KV2 Markings

[Mr.Marx]

Hey

I was just wondering if anyone knows the story behind these odd markings on these KV2s.





I read somewhere they were improvised German road signs gratified onto the sides of knocked out tanks, but Im by no means sure about that.

I have a pair of the things waiting for something to go on their big green slab-sides.

Marx

[Gunbird]

Road sign markers. Painting these on your Russian forces tanks would be a bit premature 

[Phil Robinson]

Not sure, but a Y in a circle was the insignia of the 12th Panzer Div. Don't know if that has any bearing on it.

[joroas]

Neither of these vehicles look knocked out, are they test vehicles?  The symbols seem reversed, too.  The bottom picture looks a lot like a model on a base!

[carlos marighela]

Judging by the positioning of the engine hatches and the troops on the turret it's the male gender symbol being used as a handy multiligual sign to designate the tank as a public toilet. I suspect if you could get a close up it probably says 'Herren' somewhere on the glacis plate. Maybe there's another one nearby with 'Damen' daubed on it.

[joroas]

Judging by the positioning of the engine hatches and the troops on the turret it's the male gender symbol being used as a handy multiligual sign to designate the tank as a public toilet. I suspect if you could get a close up it probably says 'Herren' somewhere on the glacis plate. Maybe there's another one nearby with 'Damen' daubed on it.

So, that explains the lake by the first picture................... 

[Doomhippie]

Neither of these vehicles look knocked out, are they test vehicles?  The symbols seem reversed, too.  The bottom picture looks a lot like a model on a base!

I guess most of the KV2s weren't knocked out but were abandoned due to lack of fuel or maybe engine troubles. I've seen the second photgraph in a book about the eastern front. If I remember correctly it stood close to a railroad track or elevated street.

[TadPortly]

The Germans also found firing HE worked sometimes - it did not damage the tank much, but scared and concused the crews.

[Mr.Marx]

Hey all. Thanks ye all for the help. I best not put some Roadsigns on he sides of my tanks....would be jumping the gun somehow.

The Germans also found firing HE worked sometimes - it did not damage the tank much, but scared and concused the crews.

Ive read about this in respects to 'invulnerable tanks' in the second world war and in similarly impenetrable ships back in the days of cannons and ironclads. In both cases bombarding the things without penetrating their armour could still concuss the crew to the point where they could not fight on just by the intense noise and vibrations.


Marx