Arm of Service numbers.

[Tony Wheeler]

Hi Gina,

To address your specific question - the unit sign on your tank represents the January '43 system of vehicle marking. Under this system the serial numbers 50, 51, 52, 53 on a red background indicate Armoured Brigade vehicles. 50 indicates Armd Bde HQ while 51, 52, 53 indicate Armd Regts within the Brigade. These were to be allocated sequentially as Regiments arrived within the Brigade. In other words the unit sign does not identify the Regiment specifically, and Steve Taubert's work can't help you in that respect. It's something you have to research in unit histories etc.

The vehicle marking system was revised in June '44 and a fractionated unit sign was introduced, which identified units specifically. The numerator identified the unit while the denominator identified the type of unit. In the case of Armoured units a green background was used, with the denominator 50 indicating HQ Armd Bde and 52 indicating Armd Regt. In other words, your tank under this system would be marked 13 over 52 on a green background, while 2/4 Armd Regt would be marked 2-4 over 52 on a green background.

Clear as mud!