For those that don't base vehicles...

[CountRingworm]

i'm curious as to how you identify them on the board. Tactical Numbers? yikes!
just by knowing the variations in paint schemes? some other trick?

[av8rmongo]

Identify them in what way? You would have to be pretty forgetful to not remember where you put your command element or am I missing something?

Paul

[Mk 1]

I'm with av8r ... the first issue you need to determine is what you are identifying.

If you game at 1-to-1 unit scale (like me), there is very little to identify. I know that a particular tank is a T-34m43 just by looking at it. Don't need anything in writing to tell me that.

Do I need to know that a given tank is the second tank of the first platoon of company B of the 3rd battalion of the 433rd Medium Tank Regiment of the 29th Tank Corps? Nope. I don't. Not a bit of interest in knowing that as I'm off fighting my battle. I know it is a T-34m43. One of several (I hope).

About the only thing I need to know, more than what the vehicle is, is if it is a command tank. For the scale of my battles, platoon and company commands are the most important. I may also have a battalion command on some occasions, but as often as not there is only one battalion on the table for my side, and so the battalion CO units are pretty clearly identified just from the context.

So with this in mind, you can indeed consider how to identify your platoon and company command units.

I have tried several things in the past. I have often used a colored dot on the bottom of the tanks (red for platoon, yellow for company, white for battalion ... or some such). This is a very simple and useful technique. Gives no clue to your opponent, but does let you adjudicate the game with distinct impact if your CO gets knocked-out.

But the disadvantage is that you can easily loose track of which vehicle is the CO in the course of a turn. And so you wind up putting your CO in the wrong place in the formation, and he gets waxed!

I have also tried putting identifying marks right on the vehicles. Painting a color on the hatches, or putting a dot or strip on the back of the turret or the back of the engine deck. I have stopped that practice. I feel it reduces the visual appeal of the models too much. And it is too obvious to your opponent. And the CO gets waxed!

For my Soviets, one thing I have done is to put patriotic slogans on the sides of some tanks. These tanks can then be identified as command vehicles. This practics makes them quite easy for me to spot and keep track of, but does not instantly tip my hand to opponents.


Here a KV-1 serves as company CO, with a patriotic slogan on the turret side to ID him for me.

You can do the same with stars (or other national markings) on US or other nations' tanks. Just some eye-pleasing distinguishing mark. This approach is also quite flexible, because you don't always have to use the marks to ID COs. So you can keep "regular" opponents off-guard.

Another way to tell is just to mix model sub-varients. This is particularly easy with T-34s. You get a mix of models in each GHQ purchase. Just decide that some particular sub-model marks a CO's tank. With T-34m43s, the few that have cupolas serve nicely.

Others here have shown examples of more creative ways to identify CO tanks. I was particularly impressed by an example of BTs where the CO tanks had frame antenna and commander figures half-out of open hatches. I have done a couple models with open-hatches and commanders, but had never thought to use them to designate COs until I saw it here. I very much like the appearance, though. Think it is a spanking-good idea!


Here is an example of one of my open-hatch models. I put figures in the hatches of some of my Shermans, but I used them to help me spot the Sherman 105s rather than to identify the COs. But the effect is much the same. Oh, and BTW the Sherman with the white star is the CO.


For my tank destroyers I decided, based on what I saw here, to try using CO figures. But in this case it is somewhat more subtle. Each platoon of TDs in the ETO had 2 M20 utility cars. One was used as a command vehicle by the platoon CO, the other was used as a scout. So I have placed a standing figure with binocs in the CO scout cars, and an MG gunner in the other. I use the standing figures to identify the CO element.

You might also consider just adding the antenna to the COs tank. I don't do a lot of antennae, as I have managed to loose too many over the years. But some of the guys here do a credible job affixing them securely, and assert that they are pretty robust as a result.

Or you can come up with your own approach, and then tell us! Oh, and take a picture or two as well. We'd love to see!

[Mobius]

="CountRingworm" i'm curious as to how you identify them on the board. Tactical Numbers? yikes!
just by knowing the variations in paint schemes? some other trick?

Ah, you'd like to know, wouldn't you.
Ya, so you can pick off Fearless leader.
We arn't falling for that trick.

[Paul B]

Others here have shown examples of more creative ways to identify CO tanks. I was particularly impressed by an example of BTs where the CO tanks had frame antenna and commander figures half-out of open hatches. I have done a couple models with open-hatches and commanders, but had never thought to use them to designate COs until I saw it here. I very much like the appearance, though. Think it is a spanking-good idea!

Thanks alot Mk1. I resemble that remark. I tend to put command figures on all platoon and company vehicles if that would normally be the way they fought. I may also add a couple vehicles with commanders just to make it not so obvious. Usually the company command vehicle will have the TC using the binoculars. Here are the BT's that MK1 refered to.

Can you tell who the CO is?

The CO is third tank from the left It is leading tank in the rear most platoon wedge.
Hard to pick out from 3' away, but you can distinguish them.

These are the 4 command BTs.

The CO is the 2nd from the left. he has the binoculars.

Here is a close up of the TC's


BTW, I saw that the BTs are on sale, Urah!! Time to finish of the battalion.

[jb]

BTW, I saw that the BTs are on sale, Urah!! Time to finish of the battalion.

Bah! Knights in cardboard armor!
BTW gentlemen, Nice stuff!!

[CountRingworm]

i guess i wasn't very clear at all, now that i read my original post again, but mk1 and others figured out what i was trying to ask- i was looking at how to ID the commander for one.

also, i know it won't matter for rulesets, but some 1:1 incorporate damage to vehicles, and i was wondering how you identified on the field which ones may be damaged/disabled...

lots of great suggestions out there, and the pictures are amazing, as usual here

[JMD]

i'm curious as to how you identify them on the board. Tactical Numbers? yikes!
just by knowing the variations in paint schemes? some other trick?

I color coded the rear fenders. As an example; white right rear fenders for 1st battalion(1:5 scale), and HQ gets same, but with the left rear fender red. Works best when facing the enemy, only you can see whos who. Companies could be marked using a similar method. Lower visibility would be to paint half of the fenders on a diagaonal, and only use the right rear fender . It has worked well for me over the years.

-JMD

[Mobius]

For damaged vehicles we place a chit next to it. We use old Risk counters. But I've seen players use tiny colored hobby vehicles.

[Paul B]

also, i know it won't matter for rulesets, but some 1:1 incorporate damage to vehicles, and i was wondering how you identified on the field which ones may be damaged/disabled...

I don't have any pics, but for Battlefront WW2, it requires you to track suppressed/disordered/knocked out vehicles. I use a small shell burst for suppressed. 2 bursts for suppressed and a black cloud for knocked out.

You could use a black cloud no flames for damaged, and with flames for destroyed.

[Mk 1]

Paul B suggested:
You could use a black cloud no flames for damaged, and with flames for destroyed.

Indeed, this is what we do.

Smoke hooked under the chassis = loss of mobility
Smoke hooked under the main gun = loss of firepower
Flame and smoke = out of action


Our forces have engaged this scout of the hated warmongering invader. He has been disabled before he could test the river's waters. He can no longer move.



Much to his misfortune, I might add, as the brave defenders of the Soviet Motherland have him rather significantly outgunned!



And so we see the outcome we might well have anticipated. The fascist dog has been slayed. His cowardly companions run for their lives. Let us drink, comrades!

[armypainter]

WOW
Nice job on the tanks guys!

[BattlerBritain]

I identify my tanks by painting the undersides black and then using white paint to label them.

That way every tank is ID'ed and to view the ID you have to turn the vehicle upside-down to view it.

Hence your opponent doesn't get to know automatically which is your command tank.

[Mickel]

My WWII stuff is based because some things are too small to leave loose - like little French tanks. But my modern vehicles aren't. My Soviets have platoon and company markings on the back of the external fuel tanks. The HQs are marked on the lower rear hull. Sometimes I mess up and wind up with a company or battalion HQ where they shouldn't be, but that's life - I should keep a better handle on things!

M-1s and Leopard 1s are marked on the lower rear hull. They can be fairly generous slotches of paint under there because they can't be seen from most angles, so don't ruin the effect. I think the M-2s are on one of those boxes next to the main door, with any HQ spot lower down.

Mike

[voltigeur]

Being one of those that hates the look of based tanks I have never based any of my AFV's.

I try to stay as true to historical markings as my limited artistic skill will allow. ON my modern Us tanks I use Cheverons for a 1 thru 4 position. This tells me what tank is which in the platoon. I use barrel bands to denote which platoon a tank belongs to.

The company commander has 2 vertical "bars" inplace of the cheverons.

I have not marked a company designation yet. I usually can keep each company seperate.

I have always been able to look at miniatures and see units not individual tanks or infantry. I only use the markings for my friends who don't see their organisation.