TANK GUNNERY PATCHES IN KOREA

U.S. Army units in Korea were somewhat slow to adopt tank gunnery patches. It appears that the first such patches were worn by the 7^th Infantry Division in 1969. This color patch consists of a yellow Armor Branch insignia superimposed on a 7^th Infantry Division patch, with an attached black tab on top with "Expert Tank Crew" in yellow, and an attached black tab on the bottom with "TCQC 1969" in yellow. The entire patch has a yellow border and is embroidered on twill. It is Korean made. I do not know if this patch was issued in other versions, such as "Qualified."

There are two other Korean–made TCQC patches dated 1969 that were reportedly issued by the 7^th Infantry Division, but that identification is far from solid. See Figures 1 & 2.

Figure 1

1969 TCQC patch reportedly issued by the 7^th Infantry Division. Korean made, embroidered on twill with a standard edge. Not in ASMIC catalog. This patch is unusual in that the yellow scroll on the patch is twill cloth that was sewn onto the patch.

Figure 2

1969 Sharpshooter TCQC patch reportedly issued by the 7^th Infantry Division. Korean made, embroidered on twill with a standard edge. Not in ASMIC catalog. Unlike the patch shown in Figure 1, this patch's scroll is embroidered. The words on the scroll are: "Tank Patch [Illegible] Crew." The illegible word looks like "Ciatun"

The 7^th Infantry Division was inactivated in 1971, leaving the 2^nd Infantry Division as the only U.S. Army maneuver unit in South Korea.

In the early 1970s the 2^nd Infantry Division had three Armor branch units: (1) 4^th Sqdn, 7^th Cavalry; (2) 1^st Bn, 72^nd Armor; and (3) 1^st Bn, 73^rd Armor (re–assigned from the 7^th Infantry Division in March 1971). The 2^nd Infantry Division's Armor Branch units wore qualification patches for all or much of the next decade until the Army cracked down on TCQC patches in the early/mid–1980s.

The 4^th Squadron, 7^th Cavalry issued qualification patches to its M551 Sheridan crews in at least 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1977. See, e.g., Figures 3 & 4.

Figure 3

4^th Sqdn, 7^th Cavalry 1973 Distinguished/"Top Gun" M551 TCQC patch (2^nd Inf Div). Korean made, embroidered on twill with a standard edge. Not in ASMIC catalog. This patch was presumably issued to the best crew in the Squadron. This patch was also issued as a straight "Distinguished" patch without the "Top Gun" tab (not in ASMIC catalog) and a "Qualified" patch (not in ASMIC catalog).

Figure 4

4^th Sqdn, 7^th Cavalry 1975 Distinguished M551 TCQC patch (2^nd Inf Div). Korean made, embroidered on twill with a standard edge. Not in ASMIC catalog. I do not know if there were other versions of this patch, e.g., "Qualified" or "Support."

There is also an undated "Maintenance" patch similar to the patch shown in Figure 3. No other gunnery patches (e.g., scouts, mortars, support) have surfaced from the 4–7 Cavalry.

The 1^st Bn, 72^nd Armor began wearing TCQC patches in 1973 and issued them every year through 1982. See, e.g., Figures 5–8.

Figure 5

1^st Bn, 72^nd Armor 1973 Qualified TCQC patch (2^nd Inf Div). Korean made, all embroidered with a standard edge. This patch is a variation of ASMIC #72B. I do not know if there were other versions of this patch, e.g., "Distinguished" or "Support."

Figure 6

1^st Bn, 72^nd Armor 1975 TCQC patch (2^nd Inf Div). Korean made, embroidered on twill. A beautiful design that incorporates the Chinese Dragon from the 72^nd Armor's distinctive insignia. Unfortunately, the twill background of the patch is very dark green, which makes it difficult to read the patch's black letters. ASMIC #72C4. There was also a "Distinguished" tab that was worn with this patch. ASMIC #72C5. I do not know if there was a "Support" version of this patch, or a "Support" tab. This patch was also issued in a semi-subdued version in which the patch is olive drab and black, but the Armor Branch insignia is brown, outlined and detailed in black (not in ASMIC catalog).

Figure 7

1^st Bn, 72^nd Armor 1980 Superior TCQC patch (2^nd Inf Div). Korean made, embroidered on twill with a standard edge. ASMIC #72C20. This patch was also issued in "Qualified" and "Distinguished" versions (ASMIC #72C19 & #72C18). I do not know if there was a "Support" version of this patch. This patch notes that the unit was then equipped with M48A5 Main Battle Tanks. The Army's tank units in Korea traded their M60A1 MBTs for M48A5s, apparently in 1979, in order to promote logistical compatibility with the South Korean Army, which was using M48A5s.

Figure 8

1^st Bn, 72^nd Armor 1982 TCQC patch (ASMIC #72C25) with "Qualified Crew" (ASMIC #72C26) and "Support" (not in ASMIC catalog) tabs (2^nd Inf Div). There is also a "Distinguished Crew" tab (ASMIC #72C26). Korean made, embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge. This was apparently the last year the 1–72 Armor issued its own qualification patches.

The 1^st Bn, 73^rd Armor wore TCQC patches in at least 1972, 1974, and 1975. See, e.g., Figures 9–10. This unit was subsequently inactivated.

Figure 9

1^st Bn, 73^rd Armor 1972 Distinguished TCQC patch (2^nd Inf Div). Korean made, all embroidered with a standard edge. This patch was removed from a soldier's uniform and appears to be very faded. This patch is a variation of ASMIC #73A1. It was also issued in a "Qualified" version (ASMIC #73A2). I do not know if there was a "Support" version of this patch.

Figure 10

1^st Bn, 73^rd Armor 1975 "Combat Ready" (i.e., qualified) TCPC patch (2^nd Inf Div). ("TCPC" stands for "Tank Crew Proficiency Course," another name for TCQC.) Korean made, all embroidered with a standard edge. This patch is a variation of ASMIC #73C1. It was also issued in a "Distinguished" version (ASMIC #73C2). I do not know if there was a "Support" version of this patch.

There is an additional qualification patch that may have been worn in the 2^nd Infantry Division in 1972. This patch is clearly Korean made but does not identify the unit. See Figure 11.

Figure 11

1972 Distinguished TCQC patch possibly worn by 1^st Bn, 72^nd Armor (2^nd Inf Div). Korean made, embroidered on twill with a standard edge. Not in ASMIC catalog. I do not know if there were other versions of this patch, e.g., "Qualified" or "Support."

This patch may have been worn by the 1^st Bn, 72^nd Armor inasmuch as no 1972 gunnery patch has been identified for that unit, whereas there is a 1972 TCQC patch that was issued by the 1^st Bn, 73^rd Armor.

The Army re–thought its decision to reduce the 2^nd Infantry Division to one tank battalion a few years later. It activated the 2^nd Bn, 72^nd Armor in October 1978 and assigned it to the 2^nd Infantry Division. This unit issued qualification patches in at least 1978, 1979, 1981, and 1982. See, e.g., Figures 12–13.

Figure 12

2^nd Bn, 72^nd Armor 1978 Qualified TCQC patch (2^nd Inf Div). Korean made, embroidered on twill with a standard edge. Not in ASMIC catalog. I do not know if there were other versions of this patch, e.g., "Distinguished" or "Support."

Figure 13

2^nd Bn, 72^nd Armor TCQC patch with a "Qualified 1982" tab (2^nd Inf Div). Korean made, embroidered on twill with a standard edge. ASMIC #72D1 & #72D2. This patch is unusually small, measuring only 3 3/4" wide. There was also a "Support 1982" tab that was worn with this patch (not in ASMIC catalog). I do not know if there was a "Distinguished 1982" tab. This was apparently the last year 2-72 Armor issued its own qualification patches.

The 1978 patches are a bit of a mystery, in light of the fact that the 2–72 Armor was not activated until October of that year.

The 2^nd Infantry Division adopted a different approach in 1983. At that time both tank battalions were serving under the 1^st Brigade, and brigade–level qualification patches replaced the patches issued by each battalion. See, e.g., Figure 14.

Figure 14

1^st Bde, 2^nd Infantry Division 1983 TCQC Support patch. Korean made, embroidered on twill with a standard edge. ASMIC #2N.

It appears that the 2^nd Infantry Division stopped wearing qualification patches after 1983, even though 1984 qualification patches exist.

However, the 2^nd Infantry Division subsequently adopted pocket hanger TCQC patches in "Qualified," "Superior," and "Distinguished" versions. See, e.g., Figure 15.

Figure 15

Qualified TCQC pocket hanger patch issued by the 2^nd Infantry Division. U.S. made, embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge. Not in ASMIC catalog. This patch was also issued in "Superior" and "Distinguished" versions. I do not know if there was a "Support" version of this pocket hanger patch.

I do not know when these pocket hanger patches were worn, however I obtained my copies in 1991 so they were in use by then. At some point the 1st Bn, 72nd Armor issued a similar pocket hanger patch with "Superior" and "1/72 Crew." I do not know if they also issued "Qualified" and "Distinguished" patches.

It does not appear that the 2^nd Infantry Division's tank battalions issued qualification patches to their scouts or mortars.

The 2^nd Infantry Division also issued a patch to tank crews that achieved a perfect score on Table VIII, the for–record gunnery exercise. See Figure 16.

Figure 16

2^nd Infantry Division TCQC award. This patch was reportedly issued to tank crews that achieved a perfect score (2250 points) on Tank Table VIII, the for-record tank gunnery exercise. Korean made, all embroidered with a standard edge. Not in ASMIC catalog.

This patch was apparently issued during the 1960s and 1970s. It was also issued as a metal–and–enamel badge. See Tom Ayers, "Tank Table VIII Qualification Badge," THE TRADING POST, page 14 (Jul–Sep 2017).

The only other qualification patches known to have been worn in the 2^nd ID were issued to gunners on the M47 "Dragon" medium anti–tank missile and the TOW heavy anti–tank missile systems. See Figures 17 & 18.

Figure 17

2^nd Infantry Division qualified Dragon anti-tank missile gunner patch. Korean-made, embroidered on twill. ASMIC #2L1.

Figure 18

2^nd Infantry Division qualified TOW anti-tank missile gunner patch. Korean-made, embroidered on twill. ASMIC #2M.

Even though these patches say "Expert," I understand that they were issued to gunners who qualified on their weapon system, and no other levels of patches (e.g., "Qualified" or "Distinguished") were issued. These patches were in use as of 1978.

Finally, the 3^rd Sqdn, 6^th Cavalry, an attack helicopter battalion equipped with the AH–64 "Apache" Attack Helicopter, wore "Distinguished Crew" patches. See Figure 19.

Figure 19

3rd Sqdn, 6^th Cavalry "Distinguished Crew" patch. Embroidered on twill. This patch appears to be U.S.-made. Not in ASMIC catalog.

This unit was assigned to the 6^th Cavalry Brigade(Air Combat) and was stationed in South Korea from 1996 to 2005. I do not know if they wore other versions of this patch, e.g., "Qualified Crew."