Can't scan it just at the mo, but have found a photo of an early Saint-Chamond with what looks like a sapling or young tree laid lengthways on top, one end resting on the central cupola and the other, presumably, on something to keep it horizontal. Some smaller bits of tree are propped against it, sloping to the sides of the vehicle, creating a pitched effect. There's no sign of any netting or suchlike, but I wonder if this was a bit of improv on the part of the crew.
A picture is worth a thousand words, I know.
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The 'other' thing this [silver birch?] trunk could be resting on is the large raised roof panel behind the exhaust - some sort of air intake? Not hugely familiar with the technicalities of the SC, just the appearance.
As you say it is hard to see what this woodwork would achieve on it's own. Even with net or wire secured to it those side angle logs seem to be well in from the edge of the roof potentially leaving large flat areas along either side of the roof where a grenade would quite happily sit.
Pure speculation of course BUT I wonder if they intended to 'thatch' this tank with leafy branches draped over this basic frame, as a crude anti aerial-reconnaisance camouflague ploy? Why not just lob leafy branches on a flat roof? Well, maybe they were intentionally going to leave room underneath the trunk for the exhaust muffler and that raised roof area rather than smother them with foliage. Although I doubt it'd have made a huge amount of difference to the amount or quality of air circulating around that area of the roof and may even have made matters worse by keeping noxious fumes relatively trapped only to be sucked right back into those nearby roof intakes without the chance to disperse well enough.
I repeat, pure guess work... I wonder what we would learn if another photograph of this half-timbered tank emerged?
-- Edited by compound eye on Tuesday 14th of February 2012 05:02:37 PM
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"You there on the port!". "S'gin actually, but thanks for noticing [hic]".
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
This might be an explanation. To the rear is the roof of a ventilator, on which the other end of the tree seems to be resting. It looks as if the purpose is to keep a camouflage net clear of the exhaust, which, I believe, was quite capable of igniting it. It wouldn't have been possible on the versions with the pitched roof and single, square cupola.
There's quite an amusing picture of some early Saint-Chamonds moving along with some of the crew sitting very nonchalantly on the cupolas, and others on fuel drums on the roof, as if they were bar stools.
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
IIRC the camouflage net was devised by a Frenchman during WWI. His name now escapes me.
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Bonjour Michel,
I look forward to hearing from you and hope you have some information on how this French Schneider CA1 tank came to Canada before the end of the First World War.
Harold sends
hskaarup@rogers.com
