Tank Nicknames

Peter Clare · 03-03-2008, 12:21 PM

Not really into tanks but thought I'd post this for the 'Tankers' on the forum.

Lone Sentry: WW2 British Nicknames of Tanks (WWII U.S. Intelligence Bulletin, March 1943)

Paul Reed · 03-03-2008, 12:29 PM

Odd - I thought they were 'official' names of the tanks?

Owen · 03-03-2008, 12:31 PM

Well it was from an American source.
WWII Intelligence Bulletin Series, U.S. Military Intelligence Service (Lone Sentry)

Quote:

Printed by the Military Intelligence Service throughout WWII, the Intelligence Bulletin was designed to inform officers and enlisted men of the latest enemy tactics and weapons. For the historian and collector, the bulletins offer a rare view into the Allied knowledge of the Axis forces.

They don't use names just lots of letters and numbers.

Here's a good one, Dos & Don'ts by British Tankmen.
Lone Sentry: Do's and Don'ts for British Armored Units (WWII U.S. Intelligence Bulletin, October 1942)

Paul Reed · 03-03-2008, 12:33 PM

Ok - but surely they called M4s Shermans, too??

kfz · 03-03-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Reed

Ok - but surely they called M4s Shermans, too??

No not official. British name.

Paul Reed · 03-03-2008, 01:05 PM

Well I never. I always thought this was an American 'tag' in the same way that later US Tanks have been named after US Generals; from the Pershing right through to the Abrams. Did they take the idea from us then?

kfz · 03-03-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Reed

Well I never. I always thought this was an American 'tag' in the same way that later US Tanks have been named after US Generals; from the Pershing right through to the Abrams. Did they take the idea from us then?

Pretty much. The funny thing is the whole world calls them Shermans.

It wasnt a new thing really, the yanks like to call all their gear M1, etc, occossianlly putting a date in, or some bizare manufacturers serial number. virtually everything is an M1.

Your into your aircraft arnt you? Mustang, Catalina, Thunderbolt, lightning.... British kit may be rubbish but where good at names. Still see it now, if we have poster from the US he wil lalmost always say P-51, P-38 etc.

Paul Reed · 03-03-2008, 01:37 PM

No, not really into aircraft. Land lubber and PBI inclinations more than those glamorous flyboys.

Thanks for the info.

jacobtowne · 03-03-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

It wasnt a new thing really, the yanks like to call all their gear M1, etc, occossianlly putting a date in, or some bizare manufacturers serial number. virtually everything is an M1.

The 'M' is an ordnance designation, and stands for 'model.' As far as I know, it serves a similar function to the British 'Mk.' for 'Mark,' as in Rifle No. 4 Mk. 1 and Mk. 2, or Pistol, Webley, Marks 1-6.

A modification to a Mark used to be designated by a star, as in Pistol, Revolver, Number 2 Mark 1*. In U.S. practice, nomenclature for such a modification is an 'A', as in U.S. Pistol M1911A1, where 'A' is 'alteration.'

As far dates, I believe that this practice was discontinued before WWII. The Garand rifle adopted in 1936 or so is U.S. Rifle, cal. .30, M1.

JT

03-03-2008, 12:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Peter Clare Legendary Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Neverland Posts: 5,550	Tank Nicknames Not really into tanks but thought I'd post this for the 'Tankers' on the forum. Lone Sentry: WW2 British Nicknames of Tanks (WWII U.S. Intelligence Bulletin, March 1943) __________________ On weald of Kent I watched once more Again I heard that grumbling roar Of fighter planes; yet none were near And all around the sky was clear Borne on the wind a whisper came 'Though men grow old, they stay the same' And then I knew, unseen to eye The ageless Few were sweeping by

03-03-2008, 12:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent/France Posts: 3,503	Odd - I thought they were 'official' names of the tanks? __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

03-03-2008, 12:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent/France Posts: 3,503	Ok - but surely they called M4s Shermans, too?? __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

03-03-2008, 01:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent/France Posts: 3,503	Well I never. I always thought this was an American 'tag' in the same way that later US Tanks have been named after US Generals; from the Pershing right through to the Abrams. Did they take the idea from us then? __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

03-03-2008, 01:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent/France Posts: 3,503	No, not really into aircraft. Land lubber and PBI inclinations more than those glamorous flyboys. Thanks for the info. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

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