WWI Tanks in WWII

JCFalkenbergIII · #1 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2008, 05:38 AM

I was aware of the use of the FT-17 in the war, especially by the Germans,along with the French and Poles but didnt know of any others.

"I was perusing some material on the Fall of Berlin, and I came across a photo of a British MkV Rhomboid Tank that was used in the battle by the Germans. Upon further reading, it appears to be one of the tanks that the British gave to the "White" Russians during the revolution. At the outbreak of Barbarossa, the Soviets used at least 4 surviving MkV's in the defense of Estonia near Tallinn. The Berlin tank is most likely one of these."

I would have loved to seen the look on the Germans faces when they came against them in '41. And the Soviets in '45 LOL. Heres a site that purports to have A couple of pictures of the British Mk V Composite Heavy Tank in Estonia. "Six Mk V Composite heavy tanks were sent from the UK in 1919. They were named "Brown Bear", "Brown Bear II", "Captain Cromie", "Deliverance", "First Aid" and "White Soldier". When the war was over, Estonia kept 4 of them with the names: "Uku", "Vahtula", "Valdaja" and "Päälik". The Estonian names do not relate to the English ones listed above. The vehicles were obviously renamed when transfered. The picture on the right is an Estonian Mark V female dated 1941 in the area of Tallin. Note that the machine guns have been changed to Maxims."

http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/estonia/est_mkv1919_2.jpg
http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/estonia/1113estonia.jpg
http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/estonia/estonia.htm

JCFalkenbergIII · #2 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2008, 05:41 AM

Ifound this too.

"Male – WD number 2324. A training machine, numbered 102, this tank served in the Second World War in the Royal Navy, albeit briefly, for Home Defence. She was named Excellent, after the RN gunnery school HMS Excellent, and presented to the Tank Museum in 1971. A runner until very recently, she was some non-standard cooling features and lacks some additional armour on her fuel tank and rear hull plate. (1) ". So one even served in the Royal Navy LOL. Truly a "Land Ship".

Kai-Petri · #3 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2008, 06:29 AM

Maybe that was the Hitler´s secret weapon....

Joe · #4 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCFalkenbergIII

Ifound this too.

"Male – WD number 2324. A training machine, numbered 102, this tank served in the Second World War in the Royal Navy, albeit briefly, for Home Defence. She was named Excellent, after the RN gunnery school HMS Excellent, and presented to the Tank Museum in 1971. A runner until very recently, she was some non-standard cooling features and lacks some additional armour on her fuel tank and rear hull plate. (1) ". So one even served in the Royal Navy LOL. Truly a "Land Ship".

That tank Patrolled Portsmouth during air raids for a while, until it ran over a Private car and had to be confined to the barracks!

Vince Noir · #5 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2008, 11:38 AM

I have some pics of the one in Berlin somewhere...

Hufflepuff · #6 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2008, 01:14 PM

Just an interesting story, to go with the subject...

When Easy Co. got back to england after their time in Normandy, they talked to the recruits about how the Germans would send one tank out in the open to get the enemy to reveal their position when they fired at the tank. There was a strange instance when a platoon of paratroopers was attacked by a stone wall by an old French tank captured by the Germans from WWI. The platoon engaged it with machine guns and M1 Garands and drove it off, only to receive mortar fire less than five mintues later.

I think the tank was a Renault, if not I have no idea what kind of tank it was. It was French though, and from WWI. Kinda weird, considering 50% of German tanks in Normandy were Panzerkampwagen IV medium and light tanks.

Vince Noir · #7 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2008, 02:42 PM

The Germans used plenty of French tanks in Normandy.

I doubt it was a WW1 vintage tank though it may have been an FT-17 from a training unit as these would not show up on unit returns.

21st Panzer had large amounts of French kit, such as Somua and half-tracks. Not too mention their weird and wonderful SPG conversions. They also had Panzer IIIs and short barrelled MKIVs.

JCFalkenbergIII · #8 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2008, 05:06 PM

Also Canada bought a large batch of Renault FT's and a few Mark VIII heavies from the US in 1940 and used them for training.

JCFalkenbergIII · #9 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Noir

I have some pics of the one in Berlin somewhere...

Here is one I think.

JCFalkenbergIII · #10 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2008, 05:15 PM

This is one that is said to have been used by the Soviets.

JCFalkenbergIII · #11 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Noir

The Germans used plenty of French tanks in Normandy.

I doubt it was a WW1 vintage tank though it may have been an FT-17 from a training unit as these would not show up on unit returns.

21st Panzer had large amounts of French kit, such as Somua and half-tracks. Not too mention their weird and wonderful SPG conversions. They also had Panzer IIIs and short barrelled MKIVs.

Yes they did and they had captured ones from Poland too. The Finns used the FT-17 also.

JCFalkenbergIII · #12 (**permalink**) February 23rd, 2008, 04:45 AM

I guess it is good sense to make use of what you ca find when you are desperate LOL.

Joe · #13 (**permalink**) February 23rd, 2008, 12:30 PM

There where 6 Char 2Cs (never used in combat in WW1) destroyed or captured whilst on Railway flat cars in 1940.

JCFalkenbergIII · #14 (**permalink**) February 23rd, 2008, 10:48 PM

On a similar vein. This from a few years ago,

Two FT-18s found in Afghanistan

US military personnel in Afghanistan recently stumbled across two Great War Renault FT-18 tanks in an Afghan scrapyard.
Both are remarkably complete, and although the guns are missing, the tanks still have their original engines, tracks and key components in place.

The Renault FT-18 was also built under licence in the USA and is essentially the same tank used by General George S Patton to train American troops in France in the closing years of the Great War.

The two tanks have been gifted to the Patton Museum at Fort Knox and will be restored to display condition in the Museum workshops.

Classic Military Vehicle Magazine - News - Two FT-18s found in Afghanistan

Joe · #15 (**permalink**) February 24th, 2008, 09:52 AM

I'd like to see those go up against an Abrams!

JCFalkenbergIII · #16 (**permalink**) February 24th, 2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe

I'd like to see those go up against an Abrams!

Im really surprised at the condition of them LOL. I have seem pics of AFVs and Tanks in Trashcanistan and all were in extremely less then pristine condition LOL.

JCFalkenbergIII · #17 (**permalink**) February 26th, 2008, 04:34 AM

One of the Estonian tanks

~~noobsquadron~~ · #18 (**permalink**) February 26th, 2008, 08:16 PM

WW1 TANKS WERE SLOW AND VULNERABLE, THUS THEY WERE NOT A KEY WEAPON IN THE WAR. THE ONLY MAJOR/S ADVANTAGE THEY HAD WAS THAT THEY COULD BRAKE THROUGH WIRES AND WERE A BOOST TO MORALE. THE GERMANS ALSO DEVELOPED VERY EFFECTIVE ANTI TANKS WEAPONS

FIRST TANK EVER; MARK 1!!!!!!!

COMPARE : CHALLENGER 2, PROBABLY THE BEST TANK NOWADAYS

Slipdigit · #19 (**permalink**) February 26th, 2008, 08:26 PM

Just a note Noob, the use of ALL CAPS is considered to be the same as yelling. Please try to use lower case letters except where indicated by standard rules of grammar.

Thanks!

JCFalkenbergIII · #20 (**permalink**) February 27th, 2008, 04:24 AM

Noob. And your reply had what to do with the subject of WWI Tanks in being used in WWII?

JCFalkenbergIII · #21 (**permalink**) February 28th, 2008, 01:49 AM

Damn

. And here I was waiting to be enlightened as to what he response was for LOL. :P