510th Ordnance Company...what is "A.V.P"

[jagjetta]

Greetings,

I have been researching some trench art items that depict an Ordnance Bomb and the hood portion of what looks like an M135 or M211. Painted on above the truck is "510th Ordnance A.V.P."

 

Below the truck is a scroll with "The Home of the Orange Bumpers". In fact, the bumper of the truck is painted orange. Oddly enough, there is a registration number painted on the truck: USA 5110387".

 

I suspect that the item does not date to before 1959 when the company was assigned to the Armed Forces Weapons Project. The 510th was activated in June 1959 at Sandia Base, N.M. as a special weapons and missile general support company. More likely, it dates after August 1962 when the 510th arrived in Germany and was assigned to the 512th U.S. Army Artillery Group. The 512th was an Honest John unit with nuclear strike capabilities.

 

My question is: What does "AVP" stand for in an Ordnance company's designation?

 

Thanks,

John A-G