I'm still looking at these photos for any more evidence. Better copies of the old photos have been published recently.
I still can't find any solid proof that the tank had "a pair of twos" in its number, as the writer states.
But I did manage to identify the location where a photo of "712" was taken. And, reading the history of the 501 and 504 battalions, there is only one occasion when they visited this particular place.
As a result of that, I can say with confidence that "712" was sent to Maknassy where it probably fought American forces. And it probably got its battle damage (missing smoke launchers) in that fight.
In fact, it seems that the Maknassy battle was fought largely or entirely by the survivors of 501, not by the newly arrived crews of 504.

David