Char Moyen Renault D2

Recensione del Modello Cromwell in Scala 1:76

Rarri armati medi Renault D2 formed the backbone of the Division de Ligne francese envisioned by de Gaulle in 1934-35. The formation should have had a tank brigade consisting of un reggimento carri pesanti, un reggimento carri medi, ed un battaglione carri leggeri. The reggimento pesante was to consist of 48 carri pesanti e 48 carri medi, con 24 each as replacements. The reggimento medio would have been composed of due battaglioni carri con 48 carri armati medi e 24 replacements each. The Division should have had due reggimenti di fanteria a tre battaglioni, ed un battaglione di fanteria leggera, which would have become a battaglione di fanteria meccanizzata eventually. Reconnaissance, engineers, artiglieria leggera e pesante, transport ed a dedicated battaglione camouflage would have completed this division.

De Gaulle’s ideas were not put into effect. By 1938, the armata francese maintained a small training establishment at Nancy, which consisted of tre heavy (Char B1) ed un battaglione carri medi (Char D2), due battaglioni di fanteria motorizzata, ed an artiglieria group. From these modest beginnings, the 1re e 2e Division Cuirassée were hastily built in gennaio of 1940, e the 3e DCR followed in marzo. On 15th maggio 1940, well into the war, de Gaulle took command of a mixed batch of armour, e cavalleria meccanizzata units which made up the 4e DCR. When his formation attacked elements of Guderian’s Panzer Corps at Grécy, de Gaulle had 80 carri leggeri, 40 medi e 30 carri pesanti, but only un battaglione di fanteria at his disposal. The carri armati leggeri were repulsed when they encountered a concentration of cannoni anticarro firing from ambush. The fanteria failed to come up in time to participate in the attack of the carri medi, who suffered caduti as well before returning to their own lines.

A lot of captured equipaggiamento francese was subsequently used by the Wehrmacht, but very few carri armati medi remained in service until sbarco in Normandia nel 1944. Panzer Ersatz und Ausbildungs Abteilung 100 had one Somua in operation at Carentan, e there were due carri armati Somua con Panzer Abteilung 206 in the Cotentin Peninsula. Carri armati medi Renault D2 are not listed in the 1944 inventory of these units, probably because they were slower than the Somua, a significant disadvantage in combat. Recaptured carri armati Somua are known to have served con the armata francese again in 1944-45.

Contenuto

Char Moyen Renault D2

• Tipo: Carro Armato Medio, 1934-1940
• Armamentoo: 47 mm L.35 Hotchkiss,
  torretta MG e Hull MG
• Penetration: 62 mm at 0-100 meters
• Peso: 20 t
• Velocità: 23 km/h
• Equipaggio: capocarro, cannoniere, e guidatore

Valutazione

• Excellent choice of subject. Carri armati medi Renault D2 served alongside Renault B1.bis carri armati pesanti in 1940, sometimes in adhoc formations created from units immediately at hand, e from replacements which could be called up. The resulting mix of veicoli from different units, e the different camouflage patterns they sported, creates a most interesting picture in simulation games.
• Scale model con much raised detail, hinges, locks, engine gratings, hatches ed other small parts. The vehicle shows a lot of undercutting, particularly around the exhaust e the antenna mounting.
• Easy to assemble, only 4 parts. The running gear was slightly warped, e the left fender was wildly bent out of shape. These parts were softened in hot water, straightened, e set con cold water. The area between the fender e the hull front had to be filled con putty.
• Good quality kit con only minor air inclusions. Tre of the six engine gratings were damaged, but they can be filled con putty ed engraved again con the tip of a modelling knife.
• Compatibile con Airfix, Fujimi, Matchbox, Nitto, e VAC-U-CAST.

• Decalcomanie are not included, they may be scrounged from another kit o painted by hand.
• The torretta does not attach to the hull, it may fall off if the tank is handled in the course of a simulation game. One way to correct this is to glue a 20 mm pin of 0.6 mm pianowire into the torretta, e locate the pin in a corresponding hole in the hull. The friction of the pin will keep the torretta in place, but it still turns when it needs to.

Utilizzo Storico

• Carro Armato Medio Francese, 1940

Conversione

• Atlantic Wall bunker con Renault torretta, 1944. Dismounted Renault torrette were used to arm many emplacements along the Atlantic Wall.

This Renault D2 model will serve very well alongside carri pesanti Char B1.bis di Matchbox, e Somua S-35 cavalleria tanks. De Gaulle’s 4e DCR armoured division was an adhoc formation built around available tank e cavalleria units, con very little fanteria attached. Light, medium e carri armati pesanti will be needed to recreate this interesting unit. The camouflage pattern used on carri armati medi Renault D2 is different from that used on Char B1.bis e Somua S-35, it’s fun to paint e looks very nice on this carro armato.

Domande più frequenti

Per ulteriori informazioni, per favore contatta la redazione di Rivista Military Miniatures nel Miniatures Forum.

Soldatini Francesi della Seconda Guerra Mondiale

– Pubblicato: 30.09.1997 – Aggiornato: 30.06.2008
© 1997-2011 by IDL Software GmbH, Darmstadt, Germania. Tutti diritti reservati.