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Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: Agis on December 04, 2008, 04:59:22 PM

Title: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Agis on December 04, 2008, 04:59:22 PM
Hi guys,

I need some help from all you history buffs out there.
I am getting more and more interested in Chinese Forces during WWII.
For the Nationalist Forces of Chiang Kai Shek I have researched the use of the following vehicles:

Renault FT Tanks (M1918) from France in 1927
Carden Loyd Mk VI 1933
20 Vickers 6-ton Tanks between 1935-1936
Italian L.3/35
German Pz-I A, SdKfz 221 and 222
Later (after the withdrawal of German advisors):
T-26 tanks
BA-10 Armoured Cars

During the end of WWII Chinese Nationalist forces got British and US equipment.
White Scout Cars,
Stuart M3A3
Sherman M4A4
Bren Carriers

Now comes the tricky part, do you have any info about colour, markings etc of the AFVs?
Or even photos?
And what vehicles were in use by the Communist Guerrillas (PLA)?

Any help is welcome, thanks in advance!
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Arlequín on December 04, 2008, 11:15:28 PM
I don't know much about this period but;

The Communists were taken into the Nationalist Army as the 8th Route Army (Guerrillas in Northern China) and the New 4th Army (South of the Yangste River). So presumably they were equipped the same as the Nationalists. The 'Armies' were about Divisional size.

The Chinese army was almost wholly on foot or horse drawn.

There were 3 Armoured Battalions in 1937, which were pretty much destroyed at Shangai and Nanking. A mechanised division was later formed using Soviet and Italian vehicles, but became a motorised infantry division in 1938. It fought in Burma.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/200th_Division_(National_Revolutionary_Army)

A Battalion of Shermans fought in Burma from 1944?

The following links give more, if patchy, information along with photos here and there;

http://www.swallow.com.tw/military/chinese.htm#c00821

http://www.hardcorpsmodels.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=28

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_of_Chinese_armoured_forces_(1927-1945)

http://forum.japantoday.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=491952&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=0

http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/china/china.html
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Helen on December 05, 2008, 01:42:12 AM
Here is another link with some lovely Chinese AFV piccies (please scroll down as you go):

http://www.ww2f.com/cbi-theater/21839-chinese-nationalist-armour-world-war-ii.html

The Axis forum is another valuable tool. Under this link is the China section:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewforum.php?f=101&sid=42cd5f489e9799571454052d89ec57b0
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: pbeccas on December 05, 2008, 08:04:52 AM
Hi Agis

Here are some more armoured vehicles from the early war with Japan to add to your list, most already on there.
SdKfz 221
SdKfz 222
White Scout Car
PzKmpf 1 A/B
Vickers 6 Ton Type E
FT-17 MG
FT-17 37mmL21
T-26B
Ben and Universal Carrier

Once the Yanks started supplying equipment late war.  None of this equipment was given to the Commies.
Stuart M3A3
Sherman M4A4
Jeep

Trucks used were :
Buessing-Nag Heavy Truck
Ford, or Chevy, or GMC Medium Truck
Morris Light Truck

You got a big choice.

Paul

Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Helen on December 05, 2008, 11:26:00 AM
Hi Agis,

Not only should you be looking at AFVs, but also uniforms. Here is a beautiful link that when you scroll down the page you find these coloured illustrations of Chinese servicemen in all types of uniforms including tankers etc.

http://www.hoplite.cn/Templates/hpjh0053.htm

AFVs (beautiful colour illustrations) Note: some of the titles are incorrect an are repeated for various AFVs:

http://www.hoplite.cn/Templates/hpjh0066.htm

Hope this assists you.

Helen
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Agis on December 05, 2008, 12:16:46 PM
Thanks and big thanks to all of!
That helps... :)
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: DrunkenSamurai on December 05, 2008, 04:43:49 PM
Here is another link with some lovely Chinese AFV piccies (please scroll down as you go):

http://www.ww2f.com/cbi-theater/21839-chinese-nationalist-armour-world-war-ii.html

The Axis forum is another valuable tool. Under this link is the China section:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewforum.php?f=101&sid=42cd5f489e9799571454052d89ec57b0

Wow! Those links are GOLD!  It looks like the header has stills from a movie, anyone know what it might be?
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Troop of Shewe on December 05, 2008, 08:12:36 PM
ditto, great links Helen.
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Helen on December 05, 2008, 08:47:08 PM
No probs!  8)
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Arlequín on December 06, 2008, 12:03:33 AM
See what you mean about the titles, "If we don't know what it is, call it a BA20" lol. Nevertheless, that was excellent. We really could do with a thread just for posting stuff like that, they are hard to track down.
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Agis on December 06, 2008, 07:54:05 AM
See what you mean about the titles, "If we don't know what it is, call it a BA20" lol.

 ??? ??? ???
Can explain this sentence a bit more, I am lost...  :(
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Arlequín on December 06, 2008, 10:39:17 AM
See what you mean about the titles, "If we don't know what it is, call it a BA20" lol.

 ??? ??? ???
Can explain this sentence a bit more, I am lost...  :(

On the link Helen posted, in the illustration captions, you will see 'BA20' in several of them, each on a different vehicle, while others have the correct caption.

e.g. The Vickers Light Tank Mk II is captioned as a BA-20, as is the L3/35 Tankette and the T-26 etc.

 :)
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Agis on December 06, 2008, 02:22:02 PM
Got it! ;) :D
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Agis on December 10, 2008, 12:03:33 PM
After the fantastic feedback and info I thought it would be a good idea to ask again. ;)

From 1943 on the US Government was more involved in supporting the Chinese War effort.
I already have tank and HTs pretty well covered, but what about guns in use.

More precisely, was the US 57mm AT Gun in use by Chinese X Y Forces?
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: DrunkenSamurai on December 13, 2008, 12:41:41 AM
After the fantastic feedback and info I thought it would be a good idea to ask again. ;)

From 1943 on the US Government was more involved in supporting the Chinese War effort.
I already have tank and HTs pretty well covered, but what about guns in use.

More precisely, was the US 57mm AT Gun in use by Chinese X Y Forces?

I would think that the M3 37mm would have been more common. 

Here is an interesting thread on the subject - http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=101&t=105386
i have no idea how accurate the info is...

I cannot find any reference to the 57mm or British 6lb gun in Chinese service.
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: dadlamassu on December 13, 2008, 08:32:35 AM
My sources give:
Carden-Loyd Mk IVB - 1931 - 2 man tankette
FT M1918 - 1927 - delivered to Chang Tso Lin
T-27
T-26B - 3-man, single turret
Vickers 6 ton Mk "E" - 1936 - 16 vehicles
Vickers 6 ton Mk "F" - 1936 - 4 vehicles fitted with radio equipment in turret overhang
Carden-Loyd M1931 - 1935 - 2-man amphibious tank - 29 vehicles
Carden-Loyd M1936 - 1936 - fitted with radio - 4 vehicles
CV-33 - 1936
Marmon Herrington CTLS-4TAC - 1940 - right hand turret type (ordered but taken over by USA as Light tank T16)
Marmon Herrington CTLS-4TAC - 1940 - left hand turret type (ordered but taken over by USA as Light tank T16)
M3A3 Stuart - 1943
M5 Stuart - 1944
M4 Sherman - 1943-44
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Agis on December 13, 2008, 09:02:30 AM
I would think that the M3 37mm would have been more common. 
Here is an interesting thread on the subject - http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=101&t=105386
i have no idea how accurate the info is...
I cannot find any reference to the 57mm or British 6lb gun in Chinese service.

Very helpful, thanks again! :)
Title: Re: Infos on Chinese WWII AFVs needed
Post by: Arlequín on December 13, 2008, 03:39:09 PM
I would think that the M3 37mm would have been more common. 
Here is an interesting thread on the subject - http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=101&t=105386
i have no idea how accurate the info is...
I cannot find any reference to the 57mm or British 6lb gun in Chinese service.

Very helpful, thanks again! :)

I'd guess that much of what was supplied to China was not brand new or first line quality. As there was a 'Europe First' policy in any case as regards its own army, the US would have China pretty far down the list of priorities as for as equipment goes. Hence I'd guess they didn't get the 57mm.

I came across this, you might be intereted;

http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/72-38/72-38.htm