FREE FRENCH TANKS OF WORLD WAR I PDF Steven Zaloga,Tony Bryan | 48 pages | 21 Dec 2010 | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC | 9781846035135 | English | Oxford, England, United Kingdom French Army in World War I - Wikipedia Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Zaloga. Tony Bryan Illustrator. 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 was a bloody fiasco. In spite of initial set-b This title examines the emergence of the first modern tank, the Renault FT. 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. Get A Copy. Paperback48 pages. More Details Osprey New Vanguard Other Editions 6. Friend Reviews. To see what your friends French Tanks of World War I of this book, please sign up. Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 3. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Sep 24, James Crabtree rated it it was amazing. 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! Jun French Tanks of World War I, Jur rated French Tanks of World War I really liked it Shelves: wwiown. 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. However, despite a slightly later start the French came up with their own tank designs, which were first deployed in April 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 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. They then put out thousands of smaller tanks by 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 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 did the tank become available in serious numbers. French Tanks of World War I 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 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 French Tanks of World War I tank-infantry co-operation. Well French Tanks of World War I 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 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 French Tanks of World War I 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 French Tanks of World War I 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. Jan 21, Steven French Tanks of World War I rated it really liked it. A very nice addition to the New Vanguard series. 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 French Tanks of World War I, inexpensive tanks that could overwhelm the Germans with mobility and mass. The tank itself was developed to alter the bat A very nice addition to the New Vanguard series. 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 French Tanks of World War I this volume: depictions of the various tanks e. There are abundant numbers of photographs throughout, and this adds to an understanding of the different French Tanks of World War I. 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. Boris rated it really liked it Jan 22, William Paley rated it it was ok May 25, Steven G. Lipke rated it it was ok Nov 02, James Dalziel rated it liked it Mar 24, James Dalziel rated it really liked it Mar 21, Terry rated it really liked it Dec 29, Jonathan rated it it was amazing Dec 23, Stockfish rated it it was amazing Mar 17, Mark A Simmons rated it liked it May 04, Maggie Bryngelson rated it liked it Feb 12, Gregg Metternich rated it liked it Nov 02, Tanks in World War I - Wikipedia The development of tanks in World War I was a response to the stalemate that developed on the Western Front. Although vehicles that incorporated the basic principles of the tank armour, firepower, and all-terrain mobility had been projected in the decade or so before the War, it was the alarmingly heavy casualties of the start of its trench warfare that stimulated development. Although initially termed "Landships" by the Landship Committeeproduction vehicles were named "tanks", to preserve secrecy. The term was chosen when it became known that the factory workers at William Foster referred to the first prototype as "the tank" because of its resemblance to a steel water tank. The French fielded their first tanks in April and ultimately produced far more tanks than all other countries, French Tanks of World War I. The Germanson the other hand, began development only in response to the appearance of Allied tanks on the battlefield. Whilst the Allies manufactured several thousand tanks during the war, Germany deployed only 20 of its own. The first tanks were mechanically unreliable. There were problems that caused considerable attrition rates during combat deployment and transit. The heavily shelled terrain was impassable to conventional vehicles, and only highly mobile tanks such as the Mark IV and FTs performed reasonably well. The conceptual roots of the tank go back to ancient times, with siege engines that were able to provide protection for troops moving up against stone walls or other fortifications.