French Tank Names - when to apply on a black rectangle and when to apply direct to the base colour of the tank?

Armor/AFV
1

French tanks are usually named, and typically they are named after historic battles that have a significance to the unit in question.

What I’ve seen on tanks operating in Indo-China from the mid 1940s to mid 1950s is that some tanks had names applied onto black strips but others appear to have had them applied directly onto the base colour (Olive Drab) - even when tanks belong to the same unit.

Is there a convention that was followed? Did it depend on the unit or was it just down to personal preference or available time?

Regards,

John

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John
As I don’t have the right explanation my guess is that the black rectangle was complying with some regulation. However if the black paint would have missed the crew would have painted the names directly over the OD.

Olivier

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Thanks Olivier - that is pretty much the answer I was expecting; “There is an official instruction, but it isn’t always followed” :slight_smile: (just like every other army in the world!)

I will pick a tank and use the markings as they show in the photos.

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This definitely is the right way to go.

Olivier

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