French Tanks of World War I
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Author: Steven J. Zaloga
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-84603-513-5
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 48
When one thinks of World War One tanks, the image of large, cumbersome vehicles plodding slowly across the landscape immediately comes to mind. The German and British designs definitely fit this description, for the most part. The French, though, had some different thinking, and the Renault FT17 was not only a small tank, but it captured the shape of future generations of tanks. This latest title in the Osprey New Vanguard series examines the Renault and other French tanks from the First World War.
While the little Renault is the most famous of French WWI tanks, there were several other designs put forth. These designs, the St-Chamond and Schneider CA, were successful in that the actually moved, but they were not very effective fighting vehicles. The slow speed of these tanks rendered them vulnerable, especially compared to those found in British and German armies. The Renault design, therefore, was a marked departure from conventional design practices, with the idea that instead of one large and powerful tank, there would be a swarm of smaller, more maneuverable tanks that would overwhelm defenses.
This book does a great job of describing the processes that created the St-Chamond, Schneider CA, and Renault FT. Complementing the well written text are quite a few photographs. These are very welcome, as finding photo references on these early tanks is not easy. Along with these photos there are a handful of color profile illustrations that highlight just how interesting French tank camouflage was during the First World War.
For those interested in the origins of tank design, or are just fascinated by World War One tanks in general, this is a great book. While short, it does a very good job of detailing the history of these early French tanks. My thanks to Osprey Publishing for the review copy.