Structural shortages of the Schneider tank were aggravated in the second French combat vehicle, Saint-Chamonix, named in honor of the city exceeded in which it produced the main units of the structure. Affected by the haste in work and the small experience of the creators of the tank.

The bow of the elongated box-shaped hull hung strongly over the tracks, which reduced the tank's cross-country ability on the battlefield. Moats wider than 1.8 meters became an insurmountable obstacle for him. The mobility of the tank on wet ground deteriorated even more when, in the field, the armor of the sides was increased and the combat mass was brought 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 unit pressure on the soil decreased, and the passability of the Saint-Chamonov became acceptable. The vehicle's armament included a 75mm special cannon, which was later replaced by the usual 75mm bullet gun. Compared to the Schneider, the gun was located more successfully and had a sector of fire sufficient for the battlefield. Four machine guns provided the tank's all-round defense. The first "Saint-Chamones" were equipped with a commander's and driver's cylindrical turrets, and side armor plates covered the chassis to the ground. Subsequently, the roof became sloping to the sides so that grenades would 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 principal novelty of Saint-Chamon was the electric transmission. The gasoline engine transmitted torque to a dynamo that generated current and powered two electric motors. The latter set in motion two caterpillars, each of its own. This made it much easier for the driver to control the tank, but made the entire transmission system bulky and unreliable. For fears of breakdowns, the maximum speed of the tank was limited to 8 km / h, although during tests it developed a speed of 12 km / h. During the First World War, 12 tank groups were formed, equipped with Saint-Chamons. After the rout French tanks units on April 16, 1917, the French command used the new weapon more carefully and with greater efficiency. For example, in May 1917, 12 Saint-Chamond and 19 Schneider broke through the German defenses on the Laffo plateau. Only 6 vehicles were lost in the battle. In October, supporting the offensive of the 6th French army, 63 "Schneider" and "Saint-Chamon" stealthily entered the position and attacked the enemy, breaking through into the depths of his defense for 6 km. During the day, the French lost 2 tanks and 8 thousand people were out of action. The Germans lost 38 thousand people only killed. Further use of Allied tanks went with varying luck. With massive use, they have achieved some success. But at the same time, the combat experience of the German troops increased. Anti-tank barriers, ditches were built, parts of anti-tank artillery were created, capable of hitting armored vehicles at a distance of up to 1,500 m. 98% of all combat losses were incurred by tanks from artillery fire. There is a known case when a German officer, who remained at the gun abandoned by the crew, cold-bloodedly loaded and directed the cannon alone, destroying 16 tanks one after the other. The last time "Saint-Chamond" took part in the battles in July 1918. Two groups of these tanks were almost completely destroyed within 24 hours. Of the approximately 150 built vehicles, 72 remained in service by the time of the armistice. Then, like the Schneider, most of them were converted into transporters. Both types of heavy tanks were essentially self-propelled artillery mounts. The Saint-Chamond was better suited for this role due to its large ammunition supply and satisfactory mobility, but only in dry weather and with careful maintenance. The fire was usually conducted from closed 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-Chamones were eventually scrapped.

TANK SCHNEIDER CA 1

Tested in February 1916, the firstborn of the French tank industry turned out to be a less successful combat vehicle than the tanks of the Allied British. The designers of the Schneider-Creusot company to speed up work on the assault artillery "tractor" (as the French called the tank) used the ready-made chassis design of the American Holt tractor. An armored hull of a simple rectangular shape was mounted on a significantly improved undercarriage of the vehicle. Its wedge-shaped bow and bowsprit, as conceived by the developers, were supposed to provide easy overcoming of obstacles and crushing of multi-row barbed wire obstacles. But the real cross-country ability 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" CA 1s. 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. 4-cylinder engine "Peugeot" or "Schneider" had a capacity of 65 liters. with. During the April offensive of the Allies, the French threw into battle 132 "Schneider" from the two groups under the command of Majors Bossu and Shobe. 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, of 82 tanks, 44 were destroyed, and German planes jumping out of their vehicles were shot from the air by German planes. The explosion of a burning tank killed Major Bossu. Shobe's group did not achieve any success at all, leaving 32 wrecked Schneider on the battlefield. During the battles, the tankers had the greatest complaints about the armament of the tank. Due to the fact that almost the entire nose of the car was occupied by the engine and workplace driver, the short-barreled gun could only fire forward and to the right within 20m. Machine gun mounts also had large dead zones. The side armor turned out to be weak, which was penetrated by the new German rifle bullets of the "K" type. Gas tanks located in the hull, along the sides, were especially vulnerable to intensive shelling of tanks. Therefore, great attention was paid to the rescue of the crew. A double door in the stern helped the tankers to quickly leave the burning car. Even the tail of the tank was made bifurcated, so as not to interfere with the crew members from jumping to the ground. The only advantage of the car was the high ride quality on the terrain thanks to the good damping in the suspension system. This increased the accuracy of fire on the move and reduced crew fatigue. "Schneiders" were used on the battlefields of the First World War with little success, even after being reinforced. From the beginning of 1918, they began to be removed from the units. They were converted into artillery rods, transporters for transporting guns and light tanks, as well as repair and recovery vehicles. Nevertheless, "Schneider" 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 rebellious Arabs in Morocco. In 1936, the four remaining machines 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 tank of a classic layout, which became dominant in tank building, was created by the Renault automobile company. The layout of the relative placement of units and parts In the FT-17, it affected the most optimal and rational: the engine. transmission. rear drive wheel; department of management. driven wheel in front; fighting compartment, rotating turret with weapons in the center. This arrangement later became standard for medium and heavy tanks and other types of combat vehicles.

Tests of the tank began on April 9, 1917 and ended in complete success. The initial order of 150 vehicles was increased to 1000 copies of the FT-17, produced in four versions: machine gun, cannon, commander with a radio station and as a fire support tank with a 75 mm cannon in an open top, non-rotating turret.

The tower on the early models was octahedral, riveted. In the later, cylindrical, cast. With equal strength to riveted, the latter was more and cheaper to manufacture.

Chassis the tank consisted of four bogies with road wheels on board, which were suspended from the longitudinal beam on leaf springs. A large front wheel helped to overcome vertical obstacles. Its wooden structure reduced the weight of the tank and reduced driving noise. To increase the permeability through ditches and trenches, there was a tail on the axis, 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 widespread 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 first baptism of fire Renault FT-17 received on July 3, 1918, five tanks of this type attacked the German units of the advancing 28th division. Three vehicles were hit, but two FT-17s broke through to the rear of the enemy, and in order to disable the tanks, the Germans had to throw an infantry regiment and two reserve battalions against them.

In the period between the two world wars, the FT-17 tank in numerous versions was in service with 22 countries and participated in various large and small military conflicts. FT-17 machines were used even during the Second World War. In the French army, for example, by May 1940 there were more than one and a half thousand FT-17s. Most of them were captured by the Wehrmacht. The towers removed from the tanks with weapons were used as pillboxes on the Atlantic coast. The rest of the tanks were used as bulldozers for cleaning airfields and for other secondary purposes.

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

TANK PCM 2C

This vehicle entered the history of tank building as the heaviest mass-produced tank created in the pre-war period. French tanks "Saint-Chamond" and "Schneider" were distinguished by numerous shortcomings, so the military command issued an order for the development of a new heavy breakthrough tank.

This vehicle entered the history of tank building as the heaviest mass-produced tank created in the pre-war period. French tanks "Saint-Chamond" and "Schneider" were distinguished by numerous shortcomings, so the military command issued an order for the development of a new heavy breakthrough tank.

This vehicle entered the history of tank building as the heaviest mass-produced tank created in the pre-war period. French tanks "Saint-Chamond" and "Schneider" were distinguished by numerous shortcomings, so the military command issued an order for the development of a new heavy breakthrough tank.

This vehicle entered the history of tank building as the heaviest mass-produced tank created in the pre-war period. French tanks "Saint-Chamond" and "Schneider" were distinguished by 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 electromechanical. A third prototype, 1B, was later built, armed with a 105mm cannon. The crews of the three huge machines were 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 turret front. During their long service, the tanks were repeatedly upgraded, 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, the tank contained four more spare machine guns. The transmission of the car was complex. Two motors powered separate DC generators. Each of them supplied energy to an electric motor, which set in motion the corresponding tank track. If one engine failed, the power of the electric motors was switched to one generator, and then a tank weighing 70 tons could only move at the speed of a pedestrian. One of the vehicles was equipped with a 155-mm short-barreled howitzer, as a result of which the mass of the tank 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 75mm shells from German field artillery. The presence of a large crew of 13 people was cited as an advantage, and the impossibility of firing 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 pushed other countries to create their own dreadnoughts on tracks. In England, a heavy tank "Independent" was created, in Germany a purely experimental "Grosstraktor", and in the USSR - a serial T-35. It is curious that until the beginning of the war at the Moscow Military Academy. Frunze, where they trained the command staff for tank forces and cadres of designers for defense plants, as a training visual aid used a two-meter model RSM 2C, carefully made of metal.
In May 1940, six 2C tanks on special platforms were poisoned by rail to the front, but on the way they were bombed by German aircraft.

Both the broken and the surviving machines then had only one way to 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 of military equipment, were hopelessly outdated already in the thirties, long before the outbreak of World War II.

TANK B1

The only French heavy tank with anti-cannon armor to take part in World War II was the Renault B1, developed in accordance with command requirements issued in 1927.

For competitive testing, the firms RAMS, Fuel and Lubricants and Renault produced three prototypes of the new B tank in 1930, which were designated 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 feature of this tank was the placement of the main gun of 75 mm caliber in the frontal part of the hull. Therefore, the gun was aimed at the target by turning the tank. This made it difficult to control the machine and to maintain it. The driver steered the tank using the power steering wheel through a complex dual differential. The B1 had many other innovations: an automatic centralized lubrication system for the undercarriage, a gyrocompass, fire bulkheads and tested gas tanks, the holes in which were tightened due to the presence of a layer of wet rubber. The emergency hatch in the bottom also served to eject the liners.

The disadvantages of the tank were the small cramped ARX-1 turret with a 47 mm cannon, serviced by one person, and the archaic chassis inherited from the tanks of the First World War. A total of 36 B1s were built, and since 1937, 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 before the surrender of the country, 362 units were manufactured. Since 1935, another version of the V Peg machine was developed with a 12-cylinder Renault engine with a capacity of 310 hp. with. and an improved gearbox. A mechanic was additionally included in the eki-page. Only five tanks of this type left the assembly shop of the plant, and they did not take part in the hostilities. The rest of the B1 tanks were actively used in battles during the French campaign in May-June 1940, and although they were bulky and slow-moving, none of the German anti-tank guns could penetrate their armor with good protection. At that time, Germany did not have heavy tanks capable of fighting B1 and B1bis. 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 the dismantled weapons served as tractors, 60 B2 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 the 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 GOCHKIS H-35

An intermediate position in terms of their combat qualities and numbers among the light tanks in service with France on the eve of World War II was occupied by the machines of the Hotchkiss company. Tanks N-35, N-38, N-39 had thinner armor than the same type RSM 36 and Renault 35, but they had a higher speed.

The first model of the H-35 was developed in 1935 and entered service with the light mechanized divisions of the French army the following year. The manufacturing technology of the H-35 hull was borrowed from the ZOMTSA company. Like the Y-35 tank, it was assembled from cast parts and bolted together. Therefore, the smoothed forms of the H-35 and B-35 were very complex, and this similarity was enhanced by the installation on both types of a unified turret with a short-barreled 37 mm cannon. To somehow distinguish the tanks of competitors, the company "Hotchkiss" cast a large inscription HOTSHKISS on the frontal parts of the hull of its vehicles.
In 1938, the tank was modified with a more powerful 120 hp engine. with. and increasing the thickness of the frontal armor up to 40 mm. About 100 of these machines were produced under the designation N-38. A year later, the N-39 appeared. whose 37-mm cannon "fiercely" with a barrel length of 21 caliber was replaced by a longer-barreled gun of the same caliber. This increased the speed of the projectile to 700m / s and increased its armor penetration. More than 1,100 such tanks were built.

In total, about 1600 Hotchkiss tanks were manufactured in three versions. After the end of the short and unsuccessful summer campaign for France in 1940, many Hotchkiss were adopted by the Wehrmacht units. The Germans considered them suitable for military service due to their reliable engines and the presence of radio stations. In 1941, the Hotchkiss 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. Survivors of the war in Vichy France N-39 were sold to Israel.

TANK FCM-36

After the end of the First World Warthe French army had the most high level technical equipment in the world. The basis of the country's tank park was made up of over 3 thousand light Pew FT-17 tanks, which in the 1920s were a formidable force and perfectly fit into the concept of the military leadership, which provided for the use of armored vehicles to support infantry operations. Since the armies of other states did not have such a 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 outperformed their predecessors in terms of characteristics and therefore were not accepted into service. When Hitler came to power in Germany, the French government began building powerful defensive fortifications on the border, spending the lion's share of funds for this. Therefore, the rearmament of the army was delayed, and until 19G5, only 280 new AMR 33 and D1 tanks came to replace the outdated Renault FT-17. It was only in 1936 that a program for the construction of the armed forces was adopted in France.In the field of armored vehicles, priority was still given light tanks to equip infantry cavalry units. Among them was the fuel and lubricants 36. This tank was the first French combat vehicle equipped with a diesel engine and had a welded hull and turret.

Just a year later than the Renault company, the fuel and lubricants enterprise produced the same type as the Ya-35 lightweight infantry tank model 1936, which had a classic line-up: the engine and transmission were located in the rear, the fighting compartment in the center, the control compartment in the front of the vehicle.The crew consisted of two people: the driver and the commander, who additionally performed the functions of the gunner. A 90-horsepower Berlie diesel engine was also installed, which was a licensed version of the English Ricardo engine. This provided the fuel and lubricants 36 with a range on the highway two and a half times greater than that of a competing tank. Another unusual feature of the vehicle was the structure 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 acquired double angles of inclination relative to the longitudinal axis of the tank. This provided optimal protection of the hull and turret from shells. Sloped armor increased the likelihood of shells ricochet not only in the frontal, but also in other projections. The turret of the tank looked original, giving the impression of a two-story one because of the commander's cupola, which was a continuation of the main one. a double slope was also given to the hinged bulwarks that cover the chassis. Like British tanks of the same period, the GSh 36 bulwarks had five windows for dumping dirt from the upper branches of the tracks. The suspension was of a mixed type: of the nine rubberized road wheels on board, eight were interlocked in four bogies, suspended on spiral and leaf springs, and one front roller had its own spring. The armament of a light French vehicle consisted of a 37-mm short-barreled Puteau cannon with 100 rounds of ammunition and one Chatellerault machine gun of 7.5 mm caliber.

The sophisticated 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 I-35, and therefore the military department limited itself to ordering only 100 vehicles.

Although the strength of the fuel and lubricants 36 was considered to be its good cross-country ability and considerable cruising 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 of the tanks turned out to be German trophies. In Germany, these vehicles were used as a base for self-propelled artillery installations. They mounted a 75-mm German anti-tank gun Cancer 40 or 105 mm howitzer leFН.

TANK SOMUA S-35

Initially, the tank was designated AMS SOMUA AC-3 and was intended to support the actions of lighter tanks of the Gonkie N-35 type as part of cavalry units. Then the tank was renamed S-35 and became the main medium tank of the French army, capable of solving tactical tasks on its own. By the time of its appearance in 1935, it was the first tank in the world, the main parts of which, the tower and the three main large-sized parts of the hull, were entirely cast from armor steel. This advanced technology provided the tank with high armor protection and acceptable weight. The 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 with ONLY 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 strengthen the "Maginot Line" of the defensive structure. The factor of congestion in the battle of one of the three crew members, who was in a small cramped tower, was also underestimated. Apart from his commanding functions, he had to be a porter and gun loader. This drawback was common to all French tanks of those years. The only exception was the AMC 35 with a two-man turret, produced in a total of 75 pieces. All this, combined with the wrong 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 built S-35s, most were captured by the enemy safe and sound. Part of these tanks was transferred by Germany to its ally, Italy. Many machines were used to equip the Panzerwaffe training and training centers. Several dozen S-35s ended up on the Eastern Front, where they were used in secondary sectors of the battles. Individual copies of the tank, which remained on the territory of Normandy to guard the Atlantic coast, were captured in June 1944 by the landed Anglo-American troops. These vehicles were transferred to the fighters 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 manufactured, and in 1952 its serial production began.

The design of the LMH-13 was significantly different from conventional light tanks. In front of its hull was the engine, behind it was the control compartment, and then the fighting compartment. The AMX-13 became the first serial tank with an automatic gun loader.
The automation problem was solved by using a swinging tower here 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 attached to the trunnions on the lower one and can swing in a vertical plane to provide guidance to the target. This made it possible to place in the tower, in addition to two crew members, two more revolver-type magazines with six shots each, with the help of which the gun is reloaded. Due to the reverse stroke of the barrel of the gun, the drum magazine is set in rotation and releases the next projectile, which slides in the socket of the drum, the axis of which coincides with the axis of the barrel bore. Then the projectile is automatically sent to the barrel and a shot is fired. The use of such a device not only made it possible to increase the rate of fire of the gun to 10-12 rounds per minute, but also reduced the vehicle's crew to three people.

Tanks AMX-13 differ mainly in different turrets. The first versions of the vehicle were equipped with an I-10 swinging tower with a 75-mm rifled cannon, which was replaced in 1966 by a 90-mm gun with a muzzle brake and a heat-insulating casing. For the colonial troops, the AMX-13 was produced with an H11 turret equipped with a 75-mm shortened cannon. The AMX-13 with a P1-12 turret with a 105-mm gun designed for firing ammunition similar to those used on the AMX-30 tank was produced for export. but with reduced powder charges. The latest version of the French light car equipped with a PY5 turret, developed in 1983 on the basis of the I-12 and equipped with the latest system fire control, including a combined day and night gunner's sight, a laser rangefinder 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, 4 launchers of the EE-11 ATGM (on the frontal surface of the upper swinging tower) or 6 launchers of the GTTUR "Hot" have been mounted on some machines.
The tank is equipped with an eight-cylinder carburetor engine 8 (ahb company 901AM with liquid cooling and a five-speed gearbox with synchronizers. The steering mechanism is a double differential.

In the undercarriage, on each side, there are six rollers with internal shock absorption. The drive wheels are located in the front and the guides are at the back. Open-pivot steel tracks have removable rubber pads.

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

Tank AMX-13 was widely supplied to different countries the world: out of 7,700 cars produced, 3,400 were poisoned abroad. Currently, AMX-13 are in service with 13 countries, and in the Faction, 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 unified standards of the FRG countries, 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: on the left in front is the control compartment, the fighting compartment in the middle part of the hull, and the engine compartment in the aft part. The hull has a welded structure, but the armor of the tank for vehicles of this type can be considered rather weak, since it protects only from small-caliber shells, bullets and fragments. On the international arms market, the French tank proved to be competitive due to its powerful weapons and low price. The relatively light 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 set includes unitary shots of the French design, but it is also possible to fire ammunition with the English gun P. On the first serial tanks, a 12.7-mm machine gun was paired with the gun. Another feature of the armament is that the main weapon does not have a muzzle brake and an ejector. Recoil when fired is absorbed by powerful recoil devices, and the bore is purged with compressed air. In the turret to the right of the cannon, the gunner and the tank commander are located, carrying out fire control, the load is placed on the left. In the commander's cupola, ten periscopic observation devices are installed, and in front of it is the commander's combined day and night sight. Even despite the fact that the weapons did not have stabilization in any plane, the AMX-30 was well indulged, and its licensed production was established in Spain, where, under the designation AMX-ZOB, the machine was modified for countries with hot climates.

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 4 meters. The AMX-30 is equipped with a twelve-cylinder multi-fuel diesel engine NB-110-2 by Hispano-Suiza. The manual transmission has five forward gears and five reverse gears. There are five road wheels on a torsion bar suspension in the undercarriage on each side. The drive wheels are located at the back.

In 1982, the troops began to receive an improved version of the machine. AMX-30V2, which has an improved fire control system (laser rangefinder, ballistic computer, thermal imaging camera) and a more powerful engine. Instead of a 12.7-mm machine gun, a 20-mm cannon paired with the main gun was installed, capable of being introduced independently in a vertical plane at an angle of up to + 4СГ. This facilitates combat in mountainous and urban environments. For the 105-mm gun, new projectiles were developed that penetrate 350 mm armor at a distance of 2000 m. A further development of this type of tank was the AMX-32 with combined armor in the front of the hull and turret. Designed primarily for export, it has two types of main armament: 105mm rifled or 120mm smoothbore cannon. In 1983, a new machine from this AMX-40 family was publicly demonstrated for the first time, equipped with a C1AT 120-mm smoothbore gun. In its design, many components and assemblies of the AMX-32 tank were used. In total, from 1966 to 1986, about 2800 AMX-30 of all modifications were produced. Of these, about half entered the armed forces of Greece, Spain, Venezuela, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Chile and Cyprus, where tanks are on duty to the spurs.

On the basis of the AMX-30, various special vehicles were created, including the Roland air defense missile system, 155-mm self-propelled howitzer, bridgelayer tank, anti-aircraft self-propelled installation AMX-306A, etc.

TANK LEKLERK

The tank "Leclerc" is named after a French general during the Second World War.

A feature of Leclerc is high degree 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 units, as well as power plant, controls the clutches and gearbox, controls the protection systems against the effects of weapons mass destruction... In addition, the on-board computer has a voice informant with a storage capacity of 600 commands, which informs the crew by voice about vehicle malfunctions and changes in the situation.
The fire control system installed on the Leclerc. provides the possibility of hitting six targets from the first shot within a minute with a hit probability of 95%. The maximum distance to the target, measured with a laser rangefinder, is 8000 m.
A fundamental step forward in ensuring the high security of the vehicle was the use of a modular armor design for 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 takes up a very small volume, one third of that of a similar engine compartment of the Leopard 2 tank. The Leclerc is armed with a 120-mm CM 120-26 smoothbore cannon, 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. This device is interested in the Americans, who are planning to equip their "Abrams" with it. A coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun and a remote-controlled 12.7-mm anti-aircraft machine gun are used as auxiliary weapons. On both sides of the tower is the installation "Galiko", which is two blocks of 9 grenade launchers. The grenade launchers are loaded (aboard) with four smoke grenades, three anti-personnel grenades and two infrared trap grenades. Hydropneumatic suspension and rubber-to-metal hinged tracks provide the tank high speed and a smooth ride when driving over rough terrain. Without preliminary preparation, the machine is able to overcome a ford with a depth of 1 m, using the appropriate equipment up to 4 m.

While "Leclercs" are not yet free from the mass of shortcomings characteristic of any new tank. According to a number of experts, the placement of an automatic loader in the turret led to an increase in its volume, and, consequently, in the total mass of the tank. In addition, the division of the turret into pressurized compartments for the crew members deprives the tankers of the "feeling of being together" that is necessary in battle and creates difficulties in accessing the cannon.
Tank information and control systems (TIUS) are designed with extensive use of electronics, which has shown its effectiveness in aviation, but when used in ground vehicles with completely different operating conditions, TIUS has yet to prove its reliability. Indeed, in the air, the units are not affected by heavy loads, dust, cold, heat, vibration and constant shock. In the meantime, in the process of testing and operating tanks, many TIUS complexes are turned off in order to avoid their failure.

Yet the potential French main battle tank is one of the most promising vehicles in the world, and a modification of it is currently under development under the designation Leclerc 2.
Serial production of tanks of this type began in 1995, both for its army and for export, for the UAE (United United Arab Emirates) The need for the French army from 800 to 1000 vehicles. The Leclercs will be shipped to the Middle East to the customer by air on board the Russian An124 transport aircraft, designed to carry Russian combat vehicles of a similar mass.

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 had to be armed with only one machine gun of a rifle caliber. Renault, which had sufficient experience in the construction of machines 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, which was then used on the R-35 and H-39 medium tanks. Two medium road wheels were suspended on balancers of the "scissors" type. 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 fine-link caterpillar, such a suspension ensured the smoothness and quietness 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 asymmetric layout of the units. The commander's machine gun tower and the driver's seat were shifted to the left side of the hull. The engine and transmission units were located on the right. The tank proved to be a fast, but cramped and inconvenient vehicle in operation. Therefore, in 1935, the company released a new tank, the AMR 35, with the same layout, but slightly increased in size and weight. Instead of a 7.5 mm machine gun, he was also armed with a 13.2 mm machine gun or even a 25 mm cannon.

Despite the good driving performance, both types of reconnaissance tank quickly became obsolete, and the shortcomings of thin armor and weak armament manifested themselves in the 1940 summer campaign. The vehicles captured by the Germans were used to guard military facilities and communications. Several of these tanks were converted into self-propelled 81mm machine gun mounts.

TANK SAINT-CHAMOND M1917

As a counterbalance to the German "Schneiders", the French chief designer Colonel Rimalno designed a tank with a slightly different modification. The chassis was used, as in the first from Holt tractors. It was significantly lengthened, due to which the support area of ​​the tracked tracks was increased, the pressure on the ground was reduced. Eight road wheels made up the chassis, interlocked in three carts, three rollers each, and the front in two. Supported by rollers and front drive wheels. These trolleys were connected to the body box by hinged levers. The frame of the body was guided through coil springs. The complex system of connections made the caterpillar quite robust. 36 large-link tracks bounced well.

The armament and armament assembly of the tank and the hull made it much longer. The nose section had a large overhang beyond the chassis dimensions. The hull was constructed from armored sheets of 1.7 cm with rivets, the tank looked like a chisel in profile. So unusual view the engineers did not come up with a coincidence, the enlargement specifically for heavy weapons was initially envisaged. A large cannon with a large recoil required an impressive platform. They fired in unitary volleys, and he also had a good ability to penetrate solid armor. The only drawbacks were inaccuracies and limitations of the pickup angles. The horizon gave an error of eight degrees, and the vertical slid down by minus four degrees. The fire was transferred to avoid this, in a continuous turn. The bow of the tank had to be significantly lengthened for convenient placement of the gun. On the left side, shifting, and accommodated the driver and commander. To the right of the gun sat the machine gunner of the bow machine gun. There were four machine gunners in total, of whom one served as a warrior.

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

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 get into production, they were rejected by the Ministry of Defense. From that moment on, the Hotchkiss firm began to develop, by order 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 the search for new variations of the well-known demanded analogue. The tender for all design proposals was carried out tough, the result was the approval of the model indicated in the title as the main model of a military vehicle for the infantry. The model has been produced since 67 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 from other combat vehicles of that time designed in the West here was that the combat deployment of the landing in it made it possible to conduct fire cover through the loophole specially designed for this. The downsides are the lack of a daily adapter that would help to see everything that happens outside the BMP at night. And she was not endowed with buoyancy. Many countries have refused to include such machines in their fleets, but in Argentina and Ecuador, Lebanon and Mexico, as well as many other places where they still retain their presence.

The welded base for the body is made solid, the front part is occupied by the driver-mechanic and directly by the motor. The commander with the gunner are located in the central compartment, the aft part is reserved for the deployment of the landing force. The loading of personnel is carried out into the side doorways, or is carried out through the upper hatch. There are four loopholes on each side. Undercarriage I call a torsion bar suspension unit with five road wheels, four main rollers, auxiliary to the main wheel on both sides of the sides. The chassis of the base of this BMP is so versatile that many main combat vehicles, control systems, conveyor vehicles, engineering communication vehicles, a tank fighter, a mobile radar system tractor, and much more were made on its basis.

No matter. That the BMP was designed a long time ago, it still retains its unique qualities... The infantry vehicles used to this day leave a wide field for their use.

TANK "SOMUA" S-35

At the beginning of World War IImedium tank "Somua" S-35appreciated by experts. It is considered one of the finest European tanks in service in 1940. All military experts call it innovative design, and excellent armament and ease of control. The dramatic defeat of the French army in the Battle of France in May-June 1940 was overgrown with many legends and fictional stories. No, the French army did not run away from the German troops, but quite the opposite. She paid a heavy price. The version according to which France possessed a very small number of tanks is incorrect. Of course, some units on the front lines 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 Somua S-35 medium tank.
True, many believed that this tank was not a successful development, since it did not play a prominent role during the capture of France in 1940. This was not due to the design of the tank, which, of course, surpassed the quality of many of those that existed at that time, but because of the mediocrity of the generals who commanded the troops, and the unpreparedness of the officers who did not know the theory of using a tank army.

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

ARMORED CAR PANAR EBR

The French reconnaissance armored vehicle "Panard" EBR at one time was largely innovative. Its design made it possible to perform various tasks in the ranks of the French army. For about forty years, it could be found wherever French troops were involved. 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 a military force during operations to cover the flanks or an offensive during reconnaissance. In the 1930s, France was already developing fast reconnaissance armored vehicles capable of opening fire from unexpected positions for the enemy. This is the background of the creation of the EBR - light, easy to operate, mobile, low, and therefore less visible, and also well armed. ...


The Panar company designed a car, the central wheels of which were lifted when driving 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 prototype was lost. Work resumed after the war. The model was equipped with double steering, as on other Panar vehicles, for example, the AMD 178, and also had retractable wheels and an FL 11 swinging turret with a detached base and a rapid-fire artillery gun, self-guided and capable of firing three rounds automatically at close volleys. .Three years after the war, prototypes (type 212) were ready. In 1950, the mass production of the EBR 75 model 1951 began. The first batch, production of which ended in 1960, consisted of approximately 1200 machines.


Despite the age of development, EBR continued to be used until 1987, making some changes to the design. A 75 mm cannon in 1953 gave way to a long-barreled cannon of the same caliber, which was "borrowed" from the German "Panther" and fired shells with a high muzzle velocity (1000 m / s), then in 1963 - a 90 mm cannon. And seven years later, in 1970, the EBR was equipped with a long-barreled cannon of the same caliber 90 mm, but the gun was smooth-bore (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 EBR wheels could be lifted. They were made of duralumin and fastened with steel brackets, making the vehicle excellent mobility on rough terrain. When the wheels were raised, the EBR roamed the roads on inflatable tires at a speed of over 100 km / h, maintaining high mobility. The machine was powered by a 12-cylinder horizontally opposed engine, quite distinctive for its time. It has been designed to provide a very low center of gravity. The motor was connected to the transmission via side shafts, which propelled the independent suspension wheels using gears. Two gearboxes, rear and front, provided 16 gears and allowed shifting to reverse without stopping the car. The oil / air suspension worked smoothly and efficiently. With the help of hydraulic control, two or four wheels were set in motion.

The crew included the tank commander, gunner, front driver and radio operator, who also served as the rear driver. The car could change direction in a couple of seconds, which was an indisputable advantage for firing and the ability to hide unnoticed. EBR proved itself during the war in Algeria, the fire power and mobility of the car made a real sensation, but the EBR also had disadvantages: high production costs, complexity of technical inspection and maintenance (to gain access to the engine, you had to remove the turret). The drivers' seats were very cramped. Despite this, EBR inspired the developers to create another ERC wheeled armored vehicle "Sage", which also turned out to be successful. This more classic yet modern car, with only six inflatable tires, a traditional turret and a single driver, was also produced by Panar.

FRENCH TANK FCM 36

Light tank model 1936 FCM, or FCM 36,considered one of the best French tanks in its class. Nevertheless, it never posed a serious threat to German tanks, mainly due to improper use. These tanks suffered serious losses during the war in France, and according to many historians, French tanks from World War II were outdated as early as 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 the available potential. Tank designs were often superior in quality to German designs, but the technical design left much to be desired. In addition, they had outdated weapons that were not designed for this model. There was practically no radio communication, and the crews were not trained in mobile warfare. In addition, the support of artillery and infantry was rarely used during a tank attack.FCM 36could never succeed because of the wrongly chosen battle tactics.


However, in September 1939 the French army numbered more than 28,000 light and 800 heavy tanks, which worried some of the officers of 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 are selected: H 35 (Hotchkiss), R 35 (Renault) and FCM (project of engineer Boudreau). The FCM tank was assembled at the French shipyard FCM (Forges et chantiers de la Mediterranee), which also manufactured 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 had gas attacks are not terrible, and the diesel engine ran on poorly flammable fuel.

However, many technical flaws were soon revealed, and therefore the hull, turret, suspension, tracks, armor underwent many changes. After finalization, the certification committee declares the FCM 36 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 thicker than the armor of other tanks. However, two significant shortcomings inherent in 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 a tank in battle. The 37 mm SA 18 cannon was also not an effective anti-tank weapon. When firing from it, the FCM 36 proved to be too clumsy for a light tank. However, the command stubbornly ignored these shortcomings and saw the FCM 36 as a worthy replacement for the FT-17, an infantry escort tank from the First World War. In 1939, after 100 rolled off the assembly line. machines, the cost of production doubled, and the remaining order was canceled. FCM 36 in action From the first days of hostilities, it turned out that FCM with its 37-mm cannon 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, an encounter with the Panzer III revealed all weak sides FCM 36. And out of 36 tanks that tried to stop german tanks, 26 - were destroyed.

TANK - LEKLERK LECLERC

The French military industry in the postwar period developed unevenly. Along with the creation of successful models, such as the FAMAS assault rifle, Mirage fighters, 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 Zhiat Industries in cooperation with German firms. Four years later, due to a number of disagreements on technical issues, the joint work was terminated. German specialists saw the new main battle tank (MBT) heavily armored, with an average mobility and a mass of over 60 tons, while the French - relatively compact and high-speed.

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

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

History of French tanks

The creation of armored vehicles in France went on even during the occupation of the country by the German fascist invaders. The liberation of the territory of France marked not only a victory for her, but also a difficult process of restoration and creation of her own army. Our story begins with the ARL-44 transitional tank. Development began in '38. This was a new type of tanks based on the B1 chassis. According to the project, the tank was to receive a turret part of a new design type and a 75 mm long-barreled gun. By the beginning of the war, work on the creation of the tank was at the level of development. But also during the occupation design work on the tank were fought no less successfully than before. And with the liberation of France, the first prototype of the new tank was immediately put into production. The new tank went into production in 46, which for France was undoubtedly a feat of industry, given the fact of the five-year occupation. Due to various reasons, the tank has become a kind of transitional model and goes into service as "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 making the turret part of the new model. From "B1" the new tank got a morally outdated suspension and caterpillar tracks. In terms of speed characteristics, the tank turned out to be the slowest post-war tank and had maximum speed movement 37 km / h. But the engine and hull were new developments, the armor plates on the hull were placed at an angle of 45 degrees, which gave the frontal armor the equivalent of 17 centimeters of normally installed armor. The turret part 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 do not forget that the tank was a transitional model, it had elements of both new and old tanks. And the task of the tank was essentially "non-military" - the tank, by its production, revived the French tank building from the ashes, for which many thanks to him.

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 equal to 12 tons. The undercarriage of the younger brother had a rear road roller, which was at the same time a sloth. As it turned out, this configuration of the rollers was unreliable and caused constant track tension problems. This undercarriage with a modified configuration of rollers, where the sloth became a separate element of the undercarriage, which led to the lengthening of the hull of the tank, became the basis for the creation of the legend of the 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 years old. Completed the design phase of the new tank. According to the requirements of the AMX 13, it was lightweight to be transported by aircraft to support parachute assault forces. The new AMX 13 gets a torsion bar suspension, with the engine positioned front and right, while the driver-mechanic was placed on the left. The main feature that makes this tank unique is the swinging tower. The tower was equipped with an upper version. With vertical aiming of the gun, only the upper part was used. The tower was installed in the aft part of the hull, and it housed the rest of the crew of the armored vehicle - the commander and gunner. The 75 mm gun of the tank was designed from the German “7.5 cm KwK 42 L / 70” gun, these were on the “Panthers” and it was provided with a wide range of shells. The tower received a rather interesting automatic drum-type reloading system - 2 drums, each with 6 shells. The drums were in the aft part of the tower. Ammunition of 12 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 outside the vehicle.

Serial production of the AMX 13 began in 52, using the facilities of the Atelier de Construction Roanne. For almost 30 years he entered service in the French Armed Forces. Several hundred AMX 13 units still serve in French armored units. One of the most massive European tanks, delivered to 25 countries. Today, there are about a hundred modifications of the tank. All kinds of armored vehicles are created on its basis: self-propelled guns, air defense systems, armored personnel carriers and self-propelled ATGMs.

The 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 a muzzle brake. Ammunition was slightly reduced - now the tank's gun had 32 ammunition, of which 12 were installed in the drum magazine. The gun could fire high-explosive, armor-piercing, cumulative, 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 the weight of the tank - 25 tons. According to the project, the tank's team consisted of 4 people, the design speed of this modification is 65 km / h.

"Lorraine 40t" was created in pursuit of such monsters as the Soviet IS-2-3 and the German "Tiger II". Of course, the tank could not catch up with these outstanding tanks either in armor or in weight, and, probably, the installation of 100 mm, and then 120 mm of the gun was a kind of attempt to approach them. But all projects of such tanks either remained on paper or were released in limited quantities. All projects of this series used the German "Maybach" as a remote control. "Lorraine 40t" were produced in 2 prototype copies. In fact, this is a somewhat lightweight "AMX-50". Present in the solution of the tank and distinctive features: the turret, located in the bow of the tank, and "pike nose" - similar to the IS-3. Were also applied rubber tires for road wheels, which gave the tank additional shock absorption.

The M4 is the first heavy tank model. In order to somehow catch up with the USSR and Germany in creating heavy tanks, French designers are beginning to build their own heavy tank. The first modification is called "M4" or project 141. This model practically copied the German Tiger. The undercarriage received small-link caterpillars and "checkerboard" road wheels, a torsion-type suspension with hydraulic shock absorption. The ground clearance of the tank could be changed up to 100 mm. The difference from the German tiger is that the transmission and the leading rollers were of the stern design. According to the project of the tank, it was supposed to weigh about 30 tons, but in practice this would have to reduce the booking to 3 centimeters. It looked quite 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 car has increased significantly compared to the design one. The tank received a 90 mm Schneider in a classic turret and a 7.62 mm machine gun. The team of the car is five people. This model was not released even in the prototype, as a decision was made to replace the classic tower part with a new one from the company "FAMH"

"AMX-50 - 100 mm" - serial heavy tank. The main feature is that due to the parallel development of the AMX-50 and AMX-13, they have a large outward resemblance with the latter.
49 years old. Two units of the "AMX-50 - 100 mm" tank are produced. 51 years old - a small series of the tank goes into service with the French Armed Forces. The tank turned out to be very good and compares favorably with the American and British counterparts. But due to the constant lack of funds, "AMX-50 - 100 mm" did not become a mass tank. From the layout - the MTO was in the rear of the hull, the driver-mechanic and the assistant were in the control compartment, the commander of the vehicle was located in the turret to the left of the gun, the gunner of the gun was to the right. The cast-type hull is made with optimal placement at the angle of the frontal armor, the thickness of the frontal and upper side armor plates is 11 centimeters. The nose-to-side transition is made thanks to the beveled surfaces. It differs from the M4 project by additional rollers (5 external and 4 internal types). The machine gun from the front plate is replaced with a coaxial machine gun. In addition, the turret part received an autonomous anti-aircraft mount - two 7.62-mm machine guns. The pumping type tower 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 that of the AMX-13 turret. DU - gasoline Maybach "HL 295" or diesel engine "Saurer". The designers expected that the use of engines with a capacity of 1000 hp would make it possible to purchase a tank with a speed of about 60 km / h. But as time has shown, the tank could not overcome the 55 km / h bar.

"AMX-65t" - the Char de 65t tank - an avant-project of a heavy tank. The beginning of the main development - 50 years. Chess suspension, four-row arrangement of rollers. Frontal armor of the "pike nose" type, similar to the Soviet IS-3 with a smaller inclined angle. The rest is a copy of the Royal Tiger. According to the project DU - 1000 strong engine "Maybach". Possible armament - 100 mm cannon and anti-aircraft machine gun.

"AMX-50 - 120 mm" - heavy tank. He had three modifications 53, 55 and 58 years old. French "competitor" of the Soviet IS-3. The frontal part is made like a competitor's - like a "pike nose". Modification 53 had a classic turret with a 120 mm gun. But the design turned out to be inconvenient. Mod 55- a swinging tower with a 20-mm cannon paired with a 120 mm gun to defeat lightly armored vehicles. Frontal armor has been significantly strengthened, almost doubled. This leads to a serious increase in weight: up to 64 tons against the previous 59 tons. The military department did not like this modification due to the increased weight. Modification 58 years old."Lightweight" up to 57.8 tons modification "AMX-50 - 120 mm". It had a cast body and rounded frontal armor. It was planned to use a thousand-strong 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 give even 850 hp. The use of a 120-mm cannon led to the inconvenience of reloading, the ammunition from the gun was difficult to move for one or two people. The crew of the car is 4 people, and although the fourth crew member was listed as a radio operator, in fact, was a reloading one. The tank was not built due to the appearance of HEAT shells, this armor was a weak hindrance to such shells. The project is curtailed, but not forgotten. The developments will be used in the development of the project "MBT AMX-30"

Not only tanks
The 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 52. The self-propelled guns had a stationary, displaced to the stern, open wheelhouse. A 105 mm "Mk61" model of the 50th model of release was installed in the wheelhouse. The gun had a muzzle brake. A 7.62 mm anti-aircraft machine gun was also placed there. Some self-propelled guns "AMX 105 AM" were armed with an additional 7.5 mm machine gun, which was installed in the turret with a circular rotation. The main disadvantage is the slow aiming at the next target. Ammunition 56 ammunition, which included armor-piercing shells. The range of defeat by high-explosive ammunition is 15 thousand meters. The barrel was produced in 23 and 30 calibers, it was provided with a two-chamber muzzle brake. To control the fire, the AMX 105 AM ACS was equipped with a 6x sight and a 4x goniometer. These ACS were exported - they were used by Morocco, Israel and the Netherlands.

"AMX-13 F3 AM" - the first European post-war ACS. Introduced into service in 60. The self-propelled guns had a 155 mm caliber gun, 33 caliber length and a range of up to 25 kilometers. Rate of fire - 3 rds / min. The AMX-13 F3 AM did not take ammunition with it, it was carried by a truck for it. Ammunition - 25 shells. Also, the truck transported 8 people - the ACS team. The very first "AMX-13 F3 AM" had a liquid-cooled 8-cylinder gasoline 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 ACS to move 400 kilometers at a speed of 60 km / h.

"BATIGNOLLES-CHATILLON 155mm" SPG project. The main idea is to install a rotating tower. The beginning of work on the creation of a sample - 55 years. The development of the tower was completed in 58. In 59, the project was abandoned, the prototype of the ACS 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" - ACS type 50 and 51. The basis of the project is the base "Lorraine 40t" with the installation of a 155 mm howitzer gun. The main idea is to place the casemate part. Initially, on the first sample, it was located in the center of the ACS, on the next sample, it was displaced into the nose of the ACS. The possession of the chassis with rubber rollers made the ACS an interesting option to use. But in 55, the project was closed in favor of another ACS project "BATIGNOLLES-CHATILLON". Basic data: weight - 30.3 tons, crew - 5 people, speed - up to 62 km / h. The armament of the self-propelled guns is a 155 mm howitzer and a 20 mm cannon paired with it.

"AMX AC de 120" is the first project of a self-propelled gun mount based on the "M4" model of 46. Received a "checkerboard" suspension and a wheelhouse in the bow. Outwardly, it had a resemblance to the German "JagdPanther". Design data: ACS 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 capacity 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 the 48th year. The main change is the structure of the deckhouse. The silhouette of the car changes: it becomes noticeably lower. Now the ACS has become similar to the "JagdPzIV". The armament has changed: the ACS cabin received a 20 mm MG 151 turret version, the ACS feed two 20 mm MG 151.

And the last project reviewed is the AMX-50 Foch. Self-propelled gun mount based on "AMX-50", receives a 120 mm gun. The outlines of the ACS resembled the German JagdPanther. There was a machine-gun turret with a remote-controlled "Reibel" ZP. Commander tower was provided with a rangefinder. The driver of the self-propelled guns monitored the situation through the available periscope. The main purpose is to support 100 mm tanks, to destroy the most dangerous armored vehicles of the enemy. After successful tests in 51, a small number goes into service with the French Armed Forces. After, with the standardization of the weapons of NATO members, the self-propelled guns were removed from the assembly line and in 52 the project was closed in favor of the project of the tank "creation of the AMX-50-120".
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The AMX-56 is the main French tank. The main developer is the GIAT company. In the 80s of the last century, it was created to replace the outdated AMX-30 in service. The tank entered the series in 1992, 794 units of "Leclerc" were created in 15 years. 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 modern tanks in the world, the approximate cost of one vehicle is 6 million euros.

This tank was produced by order of the top French leadership. 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 divisions of France during the Second World War - Philippe Marie de Otkloke. The general received the posthumous rank of Marshal of the French Army. During his lifetime he was called "Leclerc" - a nickname in honor of the famous military leader of the French army in the 18th century.

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 "AMX-30", its modifications, as well as analyzing foreign "Leopard", "Merkava" and "Abrams", presented their own project "Engin Principal de Combat". This happens against the background of the termination of the development of a joint tank with Germany based on the second "Leopard". The implementation of our own project begins. His main focus was on the active protection system, which was supposed to reduce the weight characteristics while facilitating armor protection.

1986 year. Six prototypes have been created. The United Arab Emirates provided great assistance in the creation of the tank, which were interested in purchasing these tanks at the Leclerc development stage.
1990 year. The first four AMX-56 units appear. From this point on, serial production of the main tank begins.
1992 year. The first batch goes into service with the French Armed Forces. The next two batches in the amount of 17 tanks were quickly recalled - structural defects were found. The 4th and 5th batch entered service without any problems - all discovered shortcomings were corrected. Up to the ninth batch of production of combat vehicles, inclusive, the main emphasis is on providing tanks with electronic devices, including tank IUSs. All early release tanks are being upgraded according to the batch 9 standard.
2004 year. The tenth batch of tanks is being produced. They begin a new, third series of AMX-56 upgrades. The main innovations are new tank ICS and armor. In the last batch, 96 AMX-56 units rolled off the assembly line. 2007 year. All Leclerc tanks in the French Armed Forces were divided into four regiments, each regiment had 80 AMX-56 tanks, the remaining 35 tanks were scattered across 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 are also on a peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.

Device and design
The tank was created according to the layout of the classic type. 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 crew of the car consists of 3 people: the commander, the gunner and the driver. Side and frontal hull solutions were made of multilayer armor. A feature of the tank's armor is the modular design of the armor when performing the frontal solutions of the turret and hull. If damaged, modules with ceramic elements can be easily replaced in the field.

Armament AMX-56 - 120 mm smoothbore gun CN-120-26. The length of the 52 caliber cannon is 624 centimeters. The gun is equipped with a loading machine and is stabilized in 2 planes. The turret of the tank has a modernization reserve for the installation of promising 140 mm guns. The aiming control of the gun is carried out using the OMS, which is integrated into the IMS. The MSA includes:
- sight for gunner HL60 combined type;
- commander's sight HL70 panoramic type;
- observation devices of the gunner and commander of the periscope type;
- 2-plane gun stabilizer;
- auto meteorological post;
- "central" computer, which provides constant communication of all components of the system and aiming the instrument according to the data of the automatic meteorological post.

The LMS enables the vehicle commander in day and night conditions to search for objects and transfer data to the gunner's sighting devices. The ammunition capacity of the gun is 40 unitary ammunition. 22 units are immediately in the loading machine, the rest are in the drum-type ammunition rack in the OS. The gunner moves the ammunition to the automatic loading machine as needed. The range of ammunition is standard - armor-piercing sub-caliber and cumulative, which 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, an assault rifle is a belt-type conveyor, which makes it technically possible for a weapon to produce up to 15 rounds per minute.

The MTO tank received a V-shaped 8-cylinder liquid-cooled multi-fuel diesel engine. The Finnish company "Wartsila" is a manufacturer of the engine, created according to the V8X 1500 type - the power is 1.5 thousand hp, 2.5 thousand rpm. The engine is equipped with a "Hyperbar" turbocharged compressor, which is driven by a separate gas turbine type engine, and can operate independently of the main diesel engine to provide an electric generator. In MTO, the diesel engine was placed along the longitudinal axis, the engine itself with transmission and cooling is made as a single unit. The AMX-56 transmission consists of an automatic 5-speed ESM500 hydromechanical type gearbox, onboard rotary mechanisms and brakes. Replacing the “Hyperbar” control system due to the well thought-out placement and fastening does not take more than half an hour. By the way, the AMX-56 is a one-of-a-kind tank with a Hyperbar control system. The turbocharging comes from a separate turbine and not from the 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" chassis consists of six rubber-coated double rollers of the support type, the support type rollers, a sloth and a stern drive wheel. Suspension - individual hydropneumatic. Its components are removed from the armored hull, which freed up space in the armored hull and facilitated suspension maintenance. The caterpillar track has a pin type engagement, 63.5 centimeters wide, with a rubber-metal hinge. The track is rubberized, with removable rubber shoes for moving along the asphalt road.

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 armament - M2HB-QBC machine gun of 12.7 mm caliber, F1 machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber;
- travel speed on the highway - up to 71 km / h, off-road - up to 50 km / h;
- cruising range - up to 550 kilometers.

The creation of armored vehicles in France went on even during the occupation of the country by the German fascist invaders. The liberation of the territory of France marked not only a victory for her, but also a difficult process of restoration and creation of her own army. Our story begins with the ARL-44 transitional tank. Development began in '38. This was a new type of tanks based on the B1 chassis. According to the project, the tank was to receive a turret part of a new design type and a 75 mm long-barreled gun. By the beginning of the war, work on the creation of the tank was at the level of development. But even during the occupation, design work on the tank was carried out no less successfully than before. And with the liberation of France, the first prototype of the new tank was immediately put into production. The new tank went into production in 46, which for France was undoubtedly a feat of industry, given the fact of the five-year occupation. Due to various reasons, the tank has become a kind of transitional model and goes into service as "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 making the turret part of the new model. From "B1" the new tank got a morally outdated suspension and caterpillar 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 normally installed armor. The turret part 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 do not forget that the tank was a transitional model, it had elements of both new and old tanks. And the task of the tank was essentially "non-military" - the tank, by its production, revived the French tank building from the ashes, for which many thanks to him.

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 equal to 12 tons. The undercarriage of the younger brother had a rear road roller, which was at the same time a sloth. As it turned out, this configuration of the rollers was unreliable and caused constant track tension problems. This undercarriage with a modified configuration of rollers, where the sloth became a separate element of the undercarriage, which led to the lengthening of the hull of the tank, became the basis for the creation of the legend of the 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 years old. Completed the design phase of the new tank. According to the requirements of the AMX 13, it was lightweight to be transported by aircraft to support parachute assault forces. The new AMX 13 gets a torsion bar suspension, with the engine positioned front and right, while the driver-mechanic was placed on the left. The main feature that makes this tank unique is the swinging tower. The tower was equipped with an upper version. With vertical aiming of the gun, only the upper part was used. The tower was installed in the aft part of the hull, and it housed the rest of the crew of the armored vehicle - the commander and gunner. The 75 mm gun of the tank was designed from the German “7.5 cm KwK 42 L / 70” gun, these were on the “Panthers” and it was provided with a wide range of shells. The tower received a rather interesting automatic drum-type reloading system - 2 drums, each with 6 shells. The drums were in the aft part of the tower. Ammunition of 12 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 outside the vehicle.

Serial production of the AMX 13 began in 52, using the facilities of the Atelier de Construction Roanne. For almost 30 years he entered service in the French Armed Forces. Several hundred AMX 13 units still serve in French armored units. One of the most massive European tanks, delivered to 25 countries. Today, there are about a hundred modifications of the tank. All kinds of armored vehicles are created on its basis: self-propelled guns, air defense systems, armored personnel carriers and self-propelled ATGMs.

The 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 a muzzle brake. Ammunition was slightly reduced - now the tank's gun had 32 ammunition, of which 12 were installed in the drum magazine. The gun could fire high-explosive, armor-piercing, cumulative, 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 all tanks - 25 tons. According to the project, the tank's team consisted of 4 people, the design speed of this modification is 65 km / h.

"Lorraine 40t" was created in pursuit of such monsters as the Soviet IS-2-3 and the German "Tiger II". Of course, the tank could not catch up with these outstanding tanks either in armor or in weight, and, probably, the installation of 100 mm, and then 120 mm of the gun was a kind of attempt to approach them. But all projects of such tanks either remained on paper or were released in limited quantities. All projects of this series used the German "Maybach" as a remote control. "Lorraine 40t" were produced in 2 prototype copies. In fact, this is a somewhat lightweight "AMX-50". Present in the solution of the tank and distinctive features: the turret, located in the bow of the tank, and "pike nose" - similar to the IS-3. Also, rubber tires were used for the road wheels, which gave the tank additional shock absorption.

The M4 is the first heavy tank model. In order to somehow catch up with the USSR and Germany in creating heavy tanks, French designers are beginning to build their own heavy tank. The first modification is called "M4" or project 141. This model practically copied the German Tiger. The undercarriage received small-link caterpillars and "checkerboard" road wheels, a torsion-type suspension with hydraulic shock absorption. The ground clearance of the tank could be changed up to 100 mm. The difference from the German tiger is that the transmission and the leading rollers were of the stern design. According to the project of the tank, it was supposed to weigh about 30 tons, but in practice this would have to reduce the booking to 3 centimeters. It looked quite 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 car has increased significantly compared to the design one. The tank received a 90 mm Schneider in a classic turret and a 7.62 mm machine gun. The team of the car is five people. This model was not released even in the prototype, as a decision was made to replace the classic tower part with a new one from the company "FAMH"

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

"AMX-65t" - the Char de 65t tank - an avant-project of a heavy tank. The beginning of the main development - 50 years. Chess suspension, four-row arrangement of rollers. Frontal armor of the "pike nose" type, similar to the Soviet IS-3 with a smaller inclined angle. The rest is a copy of the Royal Tiger. According to the project DU - 1000 strong engine "Maybach". Possible armament - 100 mm cannon and anti-aircraft machine gun.

"AMX-50 - 120 mm" - heavy tank. He had three modifications 53, 55 and 58 years old. French "competitor" of the Soviet IS-3. The frontal part is made like a competitor's - like a "pike nose". Modification 53 had a classic 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 defeat lightly armored vehicles. Frontal armor has been significantly strengthened, almost doubled. This leads to a serious increase in weight: up to 64 tons against the previous 59 tons. The military department did not like this modification due to the increased weight. Modification 58 years old. "Lightweight" up to 57.8 tons modification "AMX-50 - 120 mm". It had a cast body and rounded frontal armor. It was planned to use a thousand-strong 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 give even 850 hp. The use of a 120-mm cannon led to the inconvenience of reloading, the ammunition from the gun was difficult to move for one or two people. The crew of the car is 4 people, and although the fourth crew member was listed as a radio operator, in fact, was a reloading one. The tank was not built due to the appearance of HEAT shells, this armor was a weak hindrance to such shells. The project is curtailed, but not forgotten. The developments will be used in the development of the project "MBT AMX-30"

Not only tanks
The 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 52. The self-propelled guns had a stationary, displaced to the stern, open wheelhouse. A 105 mm "Mk61" model of the 50th model of release was installed in the wheelhouse. The gun had a muzzle brake. A 7.62 mm anti-aircraft machine gun was also placed there. Some self-propelled guns "AMX 105 AM" were armed with an additional 7.5 mm machine gun, which was installed in the turret with a circular rotation. The main disadvantage is the slow aiming at the next target. Ammunition 56 ammunition, which included armor-piercing shells. The range of defeat by high-explosive ammunition is 15 thousand meters. The barrel was produced in 23 and 30 calibers, it was provided with a two-chamber muzzle brake. To control the fire, the AMX 105 AM ACS was equipped with a 6x sight and a 4x goniometer. These ACS were exported - they were used by Morocco, Israel and the Netherlands.

"AMX-13 F3 AM" - the first European post-war ACS. Introduced into service in 60. The self-propelled guns had a 155 mm caliber gun, 33 caliber length and a range of up to 25 kilometers. Rate of fire - 3 rds / min. The AMX-13 F3 AM did not take ammunition with it, it was carried by a truck for it. Ammunition - 25 shells. Also, the truck transported 8 people - the ACS team. The very first "AMX-13 F3 AM" had a liquid-cooled 8-cylinder gasoline 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 ACS to move 400 kilometers at a speed of 60 km / h.

"BATIGNOLLES-CHATILLON 155mm" SPG project. The main idea is to install a rotating tower. The beginning of work on the creation of a sample - 55 years. The development of the tower was completed in 58. In 59, the project was abandoned, the prototype of the ACS 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" - ACS type 50 and 51. The basis of the project is the base "Lorraine 40t" with the installation of a 155 mm howitzer gun. The main idea is to place the casemate part. Initially, on the first sample, it was located in the center of the ACS, on the next sample, it was displaced into the nose of the ACS. The possession of the chassis with rubber rollers made the ACS an interesting option to use. But in 55, the project was closed in favor of another ACS project "BATIGNOLLES-CHATILLON". Basic data: weight - 30.3 tons, crew - 5 people, speed - up to 62 km / h. The armament of the self-propelled guns is a 155 mm howitzer and a 20 mm cannon paired with it.

"AMX AC de 120" is the first project of a self-propelled gun mount based on the "M4" model of 46. Received a "checkerboard" suspension and a wheelhouse in the bow. Outwardly, it had a resemblance to the German "JagdPanther". Design data: ACS 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 capacity 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 the 48th year. The main change is the structure of the deckhouse. The silhouette of the car changes: it becomes noticeably lower. Now the ACS has become similar to the "JagdPzIV". The armament has changed: the ACS cabin received a 20 mm MG 151 turret version, the ACS feed two 20 mm MG 151.

And the last project reviewed is the AMX-50 Foch. Self-propelled gun mount based on "AMX-50", receives a 120 mm gun. The outlines of the ACS resembled the German JagdPanther. There was a machine-gun turret with a remote-controlled "Reibel" ZP. The command tower was provided with a rangefinder. The driver of the self-propelled guns monitored the situation through the available periscope. The main purpose is to support 100 mm tanks, to destroy the most dangerous armored vehicles of the enemy. After successful tests in 51, a small number goes into service with the French Armed Forces. After, with the standardization of the weapons of NATO members, the self-propelled guns were removed from the assembly line and in 52 the project was closed in favor of the project of the tank "creation of the AMX-50-120".

• Light technique
• Medium tanks
• Heavy

The 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 have to take part in the 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 technique

Medium tanks

Heavy French tanks

• B1 - heavy tank of the French army actively participated in the battles with the German invaders and showed good results.
• Therefore, after the capture of France, he was not only adopted into the armored forces of the Wehrmacht, but also actively used them on the battlefields with the Soviet army.
• True, for these purposes, tanks were selected in the best technical condition, and the rest were converted into self-propelled guns and flamethrower tanks.
• Speaking of French tanks, the FCM Char 2-C is also worth mentioning, which was the largest production tank of the time. Weighing 75 tons, its dimensions were 10.27 m - length, 3.0 - width and 4.09 - 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 II, since the echelon with combat vehicles was defeated by German aircraft.

Hello comrades tankmen! Today we will consider French tank development tree(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, will help you decide on the choice of a nation.

The popularity of French tanks in World of Tanks

Vive La France! Indeed, glory, France! French technique is the best technique in the game! Many may say so. And for good reason. French tanks are considered masters and nagibator tanks because of 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. the game is considered to be French tanks. Also, the nickname "barashki" is firmly stuck behind them. These are all considered positive aspects. And now for 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 starts to be felt with the ELC AMX light tank. After the sixth level (except for light tanks, they have from the fifth) there are fast tanks, including heavy ones.

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

General

The 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).

PT-sau

French anti-tank mounts are famous for their cannons, and the top tanks of this branch are famous for their drums and good armor. You can get a lot of pleasure from their penetration and damage at any level of battles, as well as not lose heart from 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 drawback is armor and speed (not for all anti-tank self-propelled artillery installations), and the guns are the best at the level. The most popular vehicles in this area of ​​technology are the SAu-40, AMX50Foch, AMX50F155 and some small-level tank destroyers.

Armored light tanks

The entry-level French light tanks are an interesting and fun topic. They are so "light" that they are the last to crawl into positions, and it is difficult to punch them. Cannons don't really shine. At their level, newcomers can only receive "splashes" in the form of non-penetrations and ricochets. It's all about the D1. Behind him is the almost identical D2 tank, which also has good armor and a weak cannon. Heavy tanks start along this line. And they start with a poorly armored, even for its tier, B1 tank. Then there are also "cardboard" tanks, but with more playable guns, and with the AMX M4 45, the loading drum and dynamics appear in the tank guns.

Heavily armored light tanks

Peace-loving turtle slowly creeps out to bask in the sun, but after a long search for a “place in the sun” small insects fly out to it and start shooting at the shell. The turtle quickly gets bored of all this, it pulls out its trunk and begins to destroy 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 weapons. Few of the newbies know where to punch such machines. They are real steel monsters, but also too slow. About AMX 40, as well as about American tank destroyer t95 is composed of many jokes and memes, so it can also be attributed to the "legendary" World of Tanks. The AMX 40 is followed by an equally interesting light tank, the ELC AMX (or simply “Christmas tree”), which will surprise you with its speed, top-end weapon and low silhouette. After the ELC AMX, there are light tanks with drum loaders: AMX 12t, AMX 13 75, AMX 13 90. After that, there are medium tanks, where the top BatChat 25 is located, with its incomparable popularity among the top medium tanks.

SPG

French artillery is as controversial as all French tanks. She is fast, agile, has the worst damage, but 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 a joke: "The French artillery is so severe that it is itself." The guns are quite accurate, which makes it possible to shoot "gold" shells.

Outcome

Summing up, we can say that French tanks are good for experienced players and professionals, convenient for their speed and penetration of guns, but they are clearly not for beginners, because in view of their booking, 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 bend the whole battle under themselves. It is recommended to download French tanks to participate in clan championships, as well as just gaining experience in order to feel the full taste of these entertaining vehicles. When downloading this nation, it is worth remembering that these are high-speed cars and are more suitable for supporting allies.