Jazz Age NWF FT17

[Paul @ Empress Miniatures]

A bit of fun really as my Waziristan Pathans get themselves some extra strength in the fight against the British Empire.

Painted red to hide the rust as mechanical maintenance is not one of the regions highest priorities. Also the favourite colour of the Faqir of Ipi. God is Great.

 












Regards,
Paul

[commissarmoody]

Now that is just cool. The question is, how did he get his hands on the tank now?

[Paul @ Empress Miniatures]

Its reported that the British had some on the NWF although I have never come across any hard evidence. I have a contact in Bovington looking into it for me so if I find out anything I will let you know.

However there were some in Afghanistan.

 

In fact there still are  

[Bryanbowdell]

fantastic, where's the model from?

[commissarmoody]

My guess is Empress Miniatures  .
And I was just jokeing, such as did they get if from the British or the soviets 

[Captain Blood]

Great idea. Love the beaten up paint scheme 

[Marine0846]

Red, I love red.
Great way to hide all the blood stains.

[carlos marighela]

The Afghans probably purchased theirs from either the Bolsheviks, possibly the Poles or even France or Italy. They also bought a small number of CV33 tankettes from Italy in the 1930s. My money on the FT-17s is from Russia. Neither the British or Indian Armies used FT-17s on the NWF or anywhere else for that matter. Apparently the ones looted by the Yanks were actual FT-17s rather than US made M1917 copies. They were formerly in place as gate guards and at the tank museum at Bagram.

If you want something really exotic in Afghan Army hands, google 'Diston Tractor tank'. These were Heath Robinson style contraptions atop a bulldozer chassis. They look not unlike the Kiwis' Bob Semple tank. I believe the USMC was the only other customer and only a handful were ever made.

I must say it does look good in red. You could always say it had done the pilgrimage to Mecca (or should that be Mecha?) 

[Paul @ Empress Miniatures]

My guess is Empress Miniatures  .
And I was just jokeing, such as did they get if from the British or the soviets  

Yes its an Empress tank.

Ah you mean whats the STORY so to speak.

I am working on the story behind the scenes. It will be a mix of fiction and non fiction. A story set within history . I have some weird things planned for a giggle to be honest but we will see how it goes. I did contemplate creating a jingle tank but decided to save that for another day.

Well Carlos I am determined to get to the bottom of the "Did the Brits use FT17's on the NWF?" I do not believe it personally but there is certainly an urban myth around that they did.

[carlos marighela]

It's an urban myth that has no basis in fact. People saw FT-17s in Afghanistan, wondered where it came from and concluded that it was captured from the Brits, cos everyone knows that the Afghan tribesman is an unbeatable super warrior. 2+2=5 or maybe 37. Never mind the fact that, that's just another urban myth itself. Call it the TMP factor.

If they were used by the British, then it would have been documented and you could be certain that historians of the RTR, like Macksey would have picked up on it. Of course they haven't. No mention in the official histories, no mention in the slew of books on the subject. No mention by recognised authorities on early British armour like Fletcher and no photographic evidence, which is interesting in light of the fact that there is quite reasonable photographic record of the operation of the armoured car squadrons on the Frontier and on the use of light tanks in the Waziristan campaign.

The Afghans bought widely in the 1930s and beyond. German tin hats, an airforce of Hawker biplanes, Diston tanks from the US, tankettes from Italy etc, etc etc. At various times the Soviets attempted to curry favour with the Afghans and it is known that they supplied arms. It would be interesting to know the precise provenance of the Afghan FT-17s but I'd be most surprised if they were British. Surely Britain would have tried to offload its own kit rather than purchase something from beyond its own inventory?

Let us know what Mr Fletcher and co come up with.

[Juan]

My humble contribution to the "FT-17 in the Frontier" topic: http://waziristanonafancy.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/the-british-renault-ft17.html 

Of course, I´m going to buy this model!!!

[Atheling]

Love it! 

Really nicely painted (love the scarred and battered look) and great action shots too boot  .

Darrell.

[carlos marighela]

My humble contribution to the "FT-17 in the Frontier" topic: http://waziristanonafancy.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/the-british-renault-ft17.html 

Of course, I´m going to buy this model!!!

I'd accept that. Funnily enough the Poles made their own copies, some of which were sold on to Chinese Warlords. The Polish copies were, apparently, made of mild steel so their armour properties weren't that flasf. Useful for keeping the rain out though.

[Paul @ Empress Miniatures]

Latest from my Bovington contact is that the Brits never used them. The Russians/Soviets, captured some from the Polish during RCW skirmishes. 4 of these were given to the Afghan army to use against the Brits in the Third Afghan war.

[Captain Blood]

Fascinating bit of history