Panzerserra Bunker- Military Scale Models in 1/35 scale: Renault FT 17 z Fumatorami - Polish "gas tank"

Czołgów załoga !!

Today we will meet a very rare and specialized tank, developed by the Poles, which was born for a simple function in the battle fields, but was mistakenly labeled as a chemical weapon vector: the Renault FT 17 z Fumatorami or the Polish "gas tank".

Renault FT 17 z Fumatorami in trials

History:

The Renault FT 17 light tank was the most revolutionary and influential tank designs in the military history. The FT was the first production tank to have its armament within a fully rotating turret and this configuration: crew compartment at the front, engine compartment at the back, and main armament in the revolving turret - became and remains the standard tank layout. As such, historians of armored warfare have called the Renault FT the world's first modern tank. But we have already spoken of this in depth in our previous article.

In Poland, in 1926, a Renault FT 17 tank underwent several modifications in accordance with the plans of Captain Janowski, of the School of Tanks, in Warsaw. The light tank had its turret removed, with the adaptation of equipment to produce smokescreens for the battlefields. The chemicals suitable for the generation of smoke were transported in two large oblong tanks, attached to the sides of the tank hull and in cilinders inside the hull. The Renault FT 17 z Fumatorami was born.

The entire project was executed in cooperation with the Military Institute of Gas Studies. The field tests were carried out from July 5, 1926 in the test grounds of the School of Tanks, in Rembertowie.

The FT 17 z light tank pulling a piece of artillery (88mm cannon?)
Notice it is the same picture above.

Contemporary newspapers have released photographs of tank in trials, generating a large amount of gases.

Ft 17 z in action...smokescreen.

At the time the pics spread the idea that the tank would be used to spread gas as a chemical warfare weapon and not in its original function that would be the formation of smokescreens to obscure the vision of the enemy. This legend persists to this day when many modelers still think the FT 17 z was a weapon to spread toxic gases on the battlefield. After several tests, it was decided to abandon the project in 1928.

An interesting fact is this photo: it suggests that in a certain period, the prototype was painted with a 3-tone camouflage with dark bands between the colors.

The actual picture...

And the possible colors of cammo...

Specs:

Renault FT z Fumatorami smokescreen generator tank
Type	Light tank - smoke curtain generator
Place of origin	Polen (1926)
Specifications
Weight	6.8 tons
Length	5.00 m
Width	1.74 m
Height	2.58 m
Crew	2 (commander (and smoke operator) & driver)

Armor	8 to 22 mm
Main armament	none
Secondary armament	none
Engine	Renault 4-cyl, 4.5 litre 35 HP
Transmission	sliding gear, 4 speed forward, 1 reverse
Suspension	coil and leaf springs, with bogies and rollers.
Fuel capacity	95 liters
Operational range	60 km
Speed	7.5 km/h - 20 km/h

The kit:

For this project, I dig out of my catacombs an old RPM kit (#35067) the FT 17 Z Fumatorami gas tank. I think the article will be interesting because you can compare the manufacturing details between the two generations of kits: the modern MENG (see the FT 17 Dozer article...) and the old RPM.