Military Forces Abroad

Pictures are to scale: 1 cm is approximately 10 pixels.
If you have any corrections, additions or remarks to any of the plates or their descriptions, please e-mail me.

Because it is not always clear whether plates for military forces stationed abroad are technically issued by the home country or the host country, I decided to put those plates into a special category aside from the countries. Please note that all United Nations plates are shown in the United Nations country section.

	Allied Forces in Central Europe Personnel attached to AFCENT in the Netherlands. Pre-1992 series.
	Allied Forces in Northern Europe Personnel attached to AFNORTH in the Netherlands. 1992-1999 series.
	NATO Région Centrale Headquarters in the Netherlands. Until 1998, plates were white on very dark blue (rather black to me). From 1998, plates have been black on yellow, making them look more similar to normal Netherlands plates.
	SHAPE Fontainbleau SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters of Allied Powers in Europe) personnel plate. Series up to 1968. In that year France left NATO and SHAPE was moved to Brussels.
	SHAPE Brussels SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters of Allied Powers in Europe) personnel plates. The first one is of the annual SB variety used from 1968 to 1991. From 1992 to 1994 permanent plates with the letter M were used. From 1995, SHAPE personnel received normal Belgian temporary plates.
	Belgian forces in Germany 1958 onward series.
	British forces in Germany 1982-1988 series. These plates were usually made in German style, but white on black. The second plate is a much rarer variety in British style. Since 1988, British forces have used normal British civilian plates.
	Canadian forces in Europe 1963-1969 series for Canadian Air Force personnel. AF3 = 3 Wing stationed in Zweibrücken, Germany.
	Canadian forces in Europe 1970-1985 series. Early numeric-only plate. The expiration sticker is for 1974.
	Canadian forces in Europe 1985 onwards series. The expiration sticker is for 1989.
	French forces in Germany Current series. Second digit 3 = Lindau.
	German forces in France Current series.
	German forces in the Netherlands Current series.
	Netherlands forces in Germany Pre-1975 series.

	United States forces in Austria US forces were stationed in Austria until 1955. Plates were issued annually in varying colors. This plate is from 1954.
	United States forces on the Azores Current series.
	United States forces in Cuba United States Personnel in the U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay receive these plates for use within the base.
	United States forces in France 1954-1958 series.
	United States forces in France 1961-1968 series. This is the last series, since U.S. Forces left France in 1968.
	United States forces in Germany 1948-1949 issue.
	United States forces in Germany 1952 plate.
	United States forces in Germany 1959 plate. This was the last large size plate. This is interesting, because in the United States proper, all states had to switch to 12" plates by 1956.
	United States forces in Germany 1960 plate. Actually, the background color is brown, but my camera insisted on making it black.
	United States forces in Germany 1962-1966 series. The year sticker was on the windshiled during this period.
	United States forces in Germany 1966-1973 series. The year sticker was on the windshiled during this period.
	United States forces in Germany 1973-1982 plate. In this series, the expiration sticker moved back to the plate.
	United States forces in Germany 1982-1990 series. To make U.S. Forces cars stick less out in traffic, the color was changed to black on white as on German plates, and the letters USA were reduced in size. The expiration sticker was moved back to the windshield.
	United States forces in Germany 1990-2000 series. In an effort to make the plates look even more European, black stripes were added on top and bottom. Earlier plates had an additional thin black line mimicking a painted raised border. This was discontinued on later plates.
	United States forces in Germany 2000-2005 final series. One line plates had the letters AD. Two line plates initially had the letters AF, but changed to HK shortly after their introduction. Motorcycles received two line plates, with the letter M as first character on the second line. Because of fear of attacks on American personnel in Germany, US forces plates were completely redesigned from the previous American style. They used German plate sizes and dies. However, the blue band at the left showed the NATO symbol and the letters USA, and a special authority sticker resembling those on German plates was designed. The previously rectangular validation sticker resembled the German inspection sticker and was moved from the windshield to the plate. The plates had code letters not used in the German system to avoid confusion. There were two styles: If possible long one line plates were issued. American specifications cars received two line tractor size plates, which are slightly smaller than standard American plates. In December 2005, is was decided that these plates were still not inconspicious enough. At that time an agreement was reached with the German government that US forces vehicles receive normal German civilian plates, while still paying no German taxes.
	United States forces in Germany Official vehicle of the U.S. Forces. BC = Berlin Command, used until around 1990.
	United States forces in Greece 1979 onwards series plate. AFG = Allied Forces in Greece, I = Iraklion.
	United States forces in Italy Series used until 1969. This plate was used on a vehicle based in Livorno.
	United States forces in Italy Current series from 1968. AFI = Allied Forces in Italy, U = Udine, H = Cagliari, N = Napoli. The first vehicle of a force member is tax free and has white plates. Additional vehicles are subject to Italian taxes and receive black plates with the number 2 before the base code letter. Motorcycle plates are smaller and have an M suffix.
	United States forces in Japan 1951 plate. Until 1952, US personnel in Japan were issued annual American style plates.
	United States forces in Japan 1953-1955 series. 埼 = Saitama prefecture. These plates looked like normal Japanese plates, but the serial letter after the first numeral was western, not Japanese.
	United States forces in Japan 1955-1962 series. The absence of the Kanji letters means that the plate is from Tokyo.
	United States forces in Japan Current Series from 1971. 横浜 = Yokohama, 55 = car 551-2000cc. These plates look like normal Japanese plates, but the serial letter at the start of the second line is western, not Japanese. Note the seal covering the left bolt hole. This is to prevent the plate from being moved to another car, because it has to be destroyed in order to reach the bolt. In this case, however, additional holes were drilled into the plate so that it could be mounted onto an American car. That way the seal remained intact.
	United States forces in Japan (Okinawa) Okinawa was administered by the United States until 1972, and then returned back to Japanese control. The United States issued distinctive plates for their personnel. This one is from 1960. E = enlisted man (there was also O for officers and C for civilian employees).
	United States forces in Korea Late 1970s plate. 전북 = Cholla Bukdo province. These plates look similar to normal Korean plates, but the Korean serial letters at the start of the second line are replaced with a numeral.
	United States forces in Korea Temporary exit plate issued by the United States to US forces vehicles leaving Korea. The normal Korean issued US forces plates have to be surrendered before the vehicle leaves the country. These US issued plates enable the vehicle to be used until new plates are issued in the country of destination.
	United States forces in the Pilippines These plates are from the Philippines non-diplomatic personnel series. US forces used such plates from the mid-1980s until 1992, when all US forces left the Philippines. Reportedly, this block was in use on trailers.
	United States forces in Spain This is an older Madrid plate. It is believed, but not confirmed, that the numbers with zero at the 1000 place were issued to members of the US forces.
	United States forces in Turkey I am not sure about the date of this plate, and would appreciate any information.