Landships II

James H · Legend

Renault FT with Panthers.

Pat · Commander in Chief

It shot a lot of them!

And there's at least one Tiger, an ex-Italian medium tank etc. This is the Arsenal in Vienna.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Arsenal,_Vienna?uselang=de

There are more photos here
http://beute.narod.ru/Beutepanzer/italy/tanks/L6-40/L6-40-3.htm
http://beute.narod.ru/Beutepanzer/italy/spg/DA_75_18/Da-75_18-2.htm
http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic.php?p=185623
and on another page with comparison shot then/now.

James H · Legend

Thanks, Pat. Highly interesting. I wonder how the Renault got there?

Meanwhile, about ten miles away, Gunther Burstyn was committing suicide.

CharlieC · Legend

Courtesy of the Wehrmacht I would think. The Germans captured something like 1700 FTs after France fell in 1940. They were used in security roles throughout WW2. The FT in Vienna may have belonged to a police unit or similar.

Regards,

Charlie

James H · Legend

I know they were used in France and, apparently, North Africa, but this one seems a long way from home. Would the Germans have taken the trouble to transport one all that way?

It occurs to me that Poland bought or built FTs. They seem to have had a hundred or so still in service in 1939. At the moment I can't find any mention of what happened to them. Only a thought, but maybe they were similarly pressed into service and that's why this one is so far east.

On the other hand, Vienna was a 'friendly' city. Would it be needed for police duties? Or, since this seems to be a dump for captured or abandoned Nazi gear, was it a combat vehicle?

What do you reckon?

Ian P · Major

Romania had some FTs too, I think they were still in use when they surrendered and started fighting for the Soviets. They may have been involved in the fighting in Austria.

If I remember correctly the Romanians modified the gun and mantlet on their models, so it may be possible to tell if it is Romanian from the picture.

Tanker · Field Marshal

Bonsoir,

This Renault turret is a 37 mm gun model !
Usually the modified turrets were the machine gun turret's models. . . . . .

Michel

James H · Legend

Why, so it is! Are you going to come to the rescue again, Michel?

Ironsides · Legend

Good links Pat the last supplied this a report entitled Combat in Vienna (29 Mar-16 Apr 1945)�by Commanding officer�General� der� Infanterie� a.D.� Rudolf� von� Benau�from CARL

worth a read the german forces included several panzer divisions, Police and volkssturm�units including hitler youth and panzer training battalions, which would account for the wide variety of armoured vehicles...

The units listed at the end mention 1 police tank which could concievably be the Renault, however it seems from the list that most armour belonged to the three panzer divisions which combined were only equal to one full strength division...

Cheers

-- Edited by Ironsides on Thursday 23rd of December 2010 01:27:24 AM

Pat · Commander in Chief

My money is of this being a trophy / museum / exhibit piece.

Someone with a more detailed knowledge about the Arsenal's function might tell us more. Regards, Pat

James H · Legend

Well, the 'police tank' would make sense, but, as Michel implies, if it were an FT it would be more likely to be an MG version.

I've just read somewhere that the Polish FTs were not used in action in 1939 but some were used as roadblocks and so on. Pictures of those show the 37mm version.

Pat · Commander in Chief

James H wrote:

I've just read somewhere that the Polish FTs were not used in action in 1939 but some were used as roadblocks and so on. Pictures of those show the 37mm version.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Brze%C5%9B%C4%87_Litewski

http://derela.republika.pl/en/ft17.htm

have the details. Regards, Pat

Ironsides · Legend

Hi James look here

http://derela.republika.pl/en/ft17.htm

Sorry Pat i just duplicated one of your lnks

Cheers wink

-- Edited by Ironsides on Thursday 23rd of December 2010 01:18:56 PM

James H · Legend

I stand corrected. Many thanks, gents.