French tanks in World War II. French tanks The smallest tank in France

The second country to use tanks on the battlefield was France. Stuck in a static environment, they understood the superiority of defensive means over attacking ones. To change the balance it was necessary to use a radically new weapon of attack.

The first French combat tank was ready in September 1916 thanks to the activity of J. Etienne, who is considered to be the founder of French tank building. As chief of staff of an artillery regiment, he, like other insightful commanders, saw the main possibilities for changing the situation at the front. His idea was to break through the first line of defense with tracked vehicles, and, already being directly on the first line, suppress with artillery fire the subsequent ones that were not accessible to field artillery. That is, put artillery on carts storming the defense. Looking ahead, it must be said that the armored combat vehicles that we called “tanks” were called by the French precisely as “assault artillery tractors.”

The French generals, like the military leaders of other countries, were very skeptical about the idea of ​​​​building a tank, but thanks to the persistence of J. Etienne and the support of the commander-in-chief, General J. Joffre, they managed to obtain permission to build a prototype.
The leader in mechanical engineering in those years was the Renault company, headed by its founder L. Renault, so it is quite obvious that it was J. Etienne who suggested that he be the first to build a tank. He, in turn, refused, citing a lack of experience working with tracked engines. Then Etienne turned to the designer E. Brillet, the head of the Schneider company, the largest arms manufacturer, especially since he already had some similar experience; some time before that he had reserved a Holt tractor. In January 1916, with the assistance of J. Joffre, the company received an order to create 400 vehicles. These machines would later become known as "Schneider" or CA1.

For some unknown reasons, the head of the army motorization department, separately from the commander-in-chief, placed an order for the construction of 400 tanks at the FAMN company in the city of Saint-Chamon, under whose name the tanks would go into production.

A specific concept for the tank was not formulated, so France received two different models of tanks based on the Holt tracked tractor. Unlike British tanks the tracks did not cover the perimeter of the hull, they were located on the sides and under it, and the chassis was sprung, which greatly simplified the control of the tanks and increased the comfort of the crew. But due to the overhang of the front part of the tank's hull over the tracks, any vertical obstacle became insurmountable.
After the first successes, Etienne again turned to Louis Renault, this time he did not refuse, especially since Etienne was able to more specifically formulate the task - a light infantry escort tank on the battlefield, with a less noticeable silhouette and less vulnerability. The result was one of the most iconic tanks in the world - the Renault FT.

Development of tank building

Until the end of the First World War, the FCM company developed heavy tanks 1A and 1B, but things did not go further than the development of prototypes.

After the war, France had the most a large number of battle tanks. On this basis, General Etienne tried to organize independent tank forces divided into light, heavy, and medium tanks.
The generals thought differently, and from 1920 all tank units were subordinated to the infantry. A division into infantry and cavalry appeared.

But Etienne’s activity was not in vain; until 1923, the FCM company produced 10 heavy multi-turret 2C tanks, and the FAMN company produced a whole series of light tanks of the 1921, 1924, 1926 and 1928 model, under the designation M21, M24, M26 and M28. On models of this series, the French were the first in the world to use the possibility of dual cross-country ability: tracked engine + wheels. The type of propulsion varied depending on the circumstances. The most original solution was used on the M24 and M26.

Regretting the write-off of the Renault FT, created with such difficulty, they were constantly modernized. After another modification in 1927, the tank was already called NS1, and NS3 became the prototype of D1, in 1936 D1 “grew” into the medium D2.

France was not spared the craze for wedges in the 1930s. From 1931 to 1940, the French produced 6,200 light tracked vehicles UE from Renault, which in appearance resembled the English Vickers-Carden-Loyd Mk VI wedges. The troops called them “infantry tractors.”

After France adopted the army's motorization program in 1931, special attention was paid only to the development of wheeled and reconnaissance vehicles. Renault is introducing the AMR light tank for this program. Without much support from senior officials. Renault and FCM are starting a joint production of the B1 heavy tank, which is not an ordinary tank in all respects.

Due to a lack of understanding of the capabilities of tanks and their assigned infantry support roles, France built only 170 new tanks in the 17 post-war years. Tank troops the country did not have one in 1936; at that time, the army had, in addition to the obsolete FTs, 17 B1, 17 D2 and 160 D1. After the well-known events in Spain and Ethiopia, the command, realizing the approaching threat and the complete incompatibility of its own army with the new maneuver war, adopted a 4-year army construction plan. During the period 1936-1940, 3 light mechanized, 2 tank divisions and 50 separate tank battalions equipped with new tank developments should have been organized.

Mass serial production of the H35 and R35 light tanks, newly created by Hotchkiss and Renault, begins. (the number in the name of French tanks often indicates the year of creation).
H35 was considered cavalry. The FCM company presented an interesting model FCM36, but before the start of the war, due to the high cost, only 100 units were produced.

In 1936, the SOMUA S-35 became the main medium tank, which was originally created for operations as part of cavalry units. Due to the absence of other similar tanks, it is credited with the role of a tank capable of independently solving tactical problems.

At the time of the German invasion, France had 2,700 light tanks in service, a little more than 300 medium, 172 heavy, old 1,600 Renault FTs and 6 2Cs. Although the number of combat vehicles increased, the lack of understanding of the doctrine of using tanks on the battlefield and poor training and manning of the crews did not bring any serious results; all the tanks were destroyed or passed into the hands of the Germans.

Modern tanks of France

After the war, tank production, like other industrial sectors, was in a completely destroyed state. The army was armed with American or captured tanks. The first post-war tank ARL-44 was released in 1945; in fact, it was the embodiment of pre-war ideas, but it was not assigned a “competitive” task, producing 50 units. the industry was revived.

In accordance with adopted in 1946 The tank building program began full-fledged mass production in 1951. light tank AMX-13, its distinctive feature is a swinging turret.

Trying to catch up with the USSR, in 1951 a heavy tank AMX-50 was produced in a small series, which in appearance was very reminiscent of ISs. The next model of the AMX-65 heavy tank was a combination of the “pike nose” IS and a copy of the Royal Tiger.

The niche of medium tanks was occupied by the AMX-63, which entered service with the troops in 1965.

In the same year, the AMX-30 main battle tank began to enter service, which over time became the basis of the armored forces. Its further development was the AMX-40 model introduced in 1983. Models AMX-32 and AMX-40 were developed exclusively for export.

At the end of the 70s, specialists from Germany and France teamed up to jointly create the Napoleon-1 and KPz-3 tanks, in 1982 collaborations were discontinued. But the French continued to develop general developments, as a result of which in 1991 the third generation AMX-48 Leclerc main battle tank began to enter service with the army.

Serial tanks of France

At the start of World War II, France came up with a highly controversial set of tanks. While most tank-building powers had by that time taken up the development and production of medium tanks, in the French army the situation with middle-class vehicles was almost catastrophic. Orientation of production towards the production of light tanksRenault R 35 and “battle” (actually heavy) tanksChar B1 bis led to the fact that the French infantry had only fifty medium tanks.

Against this background, it is still quite unexpected that France still built medium tanks in large quantities, albeit for cavalry, and they were officially called armored vehicles. This is aboutSOMUA S35, a cavalry tank, which in terms of its overall combat characteristics was the best French tank of the pre-war period.

Thick-skinned cavalryman

Enough strong positions cavalry in the French army led to the fact that by the beginning of the 30s a situation had developed here that was very similar to what was happening at that time in the USA and Japan. Officially, the cavalry in all these countries did not have their own tanks, because such vehicles were traditionally intended to support infantry units. But in fact a new type of tank appeared, in different countries referred to either as " fighting machine", or as "armored car". In fact, these were real tanks, sometimes even middle class, but, as a rule, they were light tanks with a crew of 2–4 people and the main armament in the form of machine guns. The main requirement for such combat vehicles was high mobility.

At first, French cavalry tanks developed in the same direction. The armored firstborn of the French cavalry was the AMR 33 (Automitrailleuse de reconnaissance, “reconnaissance armored car”), later the more advanced AMR 35 appeared. These two-seater vehicles with machine gun armament were quite consistent with the classic idea of ​​cavalry tanks. In parallel with the AMR program, launched in 1931, a program to create a more powerful “armored car” - AMC (Automitrailleuse de combat, armored combat vehicle) was launched. Here the first-born was the Schneider P16 half-track armored car, which had more serious weapons in the form of a 37-mm SA 18 cannon and a coaxial machine gun.

But since 1933 the situation began to change. This was not least due to the activity of the Hotchkiss company, which proposed the concept light tank, in the design of which casting was massively used. On August 2, a specification for a new combat vehicle was developed, to which 14 companies responded. The Hotchkiss company, however, quickly refused to participate in the competition. It is possible that Saint-Denis sensibly assessed their chances of victory and began to look for an alternative customer, who was found in the person of the cavalry command. As a result, a tank very similar to the Renault R 35, but almost one and a half times faster, designated Hotchkiss H 35, ended up in service with the French cavalry. Moreover, here he managed to “eat” the AMR 35, occupying, among other things, its niche.

The Schneider-Creusot concern also participated in the same competition for the development of a light tank. Unfortunately, there is no data on this car, we only know that it was designed as a two-seater. The development was carried out by a subsidiary of Société d'outillage mécanique et d'usinage d'artillerie (SOMUA). It is worth noting that starting with the Schneider CA1, the first production French tank, it was SOMUA that dealt with the concern's armored tank orders. This also applied to the development of the Char B , and cavalry combat vehicles.

Even before the competition for the light 6-ton tank began, the Saint-Ouen firm was developing the SOMUA AC 1 half-track armored vehicle within the AMC theme. Unlike the Schneider P16, this three-seat vehicle had a more tank-like layout. Later, a heavier armored car, the SOMUA AC 2, began to be designed. At the same time, the cavalry command increasingly understood that it needed a tank instead of an armored car.

A characteristic detail of the model is a large muffler. A less bulky design was made in metal

In the early spring of 1934, a meeting took place between SOMUA and the cavalry command. In its course, the concept of a new tank was born, the design of which combined technical solutions light car, created for the 1933 competition and (partly) the requirements for AMC armored vehicles. The combat weight of the three-seater vehicle was estimated at 13 tons, while it had to reach a speed of at least 30 km/h, have 30 mm thick armor and a cruising range of 200 kilometers.

In May, the armor thickness was increased to 40 mm, which should have been enough to provide reliable protection against a 25 mm anti-tank gun. It was planned to use a 47-mm cannon and a coaxial machine gun as weapons. Overall, the result was not an armored car, but a real one medium tank, similar to the Renault D2, but with more high speed. The program was finally approved on June 26, 1934 by the commander of the French cavalry, General Flavigny.

190-horsepower engine, which was developed with the participation of Janvier, Sabin et Cie

The development of the machine, designated SOMUA AC 3, became a real challenge for the company from Saint-Ouen. A number of serious issues arose that needed to be resolved quickly. This was especially true for the power plant. SOMUA produced trucks, but their engines were not suitable for the new tank. A more powerful power plant was needed, and quite urgently. SOMUA turned to Janvier, Sabin et Cie, which was designing the motors. In quite short term there they developed an 8-cylinder V-shaped engine power plant. A set of drawings was purchased, on the basis of which SOMUA built its own engine, the design partly resembling the Hispano-Suiza 8B aircraft engine. With a volume of 12.7 liters, it developed a power of 190 horsepower.

The AC 3 suspension design turned out to be similar to the one that Škoda designed for its tanks

No less pressing was the question of chassis. There was nothing suitable in the SOMUA range of equipment, so the chassis had to be developed from scratch. It was here that the “Czechoslovak” trace, beloved by many historians, surfaced. Indeed, there was a partnership between Schneider-Creusot and Škoda, and it was this that allowed SOMUA to make things easier for itself. True, for some reason the Škoda Š-II-a, aka LT vz.35, is usually indicated as the basis for copying the chassis and especially the suspension. An extremely dubious statement, since the development of this Czechoslovak tank began around the same time as the AC 3. For some reason, researchers forget the fact that Škoda used a similar suspension earlier - on the Š-II light tank, also known as Škoda SU. The SOMUA suspension developed on this basis was slightly different in design. However, her Czechoslovak origin is beyond doubt.

Automitrailleuse de combat AC 3 during testing, spring 1935. Ballast installed instead of tower

The preliminary design of the AC 3, as well as its 1:10 scale wooden model, were prepared by SOMUA by October 1934. Renault also did not sit idly by: not wanting to lose the opportunity to get an impressive contract for the production of six hundred AMCs, the factory design bureau quickly developed a project designated as AMC 40 mm. There is no detailed information on this development, but most likely it was about the development of the Renault YR cavalry tank, also known as AMC 34. In any case, the cavalry rejected this project, without even spending money on making a prototype. But for AC 3 the situation turned out completely differently: on October 12, 1934, an order was received for the production of a prototype of the machine.

You can clearly see how the AC 3 differs from the front from the production tank

Work on the construction of the SOMUA AC 3 began in November 1934, and already on April 11, 1935, the machine with registration number 745-W1 was ready. Taking into account the fact that we had to start from scratch for many components and assemblies, the deadlines look very tight. During development, significant changes had to be made to the original technical specifications. With the specified armor thickness, it turned out to be unrealistic to keep the combat weight within 13 tons, so the bar for AC 3 was raised to 17 tons. Since there was no tower at the time of construction, ballast was installed on top of the vehicle instead. It was in this form that the cavalry tank underwent testing, which lasted from July 4 to August 2, 1935 in Vincennes.

AC 3 after conversion, March 1936. The tank received an APX 1 turret and a 47 mm SA 34 gun

The resulting tank from SOMUA engineers turned out to be typical of French pre-war tank building. It made maximum use of the Hotchkiss idea of ​​assembling a tank hull from large cast parts. The hull consisted of only four main parts: two halves of the lower part of the hull, the turret box and the box covering the engine and transmission compartment. These parts were fastened together using bolted connections. Of course, the manufacture of such large parts required the highest precision, but assembling them was not difficult.

It is worth noting that the body configuration of the AC 3 was still far from what the production machines had. There were also obvious mistakes, the most visible of which were the headlights, located directly in the forehead of the body. The viewing devices in the front part of the hull were also not the most successful design. They turned out to be bulky and were bolted on; this design was vulnerable. However, that’s what it was done for prototype in order to identify design flaws during testing and eliminate them.

Much more important was that, in terms of its characteristics, the SOMUA AC 3 turned out to be perhaps the best medium tank. Possessing projectile-proof armor that, at a distance of over 300 meters, quite confidently “held” the projectile of the German 3.7 cm Pak anti-tank gun, this vehicle had something that the similar Renault D2 was deprived of – good mobility. The test results exceeded the cavalry's expectations. The maximum speed of the tracked “armored car” exceeded the requirements by 10 km/h, while the vehicle had decent characteristics in terms of cross-country ability. The successful suspension design ensured an acceptable ride, and visibility, despite the need to refine the viewing devices, turned out to be quite decent.

After the tests were completed, the tank went to the factory, where work on its alteration was carried out until March 1936. Already at the end of November 1935, it was decided that AC 3 would go into production. It was accepted into service on March 25, 1936 under the designation Automitrailleuse de Combat modèle 1935 S. Later it was called the Char 1935 S, but this tank is better known as the SOMUA S 35.

A masterpiece in the middle class

Contract No. 60 178 D/P for the production of 50 tanks was concluded on March 25, 1936, but in fact it was known about it as early as November 21, 1935. Initially, the cavalry had grandiose plans for the SOMUA AC 3: it was assumed that a total of 600 tanks of this type would be purchased. This number was required to equip three light mechanized divisions (Division Légère Mécanique, or DLM). However, these plans had to be adjusted quite quickly, since SOMUA’s capabilities turned out to be limited. It was thanks to this that Hotchkiss was able to find a loophole for its light tank. The order was divided in half: it was supposed to purchase 300 SOMUA S 35 and Hotchkiss H 35.

According to staffing table DLM, it was supposed to include 96 SOMUA S 35. Of this number, 84 vehicles were included in eight squadrons, another 4 vehicles acted as command tanks, and the remaining 8 were in reserve.

SOMUA AC 4 without installation of turret box and engine compartment roof

The prototype returned for testing in March 1936. In addition to eliminating the design flaws discovered during the tests, it was distinguished by the fact that a turret was finally installed on it. The cavalrymen did not have much freedom in choosing this part of the tank: like the Renault D2, the vehicle was equipped with an APX 1 turret equipped with a 47-mm SA 34 cannon.

However, it was not used in its original form for long: by that time it became obvious that the SA 34 was rather weak to fight tanks with armor thickness of about 60 mm. This is how the Char B1 bis was protected. For this reason, a more powerful weapon was soon installed in the turret - the SA 35, the projectile of which penetrated armor 60 mm thick at a distance of a kilometer. However, the first 4 production SOMUA S 35s received APX 1 turrets with SA 34 cannons, which were later replaced by APX-1 CE turrets with SA 35 cannons. These vehicles were manufactured in January 1936 and went to the 4th Panzer (Cuirassier) ) regiment for testing.

SOMUA S 35, registration number 67225, the third production copy of the tank. Additional fuel tanks are clearly visible

Based on the results of tests and improvements, a modernized version of AC 3 appeared, which received the factory designation AC 4. It was this machine that became the model serial version SOMUA S 35. The first tanks of a large series began to be produced in July 1936, but until January 1937 these vehicles remained unready. This time, the bottleneck turned out to be the production capabilities of the related company APX. We had to wait six months for the towers to be delivered, during which time one important change was made to their tower design. The fact is that the diameter of the APX 1 shoulder strap was only 1022 mm; this was not enough for normal use of a 47 mm gun. The result of the improvements was the appearance of an improved turret, designated APX 1 CE (chemin élargi, that is, increased shoulder straps). The diameter of the turret ring increased to 1130 mm, and the additional 11 cm turned out to be quite useful.

We also had to wait for guns: mass production of the SA 35 began only in January 1937.

The same tank from the left side. A molded number is visible on the turret box, which indicates that this is chassis No. 3

There were also plenty of changes in the chassis design. As a result of the alterations, the combat weight increased to 19.5 tons, but the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle remained almost at the same level as those of the AC 3. The design of the frontal part of the hull was changed. The designers removed the headlight covers, and their shape itself became more technologically advanced.

The design of the viewing devices has noticeably improved, in addition, the driver’s position has moved slightly forward, which improves visibility. The front viewing device was made to fold upward, thereby improving visibility in the stowed position. The viewing devices were also changed on the tower, which, although called APX 1 CE, was structurally almost no different from APX 4.

The rear part of the hull has also undergone a number of changes. Blinds were removed from the sides of the over-engine plate, which were quite rightly considered vulnerable spot. The design of the tracks has changed somewhat. Another important innovation was the appearance of additional fuel tanks. They were placed on the starboard side; thanks to the well-designed fastening design, the tanks could be quickly removed.

This tank does not yet have viewing devices. There was a delay in their delivery, for this reason some of the tanks went to the troops without them

The contract for the production of the first 50 tanks was completed in the second quarter of 1937. The vehicles manufactured under it received registration numbers 67 225 – 67 274. All tanks built under this contract went to 1 DLM. Meanwhile, back in 1936, a second contract was signed with SOMUA, No. 61 361 D/P, which also provided for the production of 50 tanks. For a number of reasons, mainly related to the unhurried actions of subcontractors, work on the production of this batch was delayed. By January 15, 1938, only 17 tanks were delivered, and all 50 vehicles were built by April 15. At the same time, the vehicles were delivered to units that were understaffed, including viewing devices.

At the Bastille Day parade held on July 14, 1938, the SOMUA S 35 made its first public appearance. The tanks of the second production series, which were part of the 2nd DLM, were in service. So, even on these machines there were no viewing devices in the body. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg: due to the slowness of the APX company, whose tank production had by that time been nationalized and renamed ARL, even by the summer of 1938, not all SOMUA S 35 had turrets.

Tanks of the second series received registration numbers 22 332 – 22 381.

Tank with registration number 67237, rear view. Chains were a very common type of transport hitch at the time.

Problems with related suppliers also affected the third series of vehicles, produced under contract No. 70 919 D/P, signed in 1937. Unlike the first two contracts, the third provided for the production of 100 tanks. The vehicles, which received registration numbers 819–918, were used to complete the 1st and 2nd DLM. By July 15, 1938, 28 tanks had been produced, but of all 128 SOMUA S 35s accepted by that time, only 96 had turrets. The tanks of the third series were finally delivered in March 1939.

It may seem that work on the production of SOMUA S 35 was going slowly, but in fact, 200 tanks in 2.5 years is a lot for French tank building in peacetime. For comparison, the first order for the Char B1 bis was received on October 8, 1936, and by March 1939, the efforts of three companies managed to produce only 90 of these tanks.

First public demonstration of SOMUA S 35, Paris, July 14, 1938. Tanks still have not received viewing devices

Thanks to the execution of the first contracts, it was possible to completely saturate two light mechanized divisions with medium cavalry tanks. Of course, the issue did not end there. Moreover, the order was expanded to 500 tanks. In 1938, contract No. 80 353 D/P was signed for the production of 125 tanks. These vehicles were supposed to be sent to recruit the 3rd DML, which had not yet been formed at that time. By September 1, 1939, 61 vehicles had been delivered, and 9 more were under construction. After the outbreak of World War II, the pace of production increased: if in September SOMUA delivered 11 tanks, then in the following months 13 vehicles left Saint-Ouen every month. Thanks to this, already in the first ten days of January 1940 latest tanks under contract No. 80, 353 D/P left the plant. These cars received registration numbers 10,634 – 10,758.

Tank assembly at the SOMUA plant, November 1939. The technology of using large cast parts assembled with bolts greatly simplified assembly. As a result, SOMUA ensured a relatively high production rate

At the end of September 1939, production plans for the SOMUA S 35 were revised again. The total volume was reduced to 450 units, then it was planned to produce a more advanced model, designated SOMUA S 40. The last contract for the construction of SOMUA S 35 was supposed to be No. 88 216 D/P, concluded back in 1938, which provided for the production of 125 tanks. It began to be implemented in January 1940, when 16 tanks were produced. Starting in March 1940, production volumes increased; already in May, 22 tanks were delivered monthly. Registration numbers 50,210 – 50,334 were reserved for the vehicles produced under this contract. In fact, fewer tanks were produced than planned: already in June production capacity SOMUA was captured by advancing German units. By that time, according to various sources, from 427 to 440 tanks had been produced.

spoon of honey

Like other French tanks, the SOMUA S 35 had a number of “inherent” disadvantages. The most significant of them turned out to be a single-man tower. In addition, the progressive design and decent characteristics cost a pretty penny. For each SOMUA S 35 you had to pay a huge sum for that time of 982,000 francs, that is, almost the same as for five Renault R 35.

But from the point of view of combat effectiveness, the cavalry “armored car” had no equal. Unlike slow-moving infantry tanks, the SOMUA S 35 had quite decent mobility. Suffice it to say that average its speed on the highway was 30 km/h, which was more than maximum speed of French infantry tanks. No less important is that cavalry tanks were highly reliable.

Sad ending campaigns of May-June 1940. The half-track tractor in the picture is the SOMUA MCG, the closest “relative” of the AC 1

But even with 400 high-quality tanks, it was impossible to solve all the problems of the French army. It is also important that the SOMUA S 35 crews from the 1st and 2nd DLM were truly trained. The hastily formed 3rd DLM was distinguished by much lower training, as de Gaulle also recalled. Attempts by the French command to plug all new gaps in the defense with cavalry tanks were not very successful. SOMUA S 35 was that fly in the ointment.

However, we can state the fact that the command of the French cavalry turned out to be more reasonable than the infantry command. SOMUA S 35 was one of the best tanks at the beginning of the war. These vehicles fought for quite a long time, although mostly no longer under the French flag. But this will be discussed in another article.

Sources and literature:

• Materials Center des archives de l "Armement et du personnel civil (CAAPC)
• SOMUA S 35, Pascal Danjou, TRACKSTORY No. 1, 2003
• The Encyclopedia of French Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles: 1914–1940, François Vauvillier, Histoire & Collections, 2014
• GBM 105, 106, HS1

Until September 1, 1939, the French did not manage to form tank divisions. The formation of the 3rd Light Mechanized Division had advanced the furthest, and organizational arrangements for the formation of the fourth had begun. Eight infantry divisions were motorized (1st, 3rd, 5th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 15th and 25th). Trucks were used to transport infantry. Otherwise, the tactics of motorized infantry divisions were no different from the tactics of conventional infantry.

Motorized infantry divisions became part of army corps. And again, for the umpteenth time, the French made a grave mistake by introducing into the army corps, along with the motorized infantry, two ordinary infantry divisions. Thus, the entire advantage of motorized infantry was negated. The French had to spend enormous amounts of money in order to somehow bring their infantry divisions up to the level of mobility of motorized infantry divisions.

In January 1940, the formation of the 1st and 2nd tank divisions was finally completed. Before March, the 3rd Panzer Division was formed. The last one - the 4th Panzer Division - completed its formation when fighting have already begun.

According to the staff, each division was supposed to have a semi-brigade (Demi-Brigade) of medium tanks (2 battalions of Char B1 tanks - 60 vehicles) and a semi-brigade of light tanks (2 battalions of N-39 cavalry tanks - 90 vehicles). In addition, the tank division included a motorized infantry battalion (equipped with 20 armored vehicles), 2 divisions of 105 mm howitzers, a battery of 47 mm anti-tank guns and a battery of 25 mm anti-aircraft guns.

In total, as of May 10, 1940, the French army had 49 battalions of light tanks for direct infantry support, 3 light mechanized divisions and 3 tank divisions. IN North Africa three battalions of D1 tanks, one battalion of H-35 tanks were stationed, and a battalion of R-35 tanks was based in Levanto. Light tank battalions were part of larger units: brigades, regiments and tank groups. There were 3 tank brigades (2nd, 4th and 5th) and 14 tank regiments (501st, 502nd, 503rd, 504th, 505th, 506th, 507th, 508th, 509th, 510th, 511th, 512th, 513th and 514th). The regiments and brigades were disbanded in March 1940.

Tank brigades usually consisted of two regiments, and regiments of two battalions. Each battalion consisted of about 50 vehicles.

Before the start of the offensive, the Nazis concentrated their main forces on the northern flank. Between the sea coast and Mosa, Army Group B was to advance, under the command of Colonel General Feodor von Bock. Army Group B consisted of two armies - the 6th and 18th - with a total of 29 divisions, including three tank and one motorized. These forces were supposed to tie up the Allied troops and distract them from the direction of the main attack.

The main blow was delivered by Army Group A, under the command of Gerd von Rundstedt, which united the 4th, 12th and 16th armies - a total of 45 divisions, including 7 tank and 3 motorized. The troops of Army Group A were to strike through Belgian territory south of the Liege-Charleroi line in the direction of Meyenne-Saint-Quentin along a front 170 km wide - from Regen to the point where the borders of Germany, Luxembourg and France meet. The goal of Army Group A was to make a lightning-fast push to seize the Mouse crossings between Dena and Sedan, which would make it possible to make a breakthrough at the junction of the 9th and 12th French armies and reach the rear of the Maginot Line in the direction of the mouth of the Somme River.

On the southern flank between the Moselle and the Swiss border was the advance of Army Group C, led by General Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb. The task of this Army Group was simply to pin down as many enemy forces as possible.

In total, the Germans fielded 10 tank divisions in the French campaign. The Nazis had 523 Pz tanks at their disposal. Kpfw. I, 955 tanks Pz. Kpfw. II, 349 tanks Pz. Kpfw. III, 278 Pz. tanks. Kpfw. IV, 106 Pz tanks. Kpfw. 35(t) and 228 Pz tanks. Kpfw. 38(t). In addition, the Germans had 96 kl command tanks. Pz. BfWg. I, created on the basis of Pz. Kpfw. I and 39 command tanks Pz. BfWg. III on the chassis of the Pz tank. Kpfw. III. In general, German tanks were inferior to French ones in terms of armament power and armor thickness. Tanks Pz. Kpfw. I, armed with two machine guns, did not pose any threat to French armored vehicles. Tanks Pz. Kpfw. II, armed with a 20 mm cannon, could damage French vehicles only in unusually favorable conditions, for example, from a point-blank ambush. Tanks Pz. Kpfw. III and Czech Pz. Kfw. 38(t), armed with a 37-mm cannon (Pz. Kpfw. III, armed with a 50-mm gun appeared from the Germans when the fighting was in full swing) were approximately equal to the French R-35, R-39, N-35 and N-39. The Nazis had no analogues to the French Char B1 and Somua S-35. The Germans could only fight these tanks in one way: first by breaking the caterpillar, and then, going into the flank, hitting the tank from the side. The only worthy opponent for medium French tanks was the Pz. Kpfw. IV. However, the fate of the campaign was not decided by the tactical and technical characteristics of the tanks. Decisive role tactics and military doctrine played a role - here the advantage of the Germans over the French was overwhelming. Only through the bitter experience of the first month of the campaign did the French command realize the full magnitude of the mistake that had been made throughout the interwar twenty years.

Based on intelligence data, the commander of the northeastern front, French General Joseph Georges, suggested that the Germans would deliver the main blow with the right flank north of Liege and Namur through the territory of Belgium, in other words, the Germans decided to repeat the “Schlieffen Plan” of the 1st World War war. In order to thwart the enemy's plans, the Allies decided to occupy defensive lines between Namur and Antwerp, along the Dyle River, and give the general battle to the Germans in Belgium, on the borders of which most of the German motorized infantry and tanks were concentrated. This maneuver was to be carried out by the troops of the French 1st Army Group (1st, 2nd and 7th Armies), led by General Gaston Henri Billote, as well as the English Expeditionary Force of General John Gort.

The French took up defensive positions so that the civilian population suffered as little as possible. The French were going to create a network of fortified points, saturated anti-tank weapons. According to the allies, this should have forced the enemy to get bogged down in battles, but due to lack of time, the French and British did not have time to implement their plan. The commander of the 1st Mechanized Cavalry Corps (2nd and 3rd Light Mechanized Divisions), General Proiux wrote this in his memoirs:

“On the morning of May 11, I arrived in Gambla and inspected the positions being equipped. Surprisingly: not the slightest trace of fortification work around the city - the key point of the entire operation. Only 8 - 9 km to the east I found the first elements of anti-tank defense, but they did not form a continuous line and therefore had no real combat value. With confusion, I thought that the army should have first conducted a reconnaissance and then begun the excavation work. However, the enemy didn’t give us time!”

The French leadership, having adopted the concept of a passive strategy, did not dare to launch preventive or counterattacks on the enemy, but simply tried to stop the Nazi offensive. According to the French command, the war had to quickly turn into a positional form. Therefore, the German troops did not meet adequate resistance and were able to quickly develop an offensive deep into France and reach the shores of the English Channel.

Of the three French lungs one division (1st light mechanized division) was assigned to the 1st Army. The other two were combined into the 1st Mechanized Cavalry Corps, which we have already mentioned. All these forces were assembled on the Flemish front and awaited the enemy's attack.

General Proix's corps came into contact with the German XVI Panzer Corps in the area of ​​Gamblou and Namur. On May 12-13, in the suburbs of Namur, French forces, with 74 S-35 tanks, 87 H-35 tanks and 40 AMR tanks, fought with German tanks from the 3rd and 4th Panzer Divisions. In an unequal battle, the French managed to burn 64 German tanks. The corps delayed the enemy's advance for two days and then was disbanded. The corps divisions were distributed among the infantry corps.

The commanders of these corps, in turn, divided the light divisions into parts and reinforced the infantry divisions with these units. The fragmented mechanized units were no longer able to play a significant role in the war. When the French command realized this mistake, it was already too late - the parts of the two divisions could no longer be assembled. Only by May 20, with great difficulty, was it possible to recreate the 3rd Mechanized Light Division piece by piece.

While General Proix's corps was desperately trying to hold back the enemy's advance near Gamblou, nearby - near Crehan - the 2nd Cuirassier Regiment of the French was engaged in a heavy battle with the German 35th Tank Regiment of the 4th Panzer Division. In the battle, the French lost 11 N-39 tanks.

The French concentrated all three of their tank divisions on the Belgian border. Two of them were not fully equipped and together had 136 tanks. The third division had a staff strength of 180 vehicles.

Meanwhile, motorized units from Army Group A passed through the Ardennes, which was considered impassable, and crossed the Moza between Givet and Sedan. Thus, the Germans went behind the rear of the Allied troops in Flanders. The entire Allied defense plan was a complete fiasco. The Anglo-French troops had to begin a retreat.

To contain the enemy's advance, the French command decided to use its mechanized units. On May 14, 1940, the 1st Panzer Division, part of the French 9th, was supposed to attack German troops crossing the Mosa. On the evening of May 13, the division took up its original positions... and remained there due to lack of fuel! The delay allowed reconnaissance of the German XIX Motorized Corps (1st, 2nd and 10th Panzer Divisions) to discover the French. On May 14, the Germans struck first. At Bulson, the French 1st Panzer Division lost 20 tanks. Things went even worse near Chemery, where 50 French tanks were left burning. Many tanks, standing without fuel, destroyed their crews. The French had only one choice - to retreat. We had to retreat under continuous German air raids. By May 16, the French 1st Tank Division already had only 17 combat-ready vehicles. On the night of May 16-17, these crumbs were also lost. So, just a week after the start of hostilities and just three days after arriving at the front line, the 1st Panzer Division ceased to exist!

The fate of the 2nd Tank Division was little better. On May 14, 1940, the division set out from Champagne, with tanks transported by rail and wheeled vehicles moving under their own power. Already on May 15, parts of the division were separated by a German wedge. From that moment on, the 2nd Panzer Division also did not exist as a single tactical formation! The front commander ordered the tanks of the 2nd division to be unloaded from the platforms and placed in small groups in the area of ​​crossings across the Oise River. The tanks' task was to delay the German units crossing the river. On May 15, units of General Reinhardt's XXXXI Corps crossed the river. The French tanks supporting the infantry fought bravely, but were all knocked out of action. The German offensive continued successfully.

On May 14, 1940, the French 3rd Panzer Division was placed at the disposal of the commander of the 2nd Army. Like the 1st Panzer, the 3rd Panzer Division was ordered to counterattack the enemy in the Moza area, but did not carry out the order. The delay occurred for two reasons: firstly, the division was on the defensive, so it had to regroup its forces to go on the offensive; secondly, the command order was inaccurate and did not contain specific instructions on the location of the offensive and possible enemy forces. Therefore, the division remained on defensive lines and gradually the Germans pushed it to the Oise.

On May 11, 1940, Colonel Charles de Gaulle was appointed commander of the 4th Panzer Division. Despite the fact that the division had not yet completed its formation, it was thrown into battle. In total, the division had 215 tanks (120 R-35, 45 D2 and 50 B1bis). The division's only infantry unit was a motorized infantry battalion transported by bus! There were practically no radio stations in the division, and orders were delivered to the unit by cyclists! The division's artillery consisted of several reserve units. Supply and maintenance services were virtually non-existent. In principle, this unit can hardly even be called a division - it was a motley mixture of disparate units and subunits that accidentally found themselves together. Despite everything, the young division commander was able to make a formidable fighting force out of this booth.

On May 16, 1940, General de Gaulle's division (he was promoted to brigadier general on May 14) attacked the southern flank of the German wedge (1st, 2nd and 6th tank divisions) in the Montcornet area.

Realizing that the enemy had a numerical superiority, de Gaulle acted very carefully and only tried to delay the enemy’s advance.

The 49th Tank Battalion was sent for reconnaissance in Montcorn, which tried to enter the city from the southwest. With a swift attack, the French scattered the outposts of the German 10th Panzer Division. However, the Germans managed to surround the battalion, all of whose personnel were captured. The 4th Panzer Division continued to adhere to this “cavalry charge” tactic, striking where it was least expected. On May 19, several tanks of de Gaulle's division attacked the headquarters of the German XIX Motorized Corps, located in the Olno forest. The headquarters was covered only by a battery of 20-mm anti-aircraft guns. The battle lasted several hours, despite the desperate efforts of the French, the Germans were able to hold their positions.

The Nazi tank divisions continued to roll forward uncontrollably. Nothing and no one could stop their progress. By May 20, 1940, the pincer around the Allied forces in Flanders had finally closed. The French and British had no choice but to either fight their way back to their own or retreat to Dunkirk or Calais. On May 21, 98 British tanks from 4 and 7 RTR received orders to attack the flank German troops near Arras. The British attack was covered by 70 French S-35s from the 3rd Mechanized Light Division. The attackers quickly achieved success. The 1st battalion of the 6th motorized infantry regiment of the 7th tank division of the Germans was scattered. To close the gap at the front, the Germans transferred the 25th Tank Regiment there. Having lost 25 vehicles, the Germans were still able to hold their positions.

After this defeat, the Allies had only one choice - evacuation to England. Boulogne and Calais were lost, the only port remaining in the hands of the British and French was Dunkirk. It was there that the Allied troops retreated. Completely demoralized and pinned down by continuous German air raids, this group took no further part in the campaign.

At the end of May, General de Gaulle's 4th Panzer Division made itself known once again. Her already badly battered forces struck the Germans in the flank in the Abbeville area. The French launched a counterattack twice - on May 27 and 28. However, the Germans were able to hold their positions, inflicting heavy losses on the French.

Already on May 20, 1940, the British began sending equipment necessary for evacuation to Dunkirk. On May 26, the British command put into effect the Dynamo plan. Despite constant attacks by German infantry and raids by Luftwaffe bombers, the British managed in an organized manner to remove from the continent all the personnel of the Expeditionary Force and a significant part of the French troops who were trapped in the sack. But since the Battle of Flanders was lost, the Allies lost more than half of their troops there.

Before the start of the second stage of the campaign, which was to decide the fate of France, the French still had quite impressive forces: 61 of their own divisions, 2 Polish divisions and 2 British divisions. More than 1,200 tanks remained on the line, but these tanks were divided into small groups and assigned to different units.

These forces were supposed to save France, relying on the defense line above the Somme. Since there was no Maginot Line here, the French command organized a chain of improvised anti-tank obstacles - “hedgehogs” - in this area. Behind the hedgehogs were infantry, artillery and tanks. But unfortunately, the “hedgehogs” did not form a continuous line and Wehrmacht units broke through into the gaps between them. And the French did not have mobile units at hand that could quickly reach a threatened point.

On June 5, the day after the occupation of Dunkirk, Army Group B went on the attack. The goal of the offensive was to capture the southern bank of the Somme. The tank formations of generals Hoth and Kleist made a breakthrough, attacking the defensive formations of the 7th and 10th French Armies.

On June 10, 1940, in the area of ​​Avanceon and Tagnon above the Rethorn River, the newly formed XXXIX Motorized Corps of General Guderian went on the attack. Moving across open terrain, German tanks encountered virtually no resistance from the French. German units immediately crossed the Rethorn in the Neuflies area. Shortly after noon, the Nazis reached Geniville. At this moment, units of the French 3rd Panzer and 7th Infantry Divisions launched a counterattack. There was an oncoming collision south of the city tank battle, which lasted two hours. In this battle, the Germans suffered heavy losses, the aggressors had a particularly hard time when the French Char B1bis medium tanks entered the picture, the armor of which could withstand hits from armor-piercing shells of 20 and 37 mm caliber. However, the numerical superiority was on the side of the Nazis, and despite heavy losses they were able to push the French back to La Neuville. In the evening the battle resumed with renewed vigor, this time south of Geniville. French tanks from the divisions mentioned above went on the attack again. The French planned to take Perth by storm, but the Germans were again able to hold their positions.

On June 11, the German 1st Panzer Division attacked the French in the La Neuville area and was able to break through the enemy defenses. Only over the Suip River did the French attempt to launch a counteroffensive. They tried to close the gap in the defense with 50 French tanks from the 3rd Panzer Division with the support of soldiers from the 3rd infantry division. But this attack also ended unsuccessfully.

On June 12, the Germans widened the gap in the French defenses and separated the Allied western flank from the main forces defending Alsace, Lorraine and the Maginot Line.

On June 14, Army Group C of General von Leeb went on the offensive, the 1st Army striking from the Saarbrücken area to the south, and the 7th Army crossed the Rhine, occupied Colmar and met with Guderian's tanks in the Vosges region.

On the same day, the Germans entered Paris without a fight. Three days later, Marshal Pétain announced a request for a truce on the radio. This performance finally broke the morale of the French army. Only a few units continued to resist. The French, who at first did not want to die for Gdansk, as it turned out, were not at all eager to die for Paris. On June 22, a truce was signed. The French army was completely defeated, the campaign in the west came to an end.

In this war, the tank units of the French army were completely destroyed. It turned out that it was not the number of tanks, but the tactics of their use that decided the outcome of the battle. The French were unable to operate as effectively in large tank formations as their enemy did. Instead of gathering their tanks into one powerful fist, the French scattered them across the entire front. Very rarely did the French try to use tanks offensively as their main fighting force, and when they did, they used too few tanks. At best, one incomplete tank division went on the attack. As a result, the attack floundered, running into enemy defenses equipped with tanks and anti-tank guns. Often such attacks ended in the complete defeat of the attacking side. Quite often the French tried to use tanks in terrain completely unsuitable for the use of armored vehicles. The only motive for such actions was the desire to show the infantry that they were “not alone on the battlefield.” As a result, in the main directions of attack, the Nazis had a colossal advantage in tanks. The French tried to transfer one or two tank divisions to the threatened sector of the front, but as a rule it was too late.

Hello, fellow tankers! Today we will look at French branch of tank development(V game World of Tanks), or rather, I will describe to you all its pros and cons in as much detail as possible from my point of view and, perhaps, help you decide on the choice of nation.

Popularity of French tanks in World of Tanks

Advantages and disadvantages of French tanks

• Significant advantages are French guns. For many, the presence is controversial, although in general it often helps out in difficult situations. The real advantage of their guns is their armor penetration. Each tank has a different one. One-time damage cannot be considered a plus (except for top tank destroyers), but it is covered by the same drum. French tanks have good visibility, angles of inclination along which they often pass, and good maneuverability (on soil, roads, etc.).
• Minus the French is the hull reservation. In almost all cars it suffers greatly. Even heavy tanks penetrate the frontal armor quite easily and can only tank through a turret or track. The big disadvantage is the long reload time of the gun drum.

General

Fri-Sau

Armored light tanks

Heavily armored light tanks

self-propelled guns

Bottom line

The creation of armored vehicles in France continued even during the occupation of the country by the Nazi invaders. The liberation of French territory marked not only a victory for it, but also a difficult process of restoration and creation of its own army. Ours begins with the transitional tank ARL-44. Development began in 1938. This was a new type of tank, based on the B1 chassis. According to the project, the tank was to receive a turret of a new type of design and a 75 mm long-barreled gun. By the beginning of the war, work on creating the tank was at the development level. But even during the occupation design work attacks on the tank were no less successful than before. And with the liberation of France, the first sample of the new tank was immediately put into production. To series new tank went in 46, which for France was undoubtedly a feat of industry, given the fact of the five-year occupation. Due to various reasons, the tank became a kind of transitional model and entered service as the ARL-44. The French military wanted to receive 300 units of such tanks, but in total they built 60 vehicles of this series. They were adopted by the 503rd Tank Regiment.

The tanks were manufactured by Renault and FAMH Schneider, the latter producing the turret part of a new model. From the B1, the new tank received an outdated suspension and tracks. In terms of speed characteristics, the tank turned out to be the slowest post-war tank and had maximum speed movement 37 km/h. But the engine and hull were new developments, the armor plates on the hull were placed at an angle of 45 degrees, which gave the frontal armor the equivalent of 17 centimeters of usually installed armor. The turret of the tank was the most modern new car. The disadvantage of the tower is the low quality of the connecting seams, and the French industry was simply unable to make such a tower completely cast. A 90 mm Schneider gun was installed on the turret. In general, the ARL-44 turned out to be an “unsuccessful” tank, but we should not forget that the tank was a transitional model and had elements of both new and old tanks. And the task of the tank was essentially “non-military” - the tank, with its production, revived French tank building from the ashes, for which many thanks to it.

The next tank developed by French specialists was the AMX 12t. This is the younger brother of the future French “AMX 13”. Already from the name it is clear that the weight of this tank was 12 tons. The chassis of the younger brother had a rear support roller, which was at the same time a sloth. As it turned out, this roller configuration was unreliable and caused constant problems with track tension. This chassis with a modified configuration of the rollers, where the idler became a separate element of the chassis, which led to the lengthening of the tank hull, became the basis for the creation of the legend of French tank builders “AMX-13”. The AMX 12t turret was the ancestor of the AMX-13 tank turret. The tank, according to the project, was equipped with an automatic loader.

'46 The design stage of the new tank has been completed. According to the requirements, the AMX 13 was lightweight for movement by aircraft to support parachute landings. The new AMX 13 gets a torsion bar suspension, the engine is located in front and on the right, while the driver-mechanic was located on the left. The main feature that makes this tank unique is the swinging turret. The tower was equipped with a top gun. When aiming the gun vertically, only the upper part itself was used. The turret was installed in the rear of the hull, and housed the rest of the crew of the armored vehicle - the commander and gunner. The tank's 75 mm gun was designed with German gun“7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70”, these were on the “Panthers” and it was provided wide range shells. The turret received a rather interesting automatic drum-type reloading system - 2 drums, each with 6 shells. The drums were located at the rear of the tower. The 12 rounds of ammunition allowed the tank to fire very quickly, but as soon as the ammunition in the drums ran out, the tank had to take cover and reload the drums manually, from outside the vehicle.

Serial production of the AMX 13 began in 1952, using the facilities of the Atelier de Construction Roanne. For almost 30 years it entered service with the French Armed Forces. Several hundred AMX 13 units still serve in French tank units. One of the most popular European tanks, it was supplied to 25 countries. Today there are about a hundred modifications of the tank. On its basis, all kinds of armored vehicles are created: self-propelled guns, air defense systems, armored personnel carriers and self-propelled anti-tank guided missiles.

AMX-13/90 is the first modification of the main AMX 13. It entered service in the early 60s. The main difference is the installed 90 mm gun, equipped with a casing and muzzle brake. The ammunition supply was slightly reduced - now the tank's gun had 32 rounds of ammunition, 12 of which were installed in the drum magazine. The gun could fire high-explosive, armor-piercing, cumulative, and sub-caliber shells.

The Batignolles-Chatillon 25t is a design modification of the main AMX 13. Only two units of this modification were created. To increase survivability, vehicles are increased in size and given additional armor. These and several other changes added up to a tank weight of 25 tons. According to the project, the tank's crew consisted of 4 people, the design speed of this modification was 65 km/h.

“Lorraine 40t” was created to follow such monsters as the Soviet IS-2-3 and the German “Tiger II”. Of course, the tank was unable to catch up with these outstanding tanks either in terms of armor or weight, and, probably, the installation of a 100 mm and then a 120 mm gun was a kind of attempt to get closer to them. But all projects of such tanks either remained on paper or were produced in limited quantities. All projects in this series used the German Maybach as a remote control. "Lorraine 40t" were released in 2 prototype copies. In essence, this is a somewhat lightweight “AMX-50”. Were present at the decision of the tank and distinctive features: turret part located in the bow of the tank, and the “pike nose” - similar to the IS-3. Rubber tires were also used for the road wheels, which gave the tank additional shock absorption.

"M4" is the first model of a heavy tank. In order to somehow catch up with the USSR and Germany in creating heavy tanks, French designers are starting to build their own heavy tank. The first modification is called “M4” or Project 141. This model practically copied the German Tiger. The chassis received small-link caterpillars and “checkerboard” road wheels, a torsion bar suspension with hydraulic shock absorption. The tank's ground clearance could vary up to 100 mm. The difference from the German Tiger is that the transmission and drive rollers were of the stern design. According to the design of the tank, it was supposed to weigh about 30 tons, but in practice this would require reducing the armor to 3 centimeters. This looked completely ridiculous against the background of the Tiger and IS. The armor is increased to 9 centimeters and installed at optimal angles, so the weight of the vehicle has increased significantly compared to the design. The tank received a 90 mm Schneider in a classic-type turret and a 7.62 mm machine gun. The team of the car is five people. This model was not released even as a prototype, since the decision was made to replace the classic turret part with a new one from the FAMH company.

“AMX-50 – 100 mm” is a serial heavy tank. The main feature is that due to parallel development, the AMX-50 and AMX-13 have a great external resemblance to the latter.
'49 Two units of the AMX-50 - 100 mm tank are produced. 51 years old - the tank enters service with the French Armed Forces in a small series. The tank turned out to be very good and compared favorably with its American and British counterparts. But due to a constant lack of funds, the AMX-50 - 100 mm did not become mass tank. From the layout - the MTO was located in the rear of the hull, the driver-mechanic and assistant were in the control compartment, the vehicle commander was located in the turret to the left of the gun, the gunner was on the right. The cast-type hull is made with optimal placement of the frontal armor at an angle; the thickness of the frontal and upper side armor plates is 11 centimeters. The bow-to-side transition is made thanks to beveled surfaces. It differs from the M4 project in additional rollers (5 external and 4 internal types). The machine gun on the front plate is replaced with a machine gun coaxial with the gun. In addition, the turret section received an autonomous anti-aircraft installation - two 7.62 mm machine guns. The swing type tower part was developed by FAMH. Until 1950, a 90 mm gun was installed in it, then a 100 mm gun was installed in a slightly modified turret. The rest of the turret design corresponds to the AMX-13 turret design. DU – gasoline Maybach “HL 295” or diesel engine “Saurer”. The designers expected that the use of engines with a power of 1000 hp would make it possible for the tank to acquire a speed of about 60 km/h. But as time has shown, the tank was unable to overcome the 55 km/h bar.

"AMX-65t" - Char de 65t tank - advance project of a heavy tank. The beginning of the main developments is the year 50. Checkerboard type suspension, four-row arrangement of rollers. Frontal armor of the “pike nose” type, similar to the Soviet IS-3 with a smaller inclined angle. Otherwise it is a copy of the Royal Tiger. According to the project, the remote control is a 1000 horsepower Maybach engine. Possible weapons are a 100 mm gun and an anti-aircraft machine gun.

"AMX-50 - 120 mm" - heavy tank. Had three modifications: 53, 55 and 58. French “competitor” of the Soviet IS-3. The frontal part is made like that of a competitor - of the “pike nose” type. The '53 modification had a classic-type turret with a 120-mm gun. But the design turned out to be inconvenient. Modification '55– a swing-type turret with a 20-mm cannon paired with a 120 mm gun to destroy lightly armored vehicles. The frontal armor has been significantly strengthened, almost doubled. This leads to a serious increase in weight: up to 64 tons versus the previous 59 tons. The military department did not like this modification due to the increased weight. Modification of '58.“Lightweight” modification up to 57.8 tons “AMX-50 - 120 mm”. It had a cast hull and rounded frontal armor. It was planned to use a thousand-horsepower Maybach as a remote control. However, the engine did not live up to expectations: out of the declared 1.2 thousand horses, the engine did not produce even 850 hp. The use of a 120-mm cannon made reloading inconvenient; the ammunition from the gun was difficult to move for one or two people. The vehicle had a crew of 4 people, and although the fourth crew member was listed as a radio operator, he was actually a reloader. The tank was not built due to the appearance of cumulative shells; this armor was a weak hindrance to such shells. The project is being cancelled, but not forgotten. The developments will be used in the development of the MBT AMX-30 project

Not only tanks
"AMX 105 AM" or M-51 is the first self-propelled vehicle based on the "AMX-13", a 105 mm self-propelled howitzer. The first sample was created in 50. The first serial self-propelled guns joined the ranks of the French armed forces in 1952. The self-propelled gun had a fixed, open wheelhouse shifted to the stern. A 105 mm Mk61, model 50, was installed in the wheelhouse. The gun had a muzzle brake. A 7.62 mm anti-aircraft machine gun was also placed there. Some AMX 105 AM self-propelled guns were armed with an additional 7.5 mm machine gun, which was installed in a turret with circular rotation. The main disadvantage is the slow aiming to the next target. Ammunition capacity: 56 rounds of ammunition, which included armor-piercing shells. The range of destruction by high-explosive ammunition is 15 thousand meters. The barrel was produced in 23 and 30 calibers, it was equipped with a two-chamber muzzle brake. To control fire, the AMX 105 AM self-propelled gun was equipped with a 6x sight and a 4x goniometer. These self-propelled guns were exported - they were used by Morocco, Israel and the Netherlands.

"AMKh-13 F3 AM" is the first European post-war self-propelled gun. Adopted into service in 60. The self-propelled gun had a 155 mm caliber gun, 33 calibers long and a range of up to 25 kilometers. Rate of fire – 3 rounds/min. The AMX-13 F3 AM did not take ammunition with it; it was carried by a truck for it. Ammunition - 25 shells. The truck also carried 8 people - the self-propelled gun team. The very first AMX-13 F3 AM had a liquid-cooled 8-cylinder petrol engine, Sofam Model SGxb. The latest self-propelled guns had a 6-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine “Detroit Diesel 6V-53T”. The diesel engine was more powerful than the gasoline engine and allowed the self-propelled gun to move 400 kilometers at a speed of 60 km/h.

"BATIGNOLLES-CHATILLON 155mm" self-propelled gun project. The main idea is to install a rotating tower. Work on creating the sample began in 1955. The tower was completed in 1958. In 1959, the project was abandoned; the prototype of the self-propelled gun was not built. According to the project, the speed is 62 km/h, the weight is 34.3 tons, the team consists of 6 people.

“Lorraine 155” - self-propelled guns of types 50 and 51. The basis of the project is the “Lorraine 40t” base with the installation of a 155 mm howitzer gun. The main idea is the placement of the casemate part. Initially, on the first sample it was located in the center of the self-propelled gun, on the next sample it was shifted to the bow of the self-propelled gun. Having a chassis with rubber rollers made the self-propelled gun an interesting option for use. But in 1955 the project was closed in favor of another self-propelled gun project “BATIGNOLLES-CHATILLON”. Basic data: weight - 30.3 tons, crew - 5 people, speed - up to 62 km/h. The self-propelled gun is armed with a 155 mm howitzer and a coaxial 20 mm cannon.

“AMX AC de 120” is the first project of a self-propelled gun mount based on the M4 model of 1946. Received a “checkerboard” suspension and a cabin in the bow. Outwardly it was similar to the German “JagdPanther”. Design data: self-propelled gun weight - 34 tons, armor - 30/20 mm, crew - 4 people. Armament: 120 mm "Schneider" and turret machine gun to the right of the wheelhouse. DU Maybach “HL 295” with a power of 1.2 thousand hp. “AMX AC de 120” is the second project of a self-propelled gun mount based on the “M4” model of 1948. The main change is the design of the deckhouse. The silhouette of the car changes: it becomes noticeably lower. Now the self-propelled guns have become similar to “JagdPzIV”. The armament has changed: the self-propelled gun cabin received a 20 mm "MG 151" turret version, and the rear of the self-propelled guns received two 20 mm "MG 151".

And the last project reviewed is the AMX-50 Foch. A self-propelled gun mount based on the AMX-50 receives a 120 mm gun. The outline of the self-propelled gun resembled the German JagdPanther. There was a machine gun turret with a Reibel gun turret on remote control. Commander's Tower was provided with a rangefinder. The self-propelled gun driver observed the situation through the available periscope. The main purpose is to support 100 mm tanks and destroy the most dangerous enemy armored vehicles. After successful tests in 1951, a small number went into service with the French Armed Forces. Afterwards, with the standardization of the weapons of NATO members, the self-propelled guns were removed from the production line and in 1952 the project was closed in favor of the tank project “to create the AMX-50-120.”