Was there a system to British tank turret numbers in the Second World War (specifically, ca. 1944) or was it yet another case of each regiment or other unit making things up as it went along?
I ask because I came across this rather interesting (to me anyway) list of tanks in 1st Lothians and Border Horse in 1944:
and though I know turret numbers for about half a dozen of the tanks in “A” Squadron, I only have definite names for three of those. Unfortunately simply counting from the top doesn’t work — that is to say, it works for the first two HQ tanks, but the first tank of No. 1 Troop was No. 15, not No. 19, 14 or 13 (depending on which of the scout cars, ARV, etc. you include in your count). I similarly can’t find a way to make the last tank in No. 2 Troop to be No. 20 this way.
I ask because I came across this rather interesting (to me anyway) list of tanks in 1st Lothians and Border Horse in 1944:
and though I know turret numbers for about half a dozen of the tanks in “A” Squadron, I only have definite names for three of those. Unfortunately simply counting from the top doesn’t work — that is to say, it works for the first two HQ tanks, but the first tank of No. 1 Troop was No. 15, not No. 19, 14 or 13 (depending on which of the scout cars, ARV, etc. you include in your count). I similarly can’t find a way to make the last tank in No. 2 Troop to be No. 20 this way.