I have recently bought the book "Mexico y la Guerra Civil Espanola" by Mario Ojeda Revah.

It records on p.173 that on 8 March 1937 the Nationalist cruiser "Canarias" captured the Republican blockade runner "Mar Cantabrico" en route from Veracruz in Mexico to the Republican enclave in northern Spain. According to an officer of the "Canarias", amongst the weaponry aboard were reportedly "20 tanques".

Does anyone know what type they were or what the Nationalists did with the captured tanks?

Many thanks,

Sid.

Sid, if this was the case, then i'm pretty sure that they would be U.S. built (under licence) Renault FT-17s. I've seen pics of FT-17s during the Civil War and post-war (the latter, if my memory isn't playing tricks) during the 'Victory Exhibition/Parade' in Madrid.

However, there could be a simple translation error - many books of this type refer to ALL AFVs as 'Tanques' they could even be Armored Cars originating from Republican symapathisers in Mexico..

Sorry for not being more specific...

Hi Jim,

I may have set up a false trail here.

I have found an alternative list of the cargo of "Mar Cantabrico" from Republican sources in Mexico that is probably more accurate and makes no mention of tanks. It looks as though the Nationalist exaggerated the cargo for propaganda purposes, including 40+ tri-motor aircraft and tens of millions of dum-dum bullets, besides the probably mythical tanks.

Sorry for the red herring.

Cheers,

Sid.

Hi Sid,

I've just checked through "Los Carros de Combate en Espana" by Javier de Mazarrasa (Editorial San Martin 1977), and found nothing about US tanks. Although the fact that it is in Spanish hindered my reading somewhat.

It is most unfortunate that the one bloke who could have been most use to you, John Baumann, died last year. I'm not sur who ended up with his Spanish Civil War files, but a note to Chris Lloyd-Staples (MAFVA Information Officer see contacts on the website) may get you some more help.

HTH

Paul Middleton
MAFVA Liaison Officer

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the lead.

Cheers,

Sid.