Operation Infatuate II: Sherman tanks at Westkapelle

[MicS]

Back to the Memorial tank T148656, I am wondering about a marking which appears to be on the transmission housing.

It clearly includes a 5 and a 6:
No.M Crab T148656 '6 CHERRY' - Marcel van Hoepen - 3 - Notes.jpg

and might have more numbers or letter to the left of '56':
No.M Crab T148656 '6 CHERRY' - 509 NFR - Notes.jpg

I guess it could be its Reg No T148656 or just 148656, because the next sign left of '56' looks like it could be a 6 (next photo), the presence of a 8 before it being possibly the reason for what we see on the first photo above just left of the pairs of chains left of the 56:
No.M Crab T148656 '6 CHERRY' - 522 NFR - Notes.jpg

In summary:
No.M front marking.jpg

I think I have seen examples of the Reg No being painted in large numbers in this location, but naturally I can't find them right now...

Other photos of the front of the tank do not seem to show this marking, that is, on photos where the transmission housing is not obscured by the rounded guard plate between the flail jibs.

Any ideas?

Michel