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Apologies if this has been covered before, but I can't find the answer to my questions anywhere!

I'm new to 15mm WWII gaming, but not new to actual WWII history, although I'm certainly no expert, does anybody have or know of a good resource for US tank company markings? How are the command tanks distinguished from the other tanks in the squad for example? I know that the troop officers had marks on the back of their helmets for NCO's etc, is this the same for the tanks? My local group is getting into 15mm WWII gaming and I love sherman tanks, so I was going to do a force with the various sherman variants based on the 3rd armoured division. I'm not going for super accurate, but I'd at least like to get the squad markings right if I can. Cheers in advance

www.stugiii.com/images/US_Vehicle_Markings.pdf

A fairly interesting pdf on the subject, the upshot being there was a lot of variation Some semi-useful pics in there, lots more on the web.

I have read that US tank companies were 1st platoon tanks 1 to 5, 2nd platoon 6 to 10, 3rd platoon 11 to 15 and command 16 and 17, but not sure if that was universal.

Edit - here's a more useful image -

http://www.scalemates.com/products/product.php?id=172785

If you watch some actual newsreel footage, very few US tanks have the full set of markings.

For example these tanks only have the Star on the roof.
http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675072548_United-States-soldiers_World-War-II_4th-Armored-Division_vehicles-and-trucks

The tanks here between 1:20 and 2:30 only have serial numbers on the rear sides (go full screen)
http://resources.ushmm.org/film/display/detail.php?file_num=3306

There is a story in 'Pattons Vanguard' about a US Lt in Normandy who sees 5 knocked out Shermans in a row, all shot right through the star on the front. Thereafter many Armored Divisions started blacking out some or all stars.

One thing you dont want in a war, is your command tank being distinguished from the others...

Then those pesky Germans shoot at it.

All US units carried registration numbers on the hulls and ID stars, plus air recog sheets... But it varied from unit to unit as to how complete the markings were... and as stated, white stars were blacked out. Some units carried unit insignia and vehicle names.

The registration number provided most of the unit information.

2nd and 3rd Armoured Divisions had yellow tactical 'speed' markings on the turrets in Normandy, but many crews got rid of them when then applied camo.

Thanks for the links! I've carried on some more research and reckon I'm gonna go with the registration and unit numbers on the rear of the tanks, couple of other its on some like blacked out stars etc, cheers fir the input so far, I'll put some pics up when I'm done.