Renault FT-17, M1917 six ton tank

[Richard Farrant]

A few months ago while at my local garage, the owner showed me a pair of front idler wheels that they had just made for a Renault tank. They are made of segments of wood, the garage is renowned for it wheelwright business and even does work on the Royal coaches. The wheels are for a well known collection locally who are restoring two.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here's a little 1-on-1 on diving an FT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPkMn158Fwo

You could politely ask MLU froum member Gunner to bring back this FT when he's on his next business trip to Africa

H.

[jdmcm]

kind of makes you wonder what you would have to do to get a tank like that out of Africa? I am guessing much like Hayes discovered in the 1980's in Afghanistan that the average (is there such a thing?) tank collector couldn't afford the bribes required!

[Gunner]

Hi John:

The Col that ran the museum likely survived the coup last year as he would have been seen as not in the direct chain of command and wasn't really one of the President's inner circle.

Because they have two (the one I saw being reportedly the worst of them) he might be open to selling one to raise money for the museum. I can certainly ask through good friends over there if he is still around. Better yet would be to offer to restore one to working order for him in exchange for what's left afterwards.

I seriously considered shipping two BTR 152 home from Mali. There is a train that runs to Dakar Senegal twice a week so you can rail it to Dakar and ship from there. Container it and paint it bright blue so its ag machinery. Bribes would be needed to cross the border between Mali and Senegal and the train frequently "breaksdown" requiring more bribes by all aboard to get it running again. The rail company (Canadian) is getting a grip of those problems and they are less frequent than when I was there.

The other option is truck to the Cote d'Ivoire and ship from there. You can imagine after all my rambles in th3e third world nothing surprises or scares me much but trucks over there scare the hell out of me due to unreliability and unqualified drivers. There would be bigger bribes to cross that border but it is an option.

All up I was looking at $40K to ship two vehicles in container plus the cost of the vehicles which was very low as one was to be a gift to the CWM if we could have done the deal.

Good luck! Mike

[servicepub (RIP)]

Years ago I came across the disposal files for these, at LAC. However, I no longer have the reference number.
Most of these were sold to industries involved in the war effort and which could not acquire Caterpillars or other movers. If you find the file it may be worth scouring some of those companies in case the 6-tonner is still in the back corner of their yard. I do remember that Sorel Shipbuilders was one of the buyers.

[jdmcm]

Thanks Mike

I would very much appreciate you looking into the possibility of doing some type of deal. I would be more than happy to entertain restoring one in trade or part trade for the other. It also seems like it may be the adventure of a lifetime and really isn't that what it's about? I mean recovering a vehicle like that from such an incredibly interesting place...the story alone is worth the effort, investment and risk!

Thanks
John

[Gunner]

OK John: I'll make a few enquiries to see what the political climate is like. Give me a bit of time as some of my contacts are not quick on returning emails,

Cheers! Mike