FCM Modèle 36,
FCM 36 Infantry Tank6:
Was designed along side the R-35. It was to accompany the infantry.
The prototype, without crew and ammunition, weighed 10 tons.5
Built by the Societe des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerraneé. First mass produced French vehicle to be diesel. 100 were ordered in 1936. 100 more going to be ordered but were too expensive.
The engine was built under licence from the British firm Ricardo. Was first French tank with a diesel engine.6
It had an octagonal shaped turret (APX)5 with a non-rotating cupola at the back. The hull and turret were welded. There were mud chutes running along the top of the tracks.6
The suspension was the same as the Char B1.5 It had four bogie wheels mounted in pairs on each side that were controlled by vertical coil springs.5 The was also an independent wheel in front.5
Served alongside R-35.
The 100 vehicles that were built were assigned to two battalions.5
German Use:
10.5cm leFH16(Sf) auf Geshützwagen FCM(f), 7.5cm PaK40(Sf) auf Geshützwagen FCM (f)
| FCM Modèle 36 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver 21,2,3,6 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 26,500 lb, 12,800 kg, 12,350 kg1,6 12 tons2,3, 12.15 tons1,6, 12.3 tons4 |
| Length w/gun | 13' 10"1,6, 14' 3.25", 14.58'3, 14' 8"5 4.16 m, 4.22 m1,6, 4.46 m4, 4.47 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 6' 6.5", 7' 0.6"1, 7' 0.61"6, 7.17'3, 7' 8"5 2.33 m, 2.15 m1,6, 2.2 m4, 2.21 m2 |
| Width | 6' 4.75"1,6, 6' 10.5", 7'3,5 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 1' 2" 0.36 m2 |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | 10.67 psi 0.75 (kg/cm2)2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 37 mm1,3,5,6 37 mm L/212 37 mm Sa L/21 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | MG2 MG, coaxial5 7.5 mm MG1 7.5 mm MG31 coaxial 7.5 mm MG, coaxial.3 7.55 mm MG6 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 1022 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3,0002 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Front: 404 403,6 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 25-402 |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 202 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | 202 |
| Hull Top | 152 |
| Hull Bottom | 132 |
| Turret Front | 402 |
| Turret Sides | 402 |
| Turret Rear | 402 |
| Turret Top | 142 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Berliet1,2,3,6 Berliet Type MDP5 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water2,3 |
| Cylinders | 42,3,6 |
| Capacity | 8.4 liter6 |
| Net HP | 905, 913,6, 944 91@1,550 rpm2 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | 5 forward2, 1 reverse2 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Diesel2,3,5,6 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 69 gallons 260 liters2 |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Max speed | 14.9 mph1, 15 mph3,5,6 24 kph1,2,4,6 |
| Cross country speed | 7.5 mph |
| Road radius | 140 miles1,5,6 225 km1,6, 230 km2 Cross country: 140 km2 |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning radius | 21' 4" 6.5 m2 |
| Elevation limits | |
| Fording depth | 2' 6" 0.8 m2 |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical obstacle | |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Helical springs Clutches2 |
| Wheels each side | 8 wheels in pairs plus 1 at front 82 |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 1' 2" 320 mm2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | |
| Production | 1936- : 1005 1936-1939: 1006 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
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