Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets A Guide To The Arab & Jordanian Decal Set
with Blake Coster

Recently I wrote an article on how to use the Israeli decal set for the various Israeli vehicles featured in Fate Of A Nation. Now it is time to cover the Arab and Jordanian decal set. So break out your hobby knife, decal softener and brushes and let’s get started.
Fate Of A Nation
The fate of a nation hangs in the balance. Israel cannot lose even a single battle. One defeat would mean the destruction of the tiny Jewish state. Not waiting to be attacked by the Arab forces massing on its borders, Israel strikes first.

Learn more about Fate Of A Nation here...
Fate Of A Nation

Jordanian Markings
Brigade Flashes
Brigade flashes comprised a diagonally coloured square located on the right-hand side front (as viewing the vehicle from behind) fender. The 40th Armoured Brigade was represented by a red and yellow square and the 60th Armoured Brigade by a red and blue square. For military parades, the number of the brigade was painted inside the square in white. Interestingly enough, the parade marking for the 40th Armoured Brigade is actually representing the 50th Armoured Brigade - awfully confusing, but this may have been the point and done to deceive the enemy. Examples of these markings as found on the decal sheets can see below.

Below: The parade flash Jordanian 40th Armoured Brigade during 1967. Below: The parade flash Jordanian 60th Armoured Brigade Below: Jordanian 40th Armoured Brigade post 1967. Below: Jordanian 60th Armoured Brigade post 1967.
Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets  Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets 
Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets
Al-Jaish Serial Numbers
The left-hand side (again as if looking at the vehicle from behind) fender featured a black panel which featured the a white serial number below the word Al-Jaish (or Army).

Right: An example of a Al-Jaish (or Army) Serial number as found on the decal sheets.
Turret Markings
Jordanian vehicles essentially used the British system of indicating battalion and company i.e. a geometric symbol representing the squadron number and different colours to differentiate each battalion. Red symbols denoted the senior battalion in the brigade, yellow the second; and blue probably denoted mechanised infantry. The first or A squadron was represented by triangles, the second or B squadron represented by squares, and the third or C squadron represented by circles. It is, however, unclear if the Jordanian system was an exact match to the British system.

Examples of these markings as found on the decal sheet can be seen below.
Below: The geometric symbols used to represent the battalion and squadron number as found on the decal sheet.
Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets
Turret Names
Below the geometric shapes indicating battalion and squadron number, it was quite common to see names of famous generals or other national heroes written in black in Arabic script.

Left: Examples of turret names in Arabic script as found on the decal sheets.
Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets
Egyptian Markings
Turret Numbers
Egyptian vehicles during the Six-Day War were remarkably plain in terms of unit marking and vehicle identification. Of those vehicles that did exhibit markings, it was usually a simple three-digit number on the side of the turret written in black text using Arabic characters (ie. 'Eastern Arabic numerals', as opposed to 'Western Arabic numerals' familiar to English speakers and most of the Western world. I’ve provided a translation guide for Arabic numbers found on the decal sheet below:
Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets
Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets
Unlike Arabic script that is written right to left, Arabic numerals are written left to right. Below is a link that may help you get a better handle on how the Arabic numbering system works:

Learn more about how the basic Arabic numbering system works here...

Right:
Some examples of the turret numbers that can be found on the decal sheets.

Turret Flash
An insignia made up of a diagonally coloured rectangle in red and light blue was commonly found on the turret of Egyptian tanks. Frequently found towards the lower front of the turret, its exact miltary significance is unknown as it doesn't appear to be a divisional symbol, but may in fact be some form of national insignia.

Left: An example of the unknown Egyptain insignia commonly found on tank turrets.
Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets
Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets
Parade Markings
Egyptian tanks were also seen with parade markings. For example, an insignia of an eagle spreading it wings was commonly seen on the side of the turret of the Soviet-made IS-3M .

Right: The spread eagle insignia often seen on the IS-3Ms in Egyptian service.

Syrian Markings
Turret Names
It was quite common to see names written in white in Arabic script on the side of tank turrets. Like the Jordanians, these names were often referencing heroes from past conflicts.

Left: Examples of Syrian turret names.
Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets
Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets
Other Turret Markings
Air Recognition

Syrian air recognition markings consisted of a thick white ring painted on the turret roof.


Right: The white ring used by the Syrians as air recognition.
Geometric Shapes
There is evidence that geometric shapes also featured as part of Syrian turret markings; these were commonly red in colour.

Left: An example of the geometric shape featured on the decal sheets.
 Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets
Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets
Al-Jaish Serial Numbers
Like their Jordanian counter-parts, Syrian tanks also featured Al-jaish serial numbers. Located on the glacis plate, they featured the same black panel inscripted with a serial number below the word Al-Jaish (or Army) written in white characters.

Right: An example of a Al-Jaish (or Army) Serial number as found on the decal sheets.

Divisional Insignia
With the creation of their armoured divisions, individual insignia were quickly adapted. These insignia consisted of a white rectangular outline containing a pair of coloured geometric shapes.

Left: Examples of the Syrian divisional insignia.

Using The Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets
These markings were located on the turret sides towards the front and towards one side of the glacis and rear plates. The sequence of these markings is, however, unknown.

I hope that you found this article useful in identifying what each of the symbols found on the Arab and Jordanian Decal Sets means and where they are located.

Happy modelling!

~ Blake.


Last Updated On Wednesday, December 3, 2014 by Blake at Battlefront