tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post4756122358551845508..comments2024-03-20T11:41:56.776-04:00Comments on Tank Archives: Renault D1: FT on SteroidsPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622237223229485503noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-3457440800209487622017-06-11T00:49:38.665-04:002017-06-11T00:49:38.665-04:00"Theoretically, it could fit in the hull, but..."Theoretically, it could fit in the hull, but making the commander/gunner a loader as well was considered the peak of sadism."<br /><br />This should say, "turret." Doesn't make sense otherwise.Chits 'n' Thingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01819307975178436315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030145265861917845.post-41155473007956953722017-06-10T18:57:08.782-04:002017-06-10T18:57:08.782-04:00I have read and enjoyed many of your well written ...I have read and enjoyed many of your well written historical accounts.<br /><br />In this case, though, I thought I might point out an error.<br /><br />You have described an action on 9 November, 1942, between French D1s of the 2nd RCA and U.S. M3 Tank Destroyers (75mm SPGs) of the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion. <br /><br />That action, at Tafaraoui Airfield (south of Oran) was against the M3A1 Stuart tanks of CCB (Combat Command B) of the U.S. 1st Armored Division, which had landed at Beach X of the Central Task Force, and driven 25 miles (about 40km) inland by the afternoon of D day (8 November) to overrun the airfield.<br /><br />On D + 1 (9 November) when the action occurred, the two companies of 75mm M3 SPGs of the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion had not yet landed in Algeria. In fact they did not come ashore until December. Only the recon element of the 601st TD Battalion came ashore in November of 1942.<br /><br />It is possible that French accounts of this action may have mis-identified U.S. T30 75mm SPHs (self-propelled howitzers), which were also built on the chassis of the M3 halftrack. I have seen this error in French language accounts of the Torch landings. T30s may have been present as assault guns in HQ units of CCB tank formations or in U.S. Armored Cavalry (ie: recon) formations in that area. But T30s were armed with a 75mm pack howitzer, were typically equipped with high-explosive ammunition, and were generally rather ineffective against armored targets.<br /><br />For more reading on the forces involved (or not involved), one may examine:<br /><br />The U.S. Army account of the Algerian portion of the Torch landings:<br />http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/algeria/algeria.htm<br /><br />The campaigns of the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion:<br />http://tankdestroyer.net/units/battalions600s/195-601st-tank-destroyer-battalion<br /><br />Other than this minor mis-identification, I found it to be a very interesting and informative article. My thanks for the research and the writing. I remain an avid fan!<br /><br />-Mark<br />(aka: Mk 1, or Mark2 in WoT)<br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02574815531674899810noreply@blogger.com