I understand that Poland had s number of French tanks in use against German tanks in Sep 1939. Please can anybody tell me which tanks they used and in what sort of numbers.
I know Renault FT 17 light tanks were there, but did they have French medium or heavy tanks, any Char b 1 or FCM F1 ? I have read that 24 of the Char B 1 may have been in service with Polish armoured units.
Thanks for your help. Peter
Poland Sep 1939 tanks in action
- Helmut0815
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Re: Poland Sep 1939 tanks in action
As far as I know they had 120 Renault FT 17, 50 Renault R-35 and a few Hotchkisses but no heavier french tanks.
best regards
Helmut
best regards
Helmut
Re: Poland Sep 1939 tanks in action
thanks Helmut.
Re: Poland Sep 1939 tanks in action
Helmut - I think you've had a visit from Mr Typo. According to most authors, there were 102 R17 available in 1939. However 36 of those were attached to armoured trains so that there were 3 companies of 15 vehicles apiece for armoured combat (such as it was for these antiques). 9 per company had 37mm guns and 6 had machine guns.
The R35s equipped one light tank battalion to the tune of 45-46 vehicles. If memory serves this unit traded shots with Soviet forces but not with the Germans. Three more R35s and 3 Hotchkiss H35 were formed into and ad-hoc half-company which fought skirmishes with both the Germans and the Soviets.
Bestest
K
The R35s equipped one light tank battalion to the tune of 45-46 vehicles. If memory serves this unit traded shots with Soviet forces but not with the Germans. Three more R35s and 3 Hotchkiss H35 were formed into and ad-hoc half-company which fought skirmishes with both the Germans and the Soviets.
Bestest
K
Re: Poland Sep 1939 tanks in action
Polish tanks 1926-1939
All at this youtube video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Xq4Ly2sEg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK0MzY1C7-E
Most popular Polish tank was TK-3 and
TKS Tankets with MG,the best version was armed with Heaviest Machine Guns (NKM wz. 38FK) with 20 mm barrels. A serie in the side armor from that HMG could succesfull hit the early versions of Panzer IV
the same TKS victim
FT-17 wr support tanks (scouts )dedicated to armoredtrians
R-35
TKS;TK-3 and R-35
Vickers-E
Polish tank (10th Brigade) German Horsman ( 138th Mountain Jäger Regiments. Part of 3rd Mountain Division (German: 3. Gebirgs-Division) The division took part in the Invasion of Poland 1939 as part of Army Group South, but after first heavy days was "transferred" to garrison the West Wall before the end of the campaign)
All at this youtube video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Xq4Ly2sEg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK0MzY1C7-E
Most popular Polish tank was TK-3 and
TKS Tankets with MG,the best version was armed with Heaviest Machine Guns (NKM wz. 38FK) with 20 mm barrels. A serie in the side armor from that HMG could succesfull hit the early versions of Panzer IV
the same TKS victim
FT-17 wr support tanks (scouts )dedicated to armoredtrians
R-35
TKS;TK-3 and R-35
Vickers-E
Polish tank (10th Brigade) German Horsman ( 138th Mountain Jäger Regiments. Part of 3rd Mountain Division (German: 3. Gebirgs-Division) The division took part in the Invasion of Poland 1939 as part of Army Group South, but after first heavy days was "transferred" to garrison the West Wall before the end of the campaign)