle registration books. 89843-97415". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 17 - Army vehicle registration books. 97416-105866". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 18 - Army vehicle registration books. 105867-114437". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 19 - Army vehicle registration books. 114438-122646". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 20 - Army vehicle registration books. 122647-132320". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 21 - Army vehicle registration books. 132321-140600". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 22 - Army vehicle registration books. 140601-150896". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 23 - Army vehicle registration books. 150897-159509". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 24 - Army vehicle registration books. 159510-168121". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "AWM126 25 - Army vehicle registration books. 168122-177970". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 "AWM126 26 - Army vehicle registration books. 177971-187538 [trucks and cars rather than jeeps]". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 "AWM126 27 - Army vehicle registration books. Carriers [tanks, assault vehicles, recovery vehicles, carriers, trucks, armoured cars, scout cars, landing vehicles, helicopter utility]". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 "CENSUS CODES AND NOMENCLATURES". The Registry of Ex Military Land Rovers. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Audit Report No.41 1998–99 Performance Audit General Service Vehicle Fleet Department of Defence (PDF). The Auditor-General. p. 27. Search this book on
- ↑ Department of the Army (February 2003). "Federal Supply Classification Groups and Classes" (PDF). Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ↑ "Australian Army Vehicle Markings". he Registry Of Ex-Army Land Rovers. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
This article "Australian Military Vehicle Identification" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Australian Military Vehicle Identification. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
