Tankettes

Here we can discuss these little fighting machines. I personally am crazy about tankettes, although I realise they weren't really beasts. But I think they could really pack a punch sometimes.
I will start with one of my favourites, the Polish TK series tankettes.If someone else wants, you can post some other tankettes.
Basically they were based upon the Carden Lloyd chasis , they had armor up to 10 mm thick, most of them were armed with just a machine gun, but different versions were made, about 24 of them were mounted with a 20 mm gun, about 4 were converted into an SPG armed with 47 mm gun, and only two tank destroyers armed with a 47 mm Bofors anti-tank gun. And a few pictures:
With a 20 mm gun:

 

I've also read that often the TKS 20 mm gun armed tankettes would really teach a lesson and destroy some of the German light armor.
Some more pics of Estonian used tankettes:

 

I still stick to my view that the Carden-Loyd Mk1* (Wh.and Tr) was the best in terms of hopeless optimism about military usefulness - and it looks cool - light tank/mobile pillbox/armoured motorbike/ somewhere to keep your tea safe while you fought somewhere else. Got to love those designers.

Still they all led to many much more useful later designs and were good and cheap for training (sorry this one doesn't really count as WW2 although i bet the home guard got their hands on a couple and maybe abroad too - anyone with any info would love to hear)

 

While the thread is still young Alex perhaps you want to put in a piece about what you consider makes something a tankette and not something else - that way everyone can see if their input is relevant or can challenge the definition if they think it needs it?

 

The Carden Lloyds sure are great, but their look is just plain weird!
What I consider a tankette, is basicaly:
1] It's small,light,really manuvereable, fitted for a crew of one or two
2] In theory it's a reconaissance vehicle, also meant for light infantry support, but we can see that they were much more than that.
3]In most cases lightly armed
4] No one likes them





























5] But they are extremely cool.

 

Only thing i'd add to that is they need to be tracked i think - wheeled and they become a scout car or a reconnaissance car - of course in real terms not too much difference in usage so maybe you want wheels included?

 

I agree. They have to be tracked. Thanks for pointing it out

 

Welcome - in that case i'd like to add this one i have never seen before before - it's a Canadian Carden-Loyd model I believe called the RCD based on the CL1931 and apparently purchased and used just for training - the thing i like most about it is that for too long people have been saying that sloped armour was 'invented' with the T34 which i propose is complete balderdash - loads of well-sloped armour was around prior to the T34 and for the same reasons. It certainly wasn't sloped to make the rain run off better or to give more space inside or to make it easier to build.

 

Hi Alex, good idea to display and discuss the tankette´s!

 

Great point Nigel! And your welcome Ulrich my friend! We need to show our appreciation for the tankettes!

 

Also an nice interesting tankette: "Carden-Loyd MarkV Two-men Tankette"

 

I've seen it before, its so weird, looks like a motorcycle a bit. Reminds me of kettenkrad also
OK, here is my second favourite tankette, the Italian Carro Veloce series.

 

Here´s the next one. A Carden-Loyd MarkVIA.

 

How about the french ones? I remembering that there were some of them in German use in Norway and France.

 

:lol:

That description gave me a chuckle; though, I can't really question the accuracy of the last two points!

Nothing much else to add other than appreciation of the photos and info posted. I haven't seen any single sources dedicated to tankettes, or even any significant amount of statistics, after-battle info, etc. Did these little buggers make themselves worth their while in actual combat service, I wonder?

 

Thanks CrazyD!
Actually some of them did prove themselves in combat, but most of them were easily disabled.That doesn't mean we shouldn't like them
As I mentioned, for an example, the polish TKS armed with an 20mm gun often destroyed the german light armor, and gave them some trouble

 

Regarding Ulrichs question the Renault UE chenillete was used all over the world in all sorts of armed and unarmed configs especially by the Germans and Romanians. (Something like 3500 were available). The photo is of a Chinese version that most likely saw useful combat (in partial answer to CD's question)

 

I myself think they were a waste of time and energy, but they had the "cheap" factor going for them. I mean a 40 hp Ford model T engine is pretty easily come by in that time-frame, but as Armored Fighting Vehicles they were a joke.

A "cute" joke, but a joke none the less. If they had some purpose besides being a "fighting" vehicle, like personnel transport or such then perhaps they were useful. But they would never match the open topped "Bren gun carrier" for utility of use, those were wonderful little machines. Those and the Studebaker "Weasel" (both amphibious or not) are great little units. And still great fun today, although the tracks on the Weasels are getting hard to replace.

 

Also maybe you would like this site (hope i can link to this - sorry if not allowed) - discusses the Polish Tankette ace Roman Orlik (17 kills from a TKS);

"Cockroach" versus Panzers - first WW II tank aces - History Forum ~ All Empires

 

Nigel, thanks allot for this site, and reminding me of the ace Roman Orlik! This shows us what tankettes were really all about! That statement of a german commander : "...it is very hard to hit such a small cockroach from a gun." explains everything