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TimRoyall · Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 4:15 pm Post subject: Indicating Tank Kills

On the cover of the Feb 2009 issue of Military Machines International is a picture of a Sherman at a recent event in Belgium with a number of German crosses on it's turret, presumably to indicate kills. Is that authentic? I seem to remember putting decals of rings on the barrels on my German tank kits when I was younger, but I don't know if that is backed up by any photographic or other evidence. Does anyone know?

Thanks, Tim,

Dontos · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:07 am Post subject: Re: Indicating Tank Kills

Perhaps the best example I can recall. The case of Michael Wittman's Tiger I.

"Along with his crew, Wittmann inspects the 88 "Kill Rings" on the gun barrel of their Tiger I
Those kills earned him and gunner Bobby Woll the Knight's Cross"

Don

JeffStringer · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 637

I read once on a modelers forum that this practice was very rare and in most instances, the photos were for German propaganda purposes only and they that were made in chalk and simply wiped off afterwards.

Dontos · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:04 am Post subject: Re: Indicating Tank Kills

It's common sense thing, it seems to me. If you 'parade' around the battlefield with bravado (ie kill rings ), it would tend to draw more attention to you, and that means a priority target.

Although as a tanker, I am not against such a practice. You just need to be a little more subtle.

The above photo was a PR shot. Come to think of it, you never really see such kill rings on many other Tigers during WWII. Especially in combat video or stills.

Don

TrevorLarkum · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: Indicating Tank Kills

Hiya, Tim - good to see you here!

Yes, I saw that MMI photo and it didn't seem right. Made me think of Kelly's Heroes rather than historical precedent. A quick Google returned the Patton M26 and very little else:

rain.prohosting.com/ja...orm26.html

L.Delsing · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 10, 2006 Posts: 960

Drawsko Pomorksie
Off course simulated battle, but among crews the number of kills was marked with the green army tape on the barrel. When arriving in the assembly area the other crews were looking who had the most ''rings'' around the barrel. Higher command didn't like it and we had to remove it.

Here we are waiting for the infantry which were in front.

Me, at the end of the day updating the score

rexross · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 30, 2009 Posts: 30

I saw a picture of a Sherman tank with the 90 mm open turret in one of my books. I can't find it right now. The photo was taken in WWII somewhere in Germany (I think). It showed three small German crosses (not swastikas) on the left side of the gun mantle (left side on the picture, right side of the Sherman).

It looked like a genuine photo ..... if I can find it I will scan and post it. I'm not sure about the kill rings on the barrel.

TrevorLarkum · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: Indicating Tank Kills

Sounds like an M36 tank destroyer, and an interesting photo.

rexross · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 30, 2009 Posts: 30

I found the picture in -----

US Tank Destroyers in Combat 1941 - 1945, Steven Zaloga
Concord Publications
Armor at war series #7005, page 62

The picture in the book is small and the scan isn't very good. For some reason I can't get the picture to post. ????

JeffStringer · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 637

It is an M36B1 and it was 4 kill marks. They were for 2 Mark IV and 2 Tiger I kills.

I have the book.

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