Main French Armament 1939/1940

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David Lehmann
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Main French Armament 1939/1940

#1

Post by David Lehmann » 12 May 2003, 01:40

FRENCH ARMAMENT

Main Infantry weapons

SACM 1935S
Semi-automatic pistol
Caliber : 7.65x22 mm Longue
Magazine : 8 cartridges
Barrel Length : 105 mm
V° : 340 m/s

Lebel mle 1892
Revolver
Caliber : 8 mm lebel
Magazine : 6 cartridges
Barrel Length : 114 mm
V° : 280 m/s

Pistolet Ruby
Semi-automatic pistol
Caliber : 7.65x17 mm (.32 ACP)
Magazine : 9 cartridges
Barrel Length : 114 mm
V° : 260 m/s

PM-MAS38
Submachine-gun
Caliber : 7.65x22 mm Longue
Magazine : 32 cartridges
Barrel Length : 224 mm
ROF : 600 rounds/min
V° : 350 m/s
used by Germans under ther name MP 722f

MAS 36
Bolt action rifle
Magazine : 5 cartridges
Caliber : 7.5x54 mm
V° : 825 m/s
Barrel lenght : 580 mm
used by Germans under ther name Gewehr 242f

Mousqueton Berthier mle 1892 M16
Bolt action carbine
Caliber : 8x50R mm
Magazine : 5 cartridges
V° : 715 m/s
Barrel lenght : 453 mm
used by Germans under ther name Karabiner 553f

Lebel mle 86M93 rifle
Bolt action rifle
Caliber : 8x50 R mm
Magazine : 8 cartridges
V° : 750 m/s
Barrel lenght : 800 mm
used by Germans under ther name Gewehr 301f

Châtellerault 7.5mm FM mle1924/29
Light machine-gun
Caliber : 8 mm
Magazine : 20 cartridges
RoF : 600 rpm
Barrel Length : 500 mm
V° : 820 m/s
used by Germans under ther name leMG 116f

Tromblon VB (Tromblon Vivien-Bessière)
For the VB grenade launched with the MAS36 or Lebel 86M93 rifle (rifle grenade)
Caliber : 50 mm (490 g)
Range : 170 m

8 mm Hotchkiss mle 14
Medium or Heavy (tripod) machine-gun
Caliber : 8x50 R mm
Magazine : 30 or 150 cartridges bands
RoF : 450 rpm
Barrel Length : 775 mm
V° : 750 m/s

Boys AT Rifle
AT Rifle bolt action
Caliber : .55in Boys (13.97 mm)
Magazine : 5 cartridges
Barrel Length : 915 mm
V° : 990 m/s
Penetration : 21 mm at 100m

7.5 mm Reibel MAC mle 31
MMG or HMG used in fortifications (twinnings) and vehicles
Caliber : 7,5X54 mm
Barrel length : 600 mm
Capacity : 150 cartridges drum magazine
RoF : 600 rpm
V° : 820 m/s

13.2 mm Hotchkiss M24/26
HMG used in fortifications (Rhine Maginot Line) and vehicles
Caliber 13.2x96 mm used in fortifications and vehicles
RoF : 450 rpm
capacity : 30 cartridges magazine
different cartridges :
- mle 1935 P (armor piercing) penetration of 25 mm at 100 m, 20 mm at 200 m and 15 mm at 400 m
- ordinary cartridge (penetration of 17 mm at 200 m)
- tracer bullet
range : 2500 m
V° : 800 m/s
Sighting optic : 2.3x
served by 4 men
has been mounted in bunkers (96 HMGs in the Maginot Line), in a twin AA version (270 twin HMGs in 1939), in tanks and vehicles (28 in the Laffly AM 50 armoured car, an unknown number in the Panhard AM 80, an unknown number in the AMR modèle 1935, an unknown number in Renault armoured cars model 1915) but however most of the HMGs were used in the French navy which installed them on double and quadruple mountings. The Japanese, Romanian and Polish navy also used the 13,2 mm Hotchkiss. It has some AT capacities and is often used in this role against weak armored vehicles which are common in 1939/1940.

AT guns

- 13.2 mm Hotchkiss M24/26 HMG in AT role
- Canon AC de 25 mm SA34 and Canon AC de 25 mm SA37Penetration : 40mm /30° at 400m
- Canon AC de 37 mm SA34 (on the Maginot line mainly)
- Canon AC de 47 mm SA37 APX (Issued to German occupation forces in France as the 4.7cm PaK 181(f). From 1942 onwards it can fire Steilgranate 41 HEAT round)
47 mm SA37 APX max penetration : 108 mm

- Canon AC de 75 mm mle 97/35 (canon de 75 mm mle 1897 used in AT role)
75 mm mle 97/35 AP penetration : (max penetration about 95 mm)
Distance : 500 m 1000 m
Penetration : 80 mm 60 mm

Infantry guns

Canon de 37 mm mle 16 TR (In German use it was issued to second line occupation troops as the 3.7cm IG 152f).
ROF : 15 rpm
Max Range : 2400 m

AA guns

- FM 24/29 in AA role
- 13.2 mm Hotchkiss M24/26 twin HMG (range 6600 m)
- 20 mm CA mle 39 Oerlikon
- 25 mm 1939 Hotchkiss (range 5000 m V° 900 m/s 200 rpm) (110 in service in May 1940. Weapon was intended to have a dual purpose role and AP rounds for anti-tank use were issued. Captured guns were used by the Germans as 2.5cm FlaK Hotchkiss 38 and 39)
- 37 mm L60 mle 29 (range 5300 m) (principally used by the French Navy)
- Canon de 75 mm mle1897 (range 8200 m)
- Canon de 90 mm mle 28 (range 6000 m V° 850m/s) (principally used by the French Navy)
- 40 mm Bofors (30 pieces)

Field Artillery

- Canon de 75 mm mle 1897. This is the famous "75". Used by 18 countries including the US (until 1941), UK (1939-40 in small numbers), Poland, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Romania, Finland (48, 12 of which arrived in time for the Winter War), Lithuania & Spain. France had 4500 in service in June 1940, most of which ended in German hands as FK 97(f) used for 2nd line troops and fortifications and in Flak units. 600 were modified as anti-tank guns and renamed Pak 97/38.
ROF : 12 rpm
Max Range : 11100 m

- Canon de 105 mm mle 1913 and mle 35B Schneider
ROF : 4 rpm
Max Range 12200 m

- Canon de 105L mle 1936 Schneider
ROF : 6 rpm
Max Range 16000 m

- Canon de 107 mm mle 10/12 Schneider
Max Range : 12500 m

- Canon de 152 mm mle 1910 Schneider
Max Range : 12400 m

- Canon de 155L mle 1917 Schneider
ROF : 1 rpm
Max Range 17300 m

- Canon de 155C mle 1917 Schneider (Also used by the U.S. as the M1917. Spoked wheels with solid rims, single trail, gunshield extends to cover wheels)
ROF : 3 rpm
Max Range 11300 m

- Canon de 155C mle 1917 St.Chamond
ROF : 1 rpm
Max Range 21300 m

- Canon de 155L mle 1918 Schneider
ROF : 5 rpm
Max Range : 13600 m

- Canon de 155 mm GPF (Grande Puissance FILLOUX). Also used by the US it was the US 155 mm Long Tom.
ROF : 1 rpm
Max Range : 16500 m

- Canon de 194 mm GPF (50 pieces of this tracked SPA). A small number of these 194mm armed vehicles survived the years in French service and were captured and used by German forces following France´s defeat in World War Two where it was known as the 19.4cm Kanone 486f GPF.
Speed : 8 km/h
Can easily fire at 360°
ROF : 5 rpm
Max Range 18300 m

- Canon de 220L mle 1917 Schneider
ROF : 1 rpm
Max Range 22800 m

- 240 mm mle 84/19 Rail Gun
- 280 mm mle 14/16 Rail Gun
- 320 mm Rail Gun
- 370 mm Filloux Rail Gun
- 520 mm Rail Gun

Field Artillery of fortress units

- Canon de Bange 120L mle 1877
Max range : 8650 m
- Canon de Bange 155L mle 1877
Max range : 9100 m
- Canon de Bange 155C mle 1881
Max range : 6400 m
- Mortier de Bange de 270 mm mle 1885

Mountain Artillery

- Canon de 75 M mle 1928 Schneider (also used by Greeks, Poles and in German hands it became the 7.5cm GebK 237f)
Max Range : 9000 m

- Canon de 105 M mle 1919 Schneider
Max Range : 7850 m

- Canon de 65 M mle 1906 (65 mm L20 mle06 Mountain Gun also used by greeks an poles. In German service it was known as the 6.5cm GebK 221f and issued to mountain troops)
ROF : 18 rpm
Max Range : 6500 m

Mortars

- Mortier de 50 mm mle 37 (This exceedingly light weapon was used by the Germans as the 5cm Granatenwerfer 203f)
- Mortier de 60 mm mle 35 (Nearly 5000 in French use in 1940. Same design as the American Mortar 60mm M1. Used by second line German units as the 6cm Granatenwerfer 225f. May fire a lighter bomb at lesser effect to double normal rang)
- Mortier de 81mm mle 27/31 Brandt (This Brandt design was copied and used by almost every army in the world, including the Dutch, Finns, Italians and Yugoslavs)

Maginot Line and Fortress units

- 50 mm mortar
- 60 mm mortar
- bunker grenade launchers for close combat and protection of the entrances
- FM 24/29
- Mortier de 81 mm mle 32
Max range : 3600 m
- Mortier de 135 mm mle 32
Max range : 5600 m
- Canon de 75 mm mle 29,31,32 or 33
Last edited by David Lehmann on 06 Oct 2003, 14:50, edited 2 times in total.

daveh
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#2

Post by daveh » 15 May 2003, 13:45

Thanks for the information, I do have a few questions:

You mention the
Canon AC de 75 mm mle 97/35 (canon de 75 mm mle 1897 used in AT role)
do you have any information on its tactical use? units issued with this weapon? how it was modified for AT use? I know the Germans fitted a muzzle break.

Any information of numbers of weapons available to the French Army in May 1940?

How common was the PM-MAS38 Submachine-gun and who recieved them?

ditto for the Boys AT rifle


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David Lehmann
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#3

Post by David Lehmann » 15 May 2003, 21:54

Hi Daveh,

As far as I know the 75 mm mle1897 used in AT role was a normal field gun used in direct fire. It could destroy any german tanks in 1940 :
HE Shell max range : 11100 m
AP Shot Effective Range : 2000 m
Penetration :
500 m / 80 mm
1000 m / 60 mm


French forces at the beginning of the 1940 campaign :

1) about 104 infantry divisions (among them 5 DLC, 3 DLM, 4 DIM and 3 DCR ... the others are DI, DIC and DIF)
DCR = Division Cuirassée de Réserve = Reserve Armored Division
DI = Division d'Infanterie = Infantry Division
DIC = Division d'Infanterie Coloniale = Colonial Infantry division
DIF = Division d'Infanterie de Forteresse = Fortress infantry division
DIM = Division d'Infanterie Motorisée = Motorized Infantry Division
DLC = Division Légère de Cavalerie = Light Cavalry Division

Dragons Portés (DLC, DLM)and Chasseurs Portés (DCR) were professional units of somewhat better than average morale, though few personnel had any combat experience (senior officers were often WWI veterans though). The firepower of the rifle squads was high since each was armed with two LMGs.
The French Dragons Portés squad was designed to cover large ground area and as such during initial planning for these units (in the early 30's), each squad received 2 LMGs. At the beginning, all squads were equipped with 2 vehicles carrying each 1 LMG and 7 men : in fact 1 half-squad of 6 men + 1 driver.
So a Dragons Portés Squad squad had 12 men (1 VB launcher, 2 LMGs) and 2 vehicles + 2 drivers.
The problem was the number of vehicles. So a bigger vehicle has been designed (Laffly S20TL for the Dragons Portés and Lorraine 38L for the Chasseurs Portés) to carry the whole squad but this time reduced to 10 men, keeping the same armament (1 VB launcher, 2 LMGs).

Laffly S20TL = softskin vehicle also known as "VDP" for "voiture de Dragons Portés" = Dragons Portés's car.
Lorraine 38L = APC also known as "VBCP" for "voiture blindée de Chasseurs Portés" Chasseurs Portés's armoured car.

Is one of these LMGs used as AAMG on the vehicle ? In fact not really in the French Army. For example each Laffly S20TL was equiped with two AA mounts : could possibly be fitted on each aft corner, on each side, and on the center the first row of rear seats and the rest of the hull. The devices could accomodate either a FM 24/29 or a 8 mm Hotchkiss MG.

However for combat, both LMGs were supposed to be used by the squad (only during transport would the 2nd LMG be used in an AA role, it was optional). The vehicle were to be hidden quite far away from where the Dragons Portés were supposed to fight. French troops were surprised by the German Schützen + SPWs tactics which would usually dismount troops just before MG range. This also resulted in German APCs being destroyed by the French AT guns. Also when you consider that one Dragons Portés battalion was supposed to cover between 5 and 10 km, you just need every single LMG you have to cover the ground with fire.

It is the same for the Chasseurs Portés squad : 10 men (1 VB launcher, 2 LMGs) and one Lorraine 38L APC. The Lorraine 38L had a carry capacity of 12 men (6 in the tractor and 6 in the trailer). The platoon leader's vehicle had only 7 occupants so there would have been ample space in the trailer for other items. The Lorraine 39L model, expected to be in production from August 1940, had a capacity of 10 men but had no trailer.

The classical motorized infantry squad of a DIM (motorized infantry division) is a classical infantry squad : 12 men armed with 1 VB launcher, 1 LMG and 10 rifles. This squad was not carried by the Laffly S20 TL or Lorraine 38L but by a larger truck or prime mover.


Number of rifles, SMGs etc. in the French Army ? I have to look further in books to try to give you an answer .....

Beside the MAS-38 SMG was also the Erma Vollmer SMG, this one was only issued to Corps Francs.
MAS36 : mainly issued to snipers (scoped MAS36) and elite troops


2) about 10000 artillery pieces

In 1940 the French had about 10000 field artillery pieces and they caused the main damages to the German panzers by indirect fire.

- Divisional artillery regiments (75 mm, 105 mm and 155 mm) : 40 (13 motorized)
- Mountain artillery regiments (75 and 105 mm) : 3
- Non-divisional artillery regiments (105 mm, 155 mm, 194 mm, 220 mm) : 21 (13 motorized)
- Autonomous artillery companies (155 mm, 194 mm, 220 mm) : 2
- Rail guns heavy artillery regiment (240 mm, 280 mm, 320 mm, 370 mm, 400 mm, 520 mm) : 1


3) about 4000 tanks and armored cars

AMD = Automitrailleuse de Découverte : P178, P165/175, Laffly 80 AM, Laffly 50 AM, Panhard MG, Laffly S15
AMR = Automitrailleuse de Reconnaissance : all AMR33 and AMR35 types
AMC = Automitrailleuse de Combat : AMC P16 mle29 and all AMC35 types
Light tanks = R35, H35, H39, R40, H35(L), H39(L) and R35(L)
Medium tanks = Somua S-35, D1, D2, D2(L)
Heavy tanks = B1, B1bis
Very heavy tanks = FM2-C
Infantry support tanks = FT-17 75BS, FT-17C, FT-17M, FCM36

On May 10, 1940, there were about 3500 battle tanks available to combat units located along the front facing Germany. Here is an approximation of the number of tanks and armored cars in frontline units. The remainder of France's tank force were located in arsenals or in training schools :

--> Several French tanks and armored cars available in May 1940
Renault FT-17 : 534
Renault R-35/40 : 1035
Renault H-35 : 398
Renault H-39 : 790
Renault D-2 : 75
FCM-36 : 90
B1 and B1-bis : 313
FM2C : 6
Somua S-35 : 243
AMD, AMR and AMC armored cars : about 880


4) French Air Force and French Navy planes (xx) = number produced
This list includes aircraft operated both before and after the 1940 Armistice by the French Government. In 1940 only about 2100 planes participated to the campaign.

Fighters :
Bloch MB151 (85)
Bloch MB152 (699)
Bloch MB155 (32)
Morane Saulnier MS406 (1081)
Curtiss Hawk H-75 (98 )
Dewoitine D501 (57)
Dewoitine D510 (380)
Dewoitine D520 (36)
Potez 631 (90)
...

Recon planes :
Potez 63.11 (702)
Mureaux 117 (115)
Bloch MB174 (59)
...

Attack planes :
Breguet 693/695 (284)
Vought SB2U Vindicator (24)
Loire et Nieuport 40 (106)(dive bomber of the French Navy that has been launched against the advancing PzD)
Latécoère 298 (seaplane, torpedo)(177)
...

Bombers :
LeO 451 (452)
LeO 453 (40)
Glenn Martin 167F (140)
Bloch MB200 (208)
Bloch MB210 (258)
...

In Poland, 1939, and particularly in France, 1940, Blitzkrieg tactics were deployed. Poland was to be the site where Hitler would demonstrate to the rest of the world what his new armies and tactics could do. Ironically, the battle turned into something that greatly resembled the Kesselschlacht-theory from World War I, if more motorized. On the other hand, the Blitzkrieg tactic proper was not revealed to the Allied forces.
In the light of these factors, France in 1940 must be seen as the best example of Blitzkrieg carried out. A large faked attack was undertaken in Belgium and Holland where paratroopers and airborne troops were used to secure important points. France send its best forces in this area. Later, the main forces attacked in an unexpected place where only second-rate divisions resisted them. Here, Panzers pushed on almost without concern for their flanks, leaving the cleaning up to the infantry. Meanwhile, the Luftwaffe attacked as support for the Panzers and the infantry. The French will fight very well as companies and batallions but poorly as divisions and horribly as armies ... doctrine (tanks as infantry support), communication issues etc. The French Army didn't lost because a lack of material (though a high lack of AA weapons and above all AA ammunitions) and its armament was very good, the reason are doctrinal, political and the high command.

French losses :
330000 losses (90000 KIA, 240000 WIA and MIA)
450000 prisonners

German losses :
159754 losses (26455 KIA, 116640 WIA, 16659 MIA)(+ 6000 italian losses)
850-900 planes due to AA and fighters (French + RAF, these losses delayed the battle over Britain)
795 Panzers and armored cars definitively destroyed, not reparable.

Different fierce battles :
- Gembloux
- Stonne
- Lille
- Sarre
- Defend of the Loire by the Cavalry school of Saumur
...
Last edited by David Lehmann on 19 May 2003, 00:11, edited 2 times in total.

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Erik E
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#4

Post by Erik E » 15 May 2003, 22:11

Very good work PzMeyer!

Very much of the equipment used in Norway was captured in France.
It seems like there was French equipment in allmost every coastal battery along the coast, and still, much of it is left...

I would also ask if you have any comments to this list
(Maybe some more complete original names?)

Gewehr 241(f) Ex "Fusil 07/15 M 34" - Calibre 7,5mm
Gewehr 242(f) Ex "Fusil 1936" - Calibre 7,5mm
Gewehr 301(f) Ex "Fusil 86/93" - Calibre 8mm
Gewehr 302(f) Ex "Fusil 07/15" - Calibre 8mm
Gewehr 303(f) Ex "Fusil 1886 R35" - Calibre 8mm
Gewehr 304(f) Ex "Fusil 1916" - Calibre 8mm
Gewehr 305(f) Ex "Fusil Mle 1907" - Calibre 8mm
Selbstlade-Gewehr 310(f) Ex "Fusil Automatique 1918" (Semi-automatic) - Calibre 8mm
Gewehr 361(f) Ex "Fusil Gras 1874" - Calibre 11mm
Karabiner 551(f) Ex "Mousqueton 1890" - Calibre 8mm
Karabiner 552(f) Ex "Mousqueton 1892" - Calibre 8mm
Karabiner 553(f) Ex "Mousqueton 1916" - Calibre 8mm
Karabiner 561(f) Ex "Mousqueton Gras 1874" - Calibre 11mm
Pistole 623(f) Ex "Pistolet automatique type Star" - Calibre 7,65mm
Pistole 624(f) Ex "Pistolet automatique type Ruby" - Calibre 7,65mm
Pistole 625(f) Ex "Pistolet automatique 1935A" - Calibre 7,65mm
Revolver 634(f) Ex "Revolver Eisbar" - Calibre 8mm
Revolver 635(f) Ex "Revolver" - Calibre 8mm
Revolver 636(f) Ex "Revolver" - Calibre 8mm
Revolver 637(f) Ex "Revolver 1892" - Calibre 8mm
Pistole 642(f) Ex "Pistolet automatique type Astra Mod 1924" - Calibre

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David Lehmann
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#5

Post by David Lehmann » 16 May 2003, 02:45

Hi,

after your questions I have just started a personnal database on French Small arms from 1970 to today ... heu well let's say until 1960 for a first time, the rest is less hstory and well known I think .... with pics and charachteristics (as accurate as I can) ... when it is finished I can send it to you if you want but I hope you have xDSL or cable :)
just send me your private e-mail.

I will you more complete original names very soon but for the moment I really don't know what are the ETVs SMG ??? The SE-MAS 1935F gives in fact the MAS38 SMG and the Erma Vollmer is a german SMG, never used by the Heer I guess ... French captured a stockpile destined to Spain and used them in their Corps Francs ... I also lack a picture profile of this SMG.

David

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David Lehmann
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French weapons

#6

Post by David Lehmann » 17 May 2003, 02:23

MAS38 SMG
The MAS38 had been developed but not really put into production in time for the 1940 campaign. It was thus extremely rare, with only individual weapons seeing service rather than systematic issue to particular unit types.

Erma Vollmer SMG (MPE)
This one was the most common SMG used by the French Army in 1939-40. They actually were seized from Spanish Republican troops interned in France at the end of the Spanish Civil War. I think they had been purchased normally from German firms by the Spanish government prior to the outbreak of the Spanish civil war. There was also a swathe of other German SMGs: Bergmanns and so forth. Some or all of this stock could in fact have been supplied to Spanish fascist forces and captured by the Republicans. At any rate, 3250 MPE were counted but due to lack of magazines only 750 were issued. The most common place to find this weapon was with the Corps Francs.

Boys AT rifle
A modest number (several dozens) was provided by the British army in exchange for 25mm AT guns which became the weapon of the BEF's brigade AT companies. As well as some recce battalions they equipped the two paratroop companies in existence.

MAS36
Som 250000 were delivered to the army up to 23rd June 1940. Issued to snipers and elite troops. Known units that definitely had them were the cavalry brigades and the 1er and 2e Spahi brigades. Beyond that I think they were issued to all sorts of infantry and mechanized units. The theory was that they would replace the three different rifle and carbine types each infantry squad carried, but that they were not to be issed to the men of MG companies (because the existing carbines used the same 8mm ammo as the MMGs, whereas the MAS36 was 7.5mm). They would also not be issued to artillerymen and support troops. On this basis 250000 rifles ought to have been enough to arm a large proportion af all rifle companies and squadrons. But things being what they were the reality was no doubt more confused than this !

Other SMGs used in small numbers : MP28, MP34, Steyr and even 150 Suomi M31.

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David Lehmann
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French SMGs

#7

Post by David Lehmann » 20 May 2003, 15:55

Other French SMGs used in 1940 :

French origin :

PM MAS 38 : 1958
PM STA mle 1924 : 1200
PM Petter mle 1939 : 50
PM ETVS : 50

Foreign origin :

Suomi M/31 : 150
Steyr : ?
MP 28 : 1000
MP 34 : 200
EMP : 3250
Thompson 1921 : 3000 (but rarely used in 39/40, many stayed in amories or only delivered to police units, more used by Vichy forces)

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David Lehmann
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French arty availability

#8

Post by David Lehmann » 20 May 2003, 16:00

Field Arty (75mm, 105mm S and L and 155mmC) :

75 mm mle 1897 : 4500
105 mm C : 376
105 mm L : 1002
155 mm C : 1827
65 mm Mnt M06 : 70
75 mm Mnt M28 : 156
105 mm Mnt M28 : 24

Field Hvy Arty :

120 mm L mle 1878 and 1916 : 600
145/155 mm L mle 1916 : 168
155 mm L mle 1877 : 743
155 mm L mle 1877/14 : 83
155 mm L mle 1918 : 120
155 mm L mle 1917 : 535
155 mm GPF : 449
194 mm GPF : 50
220 mm C mle 1916 (Hvy mortar) : 462
220 mm L mle 1917 : 68
240 mm L mle 1884 T : 31
280 mm C PF : 109
270 mm M : 24
280 mm C (tracked) : 26
370 mm M Fillioux : 12

Rail Road Arty :

164 mm : 8
194 mm : 32
240 mm : 16
274 mm : 16
293 mm : 5
305 mm : 6
320 mm : 16
340 mm : 10
370 mm : 13
400 mm : 10
520 mm : 1
Most of them captured by germans and used in Sabastopol for example.

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Juha Tompuri
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#9

Post by Juha Tompuri » 20 May 2003, 21:21

David,

VERY impressing work! Thank you for sharing the info with us :)
Some comments:
Fighters: should this one be included too: http://www.sci.fi/~ambush/faf/fighters.html#Koodron
Do you have ANY info about the 150 Suomi M/31 smg´s you mentioned?

Regards, Juha

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David Lehmann
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#10

Post by David Lehmann » 20 May 2003, 21:39

Hi,

All these lists are far from being complete as thre were so many different weapons types in service.

Yes the Caudron C.714 Cyclone has been used but only 40 produced in time and issued to a Polish Squadron included in the French Armée de L’Air.

About the Suomi not much info the French had 300 of them but only 150 selected ones had been issued to fronline units. Apparently they have been obtained from Finland, there is no mention about the origin. But since France gave/sold different equipment to Finland perhaps were they payed to Finland or given for a counterpart of something.

David

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French heavy mortar

#11

Post by SM79Sparviero » 07 Jun 2003, 12:08

The 280 mm mortar Schneider mod 1909-1914 could launch a 202-250 kg shell ( 63 kg high explosive in the 202 kg grenade) at 11 Km.

Three mortars of the battery of Poet Morand ( 6 th battery 154th Artillery Regiment), leaded by Leutenent miguet destroyed in June 1940 six of the eight guns of Fort Chaberton at 3130 mts of altitude.
Attachments
schneider280.jpg
Schneider 280 mm mortar at Poet Morand and French gunners.
schneider280.jpg (102.62 KiB) Viewed 7433 times

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David Lehmann
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#12

Post by David Lehmann » 06 Oct 2003, 12:55

Details about two other French SMGs :

Pistolet Mitrailleur Modèle 1939 PETTER
Type : Sub-machinegun
Total length : 645 mm (388 mm with folded stock)
Weight (empty) : 2.90 kg
Barrell Length : 200 mm
Caliber : 7.65x22 mm Longue
Magazine : 36 rounds magazines
Rate of fire : 600 rpm
V° : 350 m/s
Only 50 delivered.

Pistolet Mitrailleur Modèle 1924 STA
Type : Sub-machinegun
Total length : 834 mm
Weight (empty) : 3.50 kg
Barrell Length : 226 mm
Caliber : 9x19 mm
Magazine : 32 rounds magazines
Rate of fire : 380 rpm
V° : 355 m/s
Only 1200 delivered.

Pistolet Mitrailleur Type ETVS - German : Maschinenpistole 721(f) -
Type : Sub-machinegun
Total length : 670 mm (420 mm with folded stock)
Weight (empty) : 2.70 kg
Barrell Length : 210 mm
Caliber : 7.65x22 mm Longue
Magazine : 32 rounds magazines
Rate of fire : 500 rpm
V° : 350 m/s
Only 50 delivered.


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3 French soldiers : 2 Petter and 1 Erma MP SMGs

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Soldier with a MAS38 SMG

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Soldiers with Erma EMP SMG and Lebel 8mm rifle.


I couldn't find anymore the German name for the Petter and STA SMGs, anyone could help me about that ?

Regards,

David

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