"Correct decals for XXX Corps" Topic

Which decals would be correct to use on the Shermans in the Irish Guards?

If you want a recommendation on decals you will need to state the scale. This forum thread has a 4 view picture of an Irish Guards Sherman which will give to the basic information.
link

Not so much recommendations of producers, but what markings they used.

But it's 28mm

The Irish Guards Armoured tank regiment were the ‘junior' of the three in the divisional Armoured Brigade, (Grenadiers, Coldstream, Irish) so their markings were; blue triangle, square, circle, and diamond, on the turret sides, (some pics show grenadier tanks with these on the hull sides) These relate to A, B, C, and Headquarters Squadrons. I've seen small numbers in the shapes, callsigns, I believe? They would have the Guards Armoured ‘All seeing eye' divisional sign, red edged blue shield with white eye, and a red square, with white ‘53' in it, denoting the third regiment in a tank brigade, on the front glasis, and rear. The tanks were often named, sometimes corresponding to Squadron, ie, I've seen ‘A' Squadron tanks called ‘Antrim', ‘Arthur', ‘Agressor' etc this decal sheet may help!
goo.gl/images/JKK1h4

Cheers

John

The Irish Guards were the junior armoured battalion, so their tac sign was 53 on a red square.

So, standard stuff really. Tac sign, Guards Armoured div symbol, bridge rating (IG seem to have used a yellow outline circle), vehicle serial numbers.

Squadron markings were blue with black centres. Unusually they painted the centres black, and even more unusually, were on the hulls sides, not the turret.

The Guards made up their own tank numbering system, with each tank numbered individually. The numbers were painted inside the squadron markings.

The Welsh Guards used callsigns, the others used individual tank numbers with each squadron allocated a block of 20.

I see a lot of models have the white star on them, wouldn't that be an American thing?

The white star was an allied recognition marking used by all nations, especially on the upper decks as an air recognition signal.

Ah I'm such a noob with when it comes to WW2 hardware, so much to learn!

Briefly the star was adopted as a recognition symbol by western allies as a result of lessons learned in Tunisia and Sicily. The star was to be surrounded by a circle when used on top surfaces (It was too easy, apparently, to mistake a plain star for a German cross from the air). And just a simple star when on horizontal surfaces. You will, however, find all manners of use to include stars in circles on horizontal surfaces. The use of the star was adopted in time for the Normandy landings.

Here is a copy of the First Canadian Army's instruction on use of the star issued 11 April 1944:

Recognition of Vehs

by Allied Aircraft

White Five Pointed Stars

White Five Pointed Stars will be painted on all vehs ("A" and "B"), SP Guns and mobile mech eqpt. with the exception of RAF vehs and med vehs which carry the Geneva cross, as follows:-

(a) Place

(i) All (armoured) vehs (incl SP guns, carriers, trucks, (halftrack) and trucks 15 cwt 4 x 4 personnel (White Scout Cars)

– TOP only

where space permits (see (d) (i) below).

(ii) All other vehs and equpts – TOP and BOTH SIDES where space permits (see (d) (ii) below.

(b) Design

… -when painted on top of veh to be surrounded by 4 inch wide white circular band, touching the points of the star.

(c) Selection of Space

(i) Top – on largest horizontal or near horizontal surface – NOT on canvas canopies, nor roofs, etc., on which stores are likely to be carried, nor on the part of the cab above the co-drivers seat as this will be holed for AALMG.

(ii) Sides – on any plain vertical or near vertical surface NOT usually obscured by fitments, etc.

(d) Size

(i) Top – as large as possible, NOT less than 1 ft in radius measure from centre to outside edge of band.

(ii) Sides – if possible 10 in radius from centre to tip MINIMUM 3 in radius from centre to tip

(iii) If space does not permit these minims, NO star will be painted

(e) Paint

White lead GS, (Cat no HA 0293), obtainable by indent through Ord channels. Background selected should be as dark as possible.

(f) Present Recognition Mark

The red white red recognition marks now used on AFVs will be removed.

Sgd. ) C.F. Laurin. Lt. -Col. G.S.

for (C.C. Mann) Brig.

(Chief of Staff)

Copy courtesy of this rather excellent site:
link

If you can find a copy of this old Osprey it will be perfect for you

link

tbh, these days I don't bother with much heraldry on Shermans. Just paint the lot green with a good slathering of mud and dust (which obscures all the markings anyway).

Then they will do for US, British, Poles, Canadians, French and Russians.

A pile of turrets with different guns in helps too.

I've got short 75s, 76s, 17pdrs and 105s (only two of those). Spare turrets also mean you can switch nationality by having commanders in different uniforms.