I just posted a review of Archer Transfers outstanding set of 6th Armored Division markings. The particular set deals with Baker Company 68th Armored Battalion. There are two large side number "55" in the set. I cannot figure out their meaning. Can someone tell me what they signify?
thanks
DJ

DJ,

6th Armored is pretty well-known for the big high speed numbers on the sides of the hulls of their Shermans. I think they just numbered the vehicles consecutively in the battalions. So it's not like a German system where the first 5 is platoon and the second the vehicle number. I think they just numbered them from 10 to whatever (I've never seen a single digit number in 6th Armored).

I may be wrong though.

Rob

Rob-- thanks. Really weird numbering system. I thought it might be the 5th company, but that's obviously wrong. I even trired their association website to get a response. Still waiting on that one.
Let you know what I find out.
DJ

Been wondering the same thing myself. I have the Archer 34 Army Mule transfers applied to my Dragon E8.

The buzz number matches the one on the bumper code - is it something like a company commander or XO's tank? I have a vague memory of a comment on the markings in one of the old Tanks Illustrated books by A & AP.

EDIT: noticed on the 6th AD website that AFV News published and article on their markings. George Bradford is a regular poster on Track 48s forum, perhaps if I posted a question there he might respond.

David

Some answers here, Scott Smith is the author of the AFV News article

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/thread/994889490/

David

David-- once again, you come to our rescue. The "55" comes from the continual series of numbers used within the 68th Tank Battalion. The 17 tanks of Baker Company 68th Tank Battalion were numbered 41 thru 58. So, the Archer tranfer represents a tank belongng to the third platoon of Baker Company.
Solved that puzzle.
thanks again
DJ

I'll have to find my copy of Patton's tanks over Christmas to see what it was that I was thinking of in my first post

David