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Osprey New Vanguard #173
French Tanks of World War I
This title examines the emergence of the first modern tank, the Renault FT. It is a little known fact that France fielded more tanks in World War I than any other army. However, France's early tanks suffered from poor mobility and armor compared to their contemporaries. Indeed, their initial use on the Chemin des Dames in 1917 was a bloody fiasco. In spite of initial set-backs, the French army redeemed its reputation with the Renault FT.
The Renault FT pioneered the modern tank design, with armament in a revolutionary central turret and the engine in the rear. More importantly, the Renault was designed to be cheap and easy to manufacture. Discover the history of the early French armor developments and their triumphant new design, the Renault FT, that helped to turn the tide of war in the favor of the Allies.
The Renault FT pioneered the modern tank design, with armament in a revolutionary central turret and the engine in the rear. More importantly, the Renault was designed to be cheap and easy to manufacture. Discover the history of the early French armor developments and their triumphant new design, the Renault FT, that helped to turn the tide of war in the favor of the Allies.
- GenresWorld War I
48 pages, Paperback
First published December 21, 2010
About the author
Steven J. Zaloga
381 books77 followersSteven Zaloga is an author and defense analyst known worldwide for his articles and publications on military technology. He has written over a hundred books on military technology and military history, including “Armored Thunderbolt: The US Army Sherman in World War II”, one of the most highly regarded histories of the Sherman Tank. His books have been translated into Japanese, German, Polish, Czech, Romanian, and Russian. He was a special correspondent for Jane’s Intelligence Review and is on the executive board of the Journal of Slavic Military Studies and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. From 1987 through 1992, he was the writer/producer for Video Ordnance Inc., preparing their TV series Firepower. He holds a BA in history from Union College and an MA in history from Columbia University.
Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.
Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 24, 2019
A great look at the French Army's attempt to break the stalemate in the trenches, not by building "land battleships" as the British did but by creating much smaller tanks in larger numbers. The technology and resources of France argued for this method, especially after the French tried out a few of the armored behemoths and found them wanting. Of course, this is a slim volume but it provides an excellent account of the development and use of the early tanks. A must-read for WWI fans!
August 28, 2019
When we think of WWI we sometimes forget that the French were bearing the brunt of the German onslaught and later of the battles to kick them out again. Similarly, when we think of WWI tanks, we see a British Mark IV tank. However, despite a slightly later start the French came up with their own tank designs, which were first deployed in April 1917 (ie 7 months after the Brits). It was a delirious failure, but the French learned and went back to the drawing table. They then put out thousands of smaller tanks by 1918 defining the future of tank design.
Zaloga's booklet is a fine introduction to development of tanks in France during WWI. The book takes a chronological approach, covering the saga from angles of technology, available resources, tactical considerations and political opposition.
From a tactical viewpoint the French first got of the wrong start, building the heavy Schneider and St Chamond tanks, that were too slow, vulnerable and unable to lead the infantry through enemy trenches. Their deployment in the spring 1917 offensive was a disaster.
The Renault FT was a much more promising approach, gaining speed and mass. However, competition for scarce strategic resources meant that until the fiasco of the Chemin de Dames the development of the FT was held back. Even then political opposition delayed the programm so that only by spring 1918 did the tank become available in serious numbers.
The German spring offensives then disturbed the training of tank crews and subsequently forced their premature deployment in localised counterattacks, rather than the big breakthrough that the French tank theorist Estienne had envisaged. Nevertheless, on a few occassions in July and September the French were able to deploy close to 400 tanks in one attack. This was not only a triumph of industrial production, but also of battlefield logistics.
However, Zaloga claims the prime determinant of tank success seems to have been training of tank-infantry co-operation. Well trained infantry could achieve excellent results with the Schneider and St Chamond at Malmaison, while infantry needed experience with the Renault to really explore its potential.
On the other hand the ample supply of tanks was of great psychological benefit to the troops. The French high command was very conscious of this after the 1917 mutinies and tried to ensure that as many attacks went in with tank support.
Mechanically, many technical imperfections remained even in the later models so that the operational armoured breakthrough never became a realistic goal. Breakdown rates still ensured half of the forces involved would be hors de combat at the end of the first day and no infrastructure was available to sustain attacks over long distances.
All in all a very readable book with ample illustrations. Zaloga obviously knows his tank stuff.
Personal peeve is that most images of the Renault FT are of the American Expeditionary Force, which probably does no harm to the tank types used, but feels a bit strange as the vast majority of tanks was used by the French.
One question that also goes unanswered is how the tank development affected French operational theory. From Verdun on the idea was that artillery conquered terrain and the infantry occupied. Tank tactics must have had an effect on this.
Zaloga's booklet is a fine introduction to development of tanks in France during WWI. The book takes a chronological approach, covering the saga from angles of technology, available resources, tactical considerations and political opposition.
From a tactical viewpoint the French first got of the wrong start, building the heavy Schneider and St Chamond tanks, that were too slow, vulnerable and unable to lead the infantry through enemy trenches. Their deployment in the spring 1917 offensive was a disaster.
The Renault FT was a much more promising approach, gaining speed and mass. However, competition for scarce strategic resources meant that until the fiasco of the Chemin de Dames the development of the FT was held back. Even then political opposition delayed the programm so that only by spring 1918 did the tank become available in serious numbers.
The German spring offensives then disturbed the training of tank crews and subsequently forced their premature deployment in localised counterattacks, rather than the big breakthrough that the French tank theorist Estienne had envisaged. Nevertheless, on a few occassions in July and September the French were able to deploy close to 400 tanks in one attack. This was not only a triumph of industrial production, but also of battlefield logistics.
However, Zaloga claims the prime determinant of tank success seems to have been training of tank-infantry co-operation. Well trained infantry could achieve excellent results with the Schneider and St Chamond at Malmaison, while infantry needed experience with the Renault to really explore its potential.
On the other hand the ample supply of tanks was of great psychological benefit to the troops. The French high command was very conscious of this after the 1917 mutinies and tried to ensure that as many attacks went in with tank support.
Mechanically, many technical imperfections remained even in the later models so that the operational armoured breakthrough never became a realistic goal. Breakdown rates still ensured half of the forces involved would be hors de combat at the end of the first day and no infrastructure was available to sustain attacks over long distances.
All in all a very readable book with ample illustrations. Zaloga obviously knows his tank stuff.
Personal peeve is that most images of the Renault FT are of the American Expeditionary Force, which probably does no harm to the tank types used, but feels a bit strange as the vast majority of tanks was used by the French.
One question that also goes unanswered is how the tank development affected French operational theory. From Verdun on the idea was that artillery conquered terrain and the infantry occupied. Tank tactics must have had an effect on this.
January 21, 2011
A very nice addition to the New Vanguard series. The focus of this slender Osprey volume is French tanks during World War I. The tank was an innovation during this bloody conflict. French tanks began with a design that simply did not work. This book focuses on the transformation from ungainly to (Page 4) "a 'bee swarm' of small, inexpensive tanks that could overwhelm the Germans with mobility and mass." The culminating design produced the Renault FT.
The tank itself was developed to alter the battlefield stalemate ensuing from trench warfare. The tank would, it was hoped, overcome the barriers of German defenses--trenches, barbed wire, and defensive firepower.
One fine feature of this volume: depictions of the various tanks (e.g., the FT on page 4 and the Schneider CA on Page 9). There are abundant numbers of photographs throughout, and this adds to an understanding of the different tanks. The book nicely describes the original large tanks and the logic of moving toward smaller, lighter, more mobile vehicles. The volume also discusses the pushback against development of the Renault FT. A good example of bureaucratic politics in the military realm.
Then, we move to the tank in combat, how it was used, and the organization of tank units. Page 39 provides a statistical summary of the different types of French tanks as they were involved in combat.
In sum, a nice addition to this Osprey series. And a very well done examination of French tanks in World War I.
The tank itself was developed to alter the battlefield stalemate ensuing from trench warfare. The tank would, it was hoped, overcome the barriers of German defenses--trenches, barbed wire, and defensive firepower.
One fine feature of this volume: depictions of the various tanks (e.g., the FT on page 4 and the Schneider CA on Page 9). There are abundant numbers of photographs throughout, and this adds to an understanding of the different tanks. The book nicely describes the original large tanks and the logic of moving toward smaller, lighter, more mobile vehicles. The volume also discusses the pushback against development of the Renault FT. A good example of bureaucratic politics in the military realm.
Then, we move to the tank in combat, how it was used, and the organization of tank units. Page 39 provides a statistical summary of the different types of French tanks as they were involved in combat.
In sum, a nice addition to this Osprey series. And a very well done examination of French tanks in World War I.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews