Greetings, Attached is a photo and details of a group of FT-17s, some of which show unit markings. The format of the photo is a 'Carte Postale', so am assuming it was taken in France.
After March 1918 German's attack, all around Renault FT from Champlieu's camp was deployed in Cercottes camp and a new tank's camp was built in Bourron.
Bourron is 8 km south of Fontainebleau. The camp was between Bourron, Recloses, Villiers-sous-Recloses and Grez.
The worshop on the rear was a hangar model "Meaux". It was 350 m long and 3500 m2, with 60 mm wide railways. All Renault FT coming from factories were tested there. It was also the repair center from Renault coming back from the Front.
Some of the American Motor-Mechanics-Coys used by the "Artillerie Spéciale" were working there.
The General Estienne's Head-Quarter was in Sorques (East of Bourron).
After March 1918, Champlieu's camp was only used by operational tanks units.
This French repair unit in Bourron was the GPAS (Grand Parc d'Artillerie d'Assaut).
In Bourron was also the BIAS (Bataillon d'Instruction d'Artillerie d'Assaut) an the Alllied tank training center of Recloses, who received French, British and American tank officers for 5 days training course.
After instruction in Cercottes camp, the new Renault FT units got there tanks in Bourron before joining the Armee on front line.
This photos are probably from the end of 1918 or the beginning of 1919.
Again, you have amazed me with your knowledge of the camps and units in France! Thank you SO much for sharing this information.
In my AEF Tank research, I keep stumbling into the U.S. 2nd Air Mechanics. I have only found anecdotal information stating that the 1st Air Mechanics were also assigned to tank repair. Have you found anything that would support that?
I am sorry, but I only work on "Artillerie Speciale" documents from SHD Vincennes. I have never look on documents about US Army in France from Vincennes, and I don't work on Air Forces.
