Landships II

vad26 · Captain

St_Chamond. Question

Tanker · Field Marshal

Bonjour,

Very good question !

It's a metal white and red panel in two parts (here open like a book), used by the french tanks to call the infantry, when all german machine-guns was destroyed in front of the tanks.
Very often, the tanks was obliged to go back, when the infantry don't moved quickly with the tanks.

Michel

vad26 · Captain

Bonjour, Michel

1. On SCHNEIDER CA 1 - too red-white colours?
2. St_Chamond - panels could lift-lower or the height is fixed?
3. There are no other images of this device? The control system is not clear - as open-closed?
4. Such panels should stand on each tank or not?

Tanker · Field Marshal

Bonjour

It's, for me, the only photo. The panel is only put and open when the tank's commander decide it. I don't how they put it on the tank.

In Lataule (June 11th, 1918) this St Chamond was the number two of the battery, The tank was very often alone, and I think that the panel was in each tank. (I just suppose it).

The Schneider probably used the same panels.
I have a report on it, and (may be) dimensions of the panel.
I try to found it . . . . .

Michel

Tanker · Field Marshal

� The special panel (to call infantry) was proposed by Lt Duboin and tested in September 1917 by Schneider's Groupement II (Capitaine Lefevbre).

Two models were built.

The first model, used by the Schneider's Groups, is fold on the roof and raise by a cable. This panel (three pieces in T-square) is paint�with three�horizontal stripes :

�� -�top - a quarter red,

�� - middle - half white,

�� - low - a quarter red,

Dimensions of the panel are not given in the military report. . . .

This panel is looking for the rear of the tank, and only this side is painted in red and white.

The other side is painted with the roof's color.

The second model, used by the Saint Chamond's Groups, is monted on a rod (like on the St Chamond's photo in Lataule).

For ordres, inside Schneider and St Chamond's Groups, teams used usual pennants.

Tanker · Field Marshal

Bonsoir,

It is in French on Forum 14-18, but I think you found enough photos to well understand my topic.

http://pages14-18.mesdiscussions.net/pages1418/Pages-d-Histoire-Artillerie/Artillerie-Speciale/panneaux-infanterie-schneider-sujet_412_1.htm

Michel