Landships II

cwarren64 · Corporal

French Artillerie d'Assault Collar Insignia

Tanker · Field Marshal

Bonsoir Warren,

From August 1916 to April 1918 :

All oldiers from Schneider and St Chamond Groups was members of 81� RALT (R�giment d'Artillerie Lourd � Tracteurs).

The 81 RALT was the support unit for the French tank's units. The collars patch was red like all French Artillery, with number 81.

The same patch were used by soldiers from tanks training centers (Marly - Cercottes - Champlieu - Mailly-Poivres et Martigny les Bains).

It was the same things for NCO coming from artillery units, and it was the same thing also for NCO coming from other Arms (Infantry, Cavalery, Enginer, . . . . ) but, very often, this kind of NCO kept their beginning regimental patches. . . . (it was not exactly regulation).

The Artillery's officers transfered in the Artillery Sp�ciale worn the artillery red patches with number 81. All the other officer coming from other Arms (Infantry, Cavalery, Enginer . . . .) kept uniform from their old regiment.

They were only detached from (Infantry, Cavalery, Enginer . . . .) and could return in their original Arm.

From May 1918 to the end of the war, the support unit for Artillerie Sp�ciale was the 500� RAS from Cercottes.

The new patch for the soldiers was red with number 500. It was true for soldiers in training centers (Cercottes and Bourron . . . .) and for soldiers from Schneider and Saint Chamond Groupes and Groupement always independent.

From May 1918 to November 1918 were created 8 Regiment d'Artillerie Sp�ciale (501� - 502� - 503� - 504� - 505� - 506� - 507� - 508� RAS). It was the Renault FT regiments.

- Soldiers worn red patches with number (501 - 502 - 503 - 504 - 505 - 506 - 507 - 508)

- NCO worn red patches with number (501 - 502 - 503 - 504 - 505 - 506 - 507 - 508)

- Officers (coming from artillery) worn red patches with number (501 - 502 - 503 - 504 - 505 - 506 - 507 - 508)

- Officers coming from other Arms (Infantry, Cavalery, Enginer . . . .) worn patches with number (501 - 502 - 503 - 504 - 505 - 506 - 507 - 508) on their original arm's color

It was the same thing for each Schneider and Saint Chamond Groupement linked with a RAS. For each RAS created with 3 Renault FT battalions a Schneider or a Saint Chamond was linked.

I hope it's enough clear in my poor english . . . .

Michel

cwarren64 · Corporal

Thanks Michel,
Your english is perfect. I appreciate the detail of your reply. One last question, what color were the numbers on the red patch?
Thanks,
Warren

Tanker · Field Marshal

Bonsoir,

About French colors patch. On Histoire & Militaria forum, you can found numbers' colors for soldiers. 81� RALT is an "Artillerie Lourde" regiment.

http://lagrandeguerre.cultureforum.net/coiffes-uniformes-equipements-individuels-et-collectifs-f33/les-pattes-de-col-de-larmee-francaise-pendant-la-1er-gm-t26481.htm

For officers, it is gold�(like stripes, buttons and AS patch on left arm).
I think it is the same thing for artillery officers after May 1918.

Michel

cwarren64 · Corporal

Merci beaucoup Michel,
That is a great web site. I am focusing my research mostly on the FT battalions. Very hard to do since I cant speak French. :) I am still a bit confused. In Steven Zalogas book on the Renault FT Light Tank (1988), he says the tank crews had an artillery black collar patch with grass green numbers. Looking at old photos, it is easy to see how red can appear to be black. In the article here on Landships regarding WWI tank crew uniforms, it says French crews had green numbers on horizon blue collar patches. Zaloga says that collar patch was used after WWI and before WWII. Would it be safe to assume the collar patch was red with grass green numbers based on your research?
Merci, Warren

Tanker · Field Marshal

Bonjour Warren,

It is Red. You can see in :

Andr� Jouineau - L'artillerie d'assaut 1917 -
�
http://grandeguerre1418.unblog.fr/tag/planches-duniformes-dandre-jouineau/les-armes-savantes/

Bertrand Malvaux - Editions du canonnier - 22 rue Cr�billon - 44000 Nantes
T�l. : 02.40.73.36.00 - Fax : 02.40.71.83.19

cwarren64 · Corporal

Merci Michel, Great information!

Warren