Review | British Late War Vehicle Markings - BR946 | Bulge British - Flames of War

[@aaronsomerville2124]

I know this is from a year ago, but I have a question about Bridge Class: you said that Cromwells are rated at 27, and that's what appears on some BF decal sheets and in some art pieces. But I've seen a number of photos (mostly of the 4CLY in Villers-Bocage) of Cromwells marked with a "30". In fact, I haven't seen any photos of them marked with a "27" and I'm not entirely sure where that comes from. Any clarification / advice for a confused American?

[@FogofWar]

Yep. British markings can give you a headache! Confusion is common, so don’t feel bad about it. Bridge Class Numbers were subject to change. The Cromwell prototypes were actually marked “26”. There are pictures of Winston Churchill inspecting one marked this was. Production examples had become a little heavier, so for the D-Day landing and beyond in 1944 they were generally marked “27”. However during service they gained more weight and many in service in 1945 had been re-marked as “30”. I tend to use “27” as my army list tend to be 1944 lists, but “30” is correct too, for later Cromwells.

[@aaronsomerville2124]

@@FogofWar Thank you very much for your reply! It's very informative. There seems to be some inconsistency out there, which is understandable given the complexity of military operations... I was confused because there's a photo dated to June 17th, 1944 (less than a week after Villers-Bocage!) of a 4CLY Cromwell marked with a "30". I guess ultimately the takeaway for a modeler is that if I'm not doing a specific squadron on a specific day, there are a lot of choices that could be justified. I just really don't want to get it so wrong as to be blatantly inaccurate, because I feel like that doesn't do the men who served their proper honor.

[@MiniatureRealms]

Brilliant video, I’ll definitely be returning to this when I get painting mine.

[@FogofWar]

British markings take some research to understand.

[@Subcomandante73]

This will help me defeat the rivet counters :)

[@FogofWar]

Please find attached one Licence to Fun, which can be shown to Rivet Counters at any time to remind them it is your model, your hobby, and you have the right to mark your vehicles any way that makes you happy. But if you feel like doing historical markings, I hope this helps! :-)

[@Subcomandante73]

@@FogofWar I normally use my patented Anti-Grognard spray :)

[@WgCdrLuddite]

YOU WILL NEVER DEFEAT US. Our information is superior !

[@mikesmith2905]

I had to print my own for the 4th Indian Division (North Africa and Italy) and they had both the unit and aos on the right front of the hull. No one seems to have made a comprehensive record of the Indian stuff, I was doing this set for a Sikh lad and it took longer to find what details I could than it did to make the models. Their aos colours seem to be the same a Brits though, so I was able to use some commercial decals, sizing my own to match.

[@FogofWar]

Sounds like a fun project!

[@mikesmith2905]

@@FogofWar As the lad's dad is a Sikh I could use the Strelets Indians and Indian heavy weapons with the pointy hat trimmed down but to boost the pose count there are a lot of generic 8th army chaps with their helmets trimmed down and a turban built up with Uhu glue or cut off and replaced with turbans from somebody's 'Bedouin and camel riders' set (stronger than trying to attach a head at the neck). HaT 4.5 inch howitzers were up-dated using the wheels from HaT IG18's glued to a cocktail stick axle. The Indian Pattern Carriers and early type bren and scout carriers were 3D prints, not so expensive and certainly good enough for 'toy soldiers'. The Indian Long Range Squadron (later integrated into the LRDG) used CMP trucks, so that was easy, cut down, loads of stowage and a couple of 3D printed machine guns. He gets to add the detailing on the other vehicles, I've given him the materials to do that.

[@rataca100]

I think the colour rectangle is used to denote seniornity of the regiment or brigade as well, in the case of non mixed divisions. So the red rectangle would be the senior brigade and battalions in it. At lwast for pre bulge as far as i can tell. (And maybe just for infantry)

[@FogofWar]

The colours of the squadron markings were dependant on the seniority. Those are the triangles, squares and circles denoting A, B and C squadrons respectively. I think the colours were red (senior), blue and yellow, with white for the recce squadron and other units.

[@BigTiBu]

If you're desperate for the 30s and 33s for the bridge class then you can get them in the US late war decals. Admittedly these do seem quite hard to source for some reason

[@FogofWar]

That’s a good idea. I suspected they might have some, but hadn’t checked yet. Good suggestion!

[@epicblade5616]

Have you ever seen examples of motor battalions using white tac signs? I'm wondering as I've seen photos of the Lake Superior Regiment, the 4th Canadian Armoured Divisions motor Battalion, with solid triangular tac signs in a color that looks much too light to be green.

[@FogofWar]

White tac signs were usually limited to reduce and other elements - officially. I don't have any specific information about their use elsewhere. But the official rules were often modified, bent or broken by individual divisions. Not everyone followed the official pattern.

[@Andrew-se4tg]

Great video as always cheers from 🇺🇸👍

[@FogofWar]

Glad you enjoyed it. Greeting from Australia.

[@Mr_Bunk]

1:42 “This Sherman is from the Guards Armoured Division. Their divisional formation sign is the ever-open *Eye of Horus.”* For a second there, I was wondering if you’d gotten into Warhammer’s ‘Horus Heresy’...let the ~galaxy~ continent burn!

[@FogofWar]

I have a classical arts education, as obviously did many of the senior Guards division officers... :-)

[@trekanbelluvitsh]

I recommend the decals by battkefront AND the division decal sets by PSC. Luckily the british way of marking vehicles in WW2 isn't a pain in the but. 😁

[@FogofWar]

I have the BF decals, the PSC decals (which are nice) and some Dom's Decals (sadly now out of production). It's nice to have options!