Renault wz.1932: The first real common tank of Polish Army was a renault FT17. We have tested it’s modernized version’s like the Renault FT Kegresse-Hinstin M26/27 and NC27. In 1924, 6 radio command tanks Renault TSF were bought in France. They were based upon FT-17 hull, fitted with a radio in a big superstructure in a place of a turret. They were not armed. Also, in 1929-1930, some of newer Renault tank designs were bought. They were 5 tanks Renault M26/27 and 1 tank Renault NC-27 (publications often quote 24 tanks NC-27, but only one was bought in fact). M26/27 was an unsuccessful development of FT-17, with the same hull and armament, fitted with a new track mechanism with Kegresse rubber tracks (they were proposed to the French Army under the designation NC-2, but were not accepted; instead, a batch was sold to Yugoslavia, where they served as M.28). Renault NC-27 was a further development of FT-17, with a redesigned hull and new chassis, but a turret with gun or MG armament remained similar (they were proposed to the French Army under the designation NC-1; its further development led to the French D1 tank). In the thirties, the obsolete radio tanks TSF were scheduled to be rebuild to combat tanks, replacing the superstructure with a turret. A new turret with a coxial 37mm gun and MG was developed by the Polish in this purpose, but it is not clear, if these tanks were eventually rebuilt using these turrets (it is rather doubtful, as no photos are known). There were also tested some modernization projects of regular FT-17 tanks, including changes in hull shape and engine cooling system (FT-17 “Hanus”), suspension (from Vickers E tank) and new turrets, mentioned above, but none were accepted.
Use in the thirties: In 1930-36, the Polish Army had the biggest number of its Renault tanks: Polish FT-17 Polish FT-17 on manoeuvres in the 20′s. 112 light tanks Renault FT-17 (numbers: 1001-1112) 6 radio tanks Renault TSF (numbers: 2001-2006) 27 training tanks Renault FT-17 CWS (nos: 3001-3027) 5 tanks Renault M26/27 24 tanks Renault NC-27 (in fact, 1 tank, the rest might be FT-17s) 174 tanks in total
Janusz Magnuski Nowa Technika Wojskowa No.9/1997 Broń Wojska Polskiego 1918-1939
Renault wz.1932 “…suspension (from Vickers E tank) and new turrets with dual weapons.”
Construction begun in October 1932, with Renault M26/27 being used as basis instead of FT model, due to least amount of modifications required. Special care was taken not to modify Vickers suspension components (it was a set of spare parts - not mounted on an actual tanks). Because of this limitation, the original English side gear covers, suspension bogies and truck supporting wheels were fixed to holes existing in experimental tank's hull, using purpose built, cast steel mounting brackets. English drive wheels were installed in the back of the hull; torque was transmitted to wheels using special sleeves mounted on the rear axis. As mentioned before, the tank was supposed to be equipped with a turret having dual weapons, which was designed simultaneously:
Turret wz.1929 (dual weapons - opposite sides) Was Developed in the Design Office Armoured Wibi (Biuro Konstrukcyjne Broni Pancernej WIBI). The project was created in 1929, the first prototype in 1930. Turret was octagonal, guns: 37mm Puteaux cannon and Hothkiss wz.29 machine gun were placed in opposite sides. After practical testing the model was rejected in 1931. It was too cramped interior and was impossible to conduct simultaneous fire from both weapons.
Short barreled Gun of Renault BS 75mm Schnaider is of different shape, it's much shorter (almost half long of Puteaux 37mm), Has recoil mechanism above the barrel. Rt BS didn't have the MG in opposite wall of turret, turret was also significantly bigger. For me on image is dual weapon turret designed in 1929yr. by WIBI.
Here is the Rt BS 75mm for compare:
Look at the barrel, it have different shape than the one on fourth image.
Фото из справочника Хейгля сильно ретушировано. На нам башня похожа на башню Renault BS 75mm Schnaider, на вид меньшего размера. Вполне возможно польские конструкторы просто уменьшили ее и установили в ней пулемет и пушку 37 мм.
The first real common tank of Polish Army was a renault FT17.
We have tested it’s modernized version’s like the Renault FT Kegresse-Hinstin M26/27 and NC27.
In 1924, 6 radio command tanks Renault TSF were bought in France. They were based upon FT-17 hull, fitted with a radio in a big superstructure in a place of a turret. They were not armed. Also, in 1929-1930, some of newer Renault tank designs were bought. They were 5 tanks Renault M26/27 and 1 tank Renault NC-27 (publications often quote 24 tanks NC-27, but only one was bought in fact). M26/27 was an unsuccessful development of FT-17, with the same hull and armament, fitted with a new track mechanism with Kegresse rubber tracks (they were proposed to the French Army under the designation NC-2, but were not accepted; instead, a batch was sold to Yugoslavia, where they served as M.28). Renault NC-27 was a further development of FT-17, with a redesigned hull and new chassis, but a turret with gun or MG armament remained similar (they were proposed to the French Army under the designation NC-1; its further development led to the French D1 tank).
In the thirties, the obsolete radio tanks TSF were scheduled to be rebuild to combat tanks, replacing the superstructure with a turret. A new turret with a coxial 37mm gun and MG was developed by the Polish in this purpose, but it is not clear, if these tanks were eventually rebuilt using these turrets (it is rather doubtful, as no photos are known). There were also tested some modernization projects of regular FT-17 tanks, including changes in hull shape and engine cooling system (FT-17 “Hanus”), suspension (from Vickers E tank) and new turrets, mentioned above, but none were accepted.
Use in the thirties:
In 1930-36, the Polish Army had the biggest number of its Renault tanks:
Polish FT-17
Polish FT-17 on manoeuvres in the 20′s.
112 light tanks Renault FT-17 (numbers: 1001-1112)
6 radio tanks Renault TSF (numbers: 2001-2006)
27 training tanks Renault FT-17 CWS (nos: 3001-3027)
5 tanks Renault M26/27
24 tanks Renault NC-27 (in fact, 1 tank, the rest might be FT-17s)
174 tanks in total
Janusz Magnuski
Nowa Technika Wojskowa No.9/1997
Broń Wojska Polskiego 1918-1939
Renault wz.1932
“…suspension (from Vickers E tank) and new turrets with dual weapons.”
Construction begun in October 1932, with Renault M26/27 being used as basis instead of FT model, due to least amount of modifications required. Special care was taken not to modify Vickers suspension components (it was a set of spare parts - not mounted on an actual tanks). Because of this limitation, the original English side gear covers, suspension bogies and truck supporting wheels were fixed to holes existing in experimental tank's hull, using purpose built, cast steel mounting brackets. English drive wheels were installed in the back of the hull; torque was transmitted to wheels using special sleeves mounted on the rear axis. As mentioned before, the tank was supposed to be equipped with a turret having dual weapons, which was designed simultaneously:
Turret wz.1929 (dual weapons - opposite sides)
Was Developed in the Design Office Armoured Wibi (Biuro Konstrukcyjne Broni Pancernej WIBI).
The project was created in 1929, the first prototype in 1930.
Turret was octagonal, guns: 37mm Puteaux cannon and Hothkiss wz.29 machine gun
were placed in opposite sides.
After practical testing the model was rejected in 1931.
It was too cramped interior and was impossible to conduct simultaneous fire from both weapons.
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Rt BS didn't have the MG in opposite wall of turret, turret was also significantly bigger.
For me on image is dual weapon turret designed in 1929yr. by WIBI.
Here is the Rt BS 75mm for compare:
Look at the barrel, it have different shape than the one on fourth image.
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