Landships II

Centurion · Legend

US anti tank gun crew

Bunkermeister · Lieutenant

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_d%27Infanterie_de_37_mod%C3%A8le_1916_TRP

It's one of these, an infantry support gun to fire HE against machine gun nests. I think it is the same gun as on the Renault FT tank. There are a bunch of versions, and often seen without the shield. I have seen photos of them with the (US) Georgia National Guard with them in 1940. I think this is more a grenade thrower.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek

James H · Legend

Bunkermeister wrote:
I think it is the same gun as on the Renault FT tank.

No, it isn't. It was adapted for use in the FT. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puteaux_SA_18

I think Centurion's enquiry was not as to the identity of the item, but more about its use against tanks.

Albert · Brigadier

US troops never met German tanks in battle during WW1.

And, contrary to popular belief, looks like 37 mm guns, although they were thought as (amongs other tasks) anti-tank guns, probably never shot at German tanks during WW1. At least this is what Rainer Strasheim wrote here: http://landships.activeboard.com/t7581287/allied-anti-tank-measures-1918/

Tanker · Field Marshal

Bonjour,

After French test on Elfriede (July 1918), the 37 mm Bethelem gun's (used in some French antitank Batteries from 176° Régiment d'Artillerie) were removed.

These tests, done in Bourron, at 50 and 100 m, on 16, 20 and 30 mm armor plate from Elfriede were not pierced.

Bonne journée - Michel

James H · Legend

I collaborated a little with Dr. David Payne on the WFA site, on the subject of tanks. For some reason, he was most insistent that the 37mm was the tanks' biggest enemy, and would not be persuaded otherwise. At the time I was pretty sure that it was a long way down the list, after normal artillery, and it doesn't surprise me to learn that it probably didn't claim any at all.