4th Marine Division UNIS Guide
The “Unit Numerical Identification System” was used to hide unit identities. The 4th Marine Division used this system to a far greater extend than any other Division during WW2. Each Marine Division was identified by a geometrical shape, in case of the 4th Marine Division this was a semi circle. Enclosed within the shape was a 3-digit code. An additional number stenciled above the semi circle denoted the rank.
Here is a list of how the 3-digit code works:
100 series: Division HQ
-HQ Battalion
HQ Company 101
Signal Company 102
MP Company 103
Reconnaisance Company 104
200 series: Service Troops
-Service Battalion
HQ Company 211
Service & Supply Company 212
Ordonance Company 213
-Motor Transport Battalion
HQ Company 221
Transport Companies (3) 222-234
-Medical Battalion
HQ Company 231
Medical Companies (5) 232-236
300 series: 23rd Infantry Regiment
HQ Company 301
Weapons Company 302
-1st Battalion
HQ Company 311
Company A 312
Company B 313
Company C 314
-2nd Battalion
HQ Company 321
Company E 322
Company F 323
Company G 324
-3rd Battalion
HQ Company 331
Company I 332
Company K 333
Company L 334
400 series: 24th Infantry Regiment
(system see 23rd Infantry Regiment)
500 series: 25th Infantry Regiment
(system see 23rd Infantry Regiment)
600 series: 14th Artillery Regiment
HQ & Service Battery 601
-1st Battalion
HQ & Service Battery 611
Howitzer Batteries (3) 612-614
-2nd Battalion
HQ & Service Battery 621
Howitzer Batteries (3) 622-624
-3rd Battalion
HQ & Service Battery 631
Pack Howitzer Batteries (3) 632-634
-4th Battalion
HQ & Service Battery 641
Pack Howitzer Batteries (3) 642-644
700 series: 4th Engineer Battalion
HQ & Service Company 711
Engineer Companies (3) 712-714
800 series: 4th Pioneer Battalion
HQ & Service Company 811
Pioneer Companies (3) 812-814
900 series: 4th Tank Battalion
HQ & Service Company 911
Tank Companies (3) 912-914
Rank:
1 private First Class, 2 Corporal, 3 Sergeant, 4 Lieutenant, 5 captain, 6 Major, 7 Lieutenant Colonel, 8 Colonel, 9 General
Here is an example of an original UNIS marked 4th Marine Division P41 Utility Jacket:
Please see my previous post for a marked e-tool cover. More to come!
M1 Pencil 
Very cool! I found this to be very informative. Quick question, what was the numerical designation for the battlion weapons company? I’m gonna guess 5?
I was wondering what would “195” stand for without any geometrical shape around it.
Thanks,
J
Not sure it can be deciphered without geometrical shape or more info on the unit
Hi! There is conflicting info about this. Probably 5 is correct. Some sources list “2” as weapons and “5” as recon though.
Wow! Incredibly informative and the only quality bit of info I have seen on this! My granddad was 1st marine division, k-company-3rd battallion 7th marines. Does that mean he would have the sign with 333 in the center and his rank number above?
Hi, not so sure about 1st Division UNIS details. I concentrated on the 4th Division so far, marking uniforms & gear was far more common with this division than with any other. There can be differences in the divisions UNIS, the 5th Division for example had 4 digit code, the first number denoting the rank.
Tac mark for the 1st Division was a horizontal diamond: https://m1pencil.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/usmc-tactical-markings/
IIRC the 1st used a three digit code like the 4th.
I have a T handle shovel cover with the 4th marines marking and the numbers read.. 402 on top of the half oval there is a 1 what unit is this? And any clue what the 1 stands for?
Hi,
402 = Weapons Company, 24th Infantry Regiment. The number above the 402 denotes the rank. 1 = Private First Class
Hi I have a pair of winter tanker bib overalls with a number 4 above the half circle and what looks like a 6 below it. In the half circle there is K3. The winter overalls have that “been there” look with alight blood smudge on the knee and light blood spatter on the legs. Any Ideas?
Hi,
I don’t think the winter overalls saw use during WW2 in the PTO. So maybe this is some post WW2 code system? Or not 4th MarDiv at all?
The WW2 Tank Battalion of the 4th Marine Division (4th Tank Battalion) used the 900 series.
My guess would be that your tanker overall was used during the Korean war, IIRC the 4th Tank Battalion saw action there. Maybe the UNIS was
changed / updated then. Sorry that I can’t be of more help
What would the mark be for H company 2bn 23rd Marines
Hi, IIRC the heavy weapons companies (D, H, M) were deleted in 1944. Probably they had the last digit 5 before that
there was a site from jaroslav jochman that had info on unis info plus info on usmc gear an insignia ww2 onward ….. great info allaround…
I have a marked canteen cover. It has a rectangle with 333. Any idea what unit?
Hmm 4th Division would be “K Company”, but rectangle is probably 2nd or 5th Division? https://m1pencil.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/usmc-tactical-markings/
From your experience, does it appear the stencils were sprayed or rolled on the items? Thanks. Great info!
Hi, it appears to be rolled or painted and not sprayed. But often it’s very faded and quite difficult to make out.
I noticed list above does not designate 111 in half circle, even though your jacket back photo has that marking. I have a named poncho with that marking and also a depot marked canteen cover.
I have not been able to find out what “111” exactly stands for but from what info I could gather it is part of Division HQ. Here you can see more pics of the jacket: https://m1pencil.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/p41-utility-jackets-i-4th-marine-division/
So “C” Company 1st Battalion 25th Marines would be ” 514 ” ?
Yes
With a 3 over the half moon for a 1st Sgt ?
This is my understanding yes
So for the purpose of instruction L 3/6 2nd MarDiv could be 634 in a square? And say L 3/5 1st MarDiv could be 534 in a diamond or a solid white diamond with black numerals? Just wondering out loud. Marc
Hi,
Yes, diamond shape, 1st or 3rd Division. Rectangle 2nd or 5th.
As for the numeric code, 4th MarDiv has been deciphered fairly well but unfortunately only little seems to be known about the UNIS of 1st and 2nd MarDiv. Still on the hunt for those 🙂
Here is a bit on the 5th: in case you have not seen it already:
Hello, if 634 is in a half circle then it is 4MarDiv and it is from the 600 series 3rd Battalion 75mm pack howitzer of the 14th Artillery regiment, would this be right. Now if it was in a square using 4MarDiv system could it not also mean Marine infantry company 634 or L company 3rd Battalion 6 Marines? Marc
So I can’t find any info on 1st Mar div UNIS. I know they used a horizontal diamond but I don’t know what the numbers mean. I’m making a 1/6 diorama and one of the jackets has a diamond with 522 in the center. Can you help me out?
I have seen some unit markings with 4 numbers in a row such as example 4111 with just the numbers is this comman
Maybe 5th Division? https://m1pencil.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/5th-marine-division-unis-guide/
Hi, I have some USMC Suspenders marked 321-15. Im assuming that the 321 is for the 4th Mar Div although no semi circle is present. Im wondering what the 15 stands for. I have other equipment marker with similar 2 digit numbers such as 37, 62 etc.
Any help on these 2 Digit numbers would be appreciated
Sorry I have no idea about the 2 digit numbers… 😦
Hi pencil ! i have a question.
i have usmc original half shelter.
UNIS is written 114 in the shape of the 4th Division.
Can you tell me which unit this is?
Oh Sorry my mistake
The UNIS is written ‘113’ in the shape of the 4th Division.
Hi, I think something Division HQ related, but it is a long time since I researched 4th Marine Division UNIS in detail
O.k thank you very much ! Have a nice day !
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UNIS Markings – Geared Up said this on February 26, 2021 at 18:33 |
Hello! I posted here about 10 years ago! I served with an AAV battalion under the 4th marine division since my last post. I have been researching but cannot find any 4th marine division markings for Amphibious battalions. Any clue?
Thanks!
Hi! 10 years, time flies!!! 🙂
No clue about the markings you are looking for but I will do some digging. Maybe I can find something
Thank you so much! I’ve seen one example that had the lvt symbol (same as on the fmf patches) with a line going though it with the numerical rank designator on top but not much else. I believe it’d be the same for all amphibious tractor battalions.
Thanks again!
I do not have any information about the markings you are seeking. Hope you are able to track down what you are seeking. The best to you !
My dad was 302 Regimental Weapons Company for Roi-Namur, Saipan where he was injured and received a PH. He recovered returned to 302 but then transferred to 301 Headquarters & Supply Company for Iwo Jima.