American WWII tank names - Gone With The Wind?

[tanks_for_the_memory]

Ok, so just for Christmas I thought I would go with something un-controversial...

Now it seems to be 'established historical fact' (i.e. I've read it in several books / seen it on t'internet) that it was the British actually gave names to many American WWII tanks, taking as their cue various Civil War generals regardless of which side of the conflict they were on.

So we get Grant, Lee, Stuart and, most famously, Sherman of course.

Now I always thought the last was thought the last was a particularly dumb choice because, in the heat of battle, there was bound to be some room for confusion. Imagine some poor grunt shouting "The Shermans are coming!" and I'm sure you will see my point.

Anyway, I was watching Gone With The Wind yesterday on British telly and, unsurprisingly, most of these names came up. In fact there's one memorable caption where it states that "Sherman's shells" are falling on Atlanta (forgive me my American friends if I have got the wrong city - it wasn't part of my exam syllabus).

Since this film was a BIG hit and came out shortly before the Second World War I was just wondering if this was the reason why the Brits chose to use Civil War generals for the American tanks...

Just a thought!

[43rdRecceReg]

In one sense, it doesn't matter, since all of those names including 'Sherman' (variant of 'Shearman'/Sharman etc.,) are of British origin. If the Yanks had named the tanks after Washington, Greene, Gates,Jefferson, Lincoln, Adams, John Paul Jones etc.,the names would still be British (Though some of these were more political figures than military).
The practice of renaming war machines also extended to Lend-Lease ships and aircraft (e.g., Wildcat= Martlet). Merry Boxing Day or is it sparring!

[HERMAN BIX]

I can get the naming of tanks after staunch figures in history, so, explain Matilda, Valentine :wtf
And why on earth was there never an official "Lion" in the German range of 'CAT' tanks ? And still not been ??

[Woz]

I can get the naming of tanks after staunch figures in history, so, explain Matilda, Valentine :wtf
And why on earth was there never an official "Lion" in the German range of 'CAT' tanks ? And still not been ??

There was the Lowe (Lion) that never made it off the drawing board.

[ALPHA]

Interesting thought that entered your Mind TANKS....my initial thought is to ask...did the movie have subliminal messages? ...Next would be to refer to logic...though I probably am in err in the assumption that I would even near the thoughts of those who coined names back in those days...it's probably written in history somewhere
I do know many of the American tanks were named after Generals on the flip side US ships destroyers named after Capts Admirals and States
I would have guessed that the British named their tanks after Song titles...but I learned from Scalawag's post that it could vary depending on the designer ...I have to agree with Herman on the point of the Germans....how they named several of their later tanks after animals....Big Cats ...as fore mentioned...that is truly a enigma
Interesting as well is how the Japanese designated their tanks initially by number...them Typed them by how many links were used on a bank of tracks

A fine query You have brought to bear TANKs....as I am sure it goes into deeper waters of thoughts in history ...The kind of thought that makes my head hurt ................


ALPHA

[43rdRecceReg]

Have to agree with Herman about the wtf. anomalies in 'Matilda" and 'Valentine', when compared with 'Crusader', 'Challenger', even the 'Churchill' and 'Cromwell'. I thought 'Matilda' might be named after the would-be Queen of England; the mid-12th century Holy Roman Empress (Daughter of Henry 1) Matilda. She was certainly fairly warlike, having invaded England in 1139 in order to beat up her equally avaricious power- mad brother, Stephen, who had seized the crown. Together, they a triggered a brutal civil war long before the 'Wars of the Roses' (another infamous family 'tiff'), and the Civil War of the 1640s. She had the balls of Boudicca (figuratively..unless she was built like Jean D'Arc.. ), and wouldn't take 'Non!' for an answer.
As for the Valentine, I think that was designed to confuse the Germans by blowing kisses at them on 14th Feb, and on other Celebration Days...
All that aside, Scalawag probably has the correct take here..

[billpe]

There is a video by the curator of Bovington who goes over the origins of the Valentine.