A34 Comet & other AFVs

I think that this photograph was taken in Germany after the German Surrender, but if anyone can add any information regarding where and when. The tanks do not seem to have unit numbers but do appear to have 2nd Army formation signs.

 

Two of the tanks have their names visible. They are Charger (T335382) and Constantine (T335055), which may indicate that they belonged to the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment.

 

If this is 3RTR, and I have no reason to believe it is not, then perhaps this might sit better in one of the 3 RTR threads, such as Frank Flattery’s B Squadron 3 RTR. It might then get better exposure for when, where, who etc.

Great pictures BTW.

John

 

The Comets look bloody big in that first photo. I've never thought to compare them to, say, Cromwell, Churchill or Centurion

 

This is the man that the photographs belonged to, Patrick Gready, (1920 - 2004).

 

I am not 100% certain that they are 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, but the Comet Tanks, and the fact that he was known to have been in the Middle East in 1943 would seem to suggest it. I have lots of photographs but very little paperwork.

 

I am not entirely sure what these are but they appear to be turret-less Shermans.

 

Kangaroos ?

 

Very possibly, but I do not know if they were used by the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment.

 

Or ammunition carriers in support of the Comets (I think these were called Porpoises)

 

They're Ram Kangaroos - look at the drivers' and bow gunners' positions.

(Porpoises were a towed, waterproof sledge for ammunition)

 

Any thoughts on this one?

 

Thank you, I was just checking the Tracked Vehicle serial numbers as you posted. Can you please tell me the significance of the number 17, which I believe indicates the unit?

 

I may have got the name wrong but some Shermans and Rams were converted into ammo carriers rather than troop carriers (Kangeroos)

 

I think it's actually a 172. Squint, or look at this portion of the image that I played with (altering contrast and brightness). 172 seems to likely indicate the HQ of an armoured or tank brigade. (Haven't got my books handy, relying on SquireBev's late war charts, but the Matilda indicates an earlier photograph.)

The upper arc of the 2 is fairly clear and the middle curve down is fainter.

 

And a Sherman Crab flail tank on the right.

 

I agree that there is a number two there but could it be a ghost number, an over painted former number that has caught the light?

 

There appear to be two Sherman Crabs.