Do we have any experts on them? Anyone want to share their favourite stories about WWI tanks? Personally, I find it interesting, and in my above post on "Iron Fist" is my favourite story. WWI tanks are certainly very interesting, it's great to see where the modern tank came from, and of the changes in tactics which we saw between the wars. So, back to the original topic, anyone got any stories, etc, to share about WWI tanks, or even some pics? Cheers, Tomba
ww1 tanks Here's a pic for you, I have history of this tank, presented to town (Hinckley) in 1923, cut up for scrap in 1941.
OLD BILL Especially for you 'tomba', 'Old Bill' on tour Jan14th. 1918. "Old Bill" which was a Mark4 Male tank had come over to Leicester from the Potteries and then went on to Nottingham. Four of five tanks were travelling the country at this time on behalf of National War Savings Committee, selling War Bonds.They went from city to city by rail and then would drive from the station to some focal point, stay for a few days and move on.They were popular subjects for postcards at the time. A friend of mine is working on a book to find ALL of the 'Presentation Tanks' to cities after WW1, many of the larger towns had the but unfortunately , like our 'Hinckley' tank were cut up for scrap during WW2. (I'll come back later, have to resize photo)
Sweet stuff guys - thanks for the posts. Very interesting story indeed about the old tank - again, thanks for posting it up! Cheers, Tomba
SturmTiger sent me these wonderful pictures to illustrate and to inform: (Thanks a lot for sending these ST)
They're AWESOME pics! Seweeet! Thankyou very, very much for posting them. I went to the AWM (Australian War Memorial) the other day and got a shot of a fully painted R-17(I think it was the R17) - the early model Renault - I'll post it up soon. Cheers, Tomba
I'm glad you like them.With the exception of the FT-17,all pics were taken at Aberdeen in 2004.The -17 was photographed at the 1st Division Museum in Wheaton Illinois.The Aberdeen pics include a British Mk.I,a British Whippet,and a French Grand Puissance Filloux (the SPG).At least I think it is an SPG.Unless I am mistaken,there is a similar version that is towed but looks identical. BTW,I have to get a pick of the -17 WITHOUT me standing in front of it.
SturmTiger - lovely pics, thanks! (good job PP - I hope Roel passed my regards back ) It is good to have a sense of scale though - how tall are you?