Landships II

Tanker · Field Marshal

Villers-Bretonneux - A7V n� 542 Elfriede's end of career in a French quarry !

Peter T · General

Fantastique Michel

Enfin quelqu'un qui recherche les traces sur place. Bravo!

Wonderful research on that subject. I have followed all your publications on french Tanks in "Forum pages 14-18" with interest. Now I suppose, you will become an expert in A7V� as well

BTW

A7V 506 (Mephisto) was salvaged some further on the right in your Trench map (just right of the name "Ferme La Couture").

Peter

-- Edited by Peter T on Saturday 22nd of January 2011 09:42:50 PM

Tanker · Field Marshal

Bonsoir Peter,

It's only for Elfriede's history with the "Artillerie Sp�ciale" not for the other A7V . . . . !

About Mephisto, I also think that it's probably along the West side of Monument wood.

Mephisto�was not far away from�Elfriede and, with Elfriede�hidden in the quarry, I well understand�the mistake done by the men, in charge of�Elfriede's destruction.�

Wood and orchards are now uprooted but I think that the West limit of La Couture's farm is�still the same.

Michel

-- Edited by Tanker on Sunday 23rd of January 2011 01:30:39 PM

Peter T · General

Bonsoir Tanker

Tanker wrote:

It's only for Elfriede's history with the "Artillerie Sp�ciale" not for the other A7V . . . . !

I'm just kidding...

Mephisto�was not far away from�Elfriede and, with Elfriede�hidden in the quarry, I well understand�the mistake done by the men, in charge of�Elfriede's destruction.

-- Edited by Tanker on Sunday 23rd of January 2011 01:30:39 PM

Concerning the newest publication of Rainer Strasheim there was no demolition team that caused those damages on Mephistos roof.

"Mephisto was hit by at least one shell in the forward fighting compartment during then time it still remained inside the German lines after 24 April." (RST)

All the best and ...

good luck swith your researches,� Peter

Michel Boer · Brigadier

Very interesting to see the landscape where Elfriede got stuck! I�ve been planning to make a diorama depicting Elfriede�s recovery by the French. It�s tempting to use Retrotracks� models of the Knox�+ LaBuire combination, but I haven't found any pic's of the actual recovery. Can anyone shed some light as to how Elfriede was taken away from the battlefield and beyond?

Tanker · Field Marshal

Bonsoir,

"use Retrotracks� models of the Knox�+ LaBuire combination" .� For what ?

In the quarry (on first line)�� :
�� - Two British tanks were used to help the French team.

From the quarry to the road Cachy/Villers-Bretonneux :
�� - I supose that Elfriede was tracked by one of these two tanks.

From Cachy to Saleux (South of Amiens) :
�� - Alone by road with French tank's driver.

From Saleux to Bourron (Artillerie Sp�ciale's camp near Fontainebleau :
�� - By train

The La Buire trailor was only good for Renault FT or Schneider . . . . . !
And they were not used there . . .

Michel

-- Edited by Tanker on Sunday 23rd of January 2011 11:10:27 PM

-- Edited by Tanker on Sunday 23rd of January 2011 11:11:07 PM

Michel Boer · Brigadier

Thanks for the useful info! Pictures anyone?

Westaway · Private

Hello Peter

Can I ask what is the reference for Mephisto being hit by a shell? Is that�a primary account?

There would seem to be an initial heavy impact/explosion on the roof of the tank that tears the thicker roofing armour downward and then it sets off a secondary explosion from munitions inside the tank�which may have blown the lighter roof armour outwards, as seen in historic images as the tank is under guard by Australian infantry.

There is a perfect, circular hole in the floor of the tank where a 57mm shell is ignited and launched through the hole of the tank.

So if you do have a primary source discussing a shell hitting the tank I would be obliged if you could send it on.

Thanks very much

M

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