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.

 

 

 

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