Doing a kit, and might finish as this vehicle in captured/recaptured guise: http://www.chars-francais.net/new/images/stories/galery/1944_b1bis-ffi/b1bis%20ffi%2005%20vercors%2013e%20dragons%20la%20rochelle%20mai%201945.jpg Chars-Francais Can anyone say for certain what uniform the chap on the rear deck is wearing? There's another (fine) model of it here and it looks like the modeller's gone for US, which is what I thought as I'd assumed FF would get their gear from them. I'm just not entirely sure as I know so little about them; all I have is from the slim 'Tank & AFV Crew Uniforms since 1916' which refers to a confused mish-mash from Syrian, British & Canadian stores earlier in the war followed by "basic American Uniform with their own headgear and ranking" for the French 1944+ campaign. The book's a bit vague on the subject as a whole and only really focused on crews though, so I thought I'd ask. If it is US gear, was it modified in any way? From a sheet in the kit I've got the vehicle as belonging to the 2nd Company of the 13th dragoons Regiment, and that picture as being La Rochelle in April 1945. I find Chars-Francais quite hard to navigate; does anyone know exactly where/when 'Vercors' was recaptured? (thought there might be some ATB stuff on it somewhere, the image suits their style). And was it definitely repainted in Olive Drab? ~A
Looking on the pic i've a got a question - is this WW1 german helmet mounted on spare tracks on the front of vehicle? If so - why is it here - the pic dated 1945.
Generally speaking the FFI were equipped with US army uniforms and weapons. The Char B equipped the French Army of 1940 and the Germans tended to use all the equipment surrendered from the armistice of June 1940.The Char B, I would say is a tank that had been recovered from the Germans. The name "Vercors" comes from the failed Maquis/FFI uprising on the Vercors plateau in June and July 1944.The Germans threw a ring of 20.000 troops around the plateau.300 SS troops landed on the plateau from gliders and the uprising culminated in the massacre of all and sundry in the villages on the plateau on 21 July 1944.Allied support,although promised, from the air did not materialise and the French did not have the heavily calibre weapons to counter the German artilliery. The location, stated to be La Rochelle fits into the war situation at that time for the town is adjacent to La Pallice which is the commercial port fro La Rochelle and was a Kreigsmarine U Boat base.La Pallice,along with L'Orient with Royan were fortified by the Germans with the overall plan of not surrendering to the Allies.These bases were left to "wither on the vine" and were bypassed by the Allies but left to the FFI to beseige with the intention of reducing casualties as far as possible.Royan was heavily bombed by the RAF to suport this policy.These "redoubts" were to surrender as part of the surrender conditions, agreed by the Germans at Reims in early May 1945 which ended the war.
Looking on the pic i've a got a question - is this WW1 german helmet mounted on spare tracks on the front of vehicle? If so - why is it here - the pic dated 1945. It is difficult to tell if it is a WWI helmet. I cannot tell from the distance and angle how "deep" the crown of the helmet is and the front is not visible to be able to see if it has the lugs. I'm pretty sure that 1916 model helmets were not being issued to front line troops by this late in the war, but I suppose it is possible for some to still be around. I am a willing to bet that this is not a WWI helmet.
Looking at the photograph again,I would think that he is in US Army uniform kit. The other thing having looked again at the detail of the photograph,I would say that that it was taken on the Quay Duperre which is situated on the harbour side,ie,facing the Vieux Port.I say this because of the unique shop covered arched fronts which are a feature of this part of the town.There are similar shop fronts in the street,the Rue du Temple which is behind the Quay Duperre but is a street which is much narrow that than Quay Duperre and is closly built up on both sides.
(thought there might be some ATB stuff on it somewhere, the image suits their style). ~A Nothing in ATB's D-Day, Panzers in Normandy or Ruckmarsh that I recall even in the liberation of Paris shots.
Cheers chaps. The name "Vercors" comes from the failed Maquis/FFI uprising on the Vercors plateau in June and July 1944.The Germans threw a ring of 20.000 troops around the plateau.300 SS troops landed on the plateau from gliders and the uprising culminated in the massacre of all and sundry in the villages on the plateau on 21 July 1944.Allied support,although promised, from the air did not materialise and the French did not have the heavily calibre weapons to counter the German artilliery. Thanks in particular for that Harry, sounds an interesting event, and not one I'd heard of. I'd been wondering about the name as I see it lives on attached to a Leclerc. Photo on this page: Chars français - 1991 CHAR LECLERC Quite tempting to do a kit of the contemporary 'Vercors' alongside the Char B. And I've just noticed after fighting with fitting the damned thing that Vercors doesn't carry the extra armour on the glacis above the belly gun as fitted to many German Chars... Bugger. Cue unnecessary cutting and sanding .
It is difficult to tell if it is a WWI helmet. I cannot tell from the distance and angle how "deep" the crown of the helmet is and the front is not visible to be able to see if it has the lugs. I'm pretty sure that 1916 model helmets were not being issued to front line troops by this late in the war, but I suppose it is possible for some to still be around. I am a willing to bet that this is not a WWI helmet. Looking over and over on this pic and at this angle for me it looks like WW1 model but I couldn't bet that this is it 100%.
