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The other T-34/85



Massimo

Cutaway T-34/85



Massimo

TACAM's serial number looks like 218... But I am not sure about it



Massimo

Tacam R-2:





Massimo

I agree Doug, the primer isn't doing very well, it's porous, keep collecting dirt and making things worst.

Massimo

- the_shadock

This order to remove the plates is the reason why we often don't find any plate from the outside. No tank built by Berliet, Somua or Delaunay-Belleville ever carried a manufacturer's plate on the outside, and some of the Renault tanks lost it already in 1918.

Very valuable info. Thanks a lot

Massimo

- Massimo_Foti

Pz 35 (t) / R-2



Massimo

That red primer coating stuff is not aging well. Only 3-4 years elapsed between your pics and mine, and the stuff was newly applied when I took mine.

I don't know what it's formula is, but primer coating for auto paint is notoriously porous, which is always funny when you see some guys driving around in primer-coated cars thinking they're somewhat protected from corrosion. It actually makes it worse.

- Massimo_Foti

Thanks Michel. I wonder how many other FT-17 have the plate. Maybe Pierre-Olivier could help, I guess is the one who have seen more FT-17s among us

Massimo

Massimo,

I got new information about the plates that could be found on the Renault FT tanks :

The Renault FT tanks were built by some manufacturers : Renault (of course), but also Berliet, Somua and Delauney-Belleville.

During the First World War, some of the Renault tanks built before May 1918 were constructed with the manufacturer's plate. In May 1918, a military responsible decided to remove the plates, which carried the address of the Renault factory, and requested all the manufacturers not to put any plate on the exterior sides of the tank, to prevent the enemy to know the exact origin of the tanks. However, for various reasons, some of the Renault tanks which were already carrying the plate kept it despite the order to remove them.

This order to remove the plates is the reason why we often don't find any plate from the outside. No tank built by Berliet, Somua or Delaunay-Belleville ever carried a manufacturer's plate on the outside, and some of the Renault tanks lost it already in 1918.

Pierre-Olivier

- Michel_Krauss

I do have an picture where you can see the complete vehicle with the plate, so it is still there
The problem is, it is not possible to read it because it is to far away

However I'm planning to go there again in an couple of weeks
I will put it on the list, things to do / check

Michel

I do have some requests for you...

P-O

Pz 35 (t) / R-2



This should be the serial number. Looks like a 41:



Massimo

- Michel_Krauss

However I'm planning to go there again in an couple of weeks I will put it on the list, things to do / check

Great, let us know if you can get anything

Massimo

- the_shadock

you probably didn't look at the good place, because the manufacturer's plate is still present on the other side of the FT at Overloon.
Here you can see the plate behind the red sign :
commons.wikimedia.org/..._FT_17.jpg

P-O

well I sort of have the same problem you have
Don't have an good clear picture of the plate

I do have an picture where you can see the complete vehicle with the plate, so it is still there
The problem is, it is not possible to read it because it is to far away

However I'm planning to go there again in an couple of weeks
I will put it on the list, things to do / check

Michel

SU-76:





Massimo

- the_shadock

I'm just adding that information on the PDF

- Massimo_Foti

Thanks for the info. I agree the 18 must be the production year.
Looks like the kind of information that could be worth additing to the PDF.

Massimo

I'm just adding that information on the PDF

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ft17_parola_6.jpg
The SN on the FT from Parola is 9129.18

Given that less than 3800 FT were ever constructed, one could think that either the SNs were not from 1 to 3800 (could be possible if this SN range is given to all vehicles produced by Renault, that would say that, for example, a Renault truck could have the SN 3187.18), or the FT were given another serial number after the war..

Pierre-Olivier

P-O