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The Panhard 178 is a 4x4 armored car which entered service with the French army shortly before World war 2. Many of these vehicles were captured by the Germans after the invasion of France. The 178 was found to be a sound and reliable design and was pressed into German service designated Panzerspahwagen P204(f). These armored cars were used throughout Europe and in the Soviet Union by German forces for anti-partisan and security duties. Many were converted for use with armored trains their tires replaced with flanged steel wheels and were used to scout the tracks ahead of trains. After the Liberation of France in 1944 production was resumed for use by the Free French.
Dimensions: 4,79 x 2,01x 2.31 (h) mt
Weight: 8.5 tons
Armament: 1x 25mm SA-25 cannon, 1x 7.5mm MG
Propulsion: Gasoline Panhard, 105 hp
Speed (Max): 72 km/h
Armour (Max): 13mm
Crew: 5
Laffly S20
Dimensions: 5.5 x 2.1 x 2.5 (h) mt
Weight:
Armament: n/a
Propulsion: Hotchkiss 680
Speed (Max): 65 km/hr
Armor (Max): n/a
Crew: 2
Char B1-bis
At the request of General Estienne and on the basis of previous studies worked out by Renault, Schneider, FAMH, FCM, and Delaunay-Belleville, a new battle tank was developed under the code designation of "Tractor 30". In 1929-30, three pilot models were built by Renault and FCM. These later became designated Char B. These three pilot models were extensively reworked and modified for tests. The first one, reengined and uparmored became the early prototype for the B1-ter in 1937. The Char B1 was the production version of the Char B. Production began in 1935. Only a small number were built before construction changed to the more powerful B1-bis. The B1-bis was the main battle tank of the French army in 1940. Considered one of the most powerful and advanced tanks in the world, it was hampered only by it's low speed and cost of production. The B1-ter did not go beyond protype stage. Had the B1-bis been better employed, it would have easily defeated any invading German tank in 1940.
Dimensions: 6.6 x 2.5 x 2.8 (h) mt
Weight: 32 tons
Armament: 1x 47 mm, 1x 75 mm cannon 2x 7.5 mm MG
Propulsion: Gasoline Renault, 300 bhp
Armor (Max): 60 mm
Speed (Max): 17.2 km/hr
Crew: 4
Laffly S20, with model 39 AA
Dimensions: 5.5 x 2.1 x 2.5 (h) mt
Weight:
Armament: 1x 20mm mod.39 AA gun
Propulsion: Hotchkiss 680
Speed (Max): 65 km/hr
Armor (Max): n/a
Crew: 2
Sau-40
The SAu 40 SPG was initially the ARL V 39's counterpart for the DLMs, the Cavalry's armoured divisions. 36 vehicles were ordered on the same day as the ARL V 39 (24 SPGs and 12 command vehicles, organised as the ARLs) but this was cancelled on 1 May 1940 because of teething problems with the new 75mm "high power" APX gun and in order to standardise production on the ARL design. Instead, 72 SAu 40s were ordered as tank destoyers, armed with the 47mm mle 1937 (the same gun as the Artillery's 47mm ATG). None of these were produced but it appears that the SAu 40 prototype above saw action in an improvised unit in June 1940.
Dimensions:
Weight:
Armament: 1x 75mm APX cannon
Propulsion:
Armor (Max): 40 mm
Speed (Max):
Crew:
ARL V39
Designed as a self-propelled gun for the DCRs, the Infantry's armoured divisions, 72 ARL V 39 (including 24 unarmed command variants) were ordered on 15 October 1939 to arm 8 battalions each with two batteries of 3 vehicles (two battalions per DCR). On 9 May 1940, the order was increased to 108. The ARL V 39 was to have 50mm armour and be armed, like the SAu 40, with a new "high power" APX 75mm gun of which only two prototypes existed, both mounted on the SPG prototypes. None were produced other than the single prototype, evacuated to Morroco and abandoned there.
Dimensions: 5.8 x 2.57 x 2.45 (h) mt
Weight: 25 tons
Armor (max): 50 mm
Speed (max): 42 km/hr
Engine:
Armament: 1x 75mm APX cannon
Crew: 5
Chenillette-Lorraine
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Made by Renault, the UE supply carrier (named Chenillette d'Infanterie type UE) was loosely based on the Carden-Loyd Mark VI carrier. Carrying a crew of two and no armament, it was used primarily for supply transportation, often towing a tracked trailer. The captured vehicles were used by the German army, also by the Free French. Many variations were developed.
Dimensions: 4.19 x 1.57 x 1.22 (h) mt
Weight:
Armament: n/a
Propulsion:
Speed (Max): 21 km/hr
Armor (Max): 6 mm
Crew: 2
ARL-44
The design of this tank started clandestinely when France was still under German occupation. After the Normandy landings, the French restarted their war industry. Production was carried out by both FAMH and Renault under the parentage of the ARL. Christened 'Char de Transition ARL-44', the ARL 44 was based largely on the pre-war Char B1 bis. The first unit became ready only after the war had ended in 1946. The new French heavy tank came equipped with a 90mm cannon housed in a Schneider turret powered by a Simca traversing gear. The ARL 44 used the same tracks as the Char B1 bis, but were protected by skirting plates. Only 60 units were ever produced.
Dimensions: 10.52 x 3.4 x 3.2 (h) mt
Weight:
Armament: 1x 90 mm SA mod45, 2x 7.5 mm mod31 MG
Propulsion: Maybach HL 230
Speed (Max): 37 km/hr
Armor (Max): 120 mm
Crew: 5
Edited by Mig Eater, 09 April 2005 - 07:48 PM.
