Armored fighting vehicles designed or produced by the French Republic. French tanks tend to be extremely specialized tanks and each should be examined carefully for fit before committing to play it.
French tanks vary wildly between the tiers, but are generally geared to some sort of offensive action. At lower tiers, they accomplish this with great armor but have poor speed and are armed with poor guns. At higher tiers, they are very mobile and armed with great guns, but sacrifice their armor to achieve great performance. Most mid to high tier French tanks have an autoloader with a drum magazine, which allow for several shots in a short period of time, or a second path which focuses on more conventional playstyles. Almost all French tanks suffer from having few crew members which makes for less variety when choosing crew skills or perks, lack of sufficient hull and turret armor at mid-high tier, lack sufficient speed and mobility at lower tiers, and their guns almost always have poor "gun handling" stats such as aim time and accuracy on the move. All are meant for offensive action; lower tier French tanks rely on their armor to withstand enemy hits and higher tier French tanks rely on their speed to avoid hits. With the exception to their tank destroyers, lower tier tanks will have trouble stopping heavily armored vehicles advancing on their position and higher tier tanks will find themselves handicapped when holding a position due to the extremely long reload times on the automatic loaders. On all tiers, poor gun depression and poor turret armor prevents them from using hull-down positions effectively.
French Tank Crew Tropes:
- Large Ham: The French announcer is much more boisterous and emotional than other nations, ranging from overly joyful when you damage or destroy an enemy, half-sad half-frustrated when you get killed and either amazed, disappointed or downright sad when your shots bounce off.
- Must Have Caffeine: The French food consumable is strong coffee. With, of course, a croissant.
Lines:
- (T1) Renault FT > either the FCM 36 or R35 (as of patch 9.7) > AMX 38 > AMX 40 > ELC AMX > AMX 12 t > AMX 13 75 > AMX 13 90: The main light tank and scout line of the French. Becomes a medium line at tier 9.
- The D1 light tank at tier 2 marks the beginning of the French heavy line.
- The Hotchkiss H35 at tier 2 marks the beginning of the French medium line.
Renault FT
The vehicle entered service in 1917, with a total of 3,177 vehicles manufactured by the end of World War I and 3,800 vehicles produced in total. At the beginning of World War II a total of 1560 vehicles were in service.
Starter tank for the French line, featuring an excellent mix of protection and firepower for Tier 1 with its main disadvantage being speed.
- Attack the Tail: Strongly averted; the FT's armor is still as thick as its front on its rear section, and said rear is very well slanted, as well as protected by the tank's actual "tail" (used to help cross trenches on the Western Front).
- Hard Head: The vehicle's turret is very rounded, and has superior armor thickness to the hull. It's often difficult to penetrate it with a machine gun, even at close range.
- Older Is Better: Dubbed "the world's first modern tank" by historian Steven Zaloga, the Renault FT was first used in World War I and captured vehicles were still in use by Nazis defending Paris in 1944. Many tanks from World War II onward can trace design elements back to the FT. Even with its production year starting in 1917, it can hold its own- and often do far better- than tanks produced 10 to 15 years later or more.
- Underground Monkey: Notice any similarities between this tank and the NC-31 or Renault Otso? Or maybe the MS-1? Tier 1 matches are practically a family reunion for the Renault FT.
D1
Development was started in 1929. Mass production was launched in 1930, with 160 vehicles manufactured by 1935. A total of 152 tanks fought in France. Eighteen vehicles were captured by the German Army and used for training purposes.
- Damned by Faint Praise: With a top speed of 27 kph, it's the fastest low-tier French light tank.
- Failed a Spot Check: An early aversion of the typically poor French gun depression, the D1 can aim its gun down 18 degrees, which is better than most tanks in the whole game. Now if you can just get a decent gun to mount on it.
- Hard Head: The turret has notably thicker armor than the hull.
- Made of Iron: Other tier 2 tanks will definitely struggle to cause damage. Most won't get through your armor at all. Even the commander's cupola— which is usually a weak spot— is hard as nails, and the lower glacis is very well rounded. The driver's window, though...
Hotchkiss H35
Cavalry support tank. Developed in 1934. Mass production was launched in 1935, with a total of 400 vehicles manufactured. In 1938 a new modification, the H38, entered production. About 1000 of the H35/H38/H39 vehicles were produced.
- Blatant Lies: Its official top speed is the same as the D1. Good luck!
- Glacier Waif: Despite its diminutive size, the H35 has some of the hardest and best-sloped armor found at its tier. It may be a light tank that would lose a race with a tortoise to the enemy base, but good luck penetrating it from distance.
FCM 36
Developed in the mid-1930s as an infantry support tank. It was the only French vehicle to utilize a diesel engine. By 1939, a total of 100 vehicles were manufactured.
- Every Car Is a Pinto: Inverted. This is the only low-tier French tank with a diesel engine, which is resistant to being set alight by enemy fire.
Renault R35
The most massively produced WWII French light tank. Developed in 1934 on a request from the army for infantry support. A total of 1,630 vehicles were manufactured from 1936 through 1940.
- Failed a Spot Check: Just like the D1, the R35 can point its gun down 16 degrees. Combined with typically tough French light armor with few frontal weak points, this little tank can push out quite a bit of opposition from a choke point when top tier.
AMX 38
Developed in 1937 by the AMX company on the basis of the Renault R-40. The vehicle had a larger turret than comparable vehicles and was equipped with a diesel engine. By 1940 two vehicles were ready for trials.
- Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: A comparatively long reload and aim time, combined with terrible dispersion, can leave the commander wondering if firing is worth anything at all past 100 meters.
- Stone Wall: For its tier, the armor is thick and very well-sloped... especially the turret. This little tank can solo its fair share of checkpoints at top tier— which is good, because it's not going to win any rally races.
AMX 40
Development was started in March 1940. Initially, the vehicle was to have a wheeled caterpillar propulsion system. The blueprint of the vehicle was created but in July 1940 work was discontinued.
- In Name Only: A light tank. With hull armor that wouldn't look too bad on heavies a tier higher, and the speed to match.
- Scratch Damage: The top gun is mediocre when tested against tanks at similar tiers... when thrown into tier 6 matches, it's enough to make you The Load (in fact, the official Wargaming Wiki says as much
). Your best bet is to stay home with the SPGs, and upon seeing an enemy, aim for the tracks and light up the chat until your bigger friends come to finish them off. - Stone Wall: It's basically a duck-shaped slab of steel armor on treads with a gun added as an afterthought.
- In fact, this videonote shows an AMX 40 bouncing a shot from a T95. Yes, that's not a graphics glitch, the AMX 40 can bounce shots from the T95.
- In fact, this video
- Weak, but Skilled: Although The Duck is usually seen as
that one tank in the French light tree, it's not unheard of to see someone carry a match by using its absurd armor and good positioning to make up for the terrible gun and worse mobility. Expect the enemy team to offer huge props for this, if they can stop laughing.
ELC AMX
In 1956, the French Ministry of Defense launched the ELC (Engin Leger de Combat) project. The aim was to create a light tank for airborne transport. The ELC AMX prototype featured a low silhouette and a turret placement of both crew members. The vehicle never saw mass production, nor entered service.
- Glass Cannon: A huge gun compared to previous French light tanks. Don't spend too long out of cover, though, because a thrown rock could get through that armor.
- Not the Intended Use: While this tank is indeed a light and does get tougher matchmaking as a scout, it's very possible to abuse the extremely high camo of the ELC and 90mm gun to act as an impromptu Tank Destroyer.
- Shed Armor, Gain Speed: About as extreme an example as you can find in this game, compared to its predecessor.
- Stealth Expert: The extremely low profile of this tank makes it nigh impossible to find in cover. With a camo net and a crew trained in Camouflage, it might as well be invisible.
- Unexpected Gameplay Change: From the slow and undergunned but well armored tanks, you get a tank that is extremely fast, has no armor, and has a powerful gun. As a "bonus", the turret can only rotate so far, and it's the only tank in the entire line to have this quirk.
- As of the 9.19 patch, the turret can now make complete rotations, but the mobility was nerfed a bit. C'est la vie.
AMX 12 t
This design of a light high-speed tank was developed in 1946 but never put into production. However, it became the basis for the well-known AMX 13.
- Bottomless Magazines: Strongly averted. This tank can carry only 30 rounds, which is enough for five magazines worth of firing. Pick your targets carefully.
- More Dakka: The autoloader makes this tank capable of 810 damage in about 13 seconds.
- Target Spotter: With a top view and radio range of 380 and 750 meters, respectively, expect the SPGs to buy your drinks after the round is over, if you drive well.
- Unexpected Gameplay Change: While the ELC acted as the change in French tank design, the 12 t also adds autoloaders to the mix.
AMX 13 75
Development was started in 1946. The vehicle was mass-produced from 1952 through 1964 in France, and until 1985 in Argentina. The tank has been exported to many countries and is still in service in some countries of Asia and South America.
- So Last Season: One of the biggest complaints with the 13 75 is that it uses the same gun as the 12 t, which really begins to struggle against the tier X tanks you may now see.
- Weak, but Skilled: The 75mm gun may not put out a lot of damage or penetrate easily when a tier higher, but the tank has much better stats in almost every other department, especially maneuverability.
AMX 13 90
Development was started in 1946. Mass production was launched in 1952. The first 2000 vehicles were equipped with the 75 mm gun. However, later versions had the 90 mm gun, giving much greater firepower.
- Pintsized Powerhouse: Very much a light tank, but the devastating autoloading 90mm can put out enough damage to leave tier 8 heavies at the brink of destruction.
- Unskilled, but Strong: While the 90mm gun can pump out a lot of damage, horrific soft stats and the inability to mount a vertical stabilizer means that the only way to reliably hit with all 6 rounds is to sit through a three second aiming time or attack at point-blank range.
Lines:
- The tier 3 D2 is available through the tier 2 D1 light tank, and leads to the heavies.
- (T3) SOMUA S35 > SARL 42 > G1 R, after which it joins the heavy line at the ARL 44.
- (T9) Lorraine 40 t > B-C 25 t: The French Medium autoloaders. They play almost identically to the scout line they came from.
- (T9) AMX 30 1er prototype > AMX 30 B: Non-autoloader Medium line. Not unlike Leopard Prototype A/1.
D2
A further modification of the D1 tank. Developed in 1934 by the Renault company. A total of 100 vehicles were manufactured from 1936 through 1940. The vehicles of the second series were designated as D2bis.
- Blatant Lies: Half of the front hull's 40 mm of armor is thinned out for the driver's viewport and the (useless) hull gun.
- Friend or Foe?: Frequent mechanical breakdowns during mobilization caused this tank to spend a lot of time away from the theater of war... so much time, in fact, that some French infantry saw a company of D2s approaching from behind to support an assault and mistook them for a Panzer company, causing them to promptly flee. The D2s continued the assault anyway.
SOMUA S35
Good firepower, armor protection, and mobility made the S35 one of the best tanks of its time. However, the small turret forced the commander to handle multiple tasks at once: searching for enemy targets, aiming and reloading the gun, and coordinating the actions of the crew. This workload reduced his situational awareness and decreased the vehicle's effectiveness on the battlefield. By the time France capitulated on June 22, 1940, a total of 427 vehicles had been manufactured.- Jack of All Stats: With thick armor all over, a decent gun, and (finally) a proper top speed, the S35 can do whatever it needs to do at tier 3. Except climb hills.
SARL 42
Developed by Hubert Clermont from 1940 through 1942, during the German occupation of France. Some elements of the SOMUA S35 medium tank and the experimental G1R infantry tank were incorporated into the new vehicle. It was hoped that development would be continued after the liberation of the country. However, by 1944 the project was deemed outdated.- Glass Cannon: Has a nice selection of guns to choose from. Don't expect it to last long against guns at this tier though...
G1 R
Developed from 1935 through 1940. The vehicle was comparable to the T-34 in terms of its characteristics. Among several presented prototypes, the Renault G1R project was eventually selected. The vehicle had individual torsion-bar suspension and an innovative gun-mounting scheme. A prototype was built by 1940. However, the development was stopped when France was defeated later that year.- Powerful, but Inaccurate: It's howitzer has the worst aim time and accuracy of any of the tier 5 mediums, but it does have better shell velocity.
- Ramming Always Works: At least it works more often. This "medium" tank weighs in at over 46 tons, and it can move a lot faster than the "pocket heavy" light tanks.
- Took a Level in Badass: A very welcome upgrade in armor from the SARL 42. It's 60 mm thick all over, with good angles and skirts over the tracks.
AMX Chasseur de chars
In 1946, the the AMX company presented this design for a new vehicle. The powerful engine and light weight would have made the vehicle highly mobile, and the 90-mm gun was equipped with a mechanical ammunition system for a high rate of fire. However, the large dimensions of the vehicle, its thin armor, and the complexity of the design made it unappealing, and the project never advanced to a prototype.
The AMX CDC is a tier 8 premium medium tank.
- Acrofatic: Can hit 57 km/h flat out, turns on a dime, and climbs hills like a mountain goat. It's also bigger than some heavy tanks!
- Fragile Speedster: Has the best power-to-weight ratio in the game and excellent top speed, but any shot that strikes the hull will pen due to the best armor being a mere 30mm.
- Tanks, but No Tanks: It was a tank destroyer project re-purposed as a medium by WG.
Lorraine 40 t
A single prototype was manufactured in 1952. The vehicle featured suspension air-core tires and oscillating turret. The design passed trials but never entered mass production.
- Put on a Bus: Replaced by the BatChat 25t AP. Returned as a tier VIII premium in 9.17.1.
M4A1 Revalorise
- Do Not Run with a Gun: Played straight initally, but then averted after 9.17; It became one of the best tanks in the game for snapshots.
-
Fake Nationality: It's a US Sherman with a French developed gun for the Israeli Army. The French had no plans to use it for themselves. - Glass Cannon: It's the tier 5 Sherman's hull booted up to tier 8, and as a result is very fragile. However, the 105mm cannon is a nasty weapon.
BatChat 25t AP
In 1950–1951, engineers of the FAMH company (Compagnie des forges et aciéries de la marine et d'Homécourt) worked on the development of a medium tank with a 90-mm gun and a rotating turret. Work was discontinued at the preliminary design stage. Later, all elements of the vehicle were incorporated in the Batignolles-Châtillon 25 t tank.
- New Meat: Currently the newest tank in the French tech tree.
- More Dakka: Sports a 100 mm gun with a six round autoloader.
- Glass Cannon: Can take down tier VIII and some tier IX tanks with a single magazine. Just don't expect it to survive anything the enemy throws back at it...
- Bottomless Magazines: Inverted. Only carries 30 rounds for the 100 mm gun, which is only five magazines worth. Don't waste your ammo.
AMX 30 1er prototype
Developed as part of a competitive search for a unified European tank. The vehicle turned out to have maneuverability, engine power, and effective anti-tank engagement distance superior to all other vehicles except the Leopard 1. The armor of the vehicle was quite thin, but it was decided that technological advances in anti-tank shells had essentially rendered armor obsolete: survivability would depend on mobility and firepower.
- Difficult, but Awesome: Stock, it's a real pain to drive. When fully upgraded however, it can give a nasty punch to unsuspecting enemies.
- Glass Cannon: Can equip a powerful and accurate 105 mm gun. Its armour though, leaves much to be desired, like most French tanks.
Bat.-Châtillon 25 t
This experimental tank was a further development of the AMX 13. The tank underwent trials, but never entered mass production nor saw service. Two vehicles were manufactured.
- More Dakka: Sports a 105 mm gun with a five round autoloader.
- Glass Cannon: Can take down many tanks in its tier with a single magazine. Just don't expect it to survive anything the enemy throws back at it...
- Bottomless Magazines: Inverted. Only carries 30 rounds for the 105 mm gun, which is only six magazines worth. Make. Every. Shot. Count.
AMX 30 B
Developed in 1966. The vehicle had maneuverability, engine power, and effective anti-tank engagement distance superior to all other vehicles except the Leopard 1. Great view range allowed the vehicle’s commander to coordinate the actions of the crew and to maintain situational awareness, greatly increasing the vehicle’s effectiveness. The armor of the vehicle was quite thin, but it was decided that technological advances in anti-tank shells had essentially rendered armor obsolete: survivability would depend on mobility and firepower. A total of 2,800 vehicles were manufactured.
- Always Someone Better: Considered inferior to the German Leopard 1.
- Glass Cannon: Sports a powerful and accurate 105 mm gun. Its armour still leaves much to be desired.
Lines:
- (T4) B1 > BDR G1 B > ARL 44 > AMX M4 45 > AMX 50 100 > AMX 50 120 > AMX 50 B
B1
Development was started in 1921. Due to extended trials the vehicle did not enter service until 1934. A total of 403 tanks in two basic modifications were manufactured from 1935 through 1940.
- A Taste of Power: One of the earliest available heavy tanks in the game, and arguably the closest to the type of the tier 4 heavies (Others being the German DW2 and the Japanese Type 95).
- Scratch Damage: While the B1 only sees up to tier 5, the best gun it can equip is a 47mm gun that has major problems getting through tanks even with gold ammo. All it takes is a few games of running into the British Matilda (much less a KV-1) and being utterly helpless for a player to get fed up with the gun. Not helping is the lack of multi-gun support, which prevents the use of the hull-mounted howitzer.
- Reality Is Unrealistic: The poor gun and mediocre armor (for a heavy), plus the large, juicy silhouette can make this tank difficult to put up against tanks of the same tier. But the historical B1 was an absolute monster. During the Battle of France, a B1 named Eure was able to knock out eleven Panzer IIIs and two Panzer IVs in a single engagement, all while shrugging off 140 direct hits.
BDR G1 B
The project of a new vehicle was suggested by engineers of the Baudet-Donon-Rousell company in June 1938. However, the design was never developed.
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: It's a rather poorly-protected, sluggish tank that is also a tall target, and widely made fun of because of that, at least until the 90mm DCA-30 cannon painfully stings them in the face.
- Unexpected Gameplay Change: Represents the same shift in French armor paradigm in the heavy tree as the light ELC AMX. There is an impressive bump in firepower and mobility, at the cost of some armor protection.
- War for Fun and Profit: The BDR's low repair and resupply costs, combined with its high damage potential, make it one of the most lucrative non-premium cash machines in the game.
ARL 44
Heavy tank developed during World War II on the basis of the pre-war B1 Bis. A combination of an obsolete 1930s chassis and a heavily armed turret proved unsuccessful. A total of 60 vehicles were manufactured since 1946.
- Weaksauce Weakness: While the ARL sports some of the best armor of any French tank beyond tier 4, it comes at a time where 90mm+ guns (which can overmatch and easily penetrate the turret sides) are becoming more common, and the side hull armor can be hit through the tracks.
- Glass Cannon: Has an array of powerful guns to choose from, but its armour is more on the weaker side.
AMX M4 mle. 45
The development of this heavy tank started in 1945. Initially, the standard French suspension was used but it proved unsuitable for a high-speed tank and was replaced with a German suspension in later modifications.
- Glass Cannon: Uses a 90 mm gun comparable to the 8.8 cm on the German Tiger I, don't expect its typical French armour to protect it from return fire though.
- Acrofatic: A heavy tank that accelerates and turns rather quickly, though the top speed is a bit low at 35 km/h.
AMX 50 100
Development of this heavy tank started in 1945, and was influenced by German wartime tank designs. In 1950 a prototype with an oscillating turret and the 100 mm gun was manufactured. The vehicle never entered mass production nor saw service.
- More Dakka: Sports a 100 mm gun with a six round autoloader.
- Glass Cannon: Can take down full health tier VIIIs with a single magazine. Its armour though, is typically French. It does have typically French mobility as well.
AMX 65 t
Developed by the AMX company in 1950, this heavy tank utilized design elements of the Tiger II along with a "pike nose" hull design. Never entered production.
Marks the beginning of the second French heavy path.
- Elite Tweak: There's significant debate whether sticking with the stock turret and second 100mm gun for its accuracy, penetration, and rate of fire is superior to the upgraded turret and 120mm gun's superior handling and alpha damage.
- Master of None: On paper it has decent armor, competitive guns, and good top speed. In practice, it has sluggish maneuverability, anemic guns marred by bad handling, and inadequate armor rendering it an exceedingly frustrating tank to play.
- Power-Up Letdown: The second turret and accompanying 120mm gun are arguably this to the stock turret and second 100mm gun, losing out in accuracy, penetration, rate of fire, and effective armor in return for only moderately improved handling and alpha damage.
FCM 50 t
Development was started in December 1945. The vehicle was conceived as replacement for the AMX 50t and combined features typical of the pre-war French tank-construction industry as well as German innovations. The vehicle was to be equipped with an additional container trailer, equipment for underwater driving, and a demountable mine clearer.
This tank is a tier 8 premium tank.
- In Name Only: While this tank is listed as a heavy tank, the speed and rapid-firing but low-caliber gun and middling armor lead to a decidedly medium-like playstyle.
- Acrofatic: It has a pretty long chassis, but can keep up with medium tanks with little to no issue.
AMX 50 120
A prototype of the AMX 50 tank. Developed in the early 1950s under the influence of the Soviet IS-3 and T-10. The tank featured enhanced armor and a 120-mm gun in the oscillating turret.
- Weaksauce Weakness: The ammo rack can be struck from the front.
- Acrofatic: Larger and bulkier than the AMX 50 100, but is no less mobile.
AMX M4 mle. 51
A design variant of the AMX M4 project with a reinforced hull. Development began in 1949 but never saw production or service.
- Achilles' Heel: While it has very strong frontal armor, its side and rear armor is pitifully weak and easily penetrated even at long range.
- BFG: Can mount the 127mm/54 caliber gun, which in real life served as a medium naval battery.
- Elite Tweak: Can either stick with its stock 120mm gun for its superior accuracy, penetration, and rate of fire or use the 127mm gun for its superior alpha damage and overmatch potential.
- Hard Head: Has a very strong upgraded turret with 300mm frontal armor and relatively small cupolas/
- Lightning Bruiser: Unlike the 65t before it, the M4 51 has very good acceleration and easily reaches its very reasonable top speed of 40 km/h
AMX 50 B
Developed starting in 1951 by DEFA, the state weapons design bureau. By 1958, the AMX 50 B received a number of improvements, including a low-profile cast hull and torsion-bar suspension. A new oscillating turret with a 120-mm gun was also mounted on the vehicle. Despite the fact that the Maybach engine power provided just 1000 hp, the specialists from the German Gruppe M company were looking for a solution that would allow the vehicle to reach the speed up to 65 km/h. Only one finished prototype of this variant was built.
- Lightning Bruiser: This tank not only moves about as if it were a medium and has an improved 120mm cannon from the 50 120, the frontal hull armor is massively improved and capable of easily deflecting carelessly aimed shots.
AMX M4 mle. 54
Another variant of the AMX M4 project with a 280mm applique armored upper glacis. Never saw production or service.
This tank marks the end of the second French heavy line.
- BFG: Can mount the 130mm/45 caliber gun, which like the M4 51's 127mm gun served as a medium naval battery in the real world.
- Elite Tweak: Has the option of accuracy and armor penetration in the 120mm gun, or raw alpha damage in the 130mm gun.
- Lightning Bruiser: Like the M4 51 before it, the M4 54 reaches its respectable top speed of 40 km/h with ease, and is even more durable and punishing in a fight.
Lines:
- (T2) FT AC > UE 57 > SAu 40 > S35 CA > ARL V39 > AMX AC 46 > AMX AC 48 > Foch > Foch 155
Renault FT AC
As the French Army's vast fleet of Renault FT tanks passed into obsolescence, some efforts were made to upgrade the vehicles. One proposal was to convert them into tank destroyers, but the plan was never implemented.
- Glass Cannon: The massive gun can reliably penetrate tier 4 tanks and has a very high reload rate. The result is an even heavier tank for the FT's weak engine, with nominal armor and a very narrow gun traverse angle. An unsupported FT AC is as much a sitting duck as an SPG.
FCM 36 Pak 40
In 1943, ten FCM 36 tanks were converted into tank destroyers. Earlier, twelve vehicles of that type were converted into self-propelled guns carrying the 105 mm gun.
A tier 3 premium tank destroyer.
- Fake Nationality: A captured French light tank outfitted with a German TD gun... fighting with a French insignia.
- Mix And Match Tanks: What would happen if you stacked a German 7.5cm cannon on a French light hull?
Renault UE 57
Developed in 1943 in Great Britain by mounting the British 6-pounder gun on the chassis of the French tankette UE2. One prototype was manufactured.
- Chronically Crashed Car: If anyone in a tier 3 game starts complaining publicly about the new physics engine, there's a better than even chance they're tipped on their side in a UE 57. It only takes a few minutes driving one of these little guys around to see how unstable the suspension can be.
- Fragile Speedster: It's small and fast because it's lightly armored.
- Magikarp Power: The aforementioned 6-pounder gun is only available as an upgrade, after quite a bit of grinding with the comparatively flaccid 47 mm SA-L mle. 1937— at tier, it's okay at best with a high firing rate. But at tiers 4 and 5, you might as well be throwing rocks at anything but scouts. The 6-pounder has no trouble penetrating anything you come across, and with the UE 57's high camo value, it might as well be invisible.
- Mix And Match Tanks: What would happen if you stacked a British 6-pounder cannon on a French tankette?
- Ramming Always Works: Against it. It's lighter than the American M56 Scorpion at only 3 tons which means contact with allies or enemies, accidental or not, can seriously damage or kill you.
- Why Did It Have to Be Gun Depression?: One of the worst depression ratings in the game, of only 3 degrees. This generally throws any advantage of high ground out the window.
SOMUA SAu 40
A proposed tank destroyer on the basis of the SOMUA S35. Existed only in blueprints.note
- Awesome, but Impractical: Big, sturdy tank destroyer with powerful gun sounds like a good idea on paper. In-game however, it's slow speed hampers the ability to quickly get in or out of position. It can't take advantage of hill crest due to low gun placement and the vulnerable machine gun turret on top. The guns are inaccurate at long range, while the armor is useless to most frontline non-TD tanks it often gets put against. Many people compare it to equally awkward M3 Lee medium tank of American line, and those who can play the SAu 40 well often advise players to be extremely cautious.
- Go for the Eye: A big, thinly-armored machine gun turret pokes out of the top.
- Reality Is Unrealistic: As the note in the description implies, mounting a BFG on the S35 chassis actually happened. This makes it the first (French) TD in the French line to have actually seen action.
- The Big Guy: The most physically imposing tier 4 French tank, and excepting the SPG, armed with the most withering gun.
- Unexpected Gameplay Change: Trading in a tank destroyer that is so small and light that it nearly flips over on its head when it stops or turns at speed... for an enormous gun and tough frontal armor on the SOMUA S35 chassis.
S35 CA
The design called for the conversion of tanks into tank destroyers by mounting a 17-pounder gun into an open-topped, lightly armored cabin.
- Elite Tweak: One of the things that makes this TD stand out is that all of its guns are viable: The 17-pdr gives excellent penetration and solid DPS, the 90mm gives the best DPS while being middle-of-the-road in soft stats, and the 105mm is the raw alpha option.
ARL V39
A prototype of the ARL 40. The vehicle was intended as an assault SPG. Mass production was to be launched in 1940 but never started due to the occupation of France.
- Badass on Paper: Has some deceptively good on-paper statistics... which are completely ruined by numerous drawbacks that are not immediately apparent in the garage. This tank is only the first in the general trend of the French tank destroyer line, so you'd best prepare yourself...
AMX AC mle. 46
The first design project of a heavy tank destroyer on the basis of the M4. Development was started in 1946. The configuration of the vehicle had a strong resemblance to the Jagdpanther. Existed only in blueprints.
- Badass on Paper: Like most high tiered French tank destroyers, it has some deceptively good on-paper statistics (decent frontal armour, a decent gun selection, and unprecedented mobility) which are are marred by numerous flaws that are not apparent in the garage.
AMX AC mle. 48
A draft project of a tank destroyer on the basis of the AMX 50. Developed in 1948. The vehicle featured rotating fire unit on the rear. Existed only in blueprints.
- Weaksauce Weakness: That rotating fire unit? Adds a third "cupola" to the TD that is surprisingly easy to hit and houses one of the gunners.
- Badass on Paper: At this point, it's a Running Gag.
AMX 50 Foch
Tank destroyer on the basis of the AMX 50. A prototype was manufactured in 1950. By 1951 a few more vehicles were ready for trials. The vehicle was in service until 1952.
- Named After Somebody Famous: One of two French TDs named after Grand Marshall Ferdinand Foch, who was the commander of Allied Entente forces during the last year of World War I, and uttered the infamous words,Foch: Mon centre cède, ma droite recule, situation excellente, j'attaque. (My center is yielding, my right flank is retreating, excellent position, I am attacking.)
- Always Someone Better: Considered one of the worst tier 9 tank destroyers, with the lowest damage per shot (tied with the British Tortoise, but it compensates with a rapid rate of fire), lowest DPM, non-existant armour anywhere but the front, and appallingly bad gun handling.
AMX 50 Foch (155)
In 1952, with the launch of the AMX 50 120 tank project, the French discontinued development of the AMX 50 Foch tank destroyer. A tank destroyer having the same 120-mm gun armament as the tank was thought to be unnecessary. There were attempts to upgrade the main gun to 155 mm, but these efforts were abandoned as France made moves to adopt standardized NATO equipment.
- Lightning Bruiser: Sports an autoloading 155 mm gun that can take away 2250 HP in just over 10 seconds. Its front is a tough nut to crack if the enemy doesn't understand its weakspots or flank around it. It's also quite mobile for a tank of its size.
Lines:
- (T2) FT BS > Lorr. 39L AM > AMX 105 AM > AMX 13 AM > AMX 13 F3 > Lorr. 155 50 > Lorr. 155 51 > B-C 155 55 > B-c 155 58
Renault FT 75 BS
The first order for an SPG on the basis of the Renault FT-17 was placed in December 1917. However, no SPG entered service until the end of World War I. After the end of the war a total of 39 vehicles were manufactured.
- More Dakka: A 100% crew and the top gun can fire once every 8 seconds... which is faster than some main battle tanks.
- Underground Monkey: Another one of the various flavors of FT available in this game.
Lorraine 39L AM
Self-propelled gun on the basis of the Lorraine 37L. Development was started just before World War II. Existed only in blueprints.
- A-Team Firing: Despite its long range, it's not terribly accurate and it takes a long time to aim. It doesn't even get much of a benefit from splash damage, either.
- Sniper Duel: Unusually for tier 3, has an effective range includes damn near the whole map, from any position. This makes it exceptionally useful for taking out enemy tank destroyers and SPGs from a safe distance.
- Pint-Sized Powerhouse: Just a tiny little guy. Very bad idea to approach from the front.
AMX 105 AM mle. 47
A 105-mm SPG design project developed by the Construction Bureau in Issy-les-Moulineaux (Paris, France). The draft was ready in September 1947. However, development was discontinued and the project was canceled.
- Lightning Bruiser: Very quick for an SPG, with a punishing gun to boot.
- Not the Intended Use: Good mobility and a tough cannon both make it easy to adapt to urban maps as an ad-hoc tank destroyer, where buildings might prevent a more traditional SPG style from being effective.
- Radial Ass Kicking: The gun has quite a wide traverse arc, which allows it hold the hull steady while acquiring new targets. Of course, the low shot arc may introduce some unpleasant difficulties for getting over obstacles like... moderately tall hills and single-story houses.
AMX 13 105 AM mle. 50
Self-propelled gun on the basis of the AMX-B tank. The prototype was developed and tested beginning in 1949. Mass production was launched in 1955.
105 leFH18B2
In March 1941, the Rheinmetall-Borsig company ordered sixteen captured B1 Bis tanks to be converted into SPGs. The work was started only at the end of 1941 due to the lack of operational tanks. The vehicles entered service in 1942.
This SPG is a tier 5 limited premium, and one of only two premium SPGs in the game.
- Death of a Thousand Cuts: In a similar vein to the Bishop, this SPG does not take out enemies in one large hit but instead wears them down with a fast reloading gun.
- Fake Nationality: Is a French tank despite historically being used by the Germans.
- Mix-and-Match Critters: A French B1 bis hull mounted with a German Wespe's 10.5cm field howitzer.
AMX 13 F3 AM
Developed at the end of the 1950s on the basis of the AMX 13. The vehicle was mass-produced until the end of the 1960s and is still in service in France, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Morocco, and other countries.
- BFG: Sports a 155 mm howitzer, which can be a surprise (welcome or not) to anyone expecting yet another rapid-firing low caliber SPG.
- Unexpected Gameplay Change: Aside from the bigger gun, this tank also has a unique gun traverse arc, unique in that it's quite wide...if you only turn your gun to the right.
Lorraine 155 mle. 50
SPG prototype developed in 1952 on the basis of the experimental Lorraine 40t. Never entered mass production nor saw service.
- Fragile Speedster: Like most French SPGs (or most French tanks in general), it's fairly mobile. You are still an artillery vehicle though, so don't get carried away.
Lorraine 155 mle. 51
Experimental SPG on the basis of the prototype of the medium tank Char de Bataille Lorraine 40t. The prototype was manufactured in 1952. Never entered mass production nor saw service.
Bat.-Châtillon 155 55
A 155-mm SPG design project developed in 1955. The vehicle was intended to be manufactured on the chassis of the U.S. M47 medium tank, which was exported to France. However, the chassis of the French medium tank Batignolles-Chatillon 25t was preferred over other variants. The initial version existed only in blueprints.
- Unexpected Gameplay Change: Is one of the only SPGs in the game with a fully-rotatable turret.
- Power Up Letdown: The upgraded gun only improves the aiming time by half a second.
Bat.-Châtillon 155 58
SPG prototype on the basis of the Batignolles-Chatillon 25t manufactured in 1958. Never entered mass production.
- Unexpected Gameplay Change: Is one of the only SPGs in the game with a fully-rotatable turret, though you should have gotten used to it from the previous tank.
- Crippling Overspecialization: Suffers massively on damage in exchange for the autoloader: Sure you get 4 rounds worth of 6 seconds of reloading, but you're attacking with the same gun as the tier 8 SPG, and once those four rounds are fired you are out of the action for 73 seconds at best.
