Hi
I would be most grateful If anyone can give me any technical info on the Gendron AMR Somua 39 Armoured Car. The only thing that I know about this vehicle is that it was armed with A 25 mm anti-tank gun and a 7.5 mm machine gun in a well-shaped turret.
I would also be grateful for any info regarding its use, and in what quantitites by either the French or German armies during WWII.
The attached photo was taken from "A Photo History of Armoured Cars in Two World Wars", by George Forty.
I look forward to hearing from you all.
Thanks in advance.
Regards
Bob
AMR Somua 39 Armoured Car
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Robert Hurst
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AMR Somua 39 Armoured Car
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- Somua 39 Armoured Car.jpg (50.9 KiB) Viewed 4362 times
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hisrtylover
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Robert Hurst
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- Location: Worksop, Notts, UK
Hi hisrtyover
The vehicle in the photo that I attached to my post was not used by the British to massacre Indians with in 1919.
The photo depicts the 1939 production version of the Gendron AMR Somua A/C.
Attached to this reply are three photos taken from "A Photo History Of Armoured Cars In World War Two", by George Forty, that show the early prototypes of the Gendron AMR Somua.
Regards
Bob
The vehicle in the photo that I attached to my post was not used by the British to massacre Indians with in 1919.
The photo depicts the 1939 production version of the Gendron AMR Somua A/C.
Attached to this reply are three photos taken from "A Photo History Of Armoured Cars In World War Two", by George Forty, that show the early prototypes of the Gendron AMR Somua.
Regards
Bob
- Attachments
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- The next modification to the Gendron Somua was the fitting of a cylindrical turret.
- Gendron AMR Somua, 1935, Modified.jpg (41.5 KiB) Viewed 4279 times
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- The centre wheels of this model were pneumatic & fitted with cleated tyre chains.
- Gendron AMR Somua, 1935.jpg (33.95 KiB) Viewed 4282 times
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- Note the moveable metal wheels in the centre. The turret was from a Renault VM tank.
- Gendron AMR Somua, 1934.jpg (32.1 KiB) Viewed 4221 times
The AMR Gendron SOMUA
The history of this vehicle is an illustration of the difficulties encountered by an inventor who does not work within the framework of an industrial company with the financial means to support his idees. The vehicle that Mr Gendron studied was part of the AMR program of January 16, 1932. It resulted in the ordering of a prototype in 1933.
This small machine had to have its front wheels right at the front of the vehicle and the rear wheels right at the back. Between the two were placed metal wheels and rollers effectively producing a third pair of wheels for use in rough terrain. This first prototype, whose development was hard, was finished in 1934. It was obvious that it suffered problems of stability and this was the reason of its rejection. Mr Gendron re-examined his study and presented a new machine.
The front and back were identical but installed between the two axles were pneumatic wheels, and the rollers were changed and the body was modified . It resulted in a car of a very great stability and in the tests at the beginning of 1935 it gave good results. The ordering of a series could have of followed, but the inventor had not been able to mass the industrial resource. The Cavalry resolved to undertake a series of experiments. The vehicle stayed with the 4th Cuirassiers from January 3 to April 3, 1936. Fortunately, SOMUA was interested in this vehicle and if required could build it in series. This guarantee allowed the Cavalry to order a prototype. The vehicle was part of a new program which amalgamated two of the former categories of armoured cars; the AMR and AMD. The Iight armament of the AMR was given up and had an anti-tank gun of 25 mm and a Reibel machine-gun of 7,5 mm in the APX 5 turret .
The Commission of Vincennes experimented with this machine (without a turret) at the beginning of 1938. The results are very satisfactory. Endurance tests were then carried out at Rheims until 1939. The vehicle reeived the name AM Gendron SOMUA 39. When finally, Rueil, delivered an APX 5 turret the war had started the day before. This excellent materiel remained as a prototype.
This is my attempt to translate the reevat part of Les vehicules blindes francais 190-1944, by P Touzin.
17ft 4 1/2 " x 7' 2 1/2" x 8' 21/2" speed 69 kph 400 km radius of action
The history of this vehicle is an illustration of the difficulties encountered by an inventor who does not work within the framework of an industrial company with the financial means to support his idees. The vehicle that Mr Gendron studied was part of the AMR program of January 16, 1932. It resulted in the ordering of a prototype in 1933.
This small machine had to have its front wheels right at the front of the vehicle and the rear wheels right at the back. Between the two were placed metal wheels and rollers effectively producing a third pair of wheels for use in rough terrain. This first prototype, whose development was hard, was finished in 1934. It was obvious that it suffered problems of stability and this was the reason of its rejection. Mr Gendron re-examined his study and presented a new machine.
The front and back were identical but installed between the two axles were pneumatic wheels, and the rollers were changed and the body was modified . It resulted in a car of a very great stability and in the tests at the beginning of 1935 it gave good results. The ordering of a series could have of followed, but the inventor had not been able to mass the industrial resource. The Cavalry resolved to undertake a series of experiments. The vehicle stayed with the 4th Cuirassiers from January 3 to April 3, 1936. Fortunately, SOMUA was interested in this vehicle and if required could build it in series. This guarantee allowed the Cavalry to order a prototype. The vehicle was part of a new program which amalgamated two of the former categories of armoured cars; the AMR and AMD. The Iight armament of the AMR was given up and had an anti-tank gun of 25 mm and a Reibel machine-gun of 7,5 mm in the APX 5 turret .
The Commission of Vincennes experimented with this machine (without a turret) at the beginning of 1938. The results are very satisfactory. Endurance tests were then carried out at Rheims until 1939. The vehicle reeived the name AM Gendron SOMUA 39. When finally, Rueil, delivered an APX 5 turret the war had started the day before. This excellent materiel remained as a prototype.
This is my attempt to translate the reevat part of Les vehicules blindes francais 190-1944, by P Touzin.
17ft 4 1/2 " x 7' 2 1/2" x 8' 21/2" speed 69 kph 400 km radius of action
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David Lehmann
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isn’t the weight; 6.500kg?? But i can be wrongPanzermeyer wrote:AM39 Gendron-Somua
Initially 150 AM39 ordered for July - December 1940 ... but never delivered.
4 cylinders
4840 cc
75 hp
weight : 6150 kg
length : 3.74m
height : 2.00m
width : 2.05m
max speed : 69 km/h
Regards,
David
Gendron AMR Somua 39 have one 25mm anti-tank gun and one 7,7mm MG
Regards
Olof
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David Lehmann
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6150 kg according to François Vauvillier in "L'automobile sous l'uniforme".
25mm SA35 gun and MAC 31 7.5mm MG.
The AM40P (Panhard 201) version (600 intented to be ordered for 1940-42) would probably have had a 47mm SA35 gun in its series production.
AM40P
6 cylinders
3834 cc
85 hp
weight : 9000 kg
length : 4.34m
height : 1.80m
width : 2.00m
max speed : 80 km/h
Panhard 201 prototype ... the design/look has been used later in the 50's and 60's :
Panhard EBR 90F1
Panhard EBR 75 FL11 and FL10
25mm SA35 gun and MAC 31 7.5mm MG.
The AM40P (Panhard 201) version (600 intented to be ordered for 1940-42) would probably have had a 47mm SA35 gun in its series production.
AM40P
6 cylinders
3834 cc
85 hp
weight : 9000 kg
length : 4.34m
height : 1.80m
width : 2.00m
max speed : 80 km/h
Panhard 201 prototype ... the design/look has been used later in the 50's and 60's :
Panhard EBR 90F1
Panhard EBR 75 FL11 and FL10