by David Lehmann on 28 Jan 2006 17:41
On 5th June, the tank destroyer platoon is deployed on the Belloy heights (1 km north-east of Molliens-Vidame – near Abbeville, on the Somme River). On evening, about 20 German light tanks are spotted on the road to Abbeville. The French 47mm AT guns open fire at a range of 2,000 meters. The 5th Laffly W15 TCC led by brigadier Rayon puts immediately a German tank on fire. The 3rd AT gun destroys a second German tank, which is also seen burning. Two additional German tanks seem to have been knocked out and immobilized.
On 6th June, the 54e BACA is deployed to block the Abbeville road. The 1st Laffly W15 TCC commanded by adjudant Marchal spots about 50 German tanks. He destroys 3 German heavy tanks (Panzer IVs probably) and then retreats, attracting the German tanks towards the 2nd and 3rd ambushed Laffly W15 TCC tank destroyers. The 3 French self-propelled AT guns open fire resulting in 6 German tanks burning and 4 other ones knocked out. The German crews of these 4 tanks bail out and begin to sneak towards the French vehicles. The French crews defend themselves with their SMGs. About 10 German soldiers are hit and the others are forced to retreat, surprised by the resistance. According to their usual tactic, the Germans avoid the area where French troops are resisting. They move back to start a renewed attack on a different axis.
According to the testimony of battalion commander Decoux, leading the 7e Régiment de Dragons, also operating in this area, 18 German tanks have been knocked out by the 54e BACA during these combats. Sous-lieutenant Brussaux on its side could personally witness only 9 burning and 4 knocked out German tanks.
During this day the 54e BACA did not lose one single man. The only reported losses are 1 Laffly W15 TCC (aspirant Lefebvre) which had a mechanical breakdown and 1 Peugeot 402 liaison car. Both vehicles have been scuttled by their crews.
The tank destroyer platoon retreats and is deployed 1 km south of Molliens on the Bougainville heights. On 7th June the platoon is in Campaux, HQ of the 10th Army.
The AA platoon and the general services had been ordered to move back to Saint-Aubin. The 25mm AA guns are towed by trucks and cannot follow the self-propelled AT guns in their hit and run tactics. These AA guns are also unable to efficiently provide cover to the AT platoon since the later is deployed on a large front. Nonetheless 1 German fighter has been shot down on 5th June.
The tank destroyer platoon operates always alone, 10 to 15 km in front of the French troops. The Laffly W15 TCC vehicles are ambushed on the roads and are often several kilometers away from each other. This is not the planned doctrine of use for the battery but it is impossible in such conditions to behave differently. The platoon tries to inflict as much losses as possible to the enemy and then moves back, avoiding to be encircled by more numerous German troops.
At Campaux, German tanks are reported north of the town. The men of the AT battery are dead tired but the AT platoon is deployed on the roads leading to Campaux. Adjudant Marchal is ambushed on the Hernemont road with 2 tank destroyers and sous-lieutenant Brussaux is deployed around Villers (on the Gournay to Campaux road) with 2 remaining tank destroyers.
Marchal is supported by an armored car operating in the area. The armored car attracts the heavy German elements towards the ambushed 47mm AT and engages the lighter vehicles itself. 2 German tanks are destroyed and a 3rd one is neutralized. According to his orders, Marchal retreats to the Lyons forest at 23h00.
An infantry captain cooperates with Brussaux, leading a reconnaissance for him. He reports the arrival of German troops and few minutes later 3 heavy German tanks are spotted. They advance, hidden behind a convoy of refugees. Desptite the presence of civilians, Brussaux orders to open fire at 100 meters. The 3 German tanks are quickly destroyed and burning.
Hearing vehicles moving on a road on his right Brussaux chooses to retreat 500-600 meters back in order to have a better line of sight on the area. The second Laffly W15 TCC operating with Brussaux has its gun traverse blocked and is ordered to move back to Gournay.
A few minutes later, the town of Villers (where Brussaux was previously deployed) is suddenly encircled by about 30 German armored cars. The French tank destroyer opens fire and destroys 2 of them; 3 additional ones are put out of combat and the others flee away. Between 15h00 and 19h00 no other enemy armored troops could be seen.
Brussaux retreats to Gournay which is already half destroyed. He tries to locate the other tank destroyer without success. The town is again attacked by the Luftwaffe. Later he learns that the other Laffly W15 TCC left the town to avoid the bombing. They will meet again in Versailles a few days later.
Sous-lieutenant Brussaux moves then to Lyons-la-Forêt and Marines and finally regroups the whole 54e BACA (AT, AA and services units). He learns that the 7e Régiment de Cuirassiers is moving to Versailles. On his own he orders also to retreat to Versailles. Once in Versailles, Brussaux hopes quick reparation of his vehicles in the Laffly factory. Nonetheless time is lacking and the 54e BACA moves on with only 2 fully operational tank destroyers. The battery moves to Vannes, attached to the combat group of capitaine Etienne.
Encircled the group is ordered to move to Ancenis to try to cross the Loire River. Brussaux's battery is moving on the front and capitaine Etienne is onboard the first Laffly W15 TCC. The tank destroyer is followed by a liaison car with 4 determined men ordered to blow up the potential blockades defending the bridge to allow the convoy to cross the Loire River. Finally the order is cancelled; the whole group is directed to the Vioreau woods and is ordered to scuttle its equipments.
On evening, sous-lieutenant Brussaux leads ALL his men and manages to cross the Loire River at Cordemais with his unit. Brigadier Henger has been ordered to try to cross the Loire River with the last available Berliet truck. Two German soldiers trying to climb on the running board of truck are punched and neutralized. The truck is safe and is then given to the mayor of Cordemais for the supply of the population.
The men of the 54e BACA are marching to Harton-en-Retz. The area is controlled by the Germans but the habitants of the town hide and supply during 3 days. The Germans have ordered all the French soldiers to move to Nantes to be made prisoners. Brussaux on his side orders his men to wear civilian clothes and to bury their military papers.
They march to Beaulieu and Epois. The Germans are controlling the coast and forcing all the men (soldiers and civilians) between 20 and 32 years old to work for them. Brussaux gives money to all of his men which are sent by groups of 2 on different routes, the final grouping point being Toulouse.
During its short operational life, the 54e BACA managed nonetheless to destroy 28 German tanks, 5 German armored cars and to shot down 1 German fighter in only 8 days of operation (5-12th June 1940).
• Appendix 1 : the 47mm Mle1937 L/53 AT gun (towed version)
Caliber : 47x380R mm
Crew : 1 NCO + 5 men
Weight : 1070kg
Length : 4.10m
Width : 1.62m
Height : 1.10m
Barrel length : 2497mm (2350mm rifling)
Rate of fire : 15-20 rpm
Traverse : 68°
Elevation : -13° to +16.50°
Telescopic sight : 4x (field of view 10.13°, + reticle, adjustable drum up to 3500m)
V° : 855 m/s
Practical AT range : 1000 meters
Penetration : a 40mm hardened plate can be penetrated up to 1500 meters at 30° (French tests).
This AT gun was the best AT gun on the battlefield in 1940, after the 8.8cm Flak18 used in AT role and perhaps the best one before the arrival of the 5.0cm Pak38. It exceeded widely the German 3.7cm PaK in terms of penetration and was also superior to the Czech made 4.7cm AT gun. The French army had about 1200 of them in service in May 1940, they were depending from the artillery regiments and not all came into service. Initially a BDAC should have included 12 47mm AT guns but due to the lack of guns this number was reduced to 8. The Laffly S15T or Laffly W15T (and sometimes Citroën-Kégresse P17 and Unic P107) generally towed the 47mm Mle1937 AT gun if the battery was not horse drawn. An example of report concerning the 47mm Mle1937 AT gun : the French 36th infantry division on the Aisne river on 9-10th June 1940 faced the 10.ID, 26.ID, the SS-Polizei and elements of the 6.PzD. First they stopped all the German assaults in part thanks to their good supporting artillery and took about 800 German POWs, then they had to pull back because of the collapse of the 2nd infantry division facing 2 Panzerdivisionen more west. During the retreat, one 47mm SA37 gun (battery of sous-lieutenant Nayme) destroyed successively 3 moving German tanks at 1500m.
About 823 4.7cm Pak181(f) (captured on the front or in factories / repaired / newly built) were used after the campaign of France by the Germans. The Germans produced also a dedicated 4.7cm APCR shell for this gun. But already in May/June 1940 some of the captured guns were immediately used against French tanks, especially the dreaded Renault B1bis. The German reports indicate that 1226 shells were fired with these booty guns furing the battle of France. General Heinz Guderian himself in his memories ("Achtung Panzer !") indicates that he led the fire of a captured French 47mm AT gun against a Renault B1bis.
Ammunitions :
Obus de rupture Mle1936 (APCBC)
Caliber : 47x380R mm
Weight of projectile : 1.726 kg (1.710 kg without ballistic cap)
Length of projectile : 192 mm (APC 144.5mm + BC 92mm, total length of the shell : 555.5mm)
V° = 855 m/s
The ballistic cap screwed on the APC is in magnesium, resulting in a burning and brilliant lightning at the impact point, helping somewhat in the aiming.
Obus explosif Mle1932 M39 (HE)
Caliber : 47x380R mm
Weight of projectile : 1.410 kg (142g explosive)
V° = 590 m/s
Modified Mle1932 HE projectile, usually with a Gaba Mle1932 fuze.
This HE shell is probably rare in May-June 1940. It is mentioned in a document dated March 1940 (a course about ammunition for French officers) but I could not find production number and I am therefore not sure how common it was.
• Appendix 2 : Other "tank destroyers" used by the French Army in 1940
CITROEN-KEGRESSE P19 (CK P19) armed with a 25mm AT gun
The 3e BDP (bataillon de dragons portés - which had already 25mm SA34 AT guns towed by Citroën-Kégresse P19 halftracks) found a new solution in 1937. The AT gun was embarked on the vehicles itself and a self-propelled AT gun version based on the Citroën-Kégresse P19 halftrack was developed. The rear body of the vehicle is modified and it carries 2 ramps to eventually embark/disembark the AT gun, but this one can fire from the vehicle (the gun is directed to the front). This solution was then adopted by the other cavalry units, for the 5 battalions there would be a total of 20 such self-propelled AT guns.
Weight : 2.23t (live load 0.7t)
Length : 4.70m
Width : 1.70m
Crew : 7 men (for the troop carrier version, probably only 4 for the self-propelled AT gun version)
Maximum speed : 46 km/h (6 cylinders, 2442 cm3, 42 hp at 2800 rpm)
Autonomy : 350 km
Armament : 25mm L/72 AT gun + AAMG mounts for protection during travel
LAFFLY S20 TL armed with a 25mm AT gun
The idea of the self-propelled 25mm AT gun is then adopted by Laffly on the Laffly S20 TL truck. 40 of these peculiar trucks are ordered in 1938, built in the factory (it is not a field modification) and delivered during winter 1939-1940. There are 2 ramps to embark the gun, which can this time fire to the front or to the rear. The latter solution can eventually be more interesting to fire and move away quickly. The windshield is divided in 2 parts on this version; it enables the barrel to point to the front (but the windscreen can also simply be lowered, which enables also for a better traverse).
Weight : 3.9t (live load 1.75t and could tow 3.00t)
Length : 5.35m
Width : 2.00m
Height : 1.67m (2.45m covered)
Crew : 8 men
Maximum speed : 65 km/h (6 cylinders, 3016 cm3, 68 hp at 3200 rpm)
Autonomy : 138 km
Armament : 25mm L/72 AT gun + AAMG mounts for protection during travel
LORRAINE 37L CC (CC = chasseur de chars = tank destroyer)
The Lorraine 37L was armed with a 47mm SA37 L/53 AT gun, designed to be a tracked tank destroyer, to ambush the German armored columns. Manufacturing started in May 1940 only and the rare vehicles that might have arrived to the front had little impact on the war. The Germans captured at least one of these tank destroyers. Other sources indicates that the vehicle was not based on the Lorraine 37L but the Lorraine 39L.
OTHER VEHICLES
The auto-mitrailleuse de reconnaissance Renault, model 1933 was a light recon armored car (aka Renault type VM), fast and having good cross country performance. The hull was bolted with the driver at the front and the commander in the turret. In 1932, an armored personnal carrier version to transport 7 soldiers is studied and a tank destroyer prototype (Renault VE) is also tested (5 vehicles) and armed with a 37mm Mle1934 RF gun.
The Auto-mitrailleuse de Reconnaissance Renault, model 1935 was a light recon armored car (aka Renault type ZT). Hull and turret were riveted; the engine was this time on the rear part of the light tank unlike on the AMR-33. The AMR-35 has been produced in 6 versions for a total of 240 vehicles. The ZT3 model has no turret and a 25mm SA35 gun (78 shells) in the hull. It is designed to be a tank destroyer but only 10 vehicles were produced and saw action in the GRDIs (reconnaissance groups). The front hull is probably better armored than on the standard AMR35 and there is an observation copula.
When talking about tank destroyers, one could also perhaps mention the very few Somua SAu40 tanks (assault guns) which were armed with a 47mm AT gun instead of the planned 75mm APX gun. Some authors like Stéphane Ferrard state that four SAu40 tanks fought in June, including one with a 75mm APX gun and 3 with the 47mm AT gun.
Sources :
• "Avec les héros de 40" (Marc-André Fabre - 1946)
• "Histoire des chasseurs de chars Laffly W15 TCC" – (SHAT - Service Historique de l'Armée de Terre) – 31st August 1940
• "L'automobile sous l'uniforme" (François Vauvillier)
• "Les matériels de l'armée de terre française 1940" (2 volumes, Stéphane Ferrard)
• "Les programmes d'armement de 1919 à 1939" (contrôleur général des Armées Pierre Hoff - 1982)
• "Les véhicules blindés français 1900-1940" (Pierre Touzin)
• Militaria magazine n°74 (1991) – article by Henri de Wailly about the Laffly W15 TCC
• "The French army 1939-1940 – organisation, order of battle, operational history" – volume IV (Lee Sharp)
--> More information and perhaps corrested stuff is to come in the next Trackstory booklet by Pascal Danjou about the French equipments used in June 1940 (available in bilingual edition in February 2006). Probably something new about the Laffly W15TCC and other not well known vehicles.
Regards,
David
