[ Please can anyone give me some info on this tank. It is labelled Tobruk on the back, and he was there from April - August 1941. He was in 3rd King's Own Hussars, but at that time they were operating with 1 RTR, Does the flag mean anything? Thanks.
This Website is quite interesting and it may be that the photograph was taken before being re-equipped with new heavier tanks. The tank shown is more than likely a Vickers Mk VI Light tank. I cannot make out the banner being flown. Hopefully you will receive more responsed from those more expert than me. Regards Tom
Maisie This is a bit odd inasmuch as they are wearing khaki ( April- August ? ) w/op - Commander - ? wearing service cap and NOT black beret- flag a bit too big for normal pennant - MIGHT be Crusader… Cheers
This is clearly a Vickers Light Tank Mk VIb. It appears to me to be flying two pennants at half height. which will be some sort of recognition signal. Can't see any signs or cap badges to identify the unit, but probably not RTR who had black berets long before the war. Chris
The 3rd Hussars and 5th RTR formed a combined regiment within Tobruk on or about the 10th April 1941 and began taking over the handful of tanks already in Tobruk waiting to be issued. The 1st RTR and a troop from 4th RTR arrived by sea on the 9th April to reinforce Tobruk and eventually the Royal Armoured Corps crews within the perimeter included a mix of men originally with 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th RTRs as well as the 3rd Hussars and the King's Dragoon Guards. When the Regimental HQs of units left by sea to reform in Egypt, some of their men remained with 3rd Armoured Brigade based upon their knowledge and training rather than their unit and they would have been sorted out later or simply accepted into the regiment they were now amongst. This was easier for the various RTR men than it would have been for the 3rd Husars and the KDG. I believe that the 3rd Hussars being a Cavalry regiment absorbed into the Royal Armoured Corps in 1939 had not yet adopted the Black Beret of the RTR - hence the Forage cap. The tank does look to be a Vickers Light Tank Mk. VI B armed with the .5 and the .303 Vickers Machine Guns.
VIA had two cooling louvres over the radiator cover plates above the engine; VIB only had one, with an angled corner as seen in this pic. Not a VIC either since one can see the conical flash hider of the Vickers 0.5 inch MG, rather than the equivalent Besa. Chris
