Where Churchills were deployed in the Mediterranean Theatre
The suffix * indicates Marks not deployed elsewhere.
The suffix ** indicates Marks only deployed at Dieppe and in Tunisia.
Tunisia:
Marks I ** & II. **
Tunisia and Italy:
Mark III, Mark IV.
Italy:
Mark Ics *, Mark IIcs *, Mark V, Mark VII, Mark Na75 *,
Speciality Churchills.
Italy, only by the North Irish Horse:
Mark Ics with Pz.Kfw.III cupola affixed. *
Egypt:
Mark III - KingForce.
To slot various Marks deployed in Italy in their proper time-frames, consult
8th Army Tank States.
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Insignia
In the autumn of 1942 Royal Amoured Corps H.Q. standardised the size, colour and location of insignia to be worn on vehicles of British and Commonwealth tank units.
As the Dieppe Raid took part prior to the issuance of the order, Calgary Regiment insignia is shown as it then was.
As 21st Tank Brigade had not completed the change before shipping to North Africa, this is reflected by the variations shown.
Other than being painted the colour appropriate to their seniority, units were left free to chose names for their tanks.
Royal Armoured Corps
Originally white/red/white, the sign of the Tank Corps in World War One, the Royal Armoured Corps continued with its use, however, reversing the colours in early 1942. In the Mediterranean Theatre Mark IIIs of the 21st and 25th Tank Brigades were the last Churchills to wear it.
Infantry (Mixed) Divisions
21st Tank Brigade, as part of 4th (Mixed) Infantry Division until its disbandment April 1943, wore the division's sign on starboard track guards, front and rear.
Tank Brigades
Due to the diabolos being difficult to distinguish one from another, Brigades were given permission to design insignia of their own chosing. The Tank Brigades that were not deployed in Africa and Italy are included for general information.
21st: Blue 1 - 25th: Black 1 - 31st: Green 2 - 33rd: Green/Black 3 - 34th: Yellow 4
1 Diabolos inserted in shields as below illustrated.
2 Diabolo carried alongside divisional insignia (53rd Inf. & 79th Armoured)
to which it was attached.
3 Diabolo carried alongside 3rd Inf. Division sign until being re-equipped
with Shermans, early 1943.
4 Diabolo dropped. Replaced by a yellow diagonal on a shield crossed by a
mailed fist brandishing a mace.
25th Army Brigade
Africa and Italy:
North Irish Horse
51st Battalion Royal Tank Regiment
142nd Battalion Royal Armoured Corps (7th Bn. Suffolk Regt.)
With the award of the Maple Leaf of Canada, following the breaking of the Hitler Line, 23rd May 1944, a white maple leaf was added to the top section of the diabolo.
During a period of intensive maintenance and firing exercises, 27.6 to 16.7.44, the new Brigade sign was affixed to all of RHQ vehicles (including lorries) and several of Squadron tanks including the first of the Na75s received from 253 Forward Delivery Squadron.
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21st Tank Brigade
Africa and Italy until May 1944.
12th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment
48th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment
145th Battalion Royal Royal Armoured Corps (Duke of Wellington's Regt.)
Italy, from May 1st 1944 until January 1945.
12th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment
48th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment
145th Battalion Royal Armoured Corps
Italy, from January 1945.
North Irish Horse
12th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment
48th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment
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Churchill Speciality Tanks - 'Hobart's Funnies'
In late 1944 the two Churchill Brigades had ARKs and Fascine Carriers in their inventories, both types being most necessary in Northern Italy with its numerous rivers and canals to be crossed. As were the ARVs, the ARKs and Fascine Carriers wore Brigade and Arm of Service insignia. With the reforming of 25th Tank Brigade as an Armoured Engineer Brigade, inventories of both types were handed over to the newly designated unit. They, and the later delivered Crocodiles and Bridge Layers, were attached as "loans" to units of 21st Tank Brigade as the need arose - as North Irish Horse records show, there was intense competition between the NIH and each of the two RTR battalions, for their services. For the record, the Brigade also had Sherman Crab Flails as part of its inventory.
25th Armoured Engineer Brigade.
51st Battalion Royal Tank Regiment
Note: The Arm of Service insignia was not changed.
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Squadron Recognition
Geometric shapes coloured as per unit seniority: Red - Yellow - Blue
A Squadron 
B Squadron
C Squadron
RHQ and Recce Squadrons
Troop Recognition
The Troop number, or F for Headquarters Fighting Troop, is in white 1 inside the appropriate geometric shape, both being painted directly on the turret wall.
1 Standard for 25th ATB. For 21st TB variations see Unit details.
The author served in HQF Troop, B Squadron, North Irish Horse, in tanks wearing this insignia:
Vehicle Weight Signs
21st and 25th Tank Brigades
21st Tank Brigade
Notes
Yellow circles/tonnage figures painted directly on to the nose plate.
21st Tank Brigade: Full yellow circle used for the improved legibility as from May 1st, 1944.
45 was only on Mark VIIs and may have been peculiar to the Italian Theatre.
Aircraft Recognition
Vehicles of 21st Tank Brigade had white stars affixed. For details click on unit shown below.
Tank Names
A practice started in World War One, units being allowed to select names of their choice. Names were painted, usually in the colour appropriate to seniority of units, in varying locations. For specific details click on unit below.
WD Numbers
Standard location: Forward of the louvres.
Non-standard:
Tanks delivered to 1st Army with appliqué armour plate affixed in the
UK: On turrets.
Note: Tanks which had appliqué armour affixed at the REME
Workshops, Bône, Algeria, had the number in the standard position.
Tanks which had track links affixed on hull sides: On upper louvre plates.
For more information, see Tanks - Specific Details, below.
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Placement of Insignia
Royal Armoured Corps: Each side of the hull, forward of the escape
hatches, although occasionally also fore and aft.
Tank Brigade: Nose and rear plates, on the port side.
Arm of Service (Regiment/Battalion): Nose and rear plates, on the starboard side.
Squadron/Troop: Each side of the turret.
Tank name: Churchills: On each louvre. Shermans and Stuarts: On hull sides.
Tank weight: Nose plate, left of the shackle..
Notes:
While 21st Tank Brigade was part of 4th (Mixed) Infantry Division, there were many variables in the placement of insignia. Click on units for details.
KingForce tanks did not wear insignia or were named.
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Tanks - Specific Details
By unit, these include but are not limited to:
Tank names and WD numbers.
Invidual tank photographs if available.
Individual tank histories if known.
Insignia variations.
Availablity of decals.
25th Tank Brigade
North Irish Horse
51st Battalion Royal Tank Regiment
142nd Battalion Royal Armoured Corps
21st Tank Brigade
12th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment
48th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment
145th Battalion Royal Armoured Corps
KingForce
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Churchill Insignia and Other Relevant Data
