- Yes
- No - I would not like to see this insignia in game.
Description:
Used by the Allied Forces to quickly identity allied units from both each other and from the enemy, this insignia would be painted on all vehicles used by the both the 5th new Zealand Division. Chosen for this role would be one of New Zealand’s most famous birds, the Kea.
It would consist of a white Kea head on a yellow square background. As this was drawn individually per regiment, the artistic skill and thus detail on the kiwi would change between units, however the basic form would stay the same.
It would be placed on the left hand, often on the track guards of the vehicle, along with the troop/squadron markings as well as the regimental insignia on the right.
History:
This insignia would be worn by all vehicles on the 5th New Zealand Division, this would include regimental cars and trucks, but also the Stuart I Hybrids used by the 5th Otago Mounted Rifles (Armoured).
The 5th NZ Division would be raised on the 1st of November 1941, and would be organised as such.
| 3rd Infantry Brigade | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ||||
| 1st Battalion, 5th Otago Mounted Rifles (Armoured). | ||||
| 1st Battalion, 1st Canterbury Regiment | ||||
| 1st Battalion, 8th Southland Rifles |
| 11th Brigade Group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ||||
| 1st & 3rd Battalion, 12th Nelson, Marlborough, and West Coast Mounted Rifles (NMWC) | ||||
| 19th Field Artillery Regiment | ||||
| 20th Anti-Tank Battery | ||||
| 33rd Field Company, NZ Engineers | ||||
| 11th Field Ambulance | ||||
| 9th Motor Transport |
| 10th Infantry Brigade | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ||||
| 2nd Battalion, 1st Canterbury Regiment | ||||
| 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Scottish Regiment |
| Div Troops | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ||||
| 130th Medical Battalion | ||||
| 3rd & 18th Field Artillery Regiment | ||||
| 24th Anti-Tank Regiment | ||||
| 3rd & 32nd Field Companies NZ Engineers | ||||
| 5th Divisional Signals |
| Divisional Combat Service Support | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ||||
| 3rd & 15th Field Ambulance | ||||
| 24th Mobile Workshop | ||||
| 3rd Provost Company |
They would serve entirely within New Zealand, acting as a guard from a potential Japanese invasion. It would not see combat, as no Japanese forces would land for an invasion. The Division would be disbanded as the threat of invasion was itself dispersed, with its comprising regiments being dispersed to other units on the 1st of April 1944.
Sources:
J.Plowman, (2010), Camouflage & Markings on the Stuarts in New Zealand Service. (pp. 12-18, 41)
http://jeepdraw.com/Kiwi_Tac_Signs.html
http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/tac/nz-tac.htm
5th Division (New Zealand) - Wikipedia