Is there a website or other reference where one can find out the version of Cromwell tanks (and other UK vehicles for that matter) by checking the T-number?

Found some nice images of Cromwells and other vehicles liberating the city I live in but being more of an aircraft guy I don't know what versions they are or what units they belong to so any help would be much appreciated!

LR

Alright, guess that's not going to work then so I'll post some images instead!
















And a few with somewhat readable numbers:
T187725?

T188230


T188237


Now apart from the T-numbers I can identify very little in the images marking wise. Is there a way to build one of the Cromwells pictured above using the Tamiya 1/35 kit?
By the way, if it wasn't clear from the pics I live in the city of Eindhoven.

LR

You should pick up the Wydawnictwo Militaria ( Tank Power ) # 373 Cromwell book . Its in Polish with English captions on the photos / diagrams and an English summary .It does list the WD numbers but various body styles were in each production run and some of the numbers and captions don't add up .The Tamiya kit is based on a engine test model ( I believe ) so the rear deck hatches are a little diferent size length wise than a production vehicle ( out by 6 inches or so ).I think its an OK kit , I've got three built so far with a close support ( 95 mm howitzer ) to go There is AM rear deck , wheels , larger 15 inch wide track , and various driver hatch types avalible .

Osprey's New Vanguard 104 on the Cromwell has a table on page 17 with WD VRN ranges and Marks that correspond as well manufacturers. There also a number of other usefull tables giving differences between vehicle marks as well.

Hope this useful and you can lay you hands on a copy, still in print I believe, and a good series as well.

Mark

Thanks for the advice gents! I'll have a look at both the books you mentioned.
Do they also give information about the markings in those books? If I'm not mistaken the Cromwells should be part of the Guards Armoured Division of XXX Corps but I'm having trouble finding out which units within it used the Cromwell.

Thanks chaps!

LR

The Tank Power book has 18 color prints , mostly British , some Polish ,Israeli and a captured Cromwell used by the North Koreans in 1950

That would be their Recce unit - 2nd Armd Recce Bn Welsh Guards, AoS 45 on green over blue.
The Divisions main Armoured Regiments had Shermans.

Thanks a lot Ken!

That unit did come up with a number of images of Cromwells in the Netherlands and I see the Tamiya kit even has decals for them.

Cheers,

LR

In the meantime I found this list as well: http://en.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/t/69378

Making T188230 and T188237 I linked to above Cromwell IVF's.

The Cromwell was used by the Recce Regiment of GAD (Welsh Gds)and 11 AD (2nd Northampontshire Yeomanry but replaced by 15/19 th Kings Hussars in Mid Aug 44). It also equipped the Recce Regt of the Polish 1 AD in NWE

In addition it was used as the Principal Tank of the 7 Armoured Division from 44 until wars end.
The 7AD had the following regiments equipped with Cromwells:

22 AB June 44 - Jul 44
1 RTR
5 RTR
4 County of London Yeomanry (combined with 3 CLY in Mid July 44 in 4 AB)

Jul 44 -May 45
5 Inniskilling Dragoon Gds
1 RTR
5 RTR

Their Div Recce regiment was the 8 Kings Royal Irish Hussars from Jun 44 - May 45

Additionally thre Czech 5 Independant Armoured Brigade was equipped with the Cromwell from Aug 44 to May 45

The Cromwells were only used in North West Europe but were trialled in the Desert.

Cheers
Al

Thanks for the additional info Al. The Cromwells in the images I posted earlier on should have been Welsh Guards ones.

Man, those Cromwell pictures are nice. Makes me want to build mine right now.










~ Jeff