John the Confused | 12 Mar 2015 5:37 a.m. PST |
I am thinking of using some HaT FT-17 for defence of a German airfield in North Africa. A couple of questions: Would the rear skid still be fixed? Any suggestion for camouflage? On a related topic, did the Germans or Italians ever use FT-17 as proper combat tanks? I am thinking FT-17s versus Vickers light tanks. |
79thPA | 12 Mar 2015 6:04 a.m. PST |
The Vichy French had some in North Africa. The Germans used them for anti partisan activities in the Balkans. |
Winston Smith | 12 Mar 2015 6:16 a.m. PST |
The most awesomest tank ever. |
Martin Rapier | 12 Mar 2015 8:43 a.m. PST |
The Germans used them for airfield defence in France too, I believe some of them saw action during the Normandy breakout. The Rumanians had two battalions of FT-17s, also used for rear area security but which were pressed into action briefly prior to the capitulation. |
Legion 4 | 12 Mar 2015 8:52 a.m. PST |
Yes, I remember reading about the Vichy in NA. And they had some FT-17s there … They were everywhere … |
advocate | 12 Mar 2015 9:16 a.m. PST |
"The most awesomest tank ever." More of a tracked, armoured motorbike with the sidecar on top. YouTube link |
anleiher | 12 Mar 2015 10:46 a.m. PST |
There were certainly FT-17's in Syria during Operation Exporter. Don't know about Mk 6's in Syria but that would be worth looking at as a possibility. |
rougeau | 12 Mar 2015 12:34 p.m. PST |
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rougeau | 12 Mar 2015 12:38 p.m. PST |
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rougeau | 12 Mar 2015 12:40 p.m. PST |
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Mark 1 | 12 Mar 2015 1:51 p.m. PST |
The Rumanians had two battalions of FT-17s, also used for rear area security but which were pressed into action briefly prior to the capitulation. I believe they operated only one battalion, named, appropriately enough, "Independent FT Battalion". They were scattered about the country for internal security, with platoon or company-sized detachments in important cities and industrial sites (like the Ploesti oil fields/refineries and the Resita arms works). And they were indeed pressed into service briefly. They earned a reputation of making a vital contribution on August 23, 1944, in the annihilation of German forces at these key facilities when Romania changed sides. All surviving FTs were later confiscated by the Soviets. Or so I've read. -Mark (aka: Mk 1) |
John the OFM | 12 Mar 2015 1:54 p.m. PST |
Supposedly some were discovered in a junkyard by American troops when we conquered … err, liberated Afghanistan. I would love to know how they got there. |
Legion 4 | 12 Mar 2015 2:15 p.m. PST |
I pics of that somewhere online. There was one or two FT-17s and … IIRC, an Italian CV-33/L3-33 link … I believe, wish I could remember where I saw/read this online, they were sold/given to the Afghan military by other countries, third hand. Decades and decades ago … |
jowady | 12 Mar 2015 2:26 p.m. PST |
Supposedly some were discovered in a junkyard by American troops when we conquered … err, liberated Afghanistan. I would love to know how they got there Not supposedly, they were. One went to the Patton Museum for restoration and display. FT17s and various derivatives were sold to many countries postwar, it's not all that surprising that some wound up there. What is surprising is that they were still around. On a related topic, did the Germans or Italians ever use FT-17 as proper combat tanks? I am thinking FT-17s versus Vickers light tanks. The Germans captured quite a few from the French but (while I won't rule it out completely) they used them primarily as local defense against partisans. The 101st and 82nd AB divisions ran into a couple in Normandy, IIRC they even captured one and used it for a short period themselves. As near as I can tell though the Germans never incorporated them into their armored force, they were just too old. You may though have had some combat between FT17s and MkIIs. |
Weasel | 12 Mar 2015 2:26 p.m. PST |
I wonder what will be the last place in the world an FT tank will show up. |
Saber6 | 12 Mar 2015 2:37 p.m. PST |
FT-17, the Spanish Inquisition of Tanks |
Weasel | 12 Mar 2015 4:07 p.m. PST |
As the Star Marines stormed the last rebel colony on Praxius III, Federation engineers began to catalogue and dispose of captured weapons: Gauss rifles, some singularity mines and one very strange vehicle, small and tracked, featuring an archaic Earth flag and a puny cannon. No one could explain where it had come from or why it was even there since tracked vehicles had fallen out of use in the 2320's but it was decided to send it back to Earth for further analysis. |
jowady | 12 Mar 2015 7:31 p.m. PST |
I got this from my Brother a while back when I was wondering about how any FT17s were still around in France in 1940. "In 1940 there were seven battalions each containing 63 FT-17 for a total of 441. These included both 37mm cannon-armed and machinegun vehicles. Likely the machinegun tanks had been upgraded during the 1930s by having the original 8mm Hotchkiss guns replaced with newer 7.5mm Reibel weapons in a new mount. In addition to the tanks in Metropolitan France there were more in French colonies, Some in French North Africa opposed the Torch landings in 1942."
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Leadgend | 12 Mar 2015 9:46 p.m. PST |
In addition to the FT17 in the BCC there were also another thousand or so mostly still armed with the 8mm Hotchkiss in local defence companies and platoons. A lot of the original gun armed FT17 had their guns removed for use in the new light tanks (R35 etc) and the disarmed tanks used as spares, tractors etc and some were rearmed with LMG so exact numbers of armed FT17 are hard to determine. The Italian version (the FIAT 3000) was used in small numbers in Sicily. |
Leadgend | 12 Mar 2015 9:47 p.m. PST |
The FT17 in the Levant were all for local defence, the ones in the BCC having been replaced by R35 prior to the Allies invading. |
Mark 1 | 12 Mar 2015 11:17 p.m. PST |
I actually helped to translate the Renault operator's guide for a team that submitted a proposal to the Patton Museum to restore their "liberated" (ex-Afghan) FT-17. I seem to recall that in the end the museum decided to do the restoration without outside help, and it didn't go very well … |
Tirailleur corse | 13 Mar 2015 2:58 a.m. PST |
The first modern tank ever designed; another wonderfull french contribution to the art of warfare … There were some in North Africa in 1942, exclusively in the hands of the french. They saw limited action as they were already regarded as obsolete for a while. Mostly in the first two days of the invasion and against our allies … The only french tanks which saw action with some success in NA were the very few SOMUA present in Tunisia. The campaign pointed out what was already well known: good chassis and engine, but useless one man-turrets. In early 43 in Tunisia, the 47 mm was still able to bag most of the panzers and italian armour; beside of the Tigers of course. Last large scale actions of french FT17 took place in may 1940 when they still equiped a few reserve armour battalions. Was an heroic disaster, even a man loaded with his combat gear and a tellermine runs faster than an FT!! Interesting link to the 12th Regiment de Chasseur d'Afrique historical website where you'll discover how a regiment of SOMUA was transported from Dakar (Senegal) to NA to join the fight in Tunisia. Many interesting pics! Enjoy! 12rcahistorique.canalblog.com |
Matsuru Sami Kaze | 13 Mar 2015 2:57 p.m. PST |
Great idea. The FT-17's could take on the SAS Chevrolet Trucks and jeeps armed with twin Vickers and a few .50 cal's. Hard to say who would come out on top. Got to get me some FT-17's and find out the answer. |
John the Confused | 14 Mar 2015 3:55 a.m. PST |
Thank you everyone for your responses. Matsuru, that was what I wass thinking. Speed versus armour. |
ArmymenRGreat | 14 Mar 2015 9:24 a.m. PST |
Winston +1 Most awesomest tank ever! |