S:t Chamond Tank

[David]

The Char Schneider C.A.1 was intended to be the standard French heavy tank and an order was placed for 400 of them on 25 February 1916. However, Monsieur J. L. Breton, of the French Government department responsible for war inventions, gave authority for the firm Forges et Aciéries de la Marine et d'Homé-court, at Saint Chamond near Lyon, to design another tank, larger and better­armed than the Schneider. Both depart­mental and industrial jealousy were involved because this step was taken without full knowledge of the Army and neither Joffre, the Commander-in­Chief, nor Estienne, the leading military expert on the subject were consulted and there was no co-operation with the Schneider firm. The design of the Char Saint­Chamond, as it was known, was undertaken by Colonel Rimailho of F.A.M.H who took as starting-point a lengthened Holt Caterpillar chassis, which had been specially built up from parts of three Holt tractors for comparison with the Schneider-built chassis in trials at Vincennes on 21 February 1916. The prototype vehicle of Saint­Chamond design was completed by September 1916, and it was in its essentials a larger version of the Schneider; but although the tracks were longer the much larger hull led to a considerable overhang at front and rear which, it was soon found, resulted in poor cross­country performance and handling characteristics. It is interesting to note that the original designs included a third single wide track at the front, which should have considerably improved the climbing ability of the machine, although it would also have accentuated its nose-heaviness. Probably for the latter reason and also, doubtless, to simplify production, this feature was not included in the tanks built. In addition to the handling faults, the Saint-Chamond was found to have further defects when in action for the first time on 5 May 1917. Facilities for crew exit in emergency were poor, vision arrangements were inadequate and the recoil cylinder of the 75-mm. gun was found to be vulnerable to enemy fire. The Saint-Chamond had an electric transmission - a Panhard four-cylinder petrol engine of 80-90-h.p. operated a 52-kw dynamo which in turn supplied two electric motors, one to each track. This system eliminated the gear changing difficulties inherent in other early tanks and simplified steering (for which controls were provided at either end of the vehicle) but it was complicated and delicate and, unfortunately, unreliable and added to all the other troubles with this tank. In an effort to correct at least some of these faults, modifications were introduced both in the course of production and retrospectively. After the first 165 tanks (of the 400 ordered) were built, the 75mm. Saint-Chamond T.R. gun was replaced by the standard 75mm Model 1897 field gun. The flat roof with two circular cupolas of the early tanks was modified to a new pattern higher at the front to give more head­room to the crew - there was one square cupola at the left on most tanks. The tracks, which were too narrow, were replaced with wider ones with a chevron tread pattern to give more traction and to accommodate these the hull side plates over the tracks had to be modified. It was recommended that additional 8.5 mm plates should be added to the side plates (which were a basic 8.5 mm.) to give full protection against the German "K" bullet, although this modification was not carried out in full. Other features of the Char Saint­Chamond were the four Hotchkiss machine-guns (one each side, one at the front, one at the back with 8488 rounds carried) in addition to the main weapon (for which 106 rounds were supplied) mounted in the front plate; its crew of nine men, and its weight (due mainly to its heavy transmission system) of 24 tons. The S:t Chamond was first used in action on May 5 1917, in support of an infantry attack at Moule de Lafflaux. The major flaw in the construction - the small drive train and the big front overhang - at once revealed itself: of the 16 S:t Chamond tanks that participated in the assault, 15 got firmly stuck when they attempted to cross the German trenches. In the next big tank attack, both Schneider CA 1:s and S:t Chamonds participated, but the result was again a flop: only the CA 1:s managed to pass the German trenches! None of the modifications introduced could make the Saint-Chamond into a good tank and, after the French had given consideration to other designs to replace it and the Schneider C.A., it was decided to accept the offer of British heavy tanks for employment in the offensive planned for 1919. The production of the tank was curtailed after some 400 were built. Under 1918 these vehicles participated in some 375 different actions, and at the end of the war only 72 were still left in service. Below you can find a small video of the S:t Chamond

S:t Chamond Walk-Around

Eric Gallaud have taken these excellent photos of the worlds only surviving S:t Chamond, now in the Musée des blindés in Saumur in France. It was previously in the USA, at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, where it was kept outdoors for years, and didn't fare too well. But now it has been BEAUTIFULLY restored. My only small gripe is the camouflage scheme, which seems to perhaps be a small bit too garish. (The Schneider CA.1 - still running! - at the same museum is painted in the same way.) Also: it was applied with spray gun, but all authentic WW1 multiple colour schemes that I have seen, were evidently painted by hand. This is the late variant of the S:t Chamond, with, among other things, sloping roof, and just one, small square commanders cupola. Click on the thumbnails below to see the full picture.

The General View

The Track Assembly

The Interior

Below you can find some older photos, that Eric took during a previous visit. Notice the shape of the MG port to the left of the gun. There should be a Hotchkiss HMG here. Points to notice here are the two small rollers under the hull front, put there in a - pretty vain - attempt to prevent ditching. A beautiful study of the complex drive train. Notice also the inside of the hatch, with the simple latch mechanism. The rear entry/exit door. Notice the one big roller underneath the hull, also to prevent ditching. Notice also the star on the left, a trademark of S:t Chamond. And that the rear hull is ASYMMETRICAL in height! The motor, a 90hp Panhard Patrol motor, that was driving the a generator powering an electric motor driving the drive sprockets. Notice the exhaust pipes running up to the roof. The gun. All the Late S:t Chamonds were equipped with the famous 75mm mle1897. Notice also the underside of the cupola. n