"Russian Tank Numbering" Topic

Does anyone know what, if any, numbering system the Russians used on their tanks. I have seen pictures of tanks with official looking numbers, hand painted un-official looking numbers and tanks with no numbers at all. In particular, I'm looking for KV-1, T-34/76 and T-60 tanks midwar

There's no system in the same sense that the German's had one. It was left up to the discretion of individual unit commanders and that's it.

Though, if done, it was most often displayed inside a 'diamond' the Red Army map symbol for a tank. And even that isn't a hard and fast rule. It's a part of Maskirovka.

Frontovik's absolutely right - its probably easiest in the end to leave things bare. If you want to use markings, you could choose a unit and period, i.e. take a photo and extrapolate from those markings.

If you want to use a diamond put it vertically on the turret side in white (maybe yellow). Bisect it with a horizontal line and put a unit number in 1 half and a vehicle number in the other. Depends on the scale you're working to of course. If you use well thinned paint, you'll get a nice messy finish as well.

The above comments are correct. See The Eastern Front: Armor Camouflage and Markings by Zaloga and Grandsen ISBN 1-85409-213-8 for a detailed look at Soviet vehicle markings. The first sentence in the sub-section Tactical Numbering is "The Soviets did not use a standard system of tactical vehicle numbering during the Second World War." The authors explain that this was due to a lack of radios early on and a concern for security.

I thought Russian tank battalions just drove about in a large cluster following the boss till he got shot and then retreated as fast as possible. Don't need a number on your turret for that.

Lee, Tell that to Army Group Centre :o) If you can find them.

I never allow historical accuracy to get in the way of a good old stereotypical dig ;)