- French, green and brown on ochre
- French, green and brown patches on ochre
- German panzer grey (WWII)
- Spanish Morocco
FT17 (plain green)
These is still in 1/76 scale. I haven't re-done them in 1/72 yet. I included both
turret types (flat-sided and round), both types of armament (MG and 37mm) and
the TSF (radio) superstructure. I will
eventually add the 75mm superstructure for the BS version. I am making a more detailked suspension, made up of laminations to get the 3-D effect.
Jose Verdu provided some interesting notes regarding the use of the FT17 in Spanish Morocco.
THE MORROCAN WAR AND THE PARTICIPATION OF THE RENAULT FT-17.
After the colonial loss (Cuba and The Philippines) of 1.898, Spain looked for a compensation in Morocco. For the agreements reached in the conference of Algeciras (1.906) to support the balance between the European powers, a Spanish protectorate is founded in Morocco’s north.
The effort tackled to occupy this protectorate, represented from 1.909 one long series of costly campaigns, both in men and in money. This war was highly unpopular in the metropolitan Spain, and had grave repercussions in the Spanish politics. The continuous defeats suffered by the Spanish army culminated with so called " Disaster of Annual " of 1.921where the Spanish forces be defeated by the Moroccan forces of Abd El Krim (Moroccan Commander who promoted and led the resistance of the Moroccan people as opposed to the Spanish occupation)
With the military French support (Country that till now had tried to take advantage of the Spanish weakness, to strengthen his own position in the zone, until he suffered likewise Abd El Krim’s assaults) it was achieved to solve the problem of this war. After the landing of Alhucemas in 1.925, there was obtained the occupation and total pacification of the territory in the spring of 1.927.
THE RENAULT FT-17 IN SPAIN.
From 1.918 the Spanish army desired the new materials arisen in the nearby first world war. It was contacted with England and France, and finally only France offered response to the Spanish interest and in June 23 of 1.919, the first tank came to Spain, a Renault Ft-17.
This first tank was being armed by a machine gun of 8 mm. Hotchkiss, that was replaced in Spain by one equally but of 7 mm, which it was the regulation weapon in the Spanish army. The turret mounted in this tank was the octogonal. The registry number of this tank was ATM-1080 and it was marked with the inscription "ARTILLERIA".
In September of 1.921 there were bought to France 10 tanks FT-17 armed with machine guns and rounded turrets, 11 machine guns Hotchkiss of 7 mm, a tank version TSF (Telegraphie sans fils), 11 tank carrier trucks and spare pieces for 31.135.098,75 Pesetas of this age.
With all this material there was created on December 17 of 1.921 the company of assault tanks of infantry organized of the following way:
- Command section with the TSF tank.
- Two sections of tanks with 5 Renaults each one.
- Section of train and workshop with a light truck Ford, two cistern trucks and a workshop truck.
These tanks were painted in grey with green camouflage spots, and registered with the "INFANTERIA" mark followed by a number, one for the TSF and the machine gun tanks numbered with 2 to 11, the TSF was marked also with a white one in the boogie plate, and the components of both sections of tanks were taking the number of the section in a white triangle in the tail of the car.
The duration of the training of this unit was short, and the whole unit landed in Melilla On March 12 of 1.922.
THE RENAULT FT-17 IN THE WAR OF MOROCCO
The entry in combat was immediate, but his first action was not good, there got lost three tanks, which later were recovered, though one of them did not return to put in functioning up to one year later.
Later, the things went to better, when the skill and suitable tactics were acquired, the activity of the unit was very intense, realizing many missions, as that of courier, observatory and tractor. Managing in some occasions to remain for 11 hours continued in combat without going out of the tanks.
In 1.923 six tanks more were acquired that were received on August 20 of 1.925, which were added to the unit to cover falls and to allow the formation of a third section.
This unit took part in the first armoured landing of the history, that of Alhucemas, in September 8 of 1.925 they took part 11 tanks, of which three, landed from K barges previously reinforced and whose mission was to act as an advanced line of forts that was protecting the rest of the landing forces.
After this action that there supposed the beginning of the defeat of the forces of Abd El Krim, the unit continued taking part in multiple actions during the rest of the war.
Once finished the war, these tanks continued in active service up to the beginning of the civil Spanish war, (1936-1939)
José Miguel Verdú Peñalver
