Com-Central.net

Hello guys,

Here is a question from Jack Hudock, Annapolis, MD USA :

"Some FT-17 tanks clearly have a "hump" or bend in the support bar for the return rollers. See the FT-17 in the Parque Regional de Manutenção/1, Vila Militar, Rio de Janeiro, that you have posted, and the Six Ton Tank Model 1917 – Patton Museum, Fort Knox, KY, also your posting. I initially thought that this was one of the differences between the FT-17 and the Six Ton US version, but that is obviously not the case. What are your thoughts on this?"
Note that few tanks have that bend on the torsion bar..





Second question :

"It appears that some 37mm gun versions of the FT-17 were armed with a Schneider SA 18/L21 (vertical sliding breech block, as in the example in the Finnish Armour Museum), while others apparently had the Hotchkiss 1916 trench gun (eccentric breech), as it its the case at Aberdeen Proving Ground. (As the exhaust is on the right in this Aberdeen specimen, I suspect it is a FT-17, not a Six Ton.) Again, your thoughts, please."

P-O

Supposedly, K-K-Katy (name of a popular WWI-era song) at Aberdeen is an FT-17 with an M1917 turret... Unfortunately I cant find any pics of it...

Neil

Courtesy of Chris Neel :



P-O

That sure is a ......

D-D-D-D DUSTY, K-K-K-K-KATY !!!

D-D-D-DON

L-L-L-LOL


P-P-P-O

Here is a comparison photo, taken today. It shows a French FT17 w/ US model (Afghan vehicle), side by side.




Don

To me that would be two FTs since they both have the segmented wheels. Pierre and I seem to be alone in agreeing on this point, but if you have a look at the Unknown M1917 thread he has done a very good job of explaining it. The wheels on the left hand tank are what you get when the wood has gone from both sides of the wheel, and only been replaced on the outside.

The Renault F.T. or Renault F.T. Modele 1917 (as is the official name) at the Parola Armour Museum in Finland has a Soviet 37 mm gun in lieu of the original 37 mm Puteaux gun.