M4 of 6th Tank Battalion USMC with extra hull side armor skirts Okinawa
During the Okinawa campaign, the 6th Tank Battalion employed a distinctive marking and camouflage system for its tanks. Initially, many of the tanks were painted in overall olive drab, with some featuring sprayed black patterns to add camouflage. As the battle progressed, additional spare track links were welded to both the hull and turret of the tanks, enhancing their protection against enemy fire.
The battalion adopted a geometric marking system to differentiate between platoons and companies:
- Platoons were identified by distinct geometric shapes:
- 1st Platoon: Square
- 2nd Platoon: Circle
- 3rd Platoon: Diamond
- 4th Platoon: Triangle
- Headquarters elements had their own unique symbols:
- Battalion HQ Company: Heart
- Company HQ: Shamrock
To further distinguish between companies, each was assigned a specific color for its markings:
- Company A: Red
- Company B: White
- Company C: Yellow
One notable adaptation involved Company A, which found that the red paint was too dark to be easily visible against the tanks’ olive drab base color. To remedy this, they mixed white paint with the red to create a pinker shade for better visibility. These markings were usually painted on either side of the turret, the rear of the turret, and on one of the front corners of the hull.
This elaborate marking scheme allowed for clear identification of tanks at a glance, crucial for coordination and communication during the intense fighting on Okinawa. The 6th Tank Battalion’s adaptive use of additional track armor and its efficient system of markings exemplified the need for both protection and clear unit identification in the grueling Pacific theater campaigns.