Kiwi Vehicle Names in WW2

I’ve posted on Kiwi Vehicle Camouflage during WW2 but didn’t spend any time researching specific vehicles. Some of the Kiwi vehicles during World War 2 were named e.g. “Discord” and “Katipo”. I thought I’d have a look at my books and see what came up. This is inspiration for my Kiwis in Italy – Steven’s Wargaming Project.


Vehicle names

Not all Kiwi vehicles had names. Certain units favoured them and others had none. 19th Armoured Regiment like to name their vehicles. The Divisional Cavalry were also keen and carriers were also frequently named. But names appeared in other units as well. General Freyberg’s personal Stuart I tank was, for example, called “Poly III”.

In contrast to the British, who had strict rules fore the vehicle names, the Kiwis chose anything that took their fancy. The carriers in the infantry battalions were more systematic. 18th NZ Battalion named their carriers after native trees of New Zealand e.g. Kauri (platoon commander), Rewa, Towai, Rimu, Rata, Totara, Maire, and Matai. 19th NZ Battalion didn’t give their carriers names but instead used playing cards to distinguish vehicles, although there was at least one exception (“JEM”). Another battalion named their carriers after South Island towns.

The vehicle names could be large (e.g. “Arkansas”) or small (e.g. “Poly III”). They could be on the turret (only if small) or hull.

Vehicle Name Type of Vehicle Regiment Squadron Troop Hull Number Reference
18th Armoured Regiment
Baldy’s Bus Sherman IB 18 B SHQ 15 Plowman, 2008, p. 20
Path Finder
Dannevirke2
Daimler Dingo 18 RHQ Recce
19th Armoured Regiment
The Jay Bird Sherman 19 C 3 Plowman, 2007, 24, 25; Plowman, 2008, p. 27
𝄞 🎶
Discord
(A Clef and some musical notes were above the name)
Sherman III 19 C 11 – (None but Troop marking indicates it was the officers tank) Plowman, 2008, 29; Plowman & Thomas, 2000, 26
Lame Duck
(picture of a lame duck painted side of hull)
Sherman III 19 C 11 13 Plowman & Thomas, 2000, 26
Maleesh
(Egyptian Arabic for “Never Mind”)
Sherman III 19 C 11 13 Plowman, 2007, p. 25; Plowman, 2008, 29, 58; Plowman & Thomas, 2000, 26
Cockie’s Chariot
‘(“Cockie” = “farmer” in Kiwi slang)
Sherman III 19 B 13 Plowman, 2007, p. 25; Plowman, 2008, 30
Slippery Sam Sherman VC Firefly 19 12 Plowman, 2007, p. 27; Plowman, 2008, p. 31
AMGOT
(AMGOT = Allied Military Governance of Occupied Territories)
Sherman VC Firefly 19 9 7 Plowman, 2007, p. 28; Plowman, 2008, p. 31
Dopo Voi
(Italian for “after you”)
Sherman VC Firefly 19 C 3 Plowman, 2007, p. 29; Plowman, 2008, p. 31; Plowman & Thomas, 2000, 26
Stupendous
(Donald Duck was painted above the name)
Sherman III 19 B 8 16 Plowman, 2007, p. 29; Plowman, 2008, p. 33
Recovery T2 recovery vehicle 19 Plowman, 2007, p. 26
20th Armoured Regiment
Nancy Kelly Sherman III 20 RHQ Plowman, 2007, p. 32; Plowman, 2008, p. 42
Arkansas Sherman III 20 A 3 9 Plowman, 2007, p. 38; Plowman, 2008, p. 51
Miss Marlborough Sherman III 20 A 11 Plowman, 2008, p. 39
Tiger Lil Sherman III 20 C 5 Plowman, 2007, p. 31
Queen of Beauty Sherman III 20 C 9 (so officer’s tank) Plowman, 2007, p. 33; Plowman, 2008, p. 39
Tantor Sherman III 20 C 16 Plowman, 2007, p. 32; Plowman, 2008, p. 39
Mr Chips Sherman III 20 C Plowman & Thomas, 2000, 26
Pursuit Ship
(After the nickname for the Lockheed Lightning)
T2 recovery vehicle 20 Plowman, 2007, p. 31
Divisional Cavalry Regiment
Pluto Stuart I Divisional Cavalry Plowman, 2010, p. 22, 26
Happy Stuart I Divisional Cavalry Plowman, 2010, p. 24; Plowman & Thomas, 2002, 23
Pukeko
(A native NZ bird)
Staghound I Divisional Cavalry A 1 Plowman, 2007, p. 4
Bambino
(Italian for baby)
Staghound I Divisional Cavalry B Plowman, 2007, p. 12; Plowman & Thomas, 2002, 31
Katipo
(A native NZ poisonous spider)
Staghound I Divisional Cavalry C Plowman, 2007, p. 9; Plowman & Thomas, 2002, 34
Cappy’s Pride Vickers Light Mark III Divisional Cavalry Plowman & Thomas, 2002, 7
Maugatapere Marmon Herrington Mk II Divisional Cavalry RHQ Plowman & Thomas, 2002, 11
Infantry Universal Carriers
Rewa
(tree commonly known as New Zealand honeysuckle)
Universal Carrier 18th NZ Battalion Plowman & Thomas, 2002, 47
Diamond 1
(Picture of playing card spade, in red, with number below it)
Universal Carrier 19th NZ Battalion Plowman & Thomas, 2002, 46
Spade 11
(Picture of playing card spade, in red, with number below it)
Universal Carrier 19th NZ Battalion Plowman & Thomas, 2002, 46
JEM
(initials of wives/girlfriends of the crew)
Universal Carrier 19th NZ Battalion Plowman & Thomas, 2002, 47
Millar’s Furnace
(Picture of a tobacco pipe above)
Universal Carrier 24th NZ Battalion Plowman, 2007, p. 44, 49; Plowman & Thomas, 2002, 48
INZEBAG II Universal Carrier 28th Maori Battalion Plowman & Thomas, 2002, 48
Other
Tiger Lil Sherman III NZAC Training Depot Plowman, 2008, p. 7
Dosey Dozer Sherman Dozer Assault Squadron Plowman, 2008, p. 56
Colorado Stuart I model M3 (4th Armoured Brigade) Plowman, 2010, p. 23, 24
Poly III Stuart I (Divisional Protective Troop) Plowman, 2010, p. 23, 24
Hallie M10 7 Anti-Tank Regiment A2 Plowman & Thomas, 2000, 26
Miss New Zealand
(with picture of a girl in a swim suit and a silver fern)
Jeep Field Service Regiment Plowman & Thomas, 2000, 26

Notes:
(2) This Daimler Dingo had two names: “Path Finder” and “Dannevirke”. Dannevirke is the name of a town in the North Island of New Zealand, just over the hill from where my family live. Path Finder, I guess, refers to its role in reconnaissance.


References

Plowman, J. (2007). Armor Camouflage & Markings of the 2nd New Zealand Division [Armor Color Gallery #2]. Model Centrum Progres.

Plowman, J. (2008). Camouflage & Markings of the Shermans in New Zealand Service 1943-45 [Armor Color Gallery #3]. Model Centrum Progres.

Plowman, J. (2010). Camouflage & Markings of the Stuarts in New Zealand Service [Armor Color Gallery #7]. Model Centrum Progres.

Plowman, J. and Thomas, M. (2000). 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade in Italy. Kiwi Armour 1.

Plowman, J. and Thomas, M. (2002). 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry Regiment in the Mediterranean. Kiwi Armour 3.

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