"Italian Tank Markings" Topic

Looking at a photocopy from a black and white newspaper photo of an abandoned Italian L3 tank from the Centauro Division from October-November 1940, it seems to have some sort of marking on the left side of the superstructure. This looks like a light-colored circle perhaps on a dark, flag shaped rectangle. This obviously isn't the divisional insignia of a centaur shooting a bow. Does it indicate the battalion or company? Is it something else altogether? As I mentioned above, this isn't exactly the crispest, highest quality picture.

Grelber

Tanks had markings like this link
Could it be like these?

First thought, No. But looking at the tank in the water, maybe, with the right combination of colors and lighting.

Grelber

Can you point us at an online source for the image in question

My first thought Grelber was that you were looking at an M13 command tank of a semovente group, but that would have been later than 1940. Another thought was a vaguely recall the Italians used a different tank identification scheme before adopting the one shown in the link Andy provided.

A white round circle on a red rectangle was used by Centauro division L3/35 in Greece, October 1940.

Everyone is used to seeing the red, blue and yellow rectangles (which indicate 1st, 2nd and 3rd company), with either no white vertical bars (HQ platoon), or 1, 2 or 3 vertical bars (indicating the platoon within the company).

There is also the rarely seen black rectangle (battalion) and white rectangle (regimental) level.

That white circle is unique. I have a color illustration in a book (Tank Power 330 CV 33/35) which shows the red rectangle and the while circle. And there is a "1" centered above it, indicating it is the 1st tank of this unit.

I have seen a LOT of markings on Italian Armor WWII (one of my pet projects), and have gathered a bunch of books dedicated to Italian Armor, and I have no idea what that white circle means.

Good info SeattleGamer.
I've been thinking about adding Italians to my DAK for a long time. Not knowing where to start has been my stumbling block.
Can you recommend a couple of books from your collection that might help. TIA.

When I began working on my DAK project, back shortly after Noah got off the boat, I acquired a copy of SPI's Campaign for North Africa. It's one of their MEGA games.

It has super granular OOB info and a comprehensive map. They're like $1 USDk anymore, but if you have a friend who has one the OOB books are all you really need. It has 2 blind spots. No Malta involvement and no naval aspect.