WWI Tanks in WWII

The Char Renault FT BS

The Char Renault FT BS was a self-propelled gun mounting a 75mm Blockhaus Schneider L9.5 short-barrelled howitzer in a seven-sided rivited superstructure that replaced the turret. This increased the vehicle's weight to 7.2 tons. Due to the size of the gun, ammunition storage was redude to only 30 rounds. An order was placed for 970 units but because of the Armistice in 1918 only 39 vehicles were produced. Whether any saw service in France during 1940 is uncertain. Some saw action in North Africa between the wars and were encountered there by the allies during the Torch invasion.

A Renault FT BS 75mm.
The Char Renault FT TSF

The Char Renault FT TSF (Télégraphie Sans Fil) was a command tank. The turret was replaced by a box-like superstructure giving room for a crew of three; driver, radio operator and observer. The vehicle was equipped with an ER10 ter morse code-only wireless, its wire antenna was hung between a mast mounted on the superstructure and the vehicles tail. The vehicle had no armament. 300 vehicles were ordered of which 188 were produced. Whether any saw service in France during 1940 is uncertain.

A Renault FT TSF.
Deployment

The Renault FT-17 light tanks equipped a number of front-line independant tank batalions and companies; BCC and CACC. They also equipped a number of second-line and training units such as regional tank platoons, anti-paratroops tank companies, airfield protection platoons and the Paris military region special group.
10th May 1940

When the Germans's attacked the French army had 630 Renault FT-17 tanks in front-line combat units of which 525 were in France. Units all contained a mixture of FT-17c and FT-17m mle 31 tanks; in what proportion is unsure.

• 11th BCC: 42 Renault FT-17 (only two companies strong)
• 18th BCC: 63 Renault FT-17
• 29th BCC: 63 Renault FT-17
• 30th BCC: 63 Renault FT-17
• 31st BCC: 63 Renault FT-17
• 33rd BCC: 63 Renault FT-17
• 36th BCC: 63 Renault FT-17
• 62nd BCC: 15 Renault FT-17 and 30 R-35 (in Morocco - moving to the R-35)
• 64th BCC: 45 Renault FT-17 (in Tunisia - moving to the R-35)
• 66th BCC: 45 Renault FT-17 (in Morocco - moving to the R-35)
• Colonial BCTC: 63 Renault FT-17
• 343rd CACC: 21 Renault FT-17 (intended for, but never shipped to Norway)
• 344th CACC: 21 Renault FT-17 (intended for, but never shipped to Norway)

In addition the following was formed May, 21st:

• 50th BCC: 50 Renault FT-17 (raised from training tanks in the Paris area)

In total 1297 FT-17 tanks were still in service; 1062 tanks in France and 235 in the colonies.

Renault FT-17 and FT-31 - Keiths Guide to Wargaming the French Army of 1940 (in 10mm / 12mm / N-Gauge)

 

French FT-17 In North Africa

 

one thing Polish edit the FT-17. It was called FT-17 Gas Tank it had two bottles of possine gas brobably the tank crew had gas mask. But that is WW2

 

Not sure what you mean.

 

FT-17 it has gas or smoke I don't realy know.

 

IIRC The CWS FT-17 was designed to disburse smoke. Prototype only and not used in WWII.

 

This is interesting: destroyed polish FT-17 in Brest Litovsk

 

Its a good picture

I never really wonder why nations like Denmark, Poland, Yugoslavia and Netherlands never grasped the idea of the tank until it was way to late.

 

Out of those mentioned the Poles were producing and designing tanks and AFVs before the war. But Jeff is right it had alot to do with finances for one.

 

"12 Renaults were bought by Brazil in 1921: one radio tank (TSF), four machine gun and seven cannon armed tanks. These had some improvements in relation to the normal French vehicles, suggested by Captain José Pessôa Cavalcanti de Albuquerque. Captain Albuquerque served as a military observer in the French 4th Dragoon Regiment, Armor School and 503rd Char de Combat Regiment during WWI and is considered the "father" of the Brazilian Armored force. The tanks, acquired for testing armor theories, were used by the government against the rebels in the 1924 and 1932 Revolutions and were withdrawn from active service in 1938, although continuing to serve in the Armor school up to 1942. There are four known surviving Renaults in Brazil, but only one is kept in working condition (a cannon vehicle), the others were gutted. The 2 man crews had their functions divided as such: commander/gunner and driver/mechanic. A small breakdown of the duties was as follows: for each operational day, 3 hours were set apart for repairs, also, there is a prevision of a rest day after two days in the field."

Brazil

 

The Romanian version was built at the Berliet factory in Lyon. They first arrived in Romania in 1917. Never used in combat! They were used for training.In 1918 they were stationed in Moldavia. In june 1919, France sent 72 new pieces (FT17C). 45 had the 37 mm gun and 27 with 7.7mm French MG. They were removed from service in 1945.

TANKS!​

 

Renault FT17 "Ko" Light Tank

Introduced Year : 1919 Weight : 6.7 ton Dimensions: 4.88 x 1.74 x 2.14(h) m Armor (max) : 22 mm Speed (max) : 8 km/hr Engine : Gasoline Engine 39 PS Armaments : 8 mm MG x 1 or 37 mm Gun x 1 Crew : 2 Origin : France Imported Qty : 13
As well as other many countries, Japan bought Renault FT17 tanks from France. A few were 37mm gun type and others were MG type. Guns were replaced with Japanese MG or 37mm infantry gun in Japan. They were used in the Manchurian Incident and then used for the training of tankers.

 

Its troublesome that it has to come to money to protect your nation.

 

IN all of history it has been a major factor in the defence of the nation. If you can't produce it yourself you look to buy what you want from others. And in regards to both world wars there was a huge military surplus to the needs of quite a few countries.

 

And there was sure a surplus of FT-17s LOL.

 

Polish FT-17

 

Found some more info on the tanks sold to Canada,

"US M1917 tanks were purchased by the Canadian government, at $20 a ton plus a 100% mark up which means that each tank actually sold for $240. The 236 tanks were shipped to Camp Borden where for nearly 2 years they proved a useful training vehicle. They were known to break down often, catch fire, and gave a bone jarring ride due to the lack of a suspension, but the soldiers learned maintenance and endurance. Since there was no onboard radio, the soldiers learned hand and flag signals and became proficient dealing with poor communications while still maintaining and executing formations. Hats off to the Canadians!"



"By 1939 all U.S. Mark VIII tanks were in storage at Aberdeen Proving Ground and had been there since 1934. Any serviceable units were sent to Canada to aid in tank training in 1939. The unit shown here was assigned to the United States 67th Infantry Regiment who principally operated the 100 units that were produced between 1918 and 1919. The large cylinder on top was a water tank. The Mark 8 had terrible cooling problems associated with it's engine. Over the life of this tank, deliberate efforts were done in an effort to improve it's abilities and increase crew comfort. However, by the time Canada purchased them, they were totally obsolete."



Canadian Armor

 

"However, by the time Canada purchased them, they were totally obsolete"

Hmmmmmm... You would think so!! LOL. 240.00 dollars for a war surplus tank. You couldn't see that kind of deal today LOL.

 

I wonder if they eventually wound up as scrap after thier use?