Landships II

James H wrote:

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Hello, Alex, and welcome to Landships.

What strikes me immediately is that the Schneider plate lists the type as 'CA.' I've never been convinced that the official nomenclature of the Schneider was 'CA1.' It's always seemed more likely that Schneider would have followed Renault's practice of using a two-letter job number. Things can then only become '1' retrospectively when it's necessary to distinguish them from '2' - Mark I tank, World War I, and Schneider CA2, 3, and 4.

On the other hand, the Van Dorn one is a bit of a poser. The model number seems to be '1917 A,' which I haven't come across before. (I don't think it can be the 'M1917 A1')

-- Edited by James H on Saturday 22nd of February 2020 01:58:18 PM

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Its very interesting you mention that as while researching the plate i came across this information from the tanks wikipedia page under the designation section.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schneider_CA1

"Whereas the first order spoke of tracteurs Estienne, the factory designation of the tank was Schneider CA ....... This would seem to indicate that the CA suffix was merely a Schneider product code similar to those used by Renault. At the end of 1916, the type was called Schneider CA 1 to make a distinction with a derived tank project, the Schneider CA 2. 

It makes sense as you say the until there is a later model you wouldn't have 1 at the end.

 

I disagree completely about the Van Dorn Plate, as this website states https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=35

"Van Dorn continued post war production of the M1917 6 Ton" which matches the date on this plate and model of vehicle on this plate. The tank itself was known as the six ton special tractor in development. The Plate itself matches the design and information which should be featured on this plate based of experience with similar plates. The plate itself was purchased from Canada where a lot of the tanks were sold to and used as training tanks 

This chassis plate for a WW1 American Artillery Tractor very closely matches this plate apart from the difference in vehicle model and maker. https://militarydataplates.com/5-ton-artillery-tractor/

 

Data plates often contain designations for vehicles as they were known in either pre production or by the tank builder. So the fact that the 1 is missing doesn't strike me as particularly odd. Do you have any other information apart from the fact that the Model 1917A part is missing a 1 to imply it is a poser?

-- Edited by AlexPlates on Saturday 22nd of February 2020 07:38:33 PM

-- Edited by AlexPlates on Saturday 22nd of February 2020 07:39:07 PM

-- Edited by AlexPlates on Saturday 22nd of February 2020 07:39:33 PM

I assume the US ones are to a standard format as this is the plate from an armoured body supply truck.

Alex,

Perhaps I didn't explain properly. What I meant was that the vehicle was initially called the 6 Ton Special Tractor and was designated M1917 when it entered service. I hadn't seen the designation Model 1917 A before. By 'poser' I meant that it was a puzzle to me.

 

Here's the one from the tank at the Collins Foundation museum in Stow/Hudson, MA.

Dear all,

I am Pretty sure, that someone posted a tank data plaque of an Renault FT in the past, but I can't find it anymore.

Can anyone help by showing a Renault FT tank data plate / manufacturer Plaque, please?

Thank you very much for your help.

Kind Regards
Chris