(iii) Third period, second half of 1918, adolescence and maturity of the Renault machine.
During the first period three battles were fought:
On April 16, 1917, the French tanks fought their first engagement, taking part in the operations of the Fifth French Army in the attempted penetration on the Chemin des Dames. Eight Schneider companies were employed. Three of these were to operate between the Craonne Plateau and the Miette, and five between the Miette and the Aisne. The former companies failed to get into action and suffered heavy losses from the enemy’s artillery, which from the heights of the Craonne plateau commanded their advance. The latter companies succeeded in crossing the second and third lines of the enemy’s defences, but in spite of their remaining for a considerable time in front of the infantry these troops could not follow owing to the enemy’s heavy machine-gun fire. At nightfall the tank companies were rallied, having sustained serious losses in personnel and matériel. Bodies of infantry had been specially detailed to escort the tanks and prepare paths for their advance, but their training had been limited and their efforts were ineffectual.
Plate IV
FRENCH SCHNEIDER TANK.
FRENCH ST. CHAMOND TANK.
On May 5 one St. Chamond and two Schneider companies took part in a hurriedly prepared operation with the Sixth Army. The Schneider companies led the infantry in a successful attack on Laffaux hill, and of the sixteen St. Chamond tanks detailed for the action only one crossed the German trenches.
Between May and October preparations were made by the Sixth French Army for an attack on the west of the Chemin des Dames, and for this attack infantry were trained with the tanks at Champlieu and special detachments, known as troupes d’accompagnement, were instructed in the ways and means of assisting the tanks over the trenches.