Landships II

Hi Eduardo I found drawings on this site...... some use?.....

http://otvaga2004.narod.ru/publ_w5/024_ft.htm

Cheers

-- Edited by Ironsides on Tuesday 8th of December 2009 03:50:13 PM

Wow! never imagined that there were drawigns aviable...no words!
unvaluable contribution!
thanks a lot!

Note,
the second one drawing is an NC 27, an attemp to improve the FT basic design by the use of a different  running gear mechanism. Despite it failed, this model has been subject of purchases to another countries, at least to JAPAN.
Best regards!

Hi Eduardo it seems that at least 42 FTs were equipt with the kegresse rubber tracks the USA also converted at least one French FT to this standard as the US FT version would not take the kegresse conversion, the first tank plan I posted is I believe a modified version of the kegress but with metal tracks sold to Poland, Yugoslavia, and Japan... 
the secound tank plan may also have been sold to Poland and Yugoslavia as well as Japan and sweden..
All of these seem to come under the designation Renault NC usually followed by a number designating the year in which the modification took place these are also sometimes referred to as NC1 and NC2 whether or not this is official I have no idea but there seems to be some confusion over the designations these can be: NC26/27, NC27, NC28, Renault M24, Renault M24/25... theres other variations too...

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_D1#FT_17_K.C3.A9gresse

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_D1#FT_K.C3.A9gresse

the early suspension system with rubber track appears to have had serious design faults.... as a result the tracks appear to have been changed....

In these pics the Renault Kegresse with rubber tracks is the secound pic with rollers at the front.....


Cheers

-- Edited by Ironsides on Tuesday 8th of December 2009 11:41:30 PM

-- Edited by Ironsides on Wednesday 9th of December 2009 11:13:25 AM

Hi PDA, The last pic is from Japanese Wiki, search was for "Renault NC28"...

Otsu Gata Sensha tank type B

It makes interesting reading but doesnt make the picture any clearer.....

There was also an NC31 or "Renault NC modified 31" this was a development of the NC series that led to the Char D1...
It seems though that renault had several projects based on the FT(or at least parts of it) designated NC running more or less concurrently hence NC1 NC2, even NC3 these seem to have been based around a specification for a new light tank from 1924/25 to produce a tank that didnt need seperate transportation to the battlefield, The kegresse may be the earliest and least succesfull version, it had a tendency to break its tracks damaging the running gear.....

An interesting Croatian? site...

Based on the FT17- NC1 to char D1

pics 5 and 9 are from 9th april 1941 Yugoslavia these can be found in the Bundesarchiv.... Bild 146-1973-035-10.... Bild 146-1973-035-12...
pic 8 same tank different angle probarbly from the same time....

http://www.vojska.net/eng/world-war-2/kingdom-of-yugoslavia/armor/

The lower tank in pic 3 is I believe the US Army Kegresse conversion....
its possible that some of the other pics are Yugoslavian? as well....

Cheers

-- Edited by Ironsides on Wednesday 9th of December 2009 11:43:57 AM

-- Edited by Ironsides on Wednesday 9th of December 2009 05:39:23 PM

Hi PDA, Im going to attempt to make some sense of the various sources....

There would appear to be 3 initial main variants...

Renault FT M24/25 Kegresse, basically an FT hull with all rubber Kegresse tracks, new suspension and large front rollers some were used in Morroco where the running gear proved fragile. 12KPH, range 160KM.

Renault NC1 or NC27 a largely new design with many improvements new transmission,new metal tracks and suspension, thicker armour, utilising many FT parts. Rubber/metal tracks also could be used. metal tracks 20KPH rubber tracks 36KPH, range 100-120Km

Renault NC2 or NC26/27 also called kegresse a modification of the M24/25 to correct some of the track problems, modified running gear, reinforced rubber tracks with metal plates, front rollers removed. 16KPH, track life 1500 KM

NC1, NC2 tanks were sold to Poland, Japan, China, Sweden and Yugoslavia and probarbly others......

All these tanks seem to have had or could have rubber or rubber/metal tracks and strictly speaking could all be considered "Kegresse"....

Feel free to argue....

Cheers



-- Edited by Ironsides on Thursday 10th of December 2009 11:03:18 AM

Yugoslavia had 21 Renault M 28, 34 Renault FT 17 and 54 Renault R 35. Jugoslav Renault M 28 was Renault M 26/27 with minor modification.

Yugoslavia hadn't any example of Renault NC 27