British tank passes French farmer with horses.

Horsepower! Around 600 or so…

A Cromwell IV ‘T187687’ from HQ 22nd Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Division, photographed #OTD 30th July 1944, by Sgt Bert Hardy.

Note out the combined formation badge ‘Stag’ with the Arm of Service ‘50’. #BritishTankMarkings

IWM B8183 #22Armd #7ArmdDivision #SWW

British tank clears obstacles

‘Belvedere’ was clearly a popular subject, as also #OTD 18th July 1944, Sgt Christie took this dynamic shot.

In this image, the contrast is a little clearer and we can make out the lightly marked name. #BritishTankMarkings

IWM B7557 #27Armd #StaffYeo
#SWW #History #Firefly

British tank with infantry and crew

Back with 27th Armd Bde today, this is ‘Belvedere’ a Sherman Vc from B Sqn Staffordshire Yeomanry, taken by Sgt Laing #OTD 18th July 44.

The name is barely visible in this image, but it’s lightly marked on the hull side in 12inch high letters!
#BritishTankMarkings

IWM B7513 #27Armd
#SWW #History

Two British soldiers milk cow by their flail tank.

‘The milk problem is solved’
Sgt Laing photographed the scene with help from the Westminster Dragoons #OTD 11 July 1944

And a lovely turret number on the Sherman flail… #BritishTankMarkings

IWM B 6982 #30Armd #SWW #History #WW2

British tank passing British soldiers in Herouvillette.

Another of Jimmy Mapham’s photos, this time a Cromwell from HQ 11th Armd Division, as indicated by the AoS, white 40 on black, passing through Herouvillette #OTD 14 June 1944.

This tank is often misidentified as 2 Northants Yeo, but the markings indicates otherwise #BritishTankMarkings

IWM B 5557

British tank driving down tree lined lane.

Seems appropriate to show the next one in the series, photographed by Sgt Laing.

A second Sherman Vc, this time the combined 8th Armoured ‘Fox’ formation sign and AoS ‘995’ clearly visible on the rear plate. #BritishTankMarkings #24Lancers #Firefly

IWM B 5417 #8Armd #SWW #History #WW2

British tank with flag over the front hull.

Bombardier Wilson from 5 Royal Horse Artillery, 7th Armoured Division, uses the Cromwell command tank of the regiment’s CO to display his flag he’d carried all through the NWE campaign.

Sgt. Dennis Smith photographed the scene, 9/10 May 1945.

IWM BU 6134 #5RHA #SWW #History #BritishTankMarkings

Cromwell tank crossing bridge

Bridge, Cromwell, and Sgt. Dennis Smith doing it right!

A fantastic photo by Dennis, taken #OTD 4 May 1945, Hamburg.

The rear Cromwell is marked with a White 40 on Black Square, which indicates this is from 7th Armoured Division’s HQ. #BritishTankMarkings

IWM BU 5377 #7Armd #SWW #History #WW2

A Sherman III DD from 7th Queen’s Own Hussars, marked up with the White Horse of 9th Armoured Brigade in the Piazzale Roma, Venice. Soldiers and crowds of civilians.

A Sherman III DD from 7th Queen’s Own Hussars, marked up with the White Horse of 9th Armoured Brigade.

Sgt. Palmer photographed the scene in the Piazzale Roma, Venice #OTD 30 April 1945.

IWM NA 23683 #9Armd #SWW #History #WW2 #9ArmdBde #BritishTankMarkings

British Sherman from 9th Armoured Brigade crossing a river by raft, with pontoon bridge in background being crossed by a CMP truck.

‘A Sherman artillery observation tank drives off a raft
after crossing the River Adige, 29 April 1945.’
Photo by Sgt. Best #OTD

Sometimes a picture will send you down all sorts of rabbit holes.
That little white horse… #9ArmdBde

IWM NA 24711 #SWW #History #WW2 #BritishTankMarkings

British Sherman driving on Rhino ferry with Landing Ship in background

Sherman III ‘VIRGIN’ from the Brigade HQ of 8th Armoured, indicated by the ‘Fox’ formation sign combined with the Arm of Service 993 on Red. The white bar underneath identifies Army troops, as befitting an Independent brigade.

(NARA) #8Armd #SWW #history #WW2 #BritishTankMarkings

Sherman tank markings, including an Arm of Service 51

And another 51 in a different font.

The book on Arm of Service fonts is slowly coming together… #BritishTankMarkings #ScotsGreys #4Armd

British Sherman in Bremen street with smoke rising in the distance.

There’s good coverage of Royal Scots Greys on their advance into Bremen, although some is miscaptioned.
From the same series, Sgt Midgely photographed this Sherman Hybrid, clearly showing the markings the Greys used at this time.
#BritishTankMarkings

IWM BU4302
#4Armd #ScotsGreys #SWW
#History #WW2

Sherman tank supporting British infantry in a Bremen street.

A Sherman II from the Scots Greys, supporting 52nd Lowland Division, advances into Bremen.

Sgt. Midgely photographed the scene #OTD 25th April 1945.

Nice view of the Arm of Service marking, white 51 on red. #BritishTankMarkings

IWM BU 4305
#4Armd #ScotsGreys
#SWW #History #WW2

Self propelled gun on gunnery range with watching officers

Another from Lt. Gen. Holmes’ inspection, #OTD 5th April 1943, this time a M7 Priest from 1st Royal Horse Artillery.

I’m here for the gothic style battery marking. #BritishTankMarkings

IWM E23449, by Sgt Morniment
#1RHA #SWW #History #WW2