I was worried what the very informed people on this forum might think, especially about colours and schemes. I'm working the WW1 bug out of my system. I've posted a photo of my FT-17 here and there are 3 MkIVs inc a Beutepanzer plus a Whippet on the bench, and a Lanchester a/c itching to get out of its box.
Bonjour, The Schneider M2 n° 61298 was a tank from Group AS 11. Several photos from this tank (and a film) were done by a military photographer and a cameramen from SPCA (Section Photographique et Cinématographique de l'Armée), in Saint Imoges (South of Reims mountain). This tank's group was training french infantry units, near Saint Imoges, in the early days of July 1918.(4 to 10).
The only markings of Schneider M2 n° 61298 was the tank number written (a little bigger) : - not, on the left side upon the wooden beam but only, at the same place, on the rear right side. - on the front side, just under the front rail, in the the triangle under the ventilation grid.
The number " 2 ", on the front left side, don't existe and, no ace and unit number (AS 11) was painted on the tank. On AS 11 tanks, in Saint Imaoges, the gridlines, painted on the tank, was always perfectly straight and orthonormal. This gridlines were done, as lures, for masking the slots.
There is two types of lamps on Schneider M2 : - An old railway light and, an electric light (in front of the tank) - An electric light (under the rear door) an no railway light.
It is only, on Schneider M2, with electric starter for the motor, that it was possible to used electric lights on the tank.
Bon week-end - Michel
-- Edited by Tanker on Saturday 27th of October 2018 10:07:59 AM
Thank you for the information, Michel. I realised that the combination of markings and colour scheme was something of a composite and therefore not without risk. I found single poor photo of 61298 online which seemed to fit most of what I was looking for and was at least a correct serial for that type of Schneider. It must have been a right side photo as it had the rear serial, but the front one could not be seen.
I did not know about the lamps and the photos I found seemed to confirm the top rear lamp. Perhaps I was confusing my variants in different photographs. I am - clearly - absolutely no expert on French WW1 AFVs. But I don't like getting things grossly wrong.
