AFRIKAKORPS
Turret Numbering Progression

This will be an attempt to trace and follow the turret numbering
systems used by the D.A.K. in their see-saw battles of 1941-42

With the arrival of the first German troops and their armor in North Africa came the old turret markings and paint jobs from the continent. Exactly how they appeared and how long they remained that way will be the challenge we pursue here. There appears to be ample photo reference to at least get started, but as the campaign in the desert progresses, there will be more and more vehicles to account for.
To start we will try and build a basic chart and see if we can fill in the blanks, so don't take this as a final work at this early stage. As we track down the information it will be added or altered, whichever is the case.
Naturally, we will start with the first arrivals and work out from there, with the main emphasis on the tanks and their turret markings. For the moment we plan to stop at the Alamein battles, and treat the Mareth and Tunisian battles as a separate challenge.
This chart will give us a chance to gradually put most of the pieces together, and eventually fill in the blanks. One thing that is difficult to show in these charts is the SIZE of these numbers on the turret side. Therefore, I am including a column giving an approximate HEIGHT of the digits in relation to the side plate of the turret. Thus, 90% would indicate very large numbers, and 40% would indicate much smaller. As for style, that can be viewed by clicking on the number itself, which is hyperlinked to a small scan of the turret in question.
During the early battles 5. Pz.Rgt appears to have carried a full 3-digit turret number, while 8. Pz.Rgt. opted for a single turret digit, usually in red, designating the Kompanie. This makes for easy regiment recognition.

The other item included in the chart numbers is the small black-with-white vehicle number "rhomboid" carried on most the the DAK tanks early in the campaign. If this was evident in the photo it is shown directly after the turret number. It will appear in "slashes", such as ./223/ directly after the turret number displayed.

DEUTSCHES AFRIKA KORPS Turret Numbering

Tripoli, February , 1941

NUMBER	HGT	COLORS & REMARKS	*UNIT (=probable)**	AFV NOTED
???	???	????, on gray?	Aufklar.Abt. 3 (5. leDiv.)	No Tanks Yet
???	???	??????, on gray?	PzJag.Abt. 39 (5. leDiv.)	No Tanks Yet
144	90%	white outline, on gray	1./Pz.Rgt.5 / 5. leDiv. (3.PD)	Pz. II (no gun)
I	80%	white outline, on gray	Stab/I. / 5. Pz.Rgt. / 5. leDiv. (3.PD)	Pz. I (no MGs)
I04	LG	white outline, on gray	Stab/I. / 5. Pz.Rgt. / 5. leDiv. (3.PD)	klPzBef.I

Tripoli, March 11, 1941

NUMBER	HGT	COLORS & REMARKS	*UNIT (=probable)**	AFV NOTED
822./812/	90%	black w/white outline, on gray	5. Pz.Rgt./3.PD (5. leDiv)	Pz. IV/D
813 ./813/	90%	black w/white outline, on gray	5. Pz.Rgt./3.PD (5. leDiv)	Pz. IV/D
613./613/	90%	black w/white outline, on gray	5. Pz.Rgt./3.PD (5. leDiv)	Pz. III
614 ./614/	90%	black w/white outline, on gray	5. Pz.Rgt./3.PD (5. leDiv)	Pz. III
II 2	80%	black w/white outline, on gray	5. Pz.Rgt./3.PD (5. leDiv)	Pz. II
803	98%	white outline, on gray	5. Pz.Rgt./3.PD (5. leDiv)	Pz. I
833	60%	black w/white outline, on gray	5. Pz.Rgt./3.PD (5. leDiv)	Pz. I

El Agheila, March, 1941

NUMBER	HGT	COLORS & REMARKS	*UNIT (=probable)**	AFV NOTED
R03	80%	white outline, on gray/sand	5. Pz.Rgt. / 5. leDiv. Stab	Pz. III
///////////	///	//////////////////	//////////////////////	//////
///////////	///	/////////////////	//////////////////////	//////

Tobruk, April 14, 1941

NUMBER	HGT	COLORS & REMARKS	*UNIT (=probable)**	AFV NOTED
22 ./223/	???	white outline, on sand/gray	8. Pz.Rgt / 15. PD*	Pz. III/F
1	???	red w/white outline, on sand	8. Pz.Rgt / 15. PD	Pz. III/H
II 05	???	II black w/white outline, 05 white outline, on sand	5.Pz.Rgt. /5. leDiv.	Pz.II/F

Capuzzo, June 16, 1941

NUMBER	HGT	COLORS & REMARKS	*UNIT (=probable)**	AFV NOTED
//////	???	//////on sand	8. Pz.Rgt / 15.PD	Pz. IV
111	90%	white outline, on sand	????/ 21.PD*	Pz. III/J
//////	???	///////////////	///////////////////	//////////
//////	???	///////////////	///////////////////	//////////

Sidi Rezeg, November, 1941

113	90%	thin white outline	???/ 21. PD	Pz. III/G
???	???	????????????	????/????	???????

Gazala, May 28, 1942

NUMBER	HGT	COLORS & REMARKS	*UNIT (=probable)**	AFV NOTED
7	50%	solid red, on sand	7.Kp/II.Abt/8. Pz.Rgt/15.PD. Gazala*	Pz. III/G
2	60%	red w/white outline	2.Kp/I.Abt./8. Pz.Rgt./15.PD Gazala*	Pz.III/L
//////	???	/////////////	//////////	//////
R	70%	solid black, on sand	Stab/Pz.Rgt.8 /15.PD. Gazala*	Bef.Pz. III/H

Tobruk, June 20, 1942

NUMBER	HGT	COLORS & REMARKS	*UNIT (=probable)**	AFV NOTED
2	50%	red w/white outline	8. Pz.Rgt / 15.PD.	Pz. III/J
444	90%	white outline, on sand	4./Pz.Rgt.5 / 21.PD	Pz. IV/F2

Alamein, July 12, 1942

NUMBER	HGT	COLORS & REMARKS	*UNIT (=probable)**	AFV NOTED
4	50%	red w/white outline	8. Pz.Rgt / 15.PD.	Pz. III/J
12	60%	white outline, on sand	Tel el Eisa	Pz. III/J
7	60%	red, on sand	Tel el Eisa	Pz. III/L?
632	80%	solid white	???/???	Pz. III/J

Alamein, September, 1942

NUMBER	HGT	COLORS & REMARKS	*UNIT (=probable)**	AFV NOTED
143	30%	white outline, on sand	1./Pz.Rgt.5 / 21.PD* Alam Halfa*	Pz. III/L
800	60%	black w/white outline	5. Pz.Rgt. / 21.PD	Pz.IV/E
813	60%	black w/white outline	5. Pz.Rgt. / 21.PD	Pz.IV/E

Mareth, February, 1943

NUMBER	HGT	COLORS & REMARKS	*UNIT (=probable)**	AFV NOTED
circle spade	60%	black, on sand	unknown unit, 15.PD, Mareth Line*	Pz. III/L
number	60%	description	unit	vehicle
number	60%	description	unit	vehicle

Tunisia, Feb-April, 1943

NUMBER	HGT	COLORS & REMARKS	*UNIT (=probable)**	AFV NOTED
2 circle spade	60%	black on sand	unknown	Pz. III/N
7 spade	50%	black on sand	7.Company, unknown Regt, 15.PD	PzKpfw.IV/G*
8/23	80%	black 8 over white 23	8.Company, 2.Platoon, 3rd vehicle, 10.PD	PzKpfw.IV/G
132	90%	white outline on sand	sPzAbt.501	Tiger Ausf E
131	30%	black on sand	sPzAbt.504	Tiger Ausf E

So let's see what we are covering:

(1) 5. LEICHTE DIVISION: (Early period only)

5. Pz.Rgt. with 2 Armored Battalions, of 4 Companies each (including Stab).
(2) 15. PANZER DIVISION:
8. Pz.Rgt. with 2 Armored Battalions, of 5 Companies each (including Stab).
(3) 21. PANZER DIVISION:
5. Pz.Rgt. with 2 Armored Battalions, of 5 Companies each (including Stab).
Once again, this only scratches the surface, but hopefully more information will surface as we go along.
NOTE: The color of numbers will ALWAYS be in dispute because of the inability to differentiate between red and black in the average black & white photo.