Matilda II named CRUCIBLE II

Discussion in 'Vehicle Names and Census Numbers' started by KevinT, Jun 24, 2021.

  1. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    I recently came across the attached, sadly it is not dated but is from North Africa and shows a knocked out Matilda II named CRUCIBLE II. Does anyone know which regiment this would have originally belonged to?
    Current thoughts are 45 or 47 RTR. I know 41 RTR had Matilda's towards the end of 1942 but they were Scorpions. Thanks for any help or suggestions.

    Cheers

    Kevin
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Hi Kevin,.

    Two thoughts: one is that it has Caunter camouflage, however faded. That argues for at least an earlier arrival in theatre.

    Second is the large two digit call sign style. Can you narrow things down according to who used what style of call signs?
     
  3. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    Chris C likes this.
  4. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    Hi Chris,

    I was curious as to whether it is actually a call sign at all. I did wonder whether it is the number of knocked out tanks / vehicles. It seems an odd place to put the call sign to me.

    Cheers

    Kevin
     
  5. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    No problem. Just one of many where the name or number is difficult to confirm.

    Cheers

    Kevin
     
  6. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    Tobruk Matilda markings question
    There you can see the tank burning after being shot
    I have doubts whether the Landser were really in such a hurry to mark the wreckage
     
  7. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    The only question in my mind is the fact that it's 38! It definitely seems to be a two digit callsign where the first digit would be... the squadron? Troop? Not sure which, but that's what it seems to me.

    I'd forgotten about that older thread. I have only just now recently read Warpaint Vol 2 and the section on callsigns.
     
  8. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    I'm pretty certain that is a German marking to track destroyed enemy tanks.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  9. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    Hi Andreas,

    That was my thoughts too.

    Cheers

    Kevin
     
    Andreas likes this.
  10. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Just realized all the other Tobruk large numbers on tanks that I've seen - aside from being single digits - are in white.

    So... a marking to count destroyed tanks seems more likely to me than it did before.
     

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