A friend of mine indicated me yesterday this fantastic website of WWI heavy equipment.
I am a publisher in Paris, France (Histoire & Collections), and also an author and researcher about uniforms, organization and equipment of the French Army WWI and early WWII.
I am 57 and have been in the field of military studies since my late teenage (begun incidentally at 13 with a Airfix plastic kit, etc, the usual way for a whole generation, as you know).
As far as heavy equipment is concerned, the majority of my publications have been linked with 1939-40 topics, but I have come, two years ago, to enter the field of WWI, and I am now producing a series of articles about French artillery and French motorization (trucks, tractors, caterpillars) of the period. But sorry, in French language only.
Some of you may also know the small books that my company has recently published (in French) about Les Canons de la Victoire (the Guns of Victory) 1914-1918.
I have just little time to give to personal contacts but I'll be happy to intervene in this useful forum, at occasions, when French equipment is concerned (and only when I have something to bring). I think our own French matériel is not as well known as it should deserve and I wish I can do something about it towards the international community of enthusiasts.
By the way, many, many thanks to the designers of this website to have chosen the impressive sight of assaulting Saint-Chamond tanks as the homepage illustration of Landships.
You might regret your very kind offer of help - I'm sure your services will be constantly in demand.
J
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Welcome on board François! Isn't that funny that your name is not that unknown to me? I feel like I have already seen it somewhere else. Let's say on some other French language forums maybe? Have fun on Landships with FT, Schneider, Saint Chamond tanks but with rhomboids too !
Bonjour Francois! Have you knowledge of the supply wagon used by France( and American expeditionary forces ) during WW1 ? Please see foto attached. I am looking for dimensional information, and detailed drawings. Any assistance is appreciated!
Hello Jack,
I must have something about this 'fourgon' (French designation). But where ? I need to look more carefully in my documentation.
I had the vehicle specifics filed, but am at a loss to recall what I did with them ! I can tell you this was a heavily used vehicle during the Great War, and was retained for service in 1940. A robust & sturdy design, it was produced in very large numbers ( an R.I. Battalion train, for example, had 16 of them ). In addition to use by the French armee, and the AEF,.. large numbers of "beute" vehicles were pressed into service by the German army. Another French vehicle of interest for the period is the Charion-fourragire M1900. This forage wagon also saw much use , and again apprecible numbers fell into German hands eary in the war.
I would welcome dimensional information for either vehicle !