"Chinese FT17 Color" Topic

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Hmmm, interesting, I wonder where Warlord got their information from as FT17 history in China is very sketchy. Most seem to have disappeared around 1931, except for two that were kept as training vehicles. Most evidence would indicate they were mostly used by warlords in the 1920s. Those bought by the National Revolutionary Army in 1925 had been armed by the Japanese, so these should have a Japanese 37mm gun and mounting if you wanted to represent those correctly.

If you intend playing anything after 1931 then these would be extremely rare as the Chinese had already began purchasing Vickers 6 ton tanks and their Carden-Lloyd carriers. In 1936 they ordered PzkfwIA from Germany (which were all lost at Nanjing in 1937). In 1938 they ordered some Italian L-3/35 tankettes and also received shipments of Soviet T26. Plenty of choice instead of the FT17, which is more suited to ‘back of beyond' era games.

I like color pics like that … certainly are helpful for a number uses.

Some FT 17s were captured during the Manchurian Incident. I guess it depends on when you want to start WWII. I think the T26 was the most numerous Chinese import. Personally, the FT 17 is one of my favorite tanks, even though only a handful were operational in China in the 30s. It does seem to be an odd choice.

In1936 the Nationalists purchased and imported three companies of Poland's second hand Ft-17 fleet. Spain purchased the rest.

There is also a school of thought that the Chinese purchase was fictitious, and that the tanks actually went to Spain. I know Poland said they also sold tanks to a country in South America that actually went to Spain. I have read that France also supposedly made a sale of FT 17s to China that went to Spain as well.

If the FT17s did go to China there is virtually no known evidence of their combat use post 1936.

What color schemes did the Chinese use on their armor or did they basically leave the way they received it?

Warlord is making sure that no matter what army you have, you can still field roughly the same types of vehicles. It gives everyone an equal chance in tournaments. So they try to find equipment that they can sort of justify historically.

Warlord is making sure that no matter what army you have, you can still field roughly the same types of vehicles. It gives everyone an equal chance in tournaments.

Hmmm! Can't see the FT-17 being much use against a Tiger or JSII and has been mentioned several options for equivalent vehicles in game terms.

Can't see the FT-17 being much use against a Tiger or JSII

Or many other AFVs for that matter.

Tank would still be useful in 1930's China.

Hmmm! Can't see the FT-17 being much use against a Tiger or JSII and has been mentioned several options for equivalent vehicles in game terms.

Well there aren't that many Tigers and JSIIs in China. They probably could hold their own versus a Japanese tank. You won't spend as many points as your opponent would on one Tiger. So you can buy more of the FT-17 tanks or more of something else.

I am sure they are scouring the history books trying to find a tank which is worth more points, for the Chinese. For the French Warlord brought out the FCM Char 2c super-heavy tank. I think the French only made ten of them. I don't use points for my games, so I don't care one way or another.

Well there aren't that many Tigers and JSIIs in China.

Indeed, but as the discussion was about the Bolt Action tournament scene, that is what they would be potentially facing, so giving them the option for the FT-17 doesn't help much. If you are playing historical based scenarios it is irrelevant anyway. I suspect this less about list and more about selling an existing model to more players. As for the Char 2C wasn't that part of a range they bought from another manufacturer? If so make sense to market to players of French armies.

As a side bar, I've heard the French, during their war in Indochina. Thought about sending some "former" German Panthers. To combat the possibility of the Chinese getting JS heavy tanks. And that they may cross the border to "help their Communist brothers in their war against the French occupiers".

I'm not sure how true that was. Or this is, but I've also heard they sent one or two to see how the Pz V would do in that type of climate and terrain. And the Pz Vs didn't fare well ?

They probably could hold their own versus a Japanese tank.

Yes, those would be some of the very few AFVs at that time the FT-17 would be somewhat effective, I'd think.