Intriguing vehicle names

Discussion in 'Vehicle Names and Census Numbers' started by 8RB, Oct 10, 2019.

  1. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    I assume the full name of this 23H Sherman (in front of Antwerp Opera House, 4 September 1944) was "CHAMBER OF HORROR". I have always found this quite intriguing. On the one hand I imagine it reflected the feelings of its crew. On the other hand I am a bit surprised that it was allowed. Any other photos of intriguing vehicle names? The photo is an original from my collection.

    23H - Antwerp - 4 Sept 44 - Chamber of Horror.jpg
     
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  2. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    My understanding is that, while the name is clearly not an 'official' one, such informal ones were tolerated. Most names were 'girlfriends' - dad apparently had Muriel (my mums Christian name) chalked onto his Sherman (drivers) hatch - or, like this one, indicating Army 'humour'. I think the most famous example is Therese(?) chalked onto the 3RTR tank with real name Cobra.
     
  3. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  4. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

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  5. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    American nose art had a lot of great names too, as I'm sure you know.
     
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  6. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    Common practice apparently, to use sinister names, in some part (all of C Sqn., or just one troop?!) of 23H. Some more darkish 23H Sherman names found in this great resource (thanks!):
    CALAMITY
    CATASTROPHE
    CHAOS

    Most of them a little less dark: BLANCO, BLOSSOM, BOMBARDIER, BRIGADIER, BUCCANEER, BUCKET, CITY OF LIVERPOOL, HUSSAR, POPEYE

    Would be nice to add some more photos here!
     
  7. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    [​IMG]

    I'm not sure if people see this as a "Romeo" with a question mark? It caught my eye at first because for a second I had thought that it said "Ronson?"

    I guess that they might have been "Shakespeare" themed. Though I wondered why the "?"

    Comes from: Feast for 8th AB vehicle spotters.
     
  8. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Re.

    Interesting to see the names of the Polish "24th Lancers" tanks in there too. i..e "KASIA - 24th Lancers Regiment, 1st Polish Armoured Division" - perhaps largely 'girlfriends' / spouses too perhaps e.g.

    Kasia.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

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  9. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    This probably stems from British WW1 Tank Corps naming conventions when names reflected the battalion letter so that all B battalion's tanks had names beginning with a B etc. The actual name was left to the tank commander and often reflected his personal sense of humour - hence Frae Bentos of F Battalion a Mk IV tank that fought a famous action in 1917
     
  10. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I seem to recall that some tanks had names starting with A, B, or C depending on which squadron they were in.
     
  11. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    And when the original squadrons expanded into battalions in 1917 so did the naming convention see my previous post.
     
  12. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    ...and similarly:
    A = 1st Royal Tank Regiment
    B = 2nd Royal Tank Regiment
    C = 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, with examples being Calais, Corinth, Crusader, Celerity, Cobra, Champion.....
     
  13. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

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