Sherman question

There are bumper codes that designate the tank's unit. e.g.: 1^ 13^    B12  (^= the triangle) means 1st armored division, 13th armored regiment, B company, 1 st platoon, 2nd tank.

On the sides are the vehicle serial numbers. On a M4 it will start with a W30.

National marking stars will vary depending on unit and time in combat. Names for tanks often started with the company letter; e.g. A company, "Al Capone". 

stick man wrote:

What do all the marking on Shermans mean? I'm looking for the markings of any unit that fought in the winter of 1944 or 1945 thanks!!!

 http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/ssp/ssp2016.htm

Order a copy and take your pick of markings.

stikpusher wrote:

There are bumper codes that designate the tank's unit. e.g.: 1^ 13^    B12  (^= the triangle) means 1st armored division, 13th armored regiment, B company, 1 st platoon, 2nd tank. On the sides are the vehicle serial numbers. On a M4 it will start with a W30. National marking stars will vary depending on unit and time in combat. Names for tanks often started with the company letter; e.g. A company, "Al Capone".

the kit comes with decals for a couple of tanks I going to use the ones for the 69 tank bttn 6th armoued div january '45 Ardenne

the bumper codes are         

on the right side  6^-69^  and on the left side C-50 would that mean C company 5th platoon zero tank????

is that a famous tank or a unknown because I wont a not known so I don't make a strang copy if you know what I mean. 

how meny tanks where in a platoon? do you know?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!

-50 is sometimes used as the XO (Executive Officer's) tank. -60 is sometimes used to designate the Commander's tank. -5 and -6 usually designated their Jeeps.

Your designation for the right side is backwards. What you have is the 6th Armor Division, 69th Armor Regiment (US Armor Divisions did not go to 69). Battalions in the regiment were:

A, B and C Companies= 1st Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment
D, E and F Companies= 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment
G, H and I Companies= 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment

So the big 50 on the side means it's the XO's tank so if I changed the number to say 54 would that be just a normal tank?. If the US armored Div's did'nt go to 69 what would the 6^-69^ mean?

I realy apreciat the help!.

 if it changes eny thing the tank is an M4A3.

stick man wrote:

So the big 50 on the side means it's the XO's tank so if I changed the number to say 54 would that be just a normal tank?. If the US armored Div's did'nt go to 69 what would the 6^-69^ mean? I realy apreciat the help!.  if it changes eny thing the tank is an M4A3.

Like I said, that reads 6th Armor Division, 69th Armor Regiment. Armor Regiments within Armor Divisions had a standard 9 line company formation (A thru I), with HQ Company, Recon Company, Service Company, Maintence Company and Assault Gun Company.

During WW2 our highest numbered tank division was the 20th Armor Division (but we didn't have 20 Armor Divisions; 1-14, 16 & 20). In modern times, the National Guard had the 49th (Texas) and 50th (New Jersey) Armor Divisions; both have since been deactivated.

Armor Regiment numbers were normally under 100 (normally). There were also Separate Armor Battalions, their numerical designations go into the hundreds.

Just a couple more questons.

you said tank platoons would be 11 thru 15, 21 thru 25, 31 thru 35 so would that be the tank nubers? if so could I make my tank be 6th armor div, 2end armoued regiment (if that was real), B comany 14th tank? would that work? if so would I put a big 14 on the side of the tank where the 50 was or should be if it was an oficers tank?

Thanks a milliond your a great help!

A standard line company was 17 tanks. There were three platoons of 5 tanks each and 2 Company HQs tanks (commander and XO). Numbering should be:

A-11, A-12, A-13, A-14, A-15, A-21, A-22, A-23, A-24, A-25...A-34, A-35, A-50, A-60
The "1" tanks (11, 21, 31) would be the platoon leaders (Lieutenants), the "4" tanks would be platoon sergeants (14, 24, 34).