# What are the "V" insignia on U.S. tanks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 18, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-v-insignia-on-u-s-tanks/219870 "2003-12-18T23:33:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-v-insignia-on-u-s-tanks/219870/1 "2003-12-18T23:33:40Z")
Every so often, when I looking at a photots of U.S. armored vehicles (Like the M1 Abrams), I notice what looks like a “V” chevron shape, painted on the hull. I’ve also seen a few with “inverted” chevrons (Basically an “A,” without the cross-hatch) , and on a few Israeli tanks, I’ve even seen a few forward-pointing chevrons. (More like an “\>” than a true chevron, I guess.) Now, not _all_ the vehicles have these markings. So…what do they mean? Does it indicate a commander’s vehicle, or a vehicle with a specialized armament, or something? ---
**Author:** ![NBIT33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NBIT33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NBIT33)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-v-insignia-on-u-s-tanks/219870/2 "2003-12-19T00:09:36Z")
Helps to IFF (Identify Friend or Foe). Can be seen on thermal imaging. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-v-insignia-on-u-s-tanks/219870/3 "2003-12-19T01:12:04Z")
That paint scheme was adopted just before the ground assault into Kuwait and Iraq in 1991. Iraq had some common equipment to some of the allied forces, and this was a quick visual clue to make the distinction when we had Egyptians facing Iraqis in the same tank, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-v-insignia-on-u-s-tanks/219870/4 "2003-12-19T01:54:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NBIT33 \* > \*\*Helps to IFF (Identify Friend or Foe). > > Can be seen on thermal imaging. \*\* The new ones can. The original symbols used in desert storm didn’t show up very well on thermal imaging, which led to some rather unfortunate friendly fire incidents. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-v-insignia-on-u-s-tanks/219870/5 "2003-12-19T11:14:23Z")
The inverted V is also the symbol I paint onto all my luggage. Makes identifying your luggage at the airport a snap. Of course, some people get queasy about painting their luggage, but hey, it’s not a car, it’s just luggage. Oh, I don’t recommed that _everybody_ do this, 'cos then I wouldn’t be able to find my luggage anymore! ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-v-insignia-on-u-s-tanks/219870/6 "2003-12-19T12:05:07Z")
And it is MUCH less likely to be destroyed in a friendly fire tragedy by our own troops. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-v-insignia-on-u-s-tanks/219870/7 "2003-12-19T12:18:09Z")
**UncleBill** : Now, who in the hell would be shooting at **Balthisar** ’s luggage? 😃 (“We will fight them at the check-in counter. We will fight them at the metal detectors. We will fight them at the gate. We will fight them at the baggage claim, and we will fight them at the rental car counter. All we have to offer are pretzels, barf bags, pillows, and Ludlum novels.”) ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-v-insignia-on-u-s-tanks/219870/8 "2003-12-19T13:10:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Derleth \* > \*\ ***UncleBill** : Now, who in the hell would be shooting at **Balthisar** ’s luggage? > > 😃 > \*\* Gives a whole new meaning to the term “Hey, I bagged one!” Tripler Oooh, it’s a Samsonite, with a 120mm handle! : d & r : ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-v-insignia-on-u-s-tanks/219870/9 "2003-12-19T16:42:05Z")
I take it the luggage has bombproof zippers? ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-v-insignia-on-u-s-tanks/219870/10 "2003-12-19T18:56:47Z")
The inverted ‘V’ means “This End Up” [Tanks work much better near their preferred orientation. See my paper “Inversion Characteristics of Turtles, Tanks, and Women” _Journal of Objectionable Studies I Won’t Be Repeating Anytime Soon_, July 1978, pp. 108-110] ---
**Author:** ![Matchka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Matchka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matchka)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-v-insignia-on-u-s-tanks/219870/11 "2003-12-19T19:18:55Z")
In addition to the IFF role It was explained to me that vehicles from the 24th Mech Inf Division (The “Victory” Division) bore a “V” to identify them as belonging to same. The 24th has since been re-flagged 3rd Mech Infantry Division, but it wouldn’t surpise me if they kept the “V” just as a souvenier of GW I. I may have been lied to about this. My command was viciously playful when it came to dispensing information.