[烛光生存狂]-法国FCM-36坦克简介

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The FCM-36 was built by the "société des Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranée", designed to be an infantry support tank. This was the first mass produced French diesel powered tank. 100 units have been built and used against the Germans in the 4e and 7e BCC. It had a modern look, sloped armor and an octagonal shaped FCM turret but a poor armament with its 37mm SA18 L/21 gun and a coaxial MG (very few could be rearmed with the 37mm SA38 L/33 gun). It was liked because of its bigger autonomy and mobility (smaller turning circle) compared to the Renault R35 for example.

FCM-36由"société des Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranée"建造，是一种步兵支援坦克。也是法国第一种使用柴油发动机的坦克。生产出的100辆主要是在第4和第7坦克营中服役打击德国人。

Weight : 12.35t

Length : 4.51m

Width : 2.14m

Height : 2.20m

Crew : 2 men

Maximum armor : 40mm (turret is RHA+cast welded armor and hull is RHA welded armor)

Maximum speed : 24 km/h (Berliet-Ricardo engine, 4 cylinders, diesel, 91 hp, 8400 cm3, water cooled)

Diameter of turning circle at 6 km/h : 6.50m (Jentz)

Transmission : 5 forward, 1 reverse

Autonomy : 225 km

Ground pressure : 0.75 kg/cm² (compared to 0.73 for PzIIc, 0.92 for a Pz III e/f and 0.83 for PzIVd)

Armament : a 37mm SA18 L/21 gun and a 7.5mm MAC1931 CMG (102 shells and 3000 cartridges)

FCM-36 tank vision means

Hull :

1x PPL RX 160 episcope (68° horizontal field of view, 24° vertical field of view)

2x lateral slits

FCM turret (1.287 ton) :

1x L.713 / L.739 sight (37mm SA18 gun)

3x PPL RX 160 episcopes (68° horizontal field of view, 24° vertical field of view)

3x slits

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FCM36 tanks in action in 1940 (example of the history of the 7e BCC):

The 7e BCC had been formed in Versailles on August 25, 1939 and garrisoned in Loges-en-Joses beginning September 1939. On September 10, 1939 the battalion is at Milly-sur-Bradon and Murvaux where the training goes on. The 7e BCC leaves for Verdun on November 19, 1939. The practical and tactical level is improved on the training range of Le Chaume and on the firing range of Douaumont.

On March 28, 1940, the 7e BCC is sent to the Mourmelon camp to take part to different intense trainings and activities:

-Infantry / tank cooperation trainings with successive infantry regiments (1 different each week – e.g. the 3e RTM from colonel Desré on April 18, 1940 during a training in front of general Touchon)

-Courses for infantry battalion commanders about the tanks

-Manoeuvres with the DCrs (French armoured divisions of the French infantry)

On May 14, the tank battalion is engaged in a sacrifice mission to delay the German tanks and counter-attack to the Meuse River. The 7e BCC is engaged on a 5 km large front (divisional front usually) and advanced on 2 km. It resists during 4 hours to German tank waves. The remaining tanks retreated, out of ammunition and exhausted. The battalion had lost 50% of the crews and 75% of the tanks but delayed the Germans enough to allow the 3e DIM and the 3e DCr to deploy south of the Mont-Dieu woody hills.

On May 15, the battalion is reorganizing and on May 16 it joins the 36e DI on the Aisne River near Attigny. At first only 5 tanks are fully operational. After repairs 11 tanks are available and on May 27, 16 tanks are operational. Until beginning June, the reduced battalion launches several successful counter-attacks to defeat German assaults.

On June 9-10, the French 36e DI is opposed to 3 infantry divisions (26.ID, 10.ID and SS-Polizei), which open the way to the 6.PzD and 8.PzD supported by the 20.ID(mot). The French division has to defend a front of 20 km whereas such a division should normally defend a front of 5-7 km. On the front of the 36e DI only 2 regiments (18e RI and 57e RI) defend the frontline (the 14e RI is on a second line) but they defeat the 26.ID and the 10.ID, which are replaced on June 10 by the SS-Polizei division and elements of the 6.PzD. The French stopped first all the German assaults in part thanks to very precise artillery support and counter-attacks from tanks of the 7e BCC and 4e BCC (FCM36 tanks). The French 36e DI captured 714 German POWs during these 2 days. The French 2e DI is deployed more west and faces 3 infantry divisions (17.ID, 21.ID and 52.ID) and the assaults of the 1.PzD as well as later the 2. PzD supported by the 29.ID(mot). The collapse of the 2e DI near Château-Porcien will force the 36e DI to retreat.

On June 10, after a move of 20 km under German artillery fire, the 16 tanks of the 7e BCC assault the enemy north of Vouziers in support of the 36e DI. After 2 hours of combat and a progression of 7 km, all the assigned objectives are taken despite the German strong resistance and the attacks of 62 German aircraft. The FCM36 tanks delay the Germans at Vouziers during 24 hours, but on June 11 only 4 tanks are remaining.

Two companies of the 4e BCC (also FCM36 tanks) intervene also for the benefit of the 36e DI. The 1/4e BCC are engaged with infantry elements from the 57e RI and the 14e RI (the groupe franc of the regiment) against the 78.IR (26.ID) next to Voncq and Les Alleux, north of Vouziers. The 26.ID looses 1,100 men, mainly in the 78.IR.

The remnants of the 7e BCC will retreat and the battalion is officially dissolved on July 31 1940.

Between May 14 and June 11 1940, the FCM36 tanks took part in 5 combats in the Ardennes. They fought in places like Bulson, Chémery, Stonne, Mont Damion, Oches, Les Alleux, Vandy, Terron, Voncq, Roche or Rilly-sur-Aisne. The FCM36 had no gun really efficient gun in tank versus tank warfare and the number of AP shells was limited. In the French light tanks, intended for infantry support as primary task there were generally about 40% AP shells but in the 7e BCC the tanks had only 12 AP shells, at least in the 3rd company, as indicated by the war diary of the battalion. That does not say if they were 1892/24, 1935 or 1937 shells whose penetration performances are significantly different. The crew fought also without the help of radio sets.

Nonetheless, each time they fought against the enemy without having to face other tanks (that means it the infantry support role they were designed for) they inflicted heavy losses and won the ground. Each time they had to face the numerous German tanks they sacrificed themselves. In June 1940, the last 25 FCM36 tanks from the 2 battalions continued to fight between Reims and Paris (e.g. combat at Sézanne on June 13) and to protect the retreat of other units.

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Details about the counter-attack on May 14, 1940:

On May 13 afternoon, during the German assaults, the 4e BCC (FCM36 tanks) and the 7e BCC (FCM36 tanks) are ordered to prepare to move, not yet to counter-attack. The 4e BCC will have to operate with elements of the 205e RI (71e DI) and the 7e BCC with elements of the 213e RI (55e DI), which were left on the rear by these 2 reserve and under-equipped infantry divisions.

Two German infantry companies from 1.Schützen Regiment (Balck) are already deployed between Chéhery and the Saint-Quentin farm on 13th May evening. On 14th May morning they are reinforced by various troops and AT guns, including the 14th AT company from "Grossdeutschland" regiment.

At 5h30, Panzer Regiment 2 (Oberstleutnant Breusing - 1.PzD) starts to move from Gaulier towards Bulson and Chémery. This regiment at full strength consists in :

- 4 Befehlspanzer （指挥坦克）

- 26 Panzer I

- 49 Panzer II

- 30 Panz

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