Not really into tanks but thought I'd post this for the 'Tankers' on the forum. Lone Sentry: WW2 British Nicknames of Tanks (WWII U.S. Intelligence Bulletin, March 1943)
Well it was from an American source. WWII Intelligence Bulletin Series, U.S. Military Intelligence Service (Lone Sentry) Printed by the Military Intelligence Service throughout WWII, the Intelligence Bulletin was designed to inform officers and enlisted men of the latest enemy tactics and weapons. For the historian and collector, the bulletins offer a rare view into the Allied knowledge of the Axis forces. They don't use names just lots of letters and numbers. Here's a good one, Dos & Don'ts by British Tankmen. Lone Sentry: Do's and Don'ts for British Armored Units (WWII U.S. Intelligence Bulletin, October 1942)
Well I never. I always thought this was an American 'tag' in the same way that later US Tanks have been named after US Generals; from the Pershing right through to the Abrams. Did they take the idea from us then?
Well I never. I always thought this was an American 'tag' in the same way that later US Tanks have been named after US Generals; from the Pershing right through to the Abrams. Did they take the idea from us then? Pretty much. The funny thing is the whole world calls them Shermans. It wasnt a new thing really, the yanks like to call all their gear M1, etc, occossianlly putting a date in, or some bizare manufacturers serial number. virtually everything is an M1. Your into your aircraft arnt you? Mustang, Catalina, Thunderbolt, lightning.... British kit may be rubbish but where good at names. Still see it now, if we have poster from the US he wil lalmost always say P-51, P-38 etc.
No, not really into aircraft. Land lubber and PBI inclinations more than those glamorous flyboys. Thanks for the info.
It wasnt a new thing really, the yanks like to call all their gear M1, etc, occossianlly putting a date in, or some bizare manufacturers serial number. virtually everything is an M1. The 'M' is an ordnance designation, and stands for 'model.' As far as I know, it serves a similar function to the British 'Mk.' for 'Mark,' as in Rifle No. 4 Mk. 1 and Mk. 2, or Pistol, Webley, Marks 1-6. A modification to a Mark used to be designated by a star, as in Pistol, Revolver, Number 2 Mark 1*. In U.S. practice, nomenclature for such a modification is an 'A', as in U.S. Pistol M1911A1, where 'A' is 'alteration.' As far dates, I believe that this practice was discontinued before WWII. The Garand rifle adopted in 1936 or so is U.S. Rifle, cal. .30, M1. JT
