Tanks in the Battle of Germany 1945: Western Front by Steven J. Zaloga & Felipe Rodríguez

Author:Steven J. Zaloga & Felipe Rodríguez
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Published: 2021-08-20T00:00:00+00:00

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1.VALENTINE 17PDR, 102ND ANTI-TANK REGIMENT, 15TH SCOTTISH DIVISION, GERMANY, APRIL 1945

The 102nd Anti-Tank Regiment served with the 15th Scottish Division in 1945. In early March 1945, A Battery’s two-towed 6pdr troops were converted to Valentine 17pdrs, making it totally self-propelled. The B, C, and D Batteries traded their 6pdrs for towed 17pdrs, so each of these batteries had one troop of Valentine 17pdrs and two towed troops. The Valentine 17pdrs carried the usual unit markings on the hull front and rear, the “46” on a Royal Artillery red/blue square identifying the regiment, and the 15th Division insignia opposite. The tactical sign in the center would normally have been a blue square with a smaller red square, with the location of the smaller square indicating the battery. However, this unit painted the marking in Yeomanry colors of light and dark blue instead of the usual Royal Artillery blue/red. The “LI” indicated the troop/gun number. A small Allied star was painted on the superstructure side. The vehicle census number (eg. S279543) was carried on the corner superstructure panels towards the front of the vehicle, not evident in this view. The vehicle was finished in overall SCC 15 olive drab.

2. COMET, 3 RTR, 29TH ARMOURED BRIGADE, 11TH ARMOURED DIVISION, GERMANY APRIL 1945

In April 1944, the British Army released ACI 533/44 which adopted SCC 15 (Standard Camouflage Colour 15) olive drab as the standard color for army equipment. The aim was to avoid the need to repaint Lend–Lease American equipment such as tanks. As a result, the Comet shown here was finished in SCC 15. The markings are in the usual fashion with the 52 on a red square identifying the regiment with the divisional insignia, the Black Bull on the opposite side. The vehicle name, CRUSADER, is in the center. The tactical insignia would be repeated on the rear of the tank as well.

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