Editions du Barbotin

Minitracks Trackstory #9 Renault D2

by Pascal Danjou

Reviewed By Kip Rudge, IPMS #40597

Color Profiles by Eric Schwarz Translation by Claude Gillono MSRP: 14.50 Euro, approx $19.00 US ISBN: 978-2-917661-02-4 Website: www.minitracks.fr One of the real joys in modeling historical subjects is that research brings one into contact with mounds of information which otherwise may simply be lost to academia or the passage of time. As is often the case, cataclysmic events such as WW2 eclipse the years immediately before and after the event itself. The causes of WW2 are well known and really not open to much revisionism. But there are nuggets of information about the inter-war years that are still very fascinating and go far in explaining what occurred on the battlefields of Europe and Asia. And that obtuse lead-in brings me to the subject of this review – the latest Trackstory book on the Renault D2. The Renault D2 evolved from the post WW1 design of the Renault D1 and led a troubled service life and an ignominious end on the battlefield. The book follows the now-typical Trackstory format of soft cover, 60-odd pages and a nice set of color plates in the rear of the volume. It also follows previous Trackstory editions offering a peek into the forces that shaped French tank design during the inter-war years. Once again Editions Du Barbotin and author Pascal Danjou offer a fascinating insight into some of the attitudes and thought processes that defined the French army on the eve of World War II. The D2 was a Frankenstein of different requirements. Originally envisioned as an up-armored, up-gunned D1, the D2 also served to hedge French bets if the Char B1 Bis was outlawed by treaties. When the League of Nations evaporated and the European arms race began in earnest, the French kept and tried to improve the D2, even though it fit no French tactical doctrine. However, the crews manning the D2s became some of the most highly trained in the French army, serving under Lt Col. Charles DeGaulle – yeah THAT DeGaulle. However, that training was ill-served in May 1940 by worn out vehicles, delayed modern turrets and the unit's dispersion as it sought to refit thread-bare machines. Unfortunately, there are no injection molded kits of the D2. I believe there was an old resin version done by MB Models and I think one or two French resin companies have D2 kits. Trackstory #9 maintain this series reputation for thorough research written succinctly and readably. Development history is followed by deployment information, which is followed by the 1940 campaign. As always the book is rounded out by an explanation of unit markings and camouflage that leads to the always-exceptional color plates based on actual photos. Every time I pick up one of these little books, it leaves me wanting some manufacturer to make a firm commitment to producing French armor. C'mon guys, now is the time. Pick one of these books up and you'll climb on the French bandwagon too. Thanks to Editions Du Barbotin for this sample copy.