Got your attention. How were US tanks named? I am guessing past generals, is that correct?
US WWII tanks were named via designation in the US ie: M4A3E8. But the British renamed them after US Civil War Generals… These names in some cases were accepted by the US troops but not in all cases. The same happened in the case of US Aircraft for the most part…
I hope that helps…
Ed “Hibrass” Harley
Ed’s right, but during WW2, the US adopted the British convention and stated naming the tanks after famous generals, not just Civil War generals.
The Civil War named tanks were Stuart, Lee, Grant, Jackson (not a true tank). When the US took over this tradition, it named the M24 after Gen. Adna Chaffee, the father of the US Armor Corps. The M26 was named after John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, Mexican-American War and WW1 general.
The M41 was originally called the Little Bulldog but then the commander of the forces in Korea, Gen Walker died in an accident. The tank was renamed in his honor as the Walker Bulldog.
The M46, M47, M48 and M60 were all considered Patton tanks. The M1 tank was named after Gen. Creighton Abrams, the commander of forces in Vietnam and also a renouned WW2 tank battalion commander (Patton considered him his best). The M2/M3 was named after WW2 Gen. Omar Bradley.
The M551 was named Sheridan after the Civil War General.
The M247 was named after WW1 hero Sgt. Alvin York. The new Styrkers were named after a pair of sergeants from two different wars.
Oh yeah, I named my first child after my wife’s cousin who passed away just before our child was born. Named my second child with an old family name from my side of the family. Named my last child after Ronald Reagan who passed away last summer.
LOL
I named my truck “Rommel” after my favorite historical figure. My wife and her Jewish family dont know what to think about that.
Ryan