483:
more expensive third type was its development potential. The FCM 36 was seen as the most advanced French tank and should function as a test bed for further improvements. This also meant there was no hurry to start series production. The production facilities only began to be prepared from
December 1936 and actual manufacture was delayed for a year to first test a newer design with a stronger engine and a lighter track. Only when this did not render the expected results, the original type was produced, with the first delivery on 2 May 1938. During 1938 and 1939 several modifications were tested on vehicle number 30,057 including a new track, clutch and engine, but none of these would be applied on the existing vehicles.
25:
458:
replacement. On 10 September it was again sent to
Vincennes only to be sent back on 23 October to have its suspension reinforced. On 19 December it returned to be tested until 14 May 1936. It was then approved on the provision that the armour would be thickened from 30 to 40mm, according to the new specifications. This was done by welding an appliqué 10mm armour plate on top of the main armour, a feature maintained for the production vehicles. The prototype was now brought to the attention of the
500:-R turret was heavier (1,552 to 1,287kg) and yet inferior in protection to the FCM turret because of constant quality problems with its cast steel that was either too soft or too brittle. However, this issue was complicated by the planned introduction of the longer 37 mm gun as tests showed that the welds of the FCM type had to be reinforced to prevent them from cracking by the stronger recoil; as a result the existing vehicles would not be fitted with the new gun.
93:
509:
404:
521:. Such a configuration was unique at the time. This included the upper track run and the suspension units, protected by zig-zag armour plates. The engine deck is the only armour which is bolted as this enables easier access to the engine. As the armour is of good quality, the 40mm thickness angled at 30 to 45 degrees from the vertical, renders an equivalence of about 45–55mm, enough to regularly defeat the standard
445:. Engineer Bourdot, who had designed the suspension of the Char B, was ordered to create a modern tank design taking full advantage of the large electro-welding capacity of the wharf. In March 1934 he presented a wooden mock-up that was approved by the Army. On 2 April 1935 the prototype was delivered to the
621:
round was not yet made available. Both sides slugged it out, often engaging at the shortest possible distance. In the end, the appliqué armour of the FCM 36 failed and the welds, being weaker points between the plates, including the lower turret corners just above the chassis, were penetrated. The 7e
525:
of its day, even when the gun was ideally positioned. The reclining armour implied that more raking shots would quickly start to deflect. The type was the only actually produced French tank of the period that featured a diesel engine, which gave the vehicle a superior range of 225 kilometres from a
533:
diesel allowed for a top speed of just 24 km/h (15 mph). The suspension was accordingly simplistic, consisting of eight road wheels per side sprung by eight vertical coil springs. The tank could cross a two metres trench and climb a 70cm obstacle or an 80% slope. Also very limited is the
482:
a piece. The production vehicles had to be equipped with a 37 mm gun. The
Hotchkiss H35 and Renault R35 would also be taken into production, and as these competing types were a lot cheaper they would constitute the bulk of the French light infantry tanks produced. The reason to coproduce the
457:
In fact FCM had not tested the prototype itself yet; this was now done and many shortcomings became apparent. As a result, the vehicle was completely redesigned with a new and lighter hull and turret configuration, suspension and track. The roof of the engine compartment was now bolted on to ease
491:
of the Char B1, there simply would be no capacity to manufacture any FCM 36s before
September 1940. In view of these circumstances Inspector-General Jacomet allowed the production of the hull to be discontinued. The FCM turret however had already been planned to become the standard for all light
486:
On 12 May 1938 and 3 February 1939 two additional orders were made of a hundred each. However, when the last tank, series number 30,100, of the original order was delivered on 13 March 1939, FCM suddenly announced that it would permanently cease production unless the price was raised to at least
453:
and the use of a diesel engine promising a good range. It was a bit heavier than the specified nine metric tons at 10,168 kilogrammes. However the prototype was untestable because of mechanical problems. After the first evaluation had been finished on 9 June it was sent back to the manufacturer.
612:
during the night and the ensuing confusion, the approach march could not begin until early in the morning of the 14th, when the first German tanks started to cross the river on pontoon bridges. The German armoured vanguard and 7e BCC collided near Bulson. The French tanks destroyed some lighter
516:
The FCM 36 was a small vehicle, 4.46m long, 2.20m high and 2.14m wide, with a crew of two. It had a weight of 12.35 metric tons. The armour consisted of many panels electro-welded together into an pyramidal shape to avoid shot-traps and fully implement the principle of
415:
company proposed to build a cheap mass-produced light infantry tank. In reaction to this proposal the French Army invited the whole of French industry to offer alternative designs. In the end, three of the competing prototypes would be taken into production: the
608:, the FCM 36 battalions were late in the afternoon ordered to counterattack and reduce it, cooperating with an infantry regiment, as they themselves had no organic infantry component. Due to the rout of the last French defence line at
496:-R turret in the beginning suffered from serious production delays; when these eased an earlier proposal to have it replaced after number 1350 was postponed; but it was still considered to cease production after number 2000 as the
462:, who declared on 9 July that it was the best of all competitors, especially since it had been proven on 17 June to be completely gas-proof, a unique quality that was considered a very desirable feature at the time.
384:. As it was more expensive to produce than competing designs, only a limited production of a hundred was authorised. It featured some advanced technologies such as a diesel engine and extensive use of welded
546:
As very few FCM 36s were to be produced, only a limited number of units would be equipped with the type. However these would happen to participate in the key event of 1940 during the
776:
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640:
position, against German infantry units. Later they tried to cover the retreat of the French Army, losing most of their combined strength of 45 in fights with German tanks.
581:
company of six and used five tanks for driver training. Of the other ten tanks, eight were used for driver training, one was destroyed testing the efficiency of the German
529:
In other aspects, it conformed to the French design standards. French tanks were usually slow compared to their German, British or Soviet counterparts. The V-4 91hp
1103:
1012:
565:
In March and April 1939 two battalions were created. Unique among those battalions equipped with light infantry tanks, these units would be called
596:
After war was declared against
Germany in September 1939, both FCM 36 battalions were combined, together with 3e BCC, a R 35 unit, into the
429:
160:
652:
for them. After some improvised use by units in May and June 1940, they were not as such employed by them. In 1943 ten were rebuilt as
449:, with a turret equipped with two machine-guns. The commission was quite impressed by the vehicle, especially because of its welded
1017:
808:
617:, armoured with 30 mm plate, though the latter had likewise trouble in penetrating the FCM 36 armour, as the tungsten core
1093:
585:, and one remained with the factory to serve as a test bed. On 25 August 1939, upon mobilisation, the BCLs were renamed
497:
493:
755:
471:
68:
46:
39:
1098:
632:
Both battalions were now kept in reserve to rebuild their numbers from the matériel and training units. During
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on 15 May, but was driven from this key position with some losses. Until 23 May it would be attached to 3 DIM.
538:
machine gun, the standard short L/21 37mm SA 18 gun was fitted, a cannon with very poor anti-armour capacity.
786:
801:
487:
900,000 FF, apparently the actual cost of production. Also FCM indicated that given its increased demanded
377:. It had a crew of two and was equipped with a short 37mm main armament and a 7.5mm coaxial machine gun.
577:, that each received 45 FCM 36s. They had an organic strength of 39 (three companies of thirteen), a
33:
794:
956:
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685:
98:
50:
940:
625:
When 7e BCC had failed, the attack by 4e BCC was halted. The battalion attacked and defended
124:
618:
987:
614:
601:
366:
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German armoured fighting vehicles, but their weak guns were insufficient to deal with the
380:
The FCM 36 was developed from 1934 onwards as part of a programme to replace the obsolete
8:
437:, had some previous experience with tank production as it had constructed the ten giant
935:
669:
535:
276:
751:
818:
547:
488:
412:
395:, which unsuccessfully counterattacked the decisive German breakthrough at Sedan.
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604:. When German infantry on 13 May 1940 established a bridgehead over the Meuse at
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in 1944. Twelve were in 1942 rebuilt as self-propelled artillery, the
648:
The
Germans captured 37 FCM 36s, using the administrative designation
470:
Even before the type had been approved, however, because of
Germany's
1042:
922:
908:
508:
474:, on 26 May an order was hastily made for a hundred vehicles of the
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748:
Jane's World War II Tanks and
Fighting Vehicles: The Complete Guide
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BCC had to withdraw, leaving 26 of the 36 employed tanks behind.
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they executed successful counterattacks on 9 and 10 June on the
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French armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II
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tanks in 1921 and had been involved in the development of the
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German Self-Propelled
Artillery Guns of the Second World War
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674:10.5cm leFH 16/18 (Sf) auf Geschuetzwagen FCM (f)
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802:
692:. It has been restored to running condition.
809:
795:
1104:Military vehicles introduced in the 1930s
817:French armoured fighting vehicles of the
69:Learn how and when to remove this message
662:7.5cm PaK40(Sf) auf GeschĂĽtzwagen FCM(f)
507:
402:
32:This article includes a list of general
736:, Editions du Barbotin, Ballainvilliers
589:. The 7e BCC was incorporated into the
1086:
598:503e Groupement de Bataillons de Chars
541:
430:Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée
393:503e Groupement de Bataillons de Chars
161:Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée
790:
708:
660:anti-tank gun and officially called
18:
13:
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210:4.46 m (14 ft 8 in)
38:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
1115:
762:
472:remilitarization of the Rhineland
226:2.20 m (7 ft 3 in)
218:2.14 m (7 ft 0 in)
97:The last surviving FCM 36 in the
593:, the 4e BCC into the 502e RCC.
591:503e RĂ©giment de Chars de Combat
91:
23:
656:tank destroyers, with the 75mm
534:armament: apart from the 7.5mm
391:In 1940, the type equipped the
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183:
1:
695:
643:
587:Bataillons de Chars de Combat
465:
1094:World War II tanks of France
664:. These were employed by 21
650:Panzerkampfwagen 737 FCM (f)
600:, the armour reserve of the
7:
769:Musée des blindés de Saumur
684:One FCM 36 survives at the
492:tanks, as the old standard
10:
1120:
679:
476:Char léger Modèle 1936 FCM
363:Char léger Modèle 1936 FCM
351:24 km/h (15 mph)
16:French light infantry tank
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970:
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750:. London: HarperCollins.
567:Bataillon de Chars LĂ©gers
526:fuel tank of 217 litres.
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287:V-4 Berliet diesel engine
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121:Place of origin
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109:
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83:
460:Commission d'Infanterie
447:Commission de Vincennes
53:more precise citations.
957:Renault UE Chenillette
550:: the crossing of the
513:
408:
1099:Light tanks of France
853:Hotchkiss H35/H38/H39
732:Pascal Danjou, 2007,
709:Moore, Craig (2019).
511:
406:
318:Ground clearance
234:2 (commander, driver)
988:Gendron-Somua AMR 39
746:Leland Ness (2002).
615:Panzerkampfwagen III
512:The FCM 36 at Saumur
313:vertical coil spring
305:5 forward, 1 reverse
262:37 mm L/21 SA 18 gun
542:Operational history
536:Châtellerault MAC31
367:light infantry tank
936:AMC Schneider P 16
872:Medium/heavy tanks
781:Chars-francais.net
670:Battle of Normandy
514:
433:(FCM), located at
409:
326:Fuel capacity
277:Reibel machine gun
144:Production history
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950:Armoured carriers
686:Musée des Blindés
369:designed for the
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202:12.35 metric tons
99:Musée des Blindés
79:
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71:
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1013:Renault B1 (ter)
941:White-Laffly AMD
819:Second World War
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715:. Fonthill Media
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562:on 14 May 1940.
548:Battle of France
489:production quota
424:and the FCM 36.
407:FCM 36 prototype
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411:In 1933, the
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289:91 hp (67 kW)
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59:December 2010
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1038:Somua SAu 40
971:Experimental
962:Lorraine 37L
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717:. Retrieved
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478:for 450,000
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375:World War II
362:
358:
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302:Transmission
294:Power/weight
157:Manufacturer
139:World War II
65:
56:
37:
931:Panhard 178
863:Renault R40
858:Renault R35
777:1936 FCM 36
774:(in French)
602:Second Army
583:Teller mine
504:Description
422:Renault R35
399:Development
371:French Army
335:Operational
186: built
51:introducing
1088:Categories
923:halftracks
833:Renault FT
696:References
644:German use
554:river, by
466:Production
382:Renault FT
329:217 litres
310:Suspension
34:references
1043:Somua S40
909:SOMUA S35
413:Hotchkiss
373:prior to
269:Secondary
178:1938–1939
170:â‚Ł 450,000
152:1933–1936
1053:ARL V 39
654:Marder I
634:Fall Rot
579:materiel
365:, was a
271:armament
257:armament
175:Produced
149:Designed
1033:SARL 42
1023:Char G1
904:Char D2
899:Char D1
894:Char B1
889:Char 2C
680:Postwar
668:in the
531:Berliet
443:Char B1
439:Char 2C
279:coaxial
85:FCM 36
47:improve
1048:ARL 44
1018:S35 CA
1008:ARL 40
998:AMX 38
978:FCM F1
884:AMC 35
879:AMC 34
848:FCM 36
843:AMR 35
838:AMR 33
754:
734:FCM 36
719:4 June
690:Saumur
658:PaK 40
627:Stonne
610:Bulson
575:7e BCL
435:Toulon
420:, the
359:FCM 36
341:225 km
321:0.36 m
284:Engine
223:Height
207:Length
125:France
113:Light
103:Saumur
36:, but
638:Aisne
606:Sedan
552:Meuse
337:range
249:40 mm
245:Armor
215:Width
752:ISBN
721:2022
619:APCR
573:and
427:The
357:The
255:Main
231:Crew
199:Mass
136:Wars
110:Type
688:at
558:of
498:APX
494:APX
361:or
189:100
184:No.
101:in
1090::
921:,
779:.
676:.
571:4e
480:FF
388:.
810:e
803:t
796:v
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66:(
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