Unknown prewar Skoda R 2 tank markings, roundel or tactical sign

[Agarici]

Even after so many years (and research done + materials written on the subject) the reality continues to amaze us. The link was recommended by the user mischa4 in an older topic - http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?sh...225&#entry83090 It includes some pictures taken by Willy Pragher in Bucharest, immediately after the 1941 January rebellion. At the first glance I thought it is a classical tri-color roundel, but it could also be an unknown tactical marking. What do you think?

See the photo here: https://www2.landesarchiv-bw.de/ofs21/bild_...screenhoehe=738 For more pictures, https://www2.landesarchiv-bw.de/ofs21/olf/s...uche=&standort=

Edit: at a closer look, it seems the signs are tactical markings - and apparently some very elaborated ones.

This post has been edited by Agarici on March 11, 2012 07:52 pm

[Victor]

Actually they are not that unknown. They are signs indicating different platoons of the same tank battalion. I have an order issued by the General Staff in May 1941 in which the signs for all small units of the 1st Armored Division are listed.

For the tank battalions of the 1st Tank Regiment the circle designated the 1st and 5th Companies, the square the 2nd and 6th Companies, the triangle the 3rd and 7th Companies and the command companies (4th and 8th) had diamonds. On the tanks the diameter of the circle and the side of the square or triangle were 30 cm and on other vehicles they were 20 cm.

The company commander's vehicle had a 7 cm diameter disc in the middle of the circle/square/triangle. The 1st Platoon had a vertical stripe, the 2nd Platoon had a horizontal stripe and the 3rd Platoon had a V (similar to this: https://www2.landesarchiv-bw.de/ofs21/bild_...screenhoehe=930)

However, none of these markings appear in wartime photos, which leads to believe that they were eventually abandoned prior to operations for the more practical tactical numbers used as well by the Germans.

[ANDREAS]

Hallo Victor,
is it possible that the "inspiration" for these tactical markings could be taken from the French Army (respectively Battle Tank Regiments) by us, since until summer of 1940 our army was quite strongly influenced by the French? I observe that, as you described the tactical markings on the tanks, they seem similar (not as symbols but as organization) to the one used by the "Bataillons de chars de combat", but it's also possible that I am wrong.
Do you know if there has been a source of inspiration for the organization of our tank forces before September 1940 and which was it?