German WW II Tank Numbering

The regulations stated that the call sign or identification numbers were to be made up of numbers 30cm high. The number was to be 3cm wide in black outlined in 1cm of white. In the field, colour of the numbers and outlines vary. Some tanks had red number on white outlines and blue numbers on yellow outlines.

The first number is the company, the second number is the platoon and the third number is the order of the tank in the section. For example 414 would be the number for the fourth tank in the first platoon of the fourth company. On the company commander's and deputy commander's tanks, the second digit was 0 and the third digit 0, 1 or 2. Staff company normally had the numbers 001 to 003. In some units, roman numerals I, II and III were used.

Tanks at the regimental level was prefixed by the letter R instead of the first digit. For example R01 would be the tank belonging to the regimental commander and subsequent tanks by his staff. Tanks at the battalion level was prefixed by a roman numerals in sequence. For example I01 would belong to the commander of the first battalion. There were also some unusual non-regulation numbering of tanks found on the battlefield. For example X7 found on a Jagdtiger. The significant of X7 was not documented.

Some Examples of German WW II Tank Numbering


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