48th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment

Notes

Placement of Insignia:
As evidenced by photographs there is a variance. While not known, it is reasonable to assume that the other two battalions of 21st Tank Brigade placed their insignia the same way.

Tank Names:
While better than 50% are recorded, only the WD number of one, Tessa, is. Names were painted in white either on track guards, air louvres or hull side plates.

Squadron/Troop Insignia:
Until January 1945 coloured yellow. thereafter coloured blue.

Brigade Insignia:
Carried on the port track guards, front and rear - there is no evidence, when track guards were removed, that the insignia was painted elswhere.

RAC Insignia:
Placed on hull sides, front nose plate and, when carried, on jettison fuel tanks.

Aircraft Recognition:
In North Africa a white five-pointed star was painted on turret tops. It is not known if this practice continued when in Italy, nor if the other two battalions of 21st Tank Brigade carried stars. See photograph below.

Titania, a Mark I disembarking from an LCT, 1942.

Talisman, a Mark II disembarking from an LCT, 1942.

Tidworth, a Mark II, photograph taken July 1942.

Toledo, a Mark III in Tunisia April 1943.

Tessa, a Mark IV, WD number T 68605.

Known Tank Names

Battalion HQ:
    Tusker
A Squadron
    OC:Tarzan
    3 Troop: Talisman, Texan, Tumult. Tangerine (1944)
    4 Troop: Tessa (North Africa, 1943)
    5 Troop: Tempest, Typhoon, Tornado
B Squadron
    6 Troop: Tipperary
    7 Troop: Tinker, Titan, Tilly
    9 Troop: Tito, Titania, Tikki
    10 Troop: Tiber, Tigris, Timor
    ARV: Tredegar
C Squadron
    11 Troop: Terrific, Terrible, Tremendous
    12 Troop: Tolworth, Tidworth, Tadworth
    13 Troop: Tonbridge, Today, Tonight, Tomorrow
    14 Troop: Toledo (in North Africa)
    15 Troop: Tollemache, Tolly Light (at Wickham Market),
    Tolly Dark

Sources
With Churchills to War. Peter Gudgin.

Return to
21st Tank Brigade