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French Tanks of the Great War: Development, Tactics and Operations
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About French Tanks Of The Great War: Development, Tactics
Product Description The French tank corps was an essential part of the French army from 1917 onwards, yet its history has been strangely neglected in English accounts of the Western Front – and that is why Tim Gale’s meticulously researched history is such a timely addition to the literature on the First World War. Using information derived from the French military archives at Vincennes, much of which has never been published in English before, he describes the design and development of the tanks, the political and organizational issues that arose between the French military and civilian bureaucracy and the record of these pioneering fighting vehicles in combat. All the major engagements in which French tanks participated are depicted in graphic detail, often quoting directly from recollections left by individual tank commanders of their experience in battle, and each operation is assessed in terms of its impact on French tactics in general and on tank tactics in particular. The Nivelle offensive and the battles of Malmaison, the Matz, Soissons and Champagne are featured in the narrative, and the actions of the French tanks serving with the US army are covered too. Much of the material in Tim Gale’s study will be entirely new to non-French speakers. The story will be fascinating reading for anyone who is interested in the Great War, the French army, military innovation and the history of armored warfare. Review "There is no doubt that it was the British who were the first to present a practical tank to the battlefield in 1916. However, it was the French who took the concept to the next level thanks to the revolutionary Renault FT-17, which was the first production tank to have it's main armament contained within a fully rotating turret; a system that remains in place to this day. Tim Gale's book fills a gap in the history of the First World War which, up until now, has only been available in detail, in French language tomes. Beginning with the formation of The 'Artillerie Special', the book takes us through the major battles involving French tanks, such as the Nivelle Offensive, Battle of Malmaison, Matz and Soissons up to the Armistice. Gale's book maybe text heavy, with only 16 black and white plates, a few pages of diagrams and plans to break it up but this does not detract from the fact that it is very easy to dip into... highly recommend to all early tank fans." Military Modelling "For the price...it is a wealth of information and I would definitely recommend it." Forgotten Weapons About the Author Dr Tim Gale was awarded his PhD by the Department of War Studies, King's College London for his work on French tank development and operations in the First World War and he is now one of the leading experts on this aspect of armoured warfare. He has contributed chapters on the subject to several academic books and he has made a special study of the career of the French First World War general Charles Mangin. His book The French Army's Tank Force and the Development of Armoured Warfare in the Great War was published in 2013.
