German Armor Tactical Numbers
During combat it is important for commanders to maintain an overview of the troops under their command. In armored combat, where units may move quickly and all tanks of a given type look the same, this can become especially difficult.
In the mid-thirties, the first German armored units used a variety of one-, two-, and three-digit numbers to indicate where in the unit organization each tank belonged. These were painted onto the hull or turret of the tank, often in combination with different figures.
Standardized Identification Numbers, 1938
On 4 June 1938, the Oberkommando des Heeres (Army high command)Look up term issued an order to introduce identification numbers on a trial basis on tanks in all tank regiments and tank battalions. The stated reason was, to ease the command technique, fire control, and disciplinary monitoring […]
.1
For tanks that were not in staff sections a three-digit number was used denoting companyKompanie
Look up term, platoonZug
Look up term, and individual tank. For staff section tanks the identification number started with a letter representing the command level, followed by a two-digit number of the tank with a leading zero where necessary.
The numbers were to be placed on metal shields in the shape of a parallelogram. These were to be placed on both sides and the rear of the tank. Even-numbered regiments were to have yellow numbers and odd-numbered regiments were to have white numbers.
The order refers to a sketch of the size, style, and location of the metal shields, but the sketch is no longer located with the order in the archive records. However, period photographs give some idea of the style and reveal that the shields were attached using wingnuts allowing easy removal.
Example | Role |
---|---|
Fourth tank of the divisionDivision Look up term staff. |
|
Third tank of the brigadeBrigade Look up term staff. |
|
Seventh tank of the regimentRegiment Look up term staff. |
|
Second tank of the second battalionAbteilung Look up term staff. First battalionAbteilung Look up term would use a single Iinstead of two. |
|
Fifth tank of the third platoonZug Look up term of the second companyKompanie Look up term. |
While specific tanks are sometimes referred to by their number, each tank regiment would have the same number sequence. Furthermore, as tanks were knocked out, replacement tanks were given the same number. Thus, while using the number can be a handy reference at a specific time and place, it is not a reliable general identifier.
In the 1938 order, the identification numbers were referred to as Kennzeichen; the same term used for license plates. Later the numbers were referred to in multiple sources as taktische Nummern (tactical numbers).
Unit experiences
In November and December 1938, following the annexation of the Sudetenland, experience reports were received from Panzer-Regiment 11, Panzer-Regiment 25, and 6. Panzer-Brigade (reporting through Panzer-Regiment 25), as summarized below.5
Panzer-Regiment 11
For regimental exercises, the tank identification numbers have proved satisfactory in terms of the size of the shields, their interchangeability, and the style of the identification numbers.
Less satisfactory is the avoidance of confusion with vehicles from other regiments. The yellow and white colored text do meet the requirements of a brigade. However, they failed when the regiment was employed on the Czech front in close cooperation with Panzer-Abteilung 65 and Panzer-Regiment 1.
The regiment suggests that each tank has the number 11
painted on its armor shield or, when this is not possibly for reasons of secrecy, that another regimental symbol is assigned. Otherwise, in case of an emergency, the troops will pick such a symbol themselves. So it was during the World War and also at the Sudeten border.
Panzer-Regiment 25
The experimental identification numbers of the tanks offer a welcome relief for the platoon and company commander in regard to command technique, fire control, and disciplinary monitoring of their units. For the commanders at the battalion level and above, the identification numbers offer no advantages as they are only readable at close distances.
During peacetime exercises they are a valuable aid for the referees.
The style and method of placing the interchangeable identification numbers has generally been satisfactory.
6. Panzer-Brigade
The current method is an improvement over having no identification numbers at all. However, it would be advantageous to increase the size of the numbers and to have an additional identification mark in the company color, such as a dot, on the rear of the turret.
In addition, the third-to-last paragraph of the Army high commandOberkommando des Heeres
Look up term order dated 4 June 19381This refers to the instruction to paint the numbers of even- and odd-numbered regiments in yellow and white, respectively. should be changed to account for the fact that the regiments of a brigade are not always differentiated by even and odd numbers.
Compared to the method previously introduced by 4. Panzer-Brigade of a three-part turret identification number with numbers in the company colors, the current method represents a step back, especially for peacetime training. While the details are not currently available to the regiment, whether this method of the 4. Panzer-Brigade, which has been a significant help to the battalion commanders, needs to be changed for wartime use is yet to be proven.
Comments to reports
It is not clear whether the suggestion by Panzer-Regiment 11 to introduce unit insignia influenced the decision to introduce unit insignia on tanks in November 19396.
The remark about the system developed by 4. Panzer-Brigade, as well as the three-digit numbering scheme used by Panzer-Regiment 2 shown above, could indicate that the June 1938 order standardized a practice already in use by some units.
Wartime style
It is not clear whether the order to use metal shields was officially rescinded. During the invasion of Poland, however, most divisions painted identification numbers directly onto the tank.
Some units continued to use the metal shields for some time. 1. leichte Division used them during the invasion of Poland in 1939. After the division was renamed 6. Panzer-Division it still used them during the invasion of France in 1940. By the time of the invasion of the Soviet Union, 6. Panzer-Division had switched to numbers painted directly onto turrets. However, some units still used metal shields were as late as 1941 as seen in the two photographs below.
Numbering scheme and style
Most divisions used a three-digit number system. While there is a lack of proper documentation to confirm it, the general assumption is that these numbers followed the pattern prescribed in the June 1938 order.
The most common deviation was a two-digit number instead of a three-digit number, but single-digit numbers were also used. In addition, there are multiple variations in the use of letters for staff unit tanks.
While the three-digit scheme was common with the majority of divisions the style of the numbers varied greatly. Most numbers were painted on turret, but there are examples of numbers being painted on the hull. The size of the numbers varied from being about the same size as the ones on the metal shields to being almost the full height as the turret. Solid numbers were the most common, but some units used outlined numbers.
While it is not possible to reliably determine color from black-and-white photographs, original color photographs show most numbers to be either white or yellow. These colors match the June 1938 order and provides the greatest contrast against the early-war dark camouflage. Some units did have more colorful numbers, such as 3. Panzer-Division, which had large red numbers with white borders.
Non-tank Unit Guidelines, April 1944
The order to use tactical numbers originally only applied to tanks. On 24 April 1944, the Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen (Inspector General of the Armored Forces)Look up term issued an order to expand the use of tactical numbers to the following vehicles:7
- Armored personnel carriers in a armored infantry regimentPanzergrenadier-Regiment
Look up term. - All armored vehicles in a armored reconnaissance battalionPanzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung
Look up term. - All armored vehicles in a tank destroyer battalionPanzerjäger-Abteilung
Look up term. - All armored vehicles of the armored artilleryPanzer-Artillerie
Look up term, including assault guns. - All armored vehicles in an armored engineer battalionPanzer-Pionier-Bataillon
Look up term.
Numbering scheme
The numbering scheme was similar to the one used for tanks, with the second and third digit representing the platoon and vehicle, respectively. Depending on the type of unit, the first digit could represent the company, battalion, or regiment. The number 1 in the third digit was reserved for command vehicles.
The order included several examples, which are shown below.
Panzergrenadier-Regimentarmored infantry regiment
Look up term
Number | Role |
---|---|
Staff vehicles | |
3701 | Regimental commanderRegimentskommandeur Look up term |
3702, etc. | Regimental staff vehicles |
3721 | Platoon leaderZugführer Look up term of the staff companyStabskompanie Look up term of the regiment signals platoonNachrichtenzug Look up term |
3722, etc. | Signals platoonNachrichtenzug Look up term vehicles |
2701 | Battalion commanderBataillonskommandeur Look up term |
2702, etc. | Battalion staffBataillonsstab Look up term vehicles |
2711 | Section leaderStaffelführer Look up term of the signals sectionNachrichtenstaffel Look up term of the first battalionBataillon Look up term (when using the Panzer-Division 43 organization) |
2712, etc. | Nachrichtenstaffelsignals section Look up term vehicles (when using the Panzer-Division 43 organization) |
2703 | Section leaderStaffelführer Look up term of the signals sectionNachrichtenstaffel Look up term of the first battalionBataillon Look up term (when using the Panzer-Division 1944 organization) |
2704, etc. | signals sectionNachrichtenstaffel Look up term vehicles (when using the Panzer-Division 44 organization) |
Combat unit vehicles | |
101 | First companyKompanie Look up term, company headquartersKompanietrupp Look up term, company headquarters leaderKompanietruppführer Look up term |
111 | First companyKompanie Look up term, first platoonZug Look up term, platoon leaderZugführer Look up term |
131 | First companyKompanie Look up term, third platoonZug Look up term, platoon leaderZugführer Look up term |
202 | Second companyKompanie Look up term, company headquartersKompanietrupp Look up term |
243 | Second companyKompanie Look up term, fourth platoonZug Look up term, second (heavy machine gun) squadGruppe Look up term |
312 | Third companyKompanie Look up term, first platoonZug Look up term, first squadGruppe Look up term |
401 | Fourth (heavy) companyKompanie Look up term, company headquartersKompanietrupp Look up term, company commanderKompanieführer Look up term |
424 | Fourth (heavy) companyKompanie Look up term, second platoonZug Look up term, second squadGruppe Look up term |
901 | Ninth (heavy) gun companyGeschütz-Kompanie Look up term, company headquarters leaderKompanietruppführer Look up term, company commanderKompanieführer Look up term |
933 | Ninth (heavy) gun companyGeschütz-Kompanie Look up term, third platoonZug Look up term, second gunGeschütz Look up term |
1001 | Tenth armored infantry engineer companyPanzergrenadier-Pionier-Kompanie Look up term, company headquartersKompanietrupp Look up term, company commanderKompanieführer Look up term (only third platoon was armored) |
1031 | Tenth armored infantry engineer companyPanzergrenadier-Pionier-Kompanie Look up term, third platoonZug Look up term, platoon leaderZugführer Look up term |
1035 | Tenth armored infantry engineer companyPanzergrenadier-Pionier-Kompanie Look up term, third platoonZug Look up term, second squadGruppe Look up term |
Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilungarmored reconnaissance battalion
Look up term
Number | Role |
---|---|
Staff vehicles | |
01 | Battalion commanderAbteilungskommandeur Look up term |
02, etc. | Battalion staffAbteilungsstab Look up term vehicles |
Staff companyStabskompanie Look up term vehicles |
|
001 | Company commanderKompanieführer Look up term of the company headquartersKompanietrupp Look up term |
002 | Company headquartersKompanietrupp Look up term vehicles |
011 | Platoon leaderZugführer Look up term of the first platoonZug Look up term |
043 | Fourth (heavy) platoonZug Look up term, third vehicle |
Panzerjäger-Abteilungtank destroyer battalion
Look up term
The armored vehicles of the tank destroyer battalionPanzerjäger-Abteilung
Look up term followed the general three-digit guidelines. If a battalionAbteilung
Look up term had only one company, it was to be given the company number 1. If additional companies were added later would be incrementally numbered.
The engineer platoonPionier-Zug
Look up term of the staff companyStabskompanie
Look up term of a Jagdpanther tank destroyer battalionPanzerjäger-Abteilung
Look up term was numbered as the second platoonZug
Look up term.
Number style and placement
The order specified that the tactical numbers were intended to be visible with binoculars at 800 meters. To achieve this, the style of the numbers was ordered to be:
- In the DIN 1451 typeface.
- 30 centimeters tall.
- Five centimeters thick, with a three centimeter black center and a one centimeter white border.
The location of each vehicle model was specified as follows:
Vehicle | Location |
---|---|
Sd Kfz 250 Ausf. A |
|
Sd Kfz 250 Ausf. B |
|
Sd Kfz 251 | |
Armored reconnaissance cars | On both sides of the rear of the turret. |
Sturmgeshütz III |
|
Jagdpanzer 38 |
|
Jagdpanzer IV | On the center of the superstructure on both sides, with the Balkenkreuz on the Schürzen. |
Jagdpanther | On the center of the superstructure on both sides and the rear, above the Balkenkreuz. |
Elefant | |
Marder I | On the center of the superstructure on both sides and the rear, above, in front of, or behind the Balkenkreuz. If there was nowhere on the rear on which the tactical number could be placed, it should only be placed on the sides. |
Marder II (7,62 cm Pak 36) | |
Marder II (7,5 cm Pak 40/2) | |
Marder 38T | |
Nashorn | On the center of the superstructure on both sides and the rear, above the Balkenkreuz. |
Tactical Number Guidelines, August 1944
On 18 August 1944, an order was issued by the Inspector General of the Armored ForcesGeneralinspekteur der Panzertruppen
Look up term on the style and scheme of tactical numbers on tanks and armored vehicles.11
The color of the numbers was standardized. The first Abteilungbattalion
Look up term or Bataillonbattalion
Look up term was ordered to have red numbers with a five millimeter white border, while the second Abteilungbattalion
Look up term or Bataillonbattalion
Look up term was to have yellow numbers without a border.
The tactical number scheme was to be decided at the regimental or battalion level, after which other parts of the unit were to be informed of the scheme. However, the order did emphasize that the purpose of the numbers was to ease command during combat, without allowing the unit organization to be deduced from the scheme. In addition, the order emphasized that experience showed that the digits 0 and 1 were not suited for command vehicles.
While the order indicates that the numbering scheme had previously been fixed, the January 1944 scheme used by 12. SS-Panzer-Division described below shows that this was not always followed.
Tactical Number Examples
Unit-specific instructions
1. Panzer-Division, November 1943
On 8 November 1943, an order was issued by the division command of 1. Panzer-Division to change the tactical numbers of the division's tank regiment's command tanks.12 The reason for the change was due to experiences that command tanks could be identified from their numbers, which resulted in them coming under fire.
Only the tactical numbers of the command tanks were changed, while the numbering of the other tanks was kept as is was. Because these numbers are still illustrated in the order, the order also confirms that the standard three-digit structure had been used by the division until then.
See the 1. Panzer-Division tactical number article for a full breakdown of the number structure.
12. SS-Panzer-Division, January 1944
On 4 January 1944, an order was issued to the tank regiment of 12. SS-Panzer-Division. This order specified both the numbering scheme and style of the regiment's tactical numbers, which was to be applied after the tanks received new camouflage. The digits were to be 35 centimeters tall and 22 centimeters wide, and were to be painted as a one centimeter wide black outline with an inner width of four centimeters. The numbers were to be painted on both sides and the rear of the turrets.13
The scheme was to follow the pattern described below. This scheme does retain some aspects of the original three-digit pattern but there are also some deviations. Notably, the individual vehicle numbers avoid using the digits 1 and 2.
Role | Tactical number |
---|---|
Regimental staffRegimentsstab Look up term |
|
Regimental commanderRegimentskommandeur Look up term |
055 |
Regimental adjutantRegimentsadjutant Look up term |
054 |
OrderlyOrdonnanzoffizier Look up term |
053 |
Reconnaissance platoonAufklärungszug Look up term |
056-060 |
Battalion staffAbteilungsstab Look up term, 1st battalionAbteilung Look up term |
|
Battalion commanderAbteilungskommandeur Look up term |
155 |
Battalion adjutantAbteilungsadjutant Look up term |
154 |
Signals officerNachrichtenoffizier Look up term |
153 |
Reconnaissance platoonAufklärungszug Look up term |
156-160 |
1st CompanyKompanie Look up term, 1st battalionAbteilung Look up term |
|
Company commanderKompanieführer Look up term |
105 |
Company headquarters leaderKompanietruppführer Look up term |
104 |
Platoon leaderZugführer Look up term, 1st platoonZug Look up term |
115 |
1st platoonZug Look up term |
116-119 |
Platoon leaderZugführer Look up term, 2nd platoonZug Look up term |
125 |
2nd platoonZug Look up term |
126-129 |
Platoon leaderZugführer Look up term, 3rd platoonZug Look up term |
135 |
3rd platoonZug Look up term |
136-139 |
Platoon leaderZugführer Look up term, 4th platoonZug Look up term |
145 |
4th platoonZug Look up term |
146-149 |
2nd CompanyKompanie Look up term, 1st battalionAbteilung Look up term |
|
Company commanderKompanieführer Look up term |
205 |
Company headquarters leaderKompanietruppführer Look up term |
204 |
Platoon leaderZugführer Look up term, 1st platoonZug Look up term |
215 |
1st platoonZug Look up term |
216-219 |
Platoon leaderZugführer Look up term, 2nd platoonZug Look up term |
225 |
2nd platoonZug Look up term |
226-229 |
Platoon leaderZugführer Look up term, 3rd platoonZug Look up term |
235 |
3rd platoonZug Look up term |
236-239 |
Platoon leaderZugführer Look up term, 4th platoonZug Look up term |
245 |
4th platoonZug Look up term |
246-249 |
Photographs from the division's actions on the Western Front show that the style of the numbers differed from those in the order, having a lightly colored outline with a solid color center. This later style matches the one described in the guidelines for non-tank units from April 1944, though it is not clear whether this is coincidental.
Three-digit numbers
Non-standard numbers
Number of digits
Letters
Notes
- This refers to the instruction to paint the numbers of even- and odd-numbered regiments in yellow and white, respectively. Back
References
- Übungs- und Ausbildungsabsichten 1939. Back
- Übungs- und Ausbildungsabsichten 1939. Back
- Übungs- und Ausbildungsabsichten 1939. Back
- Ausbildungsanweisung für die leichte Panzerkompanie 1938 im Gefecht. Oberkommando des Heeres, 1937. Back
- Übungs- und Ausbildungsabsichten 1939. Back
- 3. Pz. Div. - I a - Anl. z. Kriegstagebuch Nr 2 : 19. 10. - 12. 11. 39., Anl. I 15. 11. - 10. 12. 39. 3. Panzer-Division, 1939. Back
- Ausbildung und Kampfführung - Einsatz und Zusammenwirken der Waffen. Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen. Back
- Ausbildung und Kampfführung - Einsatz und Zusammenwirken der Waffen. Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen. Back
- Ausbildung und Kampfführung - Einsatz und Zusammenwirken der Waffen. Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen. Back
- Ausbildung und Kampfführung - Einsatz und Zusammenwirken der Waffen. Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen. Back
- Balkenkreuz und taktische Nummern an Panzern und gep. Fahrzeugen. Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen, 1944. Back
- Anlage "C1" : Ein- und ausgegangene Befehle u. Meldungen usw. zum Kriegstagebuch Nr. 12. 1. Panzer-Division, 1943. Pages 311-312. Back
- Zuteilung von taktischen Nummern. SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, 1944. Back
- Zuteilung von taktischen Nummern. SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, 1944. Back
Sources
- Übungs- und Ausbildungsabsichten 1939. BArch RH 39/53.
- Ausbildungsanweisung für die leichte Panzerkompanie 1938 im Gefecht. Oberkommando des Heeres, 1937. 9 p. Oberkommando des Heeres - Az. 89 a/b AHA/In 6 (IVa) - Nr. 220. 11. 37.. BArch RH 12/6-34.
- Anlage "C1" : Ein- und ausgegangene Befehle u. Meldungen usw. zum Kriegstagebuch Nr. 12. 1. Panzer-Division, 1943. 442 p. NARA T315 R32 45376/4.
- Balkenkreuz und taktische Nummern an Panzern und gep. Fahrzeugen. Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen, 1944. 2 p. Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen - Abt. Ausb. - Ia - Nr. 4940/44 g.IV.Ang. BArch NS 33/148.
- Zuteilung von taktischen Nummern. SS-Panzer-Regiment 12, 1944. 1 p. SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 - Ia Is/Schm. Br.Tgb.Nr. 14/44 geh..