Tanks and armored vehicles of France during the Second World War. Takni France A masterpiece in the middle class

The design shortcomings of the Schneider tank were aggravated in the second French combat vehicle, Saint-Chamond, named after the city in which the main units of the design were manufactured. The haste in work and the limited experience of the tank's creators had an effect.

The bow of the elongated box-shaped hull overhung the tracks, which reduced the tank's maneuverability on the battlefield. Ditches wider than 1.8 meters became an insurmountable obstacle for him. The tank's mobility on wet ground deteriorated even more when field conditions The side armor was strengthened and the combat weight was increased to 24 tons. To solve this problem, it was necessary to replace the 32 cm wide tracks with wider ones (41 cm, and then 50 cm). The specific pressure on the soil decreased, and the cross-country ability of the Saint-Chamons became acceptable. The vehicle's armament included a 75 mm special cannon, which was later replaced by a conventional 75 mm bullet gun. Compared to the Schneider, the gun was located more successfully and had a field of fire sufficient for the battlefield. Four machine guns provided all-round defense of the tank. The first "Saint-Chamons" were equipped with commander and driver cylindrical turrets, and the chassis was covered to the ground with side armor plates. Subsequently, the roof became sloping towards the sides so that grenades could roll off it. To improve cross-country ability, the lower side armor plates were removed. The turrets later acquired an oval and even square shape.

The fundamental innovation of Saint-Chamond was the electric transmission. The gasoline engine transmitted torque to a dynamo, which generated current and powered two electric motors. The latter set in motion two caterpillars, each with its own. This made it much easier for the driver to control the tank, but made the entire transmission system bulky and unreliable. For fear of breakdowns, the tank's maximum speed was limited to 8 km/h, although during testing it reached a speed of 12 km/h. During the First World War, 12 tank groups equipped with Saint-Chamons were formed. After the defeat of French tank units on April 16, 1917, the French command used new weapons more carefully and with greater efficiency. For example, in May 1917, 12 Saint-Chamons and 19 Schneiders broke through the defenses of German troops on the Laffau plateau. Only 6 vehicles were lost in the battle. In October, supporting the advance of the 6th French army, 63 “Schneider” and “Saint-Chamon” secretly entered positions and attacked the enemy, breaking through 6 km deep into his defense. During the day, the French lost 2 tanks and 8 thousand people were out of action. The Germans lost 38 thousand people only killed. The further use of Allied tanks proceeded with varying success. With massive use, they achieved some success. But at the same time, the combat experience of the German troops increased. Anti-tank barriers and ditches were built, and anti-tank artillery units were created capable of hitting armored vehicles at a range of up to 1,500 m. The tanks suffered 98% of all combat losses from artillery fire. There is a known case when a German officer, who remained at a gun abandoned by his crew, calmly loaded and aimed the gun alone, destroying 16 tanks one after another. Last time"Saint-Chamons" took part in the battles in July 1918. Two groups of these tanks were almost completely destroyed within 24 hours. Of the approximately 150 vehicles built, 72 remained in service by the time of the armistice. Then, like the Schneiders, most of them were converted into transporters. Both types of heavy tanks were essentially self-propelled artillery units. The Saint-Chamond was better suited for this role due to its larger ammunition supply and satisfactory mobility, but only in dry weather and with careful maintenance. Fire was usually carried out from indirect positions with the help of spotters, as in conventional artillery. This negated the whole point of the tank as a mobile combat vehicle. The surviving, not converted "Saint-Chamons" were eventually scrapped.

TANK SCHNEIDER CA 1

Tested in February 1916, the first-born of French tank building turned out to be a less successful combat vehicle than the tanks of the British allies. To speed up work on the assault artillery “tractor” (as the French called the tank), the designers of the Schneider-Creusot company used the ready-made chassis design of the American Holt tractor. An armored hull of a simple rectangular shape was mounted on the significantly improved chassis of the vehicle. Its wedge-shaped bow and bowsprit, as conceived by the developers, were supposed to ensure easy overcoming of obstacles and crushing of multi-row barbed wire barriers. But the actual maneuverability of the tank on the battlefield turned out to be low due to the short tractor base. The first vehicle was manufactured in September 1916, and in March 1917 the French army already had 208 "Schneider" SA 1. The armament of the tanks consisted of a 75-mm special shortened cannon with 90 rounds of ammunition and two "Gonkie" machine guns in ball mounts. sides of the hull. The 4-cylinder Peugeot or Schneider engine had a power of 65 hp. With. During the April Allied offensive, the French threw 132 Schneiders into battle from two groups under the command of Majors Bossu and Chaubet. Moving at a speed of 3-4 km/h.

The tanks were soon spotted by the Germans and came under artillery fire. Bossu's group was able to break through only the first line of enemy defense out of 82 tanks, 44 were destroyed, and German planes shot at the tankers jumping out of their vehicles from the air. Major Bossu died in the explosion of a burning tank. Shobe's group did not achieve any success at all, leaving 32 damaged Schneiders on the battlefield. During the battles, the tank crews had the greatest complaints about the tank's armament. Due to the fact that almost the entire bow of the vehicle was occupied by the engine and the driver’s workplace, the short-barreled gun could only fire forward and to the right within 20 m. Machine gun mounts also had large dead zones. The side armor turned out to be weak, which was penetrated by the new German K-type rifle bullets. Particularly vulnerable during intense shelling of tanks were the gas tanks located in the hull along the sides. Therefore, great attention was paid to rescuing the crew. A double door in the rear helped the tankers quickly leave the burning vehicle. Even the tail of the tank was made forked, so as not to interfere with the crew members jumping to the ground. The only advantage of the car was its highly smooth ride on terrain thanks to good shock absorption in the suspension system. This increased shooting accuracy while moving and reduced crew fatigue. "Schneiders" were used on the battlefields of the First World War with little success, even after strengthening the armor. From the beginning of 1918, they began to be removed from units. They were converted into artillery rods, transporters for transporting guns and light tanks, as well as repair and recovery vehicles. Nevertheless, the Schneiders had a chance to take part in battles after the First World War. Six tanks of this type were sold to Spain, and in 1921 they were used against the Arab rebels in Morocco. In 1936, the four remaining vehicles were used by the Republicans in the fight against the rebels of General Franco. Three of them directly defended Madrid

TANK RENAULT FT-17

The first classic tank, which became dominant in tank building, was created by the Renault automobile company. The layout and relative placement of units and parts of the FT-17 turned out to be the most optimal and rational: the engine. transmission. drive wheel at the rear; management department. driven wheel in front; fighting compartment, a rotating turret with weapons in the center. This arrangement later became standard for medium and heavy tanks and other types of combat vehicles.

Testing of the tank began on April 9, 1917 and ended in complete success. The initial order of 150 vehicles was increased to 1,000 units. The FT-17 was produced in four versions: machine gun, cannon, commander with a radio station, and as a fire support tank with a 75 mm cannon in a non-rotating turret open at the top.

The tower on early models was octagonal and riveted. On the later ones it is cylindrical, cast. With equal strength to riveted, the latter was better and cheaper to produce.

The chassis of the tank consisted of four bogies with road wheels on board, which were suspended from the longitudinal beam on leaf springs. The large front wheel made it difficult to overcome vertical obstacles. Its wooden structure reduced the weight of the tank and reduced noise when moving. To increase maneuverability through ditches and trenches, there was a tail on an axle, which could be thrown onto the roof of the engine compartment in a peaceful environment.

The FT-17 turned out to be the simplest, cheapest, and most popular tank of the First World War. Of the 3,177 vehicles produced by the end of the war in November 1918, 440 FT-17s were lost in battle. The Renault FT-17 received its first baptism of fire on July 3, 1918, five tanks of this type attacked German units of the advancing 28th Division. Three vehicles were knocked out, but two FT-17s broke through behind enemy lines, and in order to disable the tanks, the Germans had to throw an infantry regiment and two reserve battalions against them.

During the period between the two world wars, the FT-17 tank, in numerous variants, was in service with 22 countries and participated in various large and small military conflicts. FT-17 vehicles were used even during World War II. In the French army, for example, by May 1940 there were over one and a half thousand FT-17s left. Most of them were captured by the Wehrmacht. Armament turrets removed from tanks were used as pillboxes on the Atlantic coast. The remaining tanks were used as bulldozers to clear airfields and for other secondary purposes.

In 1919, the Red Army captured several FT-17s from the White Guards in Crimea. After studying one of them at the Sormovo plant in 1920/21, 15 similar tanks were produced, called “Russian Renault”. They differed from the 4rants in their engine and production technology. The “Russian Renault” were armed with a 37-mm cannon or machine gun mounted in the turret. Large mass production It was not possible to deploy these tanks for economic reasons, but on the fronts Civil War they were used and later replaced by MS-1 tanks.

TANK PCM 2C

This vehicle went down in the history of tank building as the heaviest mass-produced tank created in the pre-war period. The French Saint-Chamon and Schneider tanks had numerous shortcomings, so the military command issued an order for the development of a new heavy breakthrough tank.

This vehicle went down in the history of tank building as the heaviest mass-produced tank created in the pre-war period. The French Saint-Chamon and Schneider tanks had numerous shortcomings, so the military command issued an order for the development of a new heavy breakthrough tank.

This vehicle went down in the history of tank building as the heaviest mass-produced tank created in the pre-war period. The French Saint-Chamon and Schneider tanks had numerous shortcomings, so the military command issued an order for the development of a new heavy breakthrough tank.

This vehicle went down in the history of tank building as the heaviest mass-produced tank created in the pre-war period. The French Saint-Chamon and Schneider tanks had numerous shortcomings, so the military command issued an order for the development of a new heavy breakthrough tank.

In 1916, at the height of the First World War, two prototypes of the first heavy French tank, designated Tank 1A, were built at the RSM plant near Toulon. They had armor up to 35 mm thick, weighed 41 tons and were armed with one 75 mm cannon and two machine guns each. One of them had a mechanical transmission, the other an electromechanical one. A third prototype, 1B, was later built, armed with a 105 mm cannon. The crews of the three huge machines consisted of 12 people each. For their landing, a door was provided on the starboard side. It was also planned to build 300 copies of the 2C heavy tank, the design and dimensions of which were similar to the prototypes and differed only in details.

The end of the war led to a reduction in the order to ten vehicles, which were completed only in 1922. As the main armament, the RSM 2S was equipped with a 75 mm cannon in the front turret. During their long service, the tanks were repeatedly modernized, mainly by replacing the engines with more powerful ones and increasing the armor. The number of machine guns was also increased to four, three of which were installed in the embrasure of the hull and one in a separate turret at the rear of the hull. In addition, four more spare machine guns were stored in the tank. The car's transmission was complex. Two engines drove separate DC generators. Each of them supplied energy to an electric motor, which drove the corresponding tank track. If one engine failed, the power to the electric motors was switched to one generator, and then the tank weighing 70 tons could only move at walking speed. One of the vehicles was equipped with a 155-mm short-barreled howitzer, as a result of which the tank's weight increased to 74 tons and it received the designation 2Shb.

According to military experts of that time, the RSM 2C tank was considered impenetrable, since, according to their calculations, the 45-mm frontal armor of the vehicle was not afraid of 75-mm caliber shells from German field artillery. The presence of a large crew of 13 people was cited as an advantage, and the inability to fire from a cannon in the rear direction was not considered a disadvantage. The existence of this “land battleship” in service with the French army for almost two decades prompted other countries to create their own dreadnoughts on tracks. In England the heavy Independent tank was created, in Germany the purely experimental Grosstraktor, and in the USSR the serial T-35. It is curious that until the start of the war at the Moscow Military Academy. Frunze, where command personnel for tank forces and design personnel for defense factories were trained, a two-meter model RSM 2C, carefully made of metal, was used as a visual educational aid.
In May 1940, six 2C tanks on special platforms were poisoned by railway to the front, but on the way they were bombed by German aircraft.

For both the wrecked and surviving vehicles, there was only one path further into the blast furnace. Giant and slow-moving 2C tanks, created according to the requirements of the 20s without taking into account technical progress in the development of various types military equipment, became hopelessly outdated already in the thirties, long before the start of World War II.

TANK B1

The only French heavy tank with ballistic armor that took part in World War II was the Renault B1, developed according to command requirements issued in 1927.

For competitive testing, the companies RAMN, GSM and Renault produced three prototypes of the new tank B in 1930, which received the designation “Tractor 30” for reasons of secrecy. After lengthy development work, the order was transferred to Renault, and in 1935 small-scale production of a heavy breakthrough tank called B1 began.

A special feature of this tank was the placement of the main 75 mm gun in the frontal part of the hull. Therefore, the gun was aimed at the target by turning the tank. This complicated the machine control system and its maintenance. The driver controlled the tank using a power steering wheel through a complex double differential. The B1 had many other innovations: an automatic centralized lubrication system for the chassis, a gyrocompass, fireproof bulkheads and tested gas tanks, the holes in which were closed thanks to the presence of a layer of damp rubber. An emergency hatch in the bottom also served to eject cartridges.

The tank's disadvantages were its small, cramped ARKH-1 turret with a 47 mm cannon, operated by one person, and an archaic chassis inherited from World War I tanks. A total of 36 B1s were built, and from 1937 the B1bis began to be produced with reinforced frontal armor up to 60 mm, with a new ARX-4 turret with a 47 mm long-barreled gun and a more powerful engine. It became the main army heavy tank of France and was produced in the amount of 362 units before the country's capitulation. Since 1935, another version of the B Peg car has been developed with a 12-cylinder Renault engine producing 310 hp. With. and improved gearbox. A mechanic was additionally included in the crew. Only five tanks of this type left the assembly shop of the plant, and they did not take part in hostilities. The remaining B1 tanks were actively used in battles during the French campaign in May-June 1940, and although they were bulky and slow-moving, they had good protection; not a single German anti-tank gun could penetrate their armor. Germany did not have heavy tanks capable of fighting B1 and B1bis at that time. After the occupation of the Faction, 160 French tanks of both modifications fell into the hands of the Germans. They assigned these machines the designation B2 740 (1) and used them for their own purposes. Some of the tanks with dismantled weapons served as tractors, 60 V2 were converted into flamethrower tanks, and 16 into 105mm self-propelled artillery mounts. German B2s were used in France, the Netherlands, as well as in Crimea, on the Eastern Front. Some of these vehicles were captured by the Allies in 1944 and became part of the French military forces.

TANK HOTCZKIS H-35

The Hotchkiss vehicles occupied an intermediate position in their combat qualities and numbers among the light tanks in service with France on the eve of World War II. Tanks N-35, N-38, N-39 had thinner armor than the same type RSM 36 and Renault 35, but had greater speed.

The first model of the N-35 was developed in 1935 and the following year entered service with the light mechanized divisions of the French army. The N-35 hull manufacturing technology was borrowed from the ZOMCA company. Like the Y-35 tank, it was assembled from cast parts and fastened with bolts. Therefore, the smoothed shapes of the N-35 and B-35 were very complex, and this similarity was enhanced by the installation of a unified turret with a short-barreled 37 mm caliber gun on both types. In order to somehow distinguish between competing tanks, the Hotchkiss company cast a large inscription NOTSNKISS on the frontal part of the hull of its vehicles.
In 1938, the tank was modified by installing a more powerful 120 hp engine. With. and increasing the thickness of the frontal armor to 40 mm. About 100 of these vehicles were produced under the designation N-38. A year later, the N-39 appeared. whose 37-mm “fierce” cannon with a barrel length of 21 caliber was replaced with a longer-barreled gun of the same caliber. This increased the projectile speed to 700m/sec and increased its armor penetration. Over 1,100 of these tanks were built.

In total, about 1,600 Hotchkiss tanks of three variants were manufactured. After the completion of the short and unsuccessful summer campaign of 1940 for France, many Hotchkisses ended up in service with Wehrmacht units. The Germans considered them suitable for combat service due to their reliable engines and the presence of radio stations. In 1941, the Hotchkisss were sent to the Eastern Front, where most of them were destroyed by the Red Army. The Germans transferred the remaining tanks to Yugoslavia to fight the partisan detachments of Joseph Broz Tito. The N-39s that survived the war in Vichy France were sold to Israel.

TANK FCM-36

After the end of the First World WarThe French army had the highest level of technical equipment in the world. The backbone of the country's tank fleet was made up of over 3 thousand Pew FT-17 light tanks, which in the 20s represented a formidable force and fit perfectly into the concept of the military leadership, which included the use of armored vehicles to support infantry operations. Since the armies of other states did not have such military potential at that time, the French did not need to increase the number of tanks, and they made only a few unsuccessful attempts to modernize them. The new models only slightly exceeded the characteristics of their predecessors and therefore were not adopted for service. When Hitler came to power in Germany, the French government began building powerful defensive fortifications on the border, directing the lion's share of financial resources to this. Therefore, the rearmament of the army was delayed, and until 19G5, only 280 new AMR 33 and D1 tanks arrived to replace the outdated Renault FT-17. It was only in 1936 that a program for building the armed forces was adopted in France. In the field of armored vehicles, priority was still given to light tanks to equip infantry cavalry units. Among them was GSM 36. This tank became the first French combat vehicle equipped with a diesel engine and had a welded hull and turret structure.

Just a year later than the Renault company, the fuel and lubricants company produced a light infantry tank of the same type as the Ya-35, model 1936, which had a classic layout: the engine and transmission were located at the rear, the fighting compartment in the center, the control compartment in the front of the vehicle. The crew consisted of two person: driver and commander, who additionally performed the functions of a gun gunner. A 90-horsepower Berliet diesel engine was also installed, which was a licensed version of the English Ricardo engine. This provided the GSM 36 with a highway range two and a half times greater than that of a competing tank. Another unusual feature of the vehicle was the design of the hull and turret. Their parts, cut from sheets of rolled armor up to 40 mm thick, had a complex shape, and after bending and welding they acquired double angles of inclination relative to the longitudinal axis of the tank. This provided optimal protection for the hull and turret from shells. Sloping armor increased the likelihood of projectiles ricocheting not only in the frontal, but also in other projections. The tank's turret looked original, giving the impression of being two-story due to the commander's turret, which was a continuation of the main one. The hinged bulwarks covering the undercarriage were also given a double slope. Like British tanks of the same period, the bulwarks of the GSh 36 had five windows for dumping dirt from the upper branches of the tracks. The suspension was of a mixed type: of the nine rubber-coated road wheels on board, eight were interlocked into four bogies suspended on spiral and leaf springs, and one front roller had its own spring. The armament of the light French vehicle consisted of a 37-mm short-barreled Puteaux cannon with 100 rounds of ammunition and one 7.5 mm Chatelerault machine gun.

The complex manufacturing technology of the vehicle and the expensive engine greatly influenced the fate of this interesting tank. It turned out to be 40% more expensive than the Ya-35, and therefore the military department limited itself to ordering only 100 vehicles.

Although the strengths of the GSM 36 were considered to be its good maneuverability and significant range, it was slow-moving and poorly armed. Two battalions armed with fuel and lubricants 36 did not have time to engage the enemy, and after the surrender of France, almost all tanks were German trophies. In Germany, these vehicles were used as a base for self-propelled artillery units. A 75-mm German Pak 40 anti-tank gun or a 105-mm LeFH howitzer was mounted on them.

TANK SOMUA S-35

Initially, the tank was designated AMC SOMUA AS-3 and was intended to support the operations of lighter tanks such as Gonkiye N-35 as part of cavalry units. The tank was then renamed S-35 and became the main medium tank of the French army, capable of independently solving tactical tasks. By the time of its introduction in 1935, it was the first tank in the world, the main parts of which, the turret and the three main large-sized parts of the hull, were cast entirely from armor steel. This advanced technology provided the tank with high armor protection and an acceptable weight. At that time, 47-mm cannon armament was quite satisfactory for a vehicle of this class.

The equipment included a radio station and an electric turret drive, which were usually equipped ONLY on heavy tanks. At the same time, the engine power was insufficient for a 20-ton vehicle, and therefore its speed on the highway and on the ground was low. However, the French command did not consider this a major drawback, since they considered the S-35 as a tank to reinforce the Maginot Line system of defensive structures. The factor of overload in battle of one of the three crew members, who was located in a small, cramped turret, was also underestimated. In addition to his commanding functions, he had to be a builder and loader of guns. This drawback was common to all French tanks of those years. The only exception was the AMC 35 with a two-seat turret, produced in quantities of only 75 pieces. All this, combined with the incorrect tactics of using the S-35 in small units, led to the rapid defeat of the French army at the beginning of World War II. Of the 500 S-35s built, most were captured intact by the enemy. Germany transferred some of these tanks to its ally, Italy. Many machines were used to equip Panzerwaffe training and training centers. Several dozen S-35s ended up on the Eastern Front, where they were used in secondary battle areas. Individual copies of the tank, which remained on the territory of Normandy to guard the Atlantic coast, were captured in June 1944 by the landing Anglo-American troops. These vehicles were handed over to the soldiers of the Free French units and took part in the liberation of Paris.

TANK AMX-13

In 1946, the French government decided to develop a light tank of its own design. The terms of reference provided for the creation of a combat vehicle weighing 13 tons, which could be transported by air. Two years later, a prototype of the tank was produced, and in 1952 its mass production began.

The design of the LMH-13 was significantly different from conventional light tanks. The engine was located in front of its hull, behind it was the control compartment, and then the fighting compartment. The AMX-13 became the first production tank with an automatic gun loader.
The automation problem was solved through the use of a swinging tower. It CONSISTS of two parts: upper and lower. The lower one is installed, as usual, on the tank hull. The upper one, with the cannon, is mounted on trunnions on the lower one and can swing in a vertical plane to ensure aiming at the target. This made it possible to place in the turret, in addition to two crew members, two more revolver-type magazines with six shots each, with the help of which the gun is reloaded. Thanks to the reverse motion of the gun barrel, the drum magazine rotates and releases the next projectile, which slides in the drum socket, the axis of which coincides with the axis of the barrel bore. The projectile is then automatically sent into the barrel and fired. The use of such a device not only made it possible to increase the gun’s rate of fire to 10-12 rounds per minute, but also reduced the vehicle’s crew to three people.

AMX-13 tanks are distinguished mainly by different turrets. The first versions of the vehicle were equipped with an I.-10 oscillating turret with a 75-mm rifled gun, which was replaced in 1966 by a 90-mm gun with a muzzle brake and a heat-insulating casing. For the colonial troops, they produced the AMX-13 with an H11 turret equipped with a 75-mm shortened cannon. For export, the AMX-13 was produced with a P1-12 turret with a 105-mm gun, designed to fire ammunition similar to that used on the AMX-30 tank. but with reduced powder charges. The latest version of the French light car equipped with a RY5 turret, developed in 1983 on the basis of the I-12 and equipped with the latest fire control system, including a combined day and night gunner's sight, a laser range finder and a ballistic computer. As an additional weapon, the AMX-13 tank is equipped with a 7.5 mm machine gun. and since the 60s, some vehicles were equipped with 4 EE-11 ATGM launchers (on the frontal surface of the upper swinging turret) or 6 GTTUR “Hot” launchers.
The tank is equipped with an eight-cylinder carburetor engine 8(axb) of the company 901AM with liquid cooling and a five-speed gearbox with synchronizers. The turning mechanism is a double differential.

The chassis has six roller bearings with internal shock absorption on each side. The drive wheels are located in front, and the guides are located in the rear. The open-jointed steel tracks have removable rubber pads.

The armor protection of the AMX-13 is bulletproof, but due to the addition of additional screens it can withstand hits from 20 mm armor-piercing shells.

The AMX-13 tank was widely supplied to various countries world: out of 7,700 vehicles produced, 3,400 were sent abroad. Currently, the AMX-13 is in service with 13 countries, and in the Fraction, India, Israel, Egypt and some other states they have been removed from service and mothballed.

TANK AMX-30

The main French tank was initially created according to the uniform standards of the countries of Germany, Italy and France. After leaving the NATO bloc, France independently completed the project, and the new vehicle was put into production in 1966 under the designation AMX-30. The tank has a classic layout: the control compartment is located in front on the left, the fighting compartment is in the middle part of the hull, and the engine compartment is in the rear. The hull has a welded structure, but the armor of the tank for vehicles of this type can be considered quite weak, since it only protects against small-caliber shells, bullets and shrapnel. On the international arms market, the French tank turned out to be competitive thanks to powerful weapons and low price. The relatively lightweight AMX-30 is equipped with a 105-mm French rifled gun SM-105M, similar in its characteristics to the English 17% but having a longer barrel (56 calibers) with a heat-insulating casing made of magnesium alloy. The ammunition includes unitary rounds of French design, but it is also possible to fire ammunition from the English P cannon. On the first production tanks, the gun was paired with a 12.7 mm machine gun. Another feature of the weapon is that the main gun does not have a muzzle brake or ejector. The recoil of a shot is absorbed by powerful recoil devices, and the barrel bore is purged with compressed air. In the turret to the right of the gun are the gunner and tank commander, who control the fire; the loader is located on the left. The commander's cupola is equipped with ten periscopic observation devices, and in front of it is a combined day and night sight for the commander. Even though the weapons did not have stabilization in any plane, the AMX-30 performed well, and its licensed production was established in Spain, where the vehicle was modified for countries with hot climates under the designation AMX-ZOB.

The tank is equipped with day and night sights, anti-nuclear protection and automatic fire extinguishing systems, as well as equipment for movement under water at a depth of up to 4 meters. The AMX-30 is equipped with a twelve-cylinder multi-fuel diesel engine NB-110-2 from Hispano-Suiza. The manual transmission has five forward gears and five reverse gears. The chassis has five track rollers on each side with a torsion bar suspension. The drive wheels are located at the rear.

In 1982, an improved version of the vehicle began to enter service with the troops. AMX-30V2, which has an improved fire control system (laser range finder, ballistic computer, thermal imaging camera) and a more powerful engine. Instead of a 12.7-mm machine gun, a 20-mm cannon coaxial with the main gun was installed, capable of being inserted independently in the vertical plane at an angle of up to +4SG. This makes it easier to conduct combat in mountainous and urban environments. For the 105 mm gun, new shells were developed that penetrate 350 mm thick armor at a distance of 2000 m. A further development of this type of tank was the AMX-32 with combined armor in front of the hull and turret. Intended primarily for export, it has two types of main armament: a 105-mm rifled gun or a 120-mm smoothbore gun. In 1983, a new vehicle from this AMX-40 family was publicly demonstrated for the first time, equipped with a 120-mm S1AT smoothbore gun. Its design uses many components and assemblies of the AMX-32 tank. In total, from 1966 to 1986, about 2800 AMX-30 of all modifications were produced. Of these, about half went to the armed forces of Greece, Spain, Venezuela, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Chile and Cyprus, where the tanks serve until the Spurs.

Various special vehicles were created on the basis of the AMX-30, including the Roland air defense system, a 155-mm self-propelled howitzer, a bridge-laying tank, an AMX-306A self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, etc.

TANK LECLERC

The Leclerc tank gets its name from the name of a French general during World War II.

A special feature of the Leclerc is its high degree of saturation with electronics, the cost of which is almost half the cost of the tank. The computer of the fire control system provides data for firing, controls the operation of various components, and also power plant, controls clutches and gearbox, controls weapons protection systems mass destruction. In addition, the on-board computer has a voice informant with a memory reserve of 600 commands, which by voice communicates to the crew information about vehicle malfunctions and changes in the situation.
Fire control system installed on the Leclerc. provides the ability to hit six targets with the first shot within a minute with a hit probability of 95%. The maximum distance to the target, measured using a laser rangefinder, is 8000 m.
A fundamental step forward in ensuring high security of the vehicle was the use of a modular design for armoring the frontal parts of the hull and turret. Individual armor blocks with ceramic elements can be easily replaced in the field if they are damaged or during modernization. The engine with low-smoke exhaust occupies a very small volume, accounting for a third of the similar engine compartment of the Leopard 2 tank. The Leclerc is armed with a SM 120-26 smoothbore gun of 120 mm caliber, equipped with a stabilization system in two planes and a heat-insulating barrel casing. The automatic loader provides a rate of fire of 12 rounds per minute. The Americans became interested in this device and plan to equip their Abrams with it. A 7.62 mm machine gun coaxial with a cannon and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun with remote control are used as auxiliary weapons. On both sides of the tower there is a “Galico” installation, which consists of two blocks of 9 grenade launchers. The grenade launchers are loaded (on board) with four smoke grenades, three anti-personnel grenades and two IR trap grenades. Hydropneumatic suspension and tracks with a rubber-metal joint provide the tank with high speed and smooth ride when driving over rough terrain. Without preliminary preparation, the vehicle is capable of fording a ford with a depth of 1 m, and with the use of appropriate equipment up to 4 m.

While the Leclercs are not yet free from a lot of shortcomings characteristic of any new tank. According to a number of experts, placing an automatic loader in the turret led to an increase in its volume, and consequently, in the total weight of the tank. In addition, dividing the turret into hermetically sealed compartments for crew members deprives tankers of the “comfort feeling” necessary in battle and creates difficulties in accessing the gun.
Tank information and control systems (TIUS) are designed with extensive use of electronics, which have shown their effectiveness in aviation, but when used in ground vehicles with completely different operating conditions, the TIUS has yet to prove its reliability. After all, in the air the units are not affected by heavy loads, dust, cold, heat, vibration and constant shock. In the meantime, during the testing and operation of tanks, many TIUS complexes are turned off to avoid their failure.

And yet, potentially, the French main battle tank is one of the most promising vehicles in the world, and currently development of its modification under the designation “Leclerc” 2 is already underway.
Serial production of tanks of this type began in 1995, both for the domestic army and for export to the UAE (United Arab Emirates). The French army needs from 800 to 1000 vehicles. The Leclercs will be sent to the Middle East to the customer by air on board the Russian An124 transport aircraft, designed to transport Russian military vehicles of similar weight.

TANK AMR33

In 1931, the French General Staff formulated requirements for new types of light combat vehicles, which were supposed to equip cavalry reconnaissance units. More compact and faster than the Renault FT, these light tanks were supposed to be armed with only one rifle-caliber machine gun. The Renault company, which had sufficient experience in the construction of vehicles of this class, developed the “VM” project and, after testing five prototypes, received an order for 123 tanks under the serial designation AMR 33VM. These vehicles were produced with various suspension options, including a new type of suspension, later used on the R-35 and N-39 medium tanks. The two middle road wheels were suspended on scissor-type balancers. The role of elastic elements was played by rubber washers in three pairs of horizontal shock absorbers. All rollers had rubber tires. In combination with a small-link caterpillar, such a suspension ensured smooth and quiet running of a five-ton tank at a speed of 60 km/h.

The compactness of the AMR 33 was achieved due to the dense and asymmetrical arrangement of the units. The commander's machine-gun turret and the driver's seat were shifted to the left side of the hull. On the right were the engine and transmission units. The tank proved to be a fast, but cramped and uncomfortable vehicle in operation. Therefore, in 1935 the company released new tank, AMR 35, with the same layout, but slightly increased in size and weight. Instead of a 7.5 mm machine gun, it was also armed with a 13.2 mm machine gun or even a 25 mm cannon.

Despite good performance, both types of reconnaissance tanks quickly became outdated, and in the summer campaign of 1940 their shortcomings became apparent: thin armor and weak weapons. The vehicles captured by the Germans were used to protect military facilities and communications. Several of these tanks were converted into self-propelled 81 mm machine gun mounts.

TANK SAINT-CHAMOND M1917

As a counterbalance to the German Schneiders, the French chief designer, Colonel Rimal, designed a tank with a slightly different modification. The chassis was used, as in the first ones from Holt tractors. It was significantly lengthened, due to which the support area of ​​the caterpillar tracks was increased, and the pressure on the ground was reduced. Eight road wheels made up the chassis, interlocked into three bogies with three rollers each, and the front one with two. Supported by rollers and drive wheels of the façade arrangement. These trolleys were connected to the housing box by articulated arms. The housing frame was guided through coil springs. A complex system connections made the track of a fairly durable design. The large-link tracks, numbering 36 pieces, spring well.

The armament and assembly of the tank's armament and hull made it much longer in length. The nose section had a large offset beyond the dimensions of the chassis. The hull was constructed from 1.7 cm thick armored sheets and fastened with rivets; the tank looked like a chisel in profile. It was no coincidence that engineers came up with such an unusual look; enlargement specifically for heavy weapons was initially envisaged. A large gun with a large recoil required an impressive platform. They fired in unitary volleys, and it also had a good ability to penetrate hard armor. The only disadvantages were errors and limitations on aiming angles. The horizon gave an error of eight degrees, and the vertical moved by minus four degrees. To avoid this, the fire was carried in a continuous turn. The bow of the tank had to be significantly lengthened for convenient placement of the gun. Shifting to the left side, the driver and commander were located. To the right of the gun sat the machine gunner of the bow machine gun. There were four machine gunners in total, one of whom served as a warrior.

To establish a balance in the distribution of mass stress, the machine platform also had to be lengthened. Another control post was placed in the additional space. The engineers' idea was for the tank to emerge from battle as quickly and easily as armored vehicles. However, no one used this function in real time.
The engine on the tank was a gasoline engine, not a diesel one, of the Panard type, with four separate cylinders of 125 millimeters in diameter and a piston stroke of 150 millimeters. The speed of 90 horses for such a colossus is not enough, and therefore the model was subsequently significantly redesigned.

BMP AMX VCI

In the middle of the last century, a certain new model of armored vehicles was designed for the French Armed Forces. However, they did not go into production and were rejected by the Ministry of Defense. From that moment on, the Hotchkiss company began developing, at the request of the military department, a fundamentally new ground infantry fighting vehicle, the basic analogue of which was the serial standard AMX-13, which was already in service in the infantry units of France and in many other countries. The popularity of these machines in military affairs prompted us to look for new variations of the well-known, sought-after analogue. The tender for all design proposals was carried out strictly, the result was the approval of the model indicated in the title as the main model of a military vehicle for infantry. The model has been produced since 1967 and is still very popular in the world of military equipment. There are over three and a half thousand units of this military transport.

The difference here from other combat vehicles of that time designed in the West was that the combat deployment of troops in it made it possible to provide fire cover through a loophole specially designed for this purpose. The disadvantages include the lack of a daily adapter, which would help to see at night everything that happens outside the infantry fighting vehicle. And it was not endowed with buoyancy. Many countries have refused to include such machines in their fleet, but in Argentina and Ecuador, Lebanon and Mexico, and many others where they maintain their presence.

The welded base for the body is made solid, the front part is occupied by the driver-mechanic and the engine itself. The commander and gunner are located in the central compartment, the aft section is reserved for landing troops. Personnel are loaded into the side doorways or through the top hatch. There are four loopholes on each side. I call the chassis a torsion bar suspension block with five road wheels, four main rollers, auxiliary to the main wheel on both sides. The chassis of the base of this infantry fighting vehicle is so universal that many main combat vehicles, control systems, transport vehicles, engineering communications vehicles, a tank fighter, a mobile radar system tractor, and much more were made on its basis.

Doesn't matter. Although the BMP was designed a long time ago, it still retains its unique qualities. The infantry vehicles used still leave a wide field for their use.

TANK "SOMUA" S-35

At the beginning of World War II medium tank"Somua" S-35appreciated by specialists. It is considered one of the best European tanks in service in 1940. All military experts call its design innovative, and its armament and ease of control are excellent. The dramatic defeat of the French army in the Battle of France in May-June 1940 is surrounded by many legends and fictional stories. No, the French army did not run away from the German troops, but quite the opposite. She paid a high price. The version according to which France had a very small number of tanks is incorrect. Of course, some units on the front line were still equipped with the old Renault FT-17s, but this should by no means be extended to the entire army.

Since 1939, the French army has been equipped with modern tank vehicles, in particular the Somois S-35 medium tank.
True, many believed that this tank was not a successful development, since it did not play a significant role during the capture of France in 1940. This happened not because of the design of the tank, which, of course, was superior in quality to many that existed at that time, but because of the mediocrity of the generals who commanded the troops and the lack of training of officers who did not know the theory of using a tank army.

In 1934, the French cavalry, concerned about German rearmament, decided to find a replacement for the Renault FT-17. Technical requirements revolved around the idea of ​​a combat armored vehicle.Company "Somua", which won the tender, was a branch of the Schneider group, it created an experimental model that had all the required characteristics. This tank immediately proved to be a successful development, and many considered it the best tank of its time. The vehicle very quickly entered production and for a long time remained the best French tank. It received the name S-35 (S is the initial letter of the company name "Somois", and the numbers correspond to 1935, in which the vehicle entered service). The S-35 had characteristics inherent to tanks produced after 1940. Its turret, which was driven by an electric motor, was cast and more durable than riveted turrets.

ARMORED VEHICLE PANAR EBR

The French Panhard EBR reconnaissance armored vehicle was innovative in many ways at one time. Its design made it possible to perform a variety of tasks in the ranks of the French army. For about forty years, it could be found wherever French troops were deployed. After 1945, France decided to equip its army with armored vehicles capable of performing diverse tasks. Light tanks were conceived not only for reconnaissance raids, but also had to act as military force during operations to cover the flanks or advance during reconnaissance. In the 1930s, France was already developing fast reconnaissance armored vehicles capable of opening fire from positions unexpected for the enemy. This is the background to the creation of the EBR - a lightweight, easy to operate, mobile, low, and therefore less noticeable, and also well-armed vehicle .


The Panhard company designed a car whose central wheels were raised when driven on asphalt roads. Its prototype was a car designed by Gendron and Poniatowski and assembled by Somua. In 1940, the project was not completed, and the only experimental model disappeared. Work resumed after the war. The model was equipped with dual steering, as on other Panhard vehicles, such as the AMD 178, and also had retractable wheels and an FL 11 oscillating turret with a disconnected base and a rapid-fire artillery piece that was autonomously aimed and capable of firing automatically three shells in short bursts Three years after the war, experimental models (type 212) were ready. In 1950, mass production of the EBR 75 model 1951 began. The first batch, production of which ended in 1960, consisted of approximately 1,200 machines.


Despite the age of development, EBR continued to be used until 1987, making some changes to the design. The 75 mm caliber gun gave way in 1953 to a long-barreled gun of the same caliber, which was “borrowed” from the German Panther and fired projectiles with a high initial velocity (1000 m/s), then in 1963 to a 90 mm caliber gun. And seven years later, in 1970, the EBR was equipped with a long-barreled gun of the same 90 mm caliber, but the gun was smoothbore (EBR 90). An anti-aircraft version of the EBR DCA and an armored personnel carrier for 14 people, the EBRETT, were also developed. The four lower wheels of the EBR could be raised. They were made of duralumin and secured with steel brackets, making the vehicle's mobility on rough terrain excellent. When the wheels were raised, the EBR moved along the roads on inflatable tires at speeds of over 100 km/h, maintaining high mobility. The car was equipped with a 12-cylinder horizontally opposed engine, quite unique for its time. It was designed to provide a very low center of gravity. The motor was connected to the transmission via side shafts, which drove the wheels with independent suspension using gears. Two gearboxes, rear and front, provided 16 gears and made it possible to shift into reverse without stopping the car. The oil-pneumatic suspension worked smoothly and efficiently. Using hydraulic control, two or four wheels were launched.

The crew included a tank commander, a gunner, a front driver and a radio operator, who also served as the rear driver. The vehicle could change direction in a couple of seconds, which was an undeniable advantage for firing and the ability to escape unnoticed. The EBR proved itself during the Algerian War, the fire power and mobility of the vehicle created a real sensation. But the EBR also had disadvantages: the high cost of production, the complexity of technical inspection and maintenance (to gain access to the engine, the turret had to be removed). The drivers' seats were very cramped. Despite this, the EBR inspired the developers to create another wheeled armored vehicle, the ERC Sage, which also turned out to be successful. This more classic, but still modern car, equipped with just six inflatable tires, a traditional turret and a single driver, was also produced by Panhard.

FRENCH TANK FCM 36

Light tank model 1936 FCM, or FCM 36,considered one of the best French tanks of its class. However, it never posed a serious threat to German tanks, mainly due to improper use. During the war on French territory, these tanks suffered serious losses. According to many historians, French tanks of World War II became obsolete already in 1939. However, this is a controversial statement. In fact, in the pre-war period, the French army had good technology, but did not know how to use its existing potential. Tank designs were often superior in quality to German ones, but technical execution left much to be desired. In addition, they had outdated weapons not designed for this model. There was virtually no radio communication, and the crews were not trained in maneuver warfare. In addition, during a tank attack the support of artillery and infantry was rarely used. SoFCM 36could never achieve success due to incorrectly chosen battle tactics.


However, in September 1939, the French army had more than 28,000 light and 800 heavy tanks, which worried some officers in the German high command. In 1933, Hotchkiss developed a light tank intended for mass production. The idea was approved by the French command: it ordered several manufacturers to develop a simple, effective and inexpensive tank. After testing many models, three were selected: H 35 (Hotchkiss), R 35 (Renault) and FCM (design by engineer Boudreau). The FCM tank was assembled at the French shipyard FCM (Forges et chantiers de la Mediterranee), which also produced various weapons. The chosen model was quite interesting: the tank had a hull shaped like a diamond (shells should bounce off the inclined sides), it was equipped with gas attacks are not scary, and the diesel engine ran on slightly flammable fuel.

However, many technical shortcomings soon emerged, and therefore the hull, turret, suspension, tracks, and armor underwent many changes. After modification, the certification commission declares the FCM 36 tank the best French tank. Mass production began in 1938. The inclined shape of the welded armored hull and the diesel engine can be considered the main technical advantages, and the 40-mm armor was superior in thickness to the armor of other tanks. However, two significant drawbacks common to many light French tanks make the vehicle vulnerable in battle: the narrow turret does not allow the installation of a mobile radio, and the crew commander must simultaneously observe, load and fire - too many functions for one person to ensure the effectiveness of the tank in battle. The 37 mm gun of the SA 18 model was also not an effective anti-tank weapon. When fired from it, the FCM 36 turned out to be too clumsy for a light tank. However, the command stubbornly did not notice these shortcomings and saw the FCM 36 as a worthy replacement for the FT-17, an infantry escort tank of the First World War. In 1939, after 100 rolled off the production line vehicles, the production cost doubled, and the remaining order was cancelled. FCM 36 in combat From the first days of hostilities, it turned out that the FCM with its 37 mm gun could not resist the faster and more mobile Wehrmacht tanks designed for the Blitzkrieg "In May 1940, the 503rd Group of Tank Battalions blocked the passage of German tanks on the Meuse River. During this operation, the meeting with the Panzer III revealed all the weaknesses of the FCM 36. And of the 36 tanks that tried to stop the German tanks, 26 were destroyed.

TANK - LECLERC LECLERC

The French military industry of the post-war period developed unevenly. Along with the creation of successful models, such as the FAMAS assault rifle, Mirage fighters, and wheeled armored vehicles, there was, in particular, a lag in the production of tanks. The third generation tank has been developed since 1978 by the state concern Giat Industries in collaboration with German companies. Four years later, due to a number of disagreements on technical issues, the joint work was terminated. German experts saw the new main battle tank (MBT) as heavily armored, with average mobility and weighing over 60 tons, while the French saw it as relatively compact and high-speed.

France, which was already delayed in creating the third generation tank, since 1982 has independently continued to design the tank under the EPC symbol (Engin Principal de Combat). On January 30, 1986, instead of the abbreviation EPC, the tank was named “Leclerc” in honor of Philippe Marie Leclerc, an associate of General De Gaulle. On August 28, 1944, led by him, then still with the rank of brigadier general, the 2nd French Armored Division entered Paris. After Leclerc's death in a plane crash in 1952, he was posthumously awarded the rank of marshal. The hull and turret of the tank are made of composite armor, which uses ceramic materials and a multi-layer steel barrier. For example, the frontal armor of a tank is formed by an outer sheet of high-hard steel, then a sheet of forged steel of medium hardness, a filler of layers of ceramics and fiberglass that can withstand a cumulative jet, and a rear lining of Teflon and fiberglass with reinforcing carbon fibers. Modular armor protection elements are hung on a supporting box frame.

The main armament is the French CN-120-26 120-m smoothbore gun with a 52-caliber barrel length. The ammunition is interchangeable with other NATO smoothbore guns of the same caliber, but the French gun provides an armor-piercing core with a finned sabot projectile initial speed 1750 m/s, significantly superior to analogues. The automatic loader with a belt-type conveyor for 22 unitary shots is located in the turret niche. The shots are placed in the cells of a horizontal conveyor located across the gun, opposite the breech of which there is a feed window. The tank is equipped with an eight-cylinder, highly accelerated multi-fuel liquid-cooled turbodiesel V-8X1500 with a Hyperbar supercharging system - a kind of symbiosis of an internal combustion engine and a gas turbine. It has a combustion chamber with a variable capacity bypass valve and a Turbomeka TM-307V turbocharger. Thanks to the supercharging system, the engine, whose overall dimensions are the same as the 720-horsepower HS-110 engine of the AMX-30 tank, develops a power of 1104 hp. s., while its working volume is only 16.5 liters (HS-110 has 28.7 liters). Turbocharger TM-307V with a capacity of 12 hp. With. can be used independently of the main engine as an autonomous power source or a starter to start a diesel engine.

History of French tanks

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. Our story begins with the transitional tank ARL-44. Development began in 1938. It was new type tanks 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 on the tank was carried out no less successfully than before it. And with the liberation of France, the first sample of the new tank was immediately put into production. The new tank went into production in 1946, 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 a maximum speed of 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 from the German "7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70" gun, which was installed on the Panthers and was equipped with a wide range of 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 the parallel development of the AMX-50 and AMX-13 they have a large external resemblance with the last one.
'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 a mass-produced 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. Differs from the M4 project in additional rollers (5 external and 4 internal type). The machine gun on the front plate is replaced with a machine gun coaxial with the gun. In addition, the tower part received 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 56 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.

"AMX-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 a 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 remote controlled Reibel gun turret. The commander's tower was equipped 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.”
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The AMX-56 is the main French tank. The main developer is the company "GIAT". In the 80s of the last century, it was created to replace the already outdated AMX-30. The tank entered production in 1992; over 15 years, 794 Leclerc units were created. As of today, production of the AMX-56 has been discontinued. 406 units are in service with the French army, 388 units are in service with the UAE. One of the most expensive in the world modern tanks, the approximate cost of one car is 6 million euros.

This tank was produced by order of senior French management. The creation of the new machine was entrusted to GIAT Industries. The tank was given the name of the famous general who led the tank units of France during World War II - Philippe Marie de Hautecloquet. The general received the posthumous title of Marshal of the French Army. During his lifetime he was called "Leclerc" - a nickname in honor of the famous 18th century French army commander.

The AMX-30 is the main tank of the French armed forces. By the 70s it was significantly outdated. French designers, based on the experience of creating the AMX-30, its modifications, as well as analyzing the foreign Leopard, Merkava and Abrams, presented their own project “Engin Principal de Combat”. This is happening against the backdrop of the cessation of development of a joint tank with Germany based on the second Leopard. The implementation of our own project begins. Its main focus was increased attention to the system active protection, which should have made it possible to reduce weight characteristics while facilitating armor protection.

1986 Six prototypes were created. Huge assistance in creating the tank was provided by the UAE, which became interested in purchasing these tanks even at the Leclerc development stage.
1990 The first four AMX-56 units appear. From this moment, serial production of the main tank begins.
1992 The first batch enters service with the French Armed Forces. The next two batches of 17 tanks were quickly recalled - design defects were discovered. The 4th and 5th batches entered service without any problems - all detected deficiencies were corrected. Up to and including the ninth batch of production of combat vehicles, the main emphasis is on providing tanks with electronic devices, including tank control systems. All tanks of early releases are subject to modernization according to the 9th batch standard.
2004 The tenth batch of tanks is being produced. They are starting a new, third series of modernization of the AMX-56. The main innovations are new tank control systems and armor. In the last batch, 96 AMX-56 units rolled off the assembly line. 2007 All Leclerc tanks in the French armed forces were distributed into four regiments, each regiment had 80 AMX-56 tanks, the remaining 35 tanks were scattered among other armored units. France's declared need for such tanks is up to one thousand units. In addition, 15 Leclercs were used by the French peacekeeping contingent in Kosovo. 13 tanks also carry out a peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.

Device and design
The tank was created according to the classic type layout. OU in the front, BO in the center and MTO in the rear of the tank. Due to the use of an automatic loader, the vehicle's crew consists of 3 people: a commander, a gunner and a driver. The side and frontal solutions of the hull were made from multi-layer armor. A special feature of the tank's armor is the modular design of the armor when making frontal solutions for the turret and hull. If damaged, modules with ceramic elements can be easily replaced in the field.

The armament of the AMX-56 is a 120 mm smoothbore gun CN-120-26. The length of the 52 caliber gun is 624 centimeters. The gun is equipped with an automatic loader and stabilized in 2 planes. The tank's turret has a modernization reserve for installing promising 140 mm guns. The gun's guidance is controlled using the control system, which is integrated into the control system. The SLA includes:
- sight for gunner HL60 combined type;
- commander's sight HL70 panoramic type;
- periscope-type observation devices for the gunner and commander;
- 2-plane gun stabilizer;
- autometeopost;
- a “central” computer that ensures constant communication of all system components and gun guidance according to automatic weather station data.

The fire control system allows the vehicle commander to search for objects and transmit data to the gunner's sighting devices in day and night conditions. The gun's ammunition capacity is 40 unitary type ammunition. 22 units are immediately located in the loading machine, the rest are in the drum-type ammunition rack in the OU. The gunner moves ammunition into the loading machine as needed. The range of ammunition is standard - armor-piercing sub-caliber and cumulative, which also play the role of fragmentation ammunition, they are interchangeable with shells from the 120 mm Rheinmetall gun. The automatic gun loader is located at the rear of the turret in a separate compartment, which is equipped with panels. In general, the machine gun is a belt-type conveyor, which gives the weapon the technical ability to fire up to 15 rounds per minute.

The tank's mechanical equipment received a V-shaped 8-cylinder multi-fuel diesel engine with liquid cooling. The engine manufacturer is the Finnish company Wartsila, created according to the V8X 1500 type - power 1.5 thousand hp, 2.5 thousand rpm. The engine is equipped with a turbocharged Hyperbar compressor, which is driven by a separate gas turbine engine, and can operate independently of the main diesel engine to provide an electric generator. In the MTO, the diesel engine was placed along the longitudinal axis, the engine itself with transmission and cooling was made as a single unit. The AMX-56 transmission consists of an automatic 5-speed ESM500 hydromechanical gearbox, side-steering mechanisms and brake mechanisms. Replacing the Hyperbar control system, due to thoughtful placement and fastening, does not take more than half an hour. By the way, the AMX-56 is the only tank of its kind with the Hyperbar control system. Turbocharging comes from a separate turbine, rather than from exhaust gases. This allowed the designers to create a tank with high traction performance, good efficiency and small dimensions of the MTO itself.

The Leclerc's chassis consists of six rubber-coated dual support rollers, support rollers, a idler and a stern drive wheel. Suspension – hydropneumatic individual. Its components are removed from the armored hull, which frees up space in the armored hull and facilitates maintenance of the suspension. The caterpillar track has a lantern type engagement, 63.5 centimeters wide, with a rubber-metal hinge. The path is rubberized, with removable rubber shoes for moving along the asphalt road surface.

Main characteristics:
- weight - 54.6 tons;
- length - 688 centimeters, with the gun forward - 987 centimeters;
- width - 371 centimeters;
- height - 3 meters;
- clearance - 50 centimeters;
- combined armor (steel-ceramic-kevlar);
- frontal armor equivalent to steel armor - 64/120 centimeters;
- additional weapons - M2HB-QBC machine gun 12.7 mm caliber, F1 machine gun 7.62 mm caliber;
- speed on the highway - up to 71 km/h, off-road - up to 50 km/h;
- range - up to 550 kilometers.

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 on the tank was carried out no less successfully than before it. And with the liberation of France, the first sample of the new tank was immediately put into production. The new tank went into production in 1946, 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 a maximum speed of 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 of the new vehicle. 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 from the German "7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70" gun, which was installed on the Panthers and was equipped with a wide range of 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”. The design of the tank also included distinctive features: a turret located in the bow of the tank, and a “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 a mass-produced 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.

"AMX-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 a 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 remote controlled Reibel gun turret. The commander's tower was equipped 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.”

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

The fairly strong position of the 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 of a light tank, in the design of which casting was widely 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 the technical solutions of a light vehicle 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. In general, the result was not an armored car, but a real medium tank, similar to the Renault D2, but at the same time having a higher 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 an 8-cylinder V-shaped power plant was developed there. 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 issue with the 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 Czechoslovakian 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 light tankŠ-II, aka 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. Detailed information no on this development, but most likely, it was about the development of the Renault YR cavalry tank, aka 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 why a prototype was made, so that during testing, design flaws could be identified and eliminated.

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 modifications, a modernized version of the AC 3 appeared, which received the factory designation AC 4. It was this vehicle that became the model for the production version of the SOMUA S 35. The first tanks of a large series began to be produced in July 1936, but until January 1937 these vehicles remained unprepared. 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. Based on the results of the alterations combat mass increased to 19.5 tons, but the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle remained almost at the same level as that 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. The blinds, which were quite rightly considered a vulnerable spot, were removed from the sides of the over-engine plate. 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, tank production which by that time had been nationalized and renamed ARL, even by the summer of 1938 not all SOMUA S 35s 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, SOMUA’s production facilities were 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, 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.

A sad ending to the May-June 1940 campaign. 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

Hello, fellow tankers! Today we will look at French branch 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

Vive La France! Indeed, glory be, France! French vehicles are the best vehicles in the game! Many people can say so. And for good reason. French tanks are considered master and bender tanks, and this is due to their many excellent abilities, which you can read about in the pros/cons section.

Advantages and disadvantages of French tanks

The fastest, most dynamic, high-speed, etc. French tanks are considered to be in the game. Also, the nickname “barabashki” firmly stuck to them. These are all considered positive aspects. And now more details. As mentioned earlier, the huge advantages of French technology are speed and maneuverability (except for the initial levels and tanks such as the AMX 40). Good dynamics in the French begins to be felt with the light tank ELC AMX. After the sixth level (except for light tanks, they have from the fifth) there are fast tanks, including heavy ones.

• 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

Vehicles are divided into 4 initial WoT development branches: tank destroyers, armored light tanks (up to D2), heavily armored light tanks (up to ELC AMX) and self-propelled guns (artillery).

Fri-Sau

French anti-tank installations are famous for their guns, and the top tanks of this branch have drums and good armor. You can get a lot of pleasure from their penetration and damage at any level of battles, and also not be discouraged by their speed. In general, we can say about them that they are pleasant to play and they can decide the outcome of the battle. The only negative is the armor and speed (not for all anti-tank self-propelled artillery units), and the guns are the best at the level. The most popular vehicles of this type of technology are SAu-40, AMX50Foch, AMX50F155 and some low-level tank destroyers.

Armored light tanks

Light tanks of France, initial levels - this is an interesting and fun topic. They are so “light” that they crawl to positions last, and it is difficult to penetrate them. The guns don't really shine. At their level, beginners can only receive “splashes” in the form of missed shots and ricochets. It's all about D1. Following it is the almost identical D2 tank, which also has good armor and a weak gun. Heavy tanks start along this branch. And they start with the B1 tank, which is poorly armored, even for its level. Then there are also “cardboard” tanks, but with guns that are more suitable for play, and with the AMX M4 45, a loading drum and dynamics appear in tank guns.

Heavily armored light tanks

The peace-loving turtle slowly crawls out to bask in the sun, but after a long search for a “place in the sun,” small insects fly out at it and begin to shoot at its shell. The turtle quickly gets tired of all this, it pulls out its trunk and begins to destroy the enemies with less inconvenience for itself. This is how tanks can be characterized, starting with the H35 and ending with the AMX 40. These tanks have excellent armor, but not the best best guns. Few beginners know where to push such machines. They are true steel monsters, but they are also too slow. There are a lot of jokes and memes written about the AMX 40, as well as about the American tank destroyer T95, so it can also be classified as a “legendary” World of Tanks. After the AMX 40 comes the no less interesting light tank ELC AMX (or simply “Christmas tree”), which will surprise you with its speed, top gun and low silhouette. After the ELC AMX there are light tanks with a drum loading mechanism: AMX 12t, AMX 13 75, AMX 13 90. After that come the medium tanks, where the top BatChat 25 is located, with its incomparable popularity among the top medium tanks.

self-propelled guns

French artillery is as controversial as all French tanks. She is fast, maneuverable, has worse damage, but has the best penetration at her level, and B.Chat. 155 has a constant loading drum and a turret that rotates 360 degrees. About the French artillery it was subtly noted in the joke: “The French artillery is so severe that it is on its own.” The guns are quite accurate, which makes it possible to fire “gold” shells.

Bottom line

To summarize, we can say that French tanks are good for experienced players and professionals, they are convenient for their speed and gun penetration, but they are clearly not for beginners, because... due to their armor, they do not forgive any mistakes (except for the initial levels of tanks of this nation). They are fun to play, but quite difficult to play alone, and again, because of the armor and the drum, you can’t hold the direction alone. They may well be a good competitor to any nation, and in a platoon they can completely take over the entire battle. It is recommended to download French tanks to participate in clan championships, as well as simply to gain experience in order to experience the full taste of these entertaining machines. When downloading this nation, it is worth remembering that these are high-speed vehicles and are more suitable for supporting allies.

• Light equipment
• Medium tanks
• Heavy

French tanks of the Second World War, in short, although they had good characteristics, could not compete with the more modernized equipment of the enemy. And they didn’t really have to take part in battles. Although some of them still managed to go through the entire war in various theaters of military operations. The truth is not always in its original quality.

Light equipment

Medium tanks

Heavy French tanks

• B1 - a heavy tank of the French army actively participated in battles with the German occupiers and showed good results.
• Therefore, after the capture of France, it was not only adopted by the Wehrmacht tank forces, but also actively used on the battlefields with the Soviet army.
• True, tanks in the best technical condition were selected for these purposes, and the rest were converted into self-propelled guns and flamethrower tanks.
• Speaking of French tanks, it is worth mentioning the “FCM” Char 2-C, which was the largest production tank of that time. Weighing 75 tons, its dimensions were 10.27 m in length, 3.0 in width and 4.09 in height.
• It was armed with a 75 mm cannon and four machine guns, and its crew consisted of 12-13 soldiers.
• However, he never took part in the battles of World War 2, since the train with combat vehicles was destroyed by German aircraft.