15th Panzer's Turret Number

[War In 15MM]

I believe that 15th Panzer's turrets carried one number rather than three.  Is there a solid rule as to what that number represented?  Thanks. Richard

[von der Tann]

Well ... usually German tanks had 3 Numbers of their turrets. The numbers meant company, platoon, vehicle. So a tank with the number 323 would have been from the 3rd company, 2nd platoon, 3rd vehicle. There were variations. For example Tiger I companies had the letter S followed by two numbers painted on their turrets. S23 for example. That meant Schwer (heavy), 2nd platoon, 3rd vehicle. Some used the S for Stabskompanie (Headquarter Company) ... Tiger I batallions used the 0 for their HQ companies, for example S02 = heavy, HQ, 2nd vehicle.

Supposedly a vehicle of the 15. PzDiv in Tunesia in 1942



  No number at all .... and this bugger only got one number but a spade too ...



And to make matters even worse, there were no strict orders on which numbers to paint on the turrets. Even the colors varied. So honestly I think you should look up some pics on the internet and take them as reference if you want to be historically correct. Or you can just make up some numbers following the above guidelines.

Hope this helped.

[Usagi]

According to the Flames of War painting guide (and you can take that for what it's worth ) the single digit used by 15 Panzer Div. represented the company number only. Hope that helps.

[War In 15MM]

Single digit as company number on 15th Panzer turrets seems to be what I'm finding as the leading view.  I'll probably go with that.  I also found it in Rosado and Bishop's Wehrmacht Panzer Divisions 1939-1945.  I appreciate the help.  Richard

[Galland]

Many divisions also used a "fake" numbering system, since the russians figured it out (even though it took its time) and changed it accordingly, many times the system dont make any sense at all, if you dont happend to know how it was made hehe.