Triangle Tattoo

[Herman]

Greeting chaps,what is the triangle tattoo seen on some paras forearms,are they done with indian ink and what do they symbolize?
Cheers.

[Ploggers]

It's a pegasus. A flying horse. Work it out

[Herman]

No,its too small to be a pegasus,from memory,its only about a inch wide with what looks like a dot in the middle with a word written on each outer edge of the triangle,the ones I saw were on toms in the earley 90's so maybe it was something from the 80's? they looked like home made indian ink jobs.

[ED]

It's a blood group tatoo and it states the soldier's blood group. Handy for medics to know if killed in combat.
ED.

[mercury]

Dont suppose it says "DZ" does it ?

[Herman]

No,I dont think so,dont think its bloodgroup either strange place to put your bloodgroup on your forearm,armpit would be better!I know ive got a picture of a bloke with one somewhere,I'll try and dig it out,thanks for the suggestions,keep em comming!

[GARRYOWEN]

Blood group has to be written not a sign.

[surfa35uk]

HI guys, ref the tattoo, Its a blood group/coy/batt, its based on the waffen ss tattoo that they had on their arms. Not that many toms have it on nowadays.

[Herman]

Cheers for that mate.

[judy29]

if its a green dot with a green dot in the middle then its a special OP badge. 4/73 bty in the RA wear it ..

[Dave.Mil]

What if your arm gets blown off?
or you change Coy's?
Bloody silly idea.

[Guest]

Handy for medics to know if killed in combat.
ED.

Not really mate. If they are dead, they don't need any blood!

[Dave.Mil]

Sticky

If you get small arms issued will you be able to reach the risers?

[Guest]

The triangle tattoo was a post NAAFI drunk trick.

Anyone who thinks a competent medic is going to perform a transfusion based on the info tatooed on a soldier's arm is deluding themselves.

Half the army is ratted when entering a parlour and can't even spell their girlfriend's name let alone reliably remember their blood group. Nobody gets anything other than saline until cross matched.