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Post Info TOPIC: FTs Sent To USA?
James H


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FTs Sent To USA?
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Again from Criticalpast:

There is a film purporting to show 3 FTS undergoing trials at Bridgport, Connecticut.

Acc to Dale E. Wilson (Treat 'Em Rough!) the French promised to supply 2 FTs and a set of plans for the US to study, but he says that Lt. E. Braine managed to secure only a turret, a 37mm gun, and some gun mounts. He makes no mention of actual vehicles being handed over. Anyone know whether, when, or how the US received any FTs?

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James H


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Can't get much further forward with this.

Dwight Eisenhower records that a complete FT arrived at Camp Colt on June 6th, 1918. Two more followed later, along with two British advisors, but E says the second two FTs were "unarmed".

This clip shows 3 FTs going through their paces somewhere, alledgedly Bridgeport. Two have no turret. Maybe they are the machines to which E refers.

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675048445_Renault-tank_Mark-VIII-tank_trench-crossing_loading-a-tank

(Ignore the fact that there's no Mk VIII in the film. Criticalpast have altered the caption but not the URL.)

-- Edited by James H on Thursday 27th of January 2011 03:27:41 PM

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ft-17


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Camp Polk, Raleigh, NC got several FT-17's as well as Mark IV's and at least one Ford 3-ton after Aug, 1918



-- Edited by ft-17 on Thursday 4th of April 2013 02:13:39 AM

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James H


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Hello, Paul. Thanks for that. Camp Polk is a new one on me, but a spot of research has revealed the interesting tale of this establishment. Can you tell me where you got your info from? I should be most interested.



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Ironsides


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Hi James, some time ago I came across some album pics in an auction site featuring tanks at Camp Polk these are I think perhaps from 1919-20, MKV*, US 6 Ton and a ford I think can be seen...

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/13034029_nc-state-historic-archive-with-photos

Centurion mentions in this thread

http://landships.activeboard.com/t20364476/dating-a-tank-visit/

"There is an eyewitness report of a Britannia at Camp Polk in January 1919. It was probably in company with some other British tanks -male for a row of tanks is metioned "Some carried two cannon, six-pounders, that is firing a shell of that weight, while the little fellows had only one gun." Medium tanks are also mentioned (that Medium A?)"

So possibly january 1919?

Cheerswink

 



-- Edited by Ironsides on Friday 5th of April 2013 10:55:48 AM

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Tanker


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Bonjour James,

The first Renault FT was sent in the USA by boat from Le Havre on October 27 th, 1917. It was on the steamboat "Saint Louis".

On October 20 th, 1917, Mr Garfield (engineer from Renault) was also sent in States from Le Havre (on the liner "Espagne"),

with some technicians from Renault  (SHD vincennes carton 16 N 2130).

In the same time, US government refuse to received from Renault pieces to built 100 FT in United States and

at that time, FT tracks pieces was already built in America for Renault factory.

Number and model of this tank are unknown. Probably a training model in mild steel.

Perhaps other informations in Renault archives . . . . .

Bonne journée - Michel



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James H


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Merci, Michel, and thanks, Ivor. The photo album shows not an FT but an M1917, if I interpret it correctly.



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Ironsides


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Hi James Yes a US built 6 ton M1917

heres an article about camp Polk and I think its the one Centurion refers too...

http://docsouth.unc.edu/wwi/olds/olds.html publication date Jan. 17, 1919

"Under the grand stand was the strangest exhibit ever seen in North Carolina, a row of tanks, some like giants, others of medium size, and yet others, the "whippets," tiny indeed. One was an English tank, the "Brittania," which has done plenty of fighting in France. Some carried two cannon, six-pounders, that is firing a shell of that weight, while the little fellows had only one gun. There were "tanks" black, dull gray and some camouflaged, but all grim and warlike in the extreme."

From "The Us Army In World War I: Orders Of Battle" four tank Battalions 340-3 organised at Camp Polk nov1918 disbanded dec 1918

I dont know whether this is relevant or not but if I dont post it here I'l forget itconfuse

Cheerswink



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