------

---------

---
Char Schneider CA1 & Variants

The first French tank. Designed over a weekend! Though it fared poorly, it laid the foundation for improved models. The French tank program paralleled the British program and each was unaware of what the other was doing. Both Allies came up with the "tank" idea at roughly the same time. This tank as developed as an armored tractor for towing armored troop sledges across to the German trenches on the Western Front. Based on the American Holt agricultural tractor, the first were available in 1917. The gas tanks proved very vulnerable to enemy fire and burned easily. Used mainly for infantry support rather than as personnel carriers, they were restricted by poor cross county mobility mainly due to their short tracks and long body with hindered the vehicle when crossing obstacles. The gun version ceased production in May 1917, to be replaced by the Char de Ravitaillement variant used for carrying stores. Attrition and poor reliability led to less than 100 being in service at the end of the war. Vehicles captured by the Germans were never committed to battle. The United States used the Char de Ravitaillement variant. The picture on the bottom right was a late model CA1 with better protected fuel tanks and improved roof ventilation.

Models:

1. Char d'Assult CA1: 400 built. First committed to battle at Berry-au-Bac on 14 April 1917.
2. Char de Ravitaillement: Modification, no weapons, access door added for supply loading.
3. Char d'Assult CA2: Turret, 47mm gun. Prototype only.
4. Char d'Assult CA3: 2 roof cupolas, MG in the nose. Longer hull. 50 ordered. Never built.

AMX 38 Medium Tank

This tank did not quite reach operational status prior to 1940. It was an advanced design fitted with a gas filtration plant and radio. Diesel engined with a Wilson-Talbot type of drive system. One to two vehicles were produced just before the German takeover.

---------

------
SOMUA S-35 Medium Tank

The Somua S-35 was the world's first tank to be manufactured from a cast steel. In Service with the French army in 1936. Many experts regarded the SOMUA S-35, in 1940, as the best medium tank in the world. The vehicle was designed and manufactured by Société d'Outillage Mécanique et d'Usinage d'Artillerie (SOMUA) and comes from a requirement from the French High Command in 1931.

A prototype was produced during the Fall of 1934 and trials began in Spring, 1935. Successful testing lead to an order for 50 vehicles in the Spring of 1936. By May of 1940, the French army had over 400 in service which equipped the Régiments de Cuirassiers and Régiments de Dragons in the Division Légère Méchanique (DLM). Equipped with excellent cast and sloped armor, the tank was considered hard to kill by German anti-tank squads equipped with the 37mm AT Gun. A major drawback was lack of a two-way radio and a one-man turret.

Captured vehicles were used by the Germans.

---
FCM 36 Medium Tank

Char Leger FCM-36 Infantry Tank (medium).  Designed to accompany infantry, this was the first French diesel powered tank.  100 units were built, many were captured and used by the Germans.

---
American Vehicles in French Service

M10 Tank Destroyer and the M4 Sherman. For details, see the American section.

Last Update: Thursday, February 13, 2003