From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol. 0074 13/05/2001 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: Sherman tanks in Churchill units in NW Europe 2: 30 Armoured Brigade & Cobra King -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: PDI Model Supplies 2: Tankette back issues -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Michael.Grieve@ipaustralia.gov.au Subject: Sherman tanks in Churchill units in NW Europe Hi there Thinkers Does anyone out there know the reason why the 6th Guards TB, 31st TB and the 34th TB (primarily Churchill units) were equipped with a small number of Sherman tanks? According to Peter Brown's excellent "21st Army Group Tanks" listings ( http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/8418/ ), in June 1944 the above units each possessed four Sherman V tanks. In December 1944 the figure changed to five 75mm Shermans for each of the 6th Guards TB and the 34th TB, while in June 1945 the figure was a whopping 15 for the 34th TB. I have also seen a photo of "Ben Macdhui", a Sherman V of the 3rd Bn Scots Guards, 6th Guards TB, which I came across in the IWM photo archive during my visit to the UK last year. This tank belonged to the "officer i/c HQ troop" of Bn HQ, but I'm not sure if this has any relevance to the question. Ian Hanratty and I have been discussing this issue for a little while now, but have been unable to come up with an answer. Your thoughts and speculations would be appreciated Thanks and best regards Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: john rulton [jaydom.rulton@virgin.net] Subject: 30 Armoured Brigade & Cobra King Can anybody explain why 30 Armd Bde (part of 79th Armoured Division '44/45) did not display as far as I'm aware any Bde formation sign on its vehicles, and if there was one what did it look like? Why were some American Army Shermans (Europe '44/45) Called "Cobra Kings"? Thanks in anticipation. John All my books are still in boxes, but my recollection of the rationale for the former is that in most cases (22AB, part of 7AD was an exception), the rule was that vehicles wore the formation sign of the most senior formation to which they belonged. Hence, in the independent armoured brigades (4th, 8th, 33rd etc.), it would be the brigade sign, while for those brigades that were part of an armoured division (Gds AB in Gds AD, for example) the formation sign would be that of the division. This is also why the armoured car regiments, which were attached to each corps (1st, 8th, 30th and the other one (12th?)) carry corps marks, although the latter did swap between corps pretty regularly. Perhaps someone else can dig out the definitive answer - I think Hodges gives it in "British Military Markings". Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: PSmith6328@aol.com Subject: PDI Model Supplies Hi Guys, Just to let you know that I have expanded my range of products now not only do I sell the GREIF range of lenses, accessories and tools but now I stock Cavalier resin zimmerit. Each set costs £10.00 + P&P. Check out my web site for full list. Happy Modelling Phill Smith PDI Model Supplies Milton Keynes England Web site PDI Model Supplies At least that should ease your difficulties in getting hold of Cavalier zimmerit, after the fun you had last year :-)) Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: MAFVAHQ@aol.com Subject: Tankette back issues Unfortunately, due to all the postal cost increases over the years, they have had to go up a little. New prices per back issue: UK & HM Forces £1.25 Europe and Worldwide Surface £1.50 Overseas AIR Worldwide £2.00 Cheers, Gary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Lockie (Think Tank Listmaster) Visit the Miniature AFV Association website at http://homepages.go.com/~mafva/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume