What kind of tanks would you find in France in 1940?

I guess I have a good idea of the types of French and German tanks present before the fall of France. But what did the Brits deploy to France. Both the Matildas I know, but any of the cruiser tanks?

Would be nice with a list of not only tanks, but all types of armoured fighting vehicles involved.

 

tanks 1940

The Queens Bays ,with the BEF in 1940 had 'Light Tank VIC and Cruiser A9. Two tiny pics from regimental files.

 

Yes, I found a picture of a Cruiser Tank Mk I C.S. in a book, which according to the caption belonged to the 1st Armoured Division in France 1940. I don't have a scanner, but it's painted in a two-tone camouflage and has the number "13" on a light coloured disc (yellow?) on the lower frontal plate and a (white?) triangle on the turret side.

I was a bit surprised they still used these old tanks in front line service in 1940.

 

Well, they were what we had in service at the time.

 

1940

The BAYS were in 1st. Armoured, and I've met some of the men who returned via Dunkirk. The white triangle denotes 'A' Sqd,
a square is 'B', a circle is 'C' and a diamond is 'HQ' Sqd.

 

Thanks. There are some numbers or letters, the photograph isn't sharp enough to tell, inside the triangle as well.

 

BEF 1940

Two more pics from 'BAYS' files.

 

For info: the Mk VIC differed from the Mk VIB mainly in the armament: the .303" and .5" Vickers guns were replaced by the 7.9mm and 15mm Besa MGs - you can see the much longer barrel of the huge 15mm in the lower photo.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

 

There were a small number of A-13 Mk IV's(Cruisers) IIRC.

 

iirc the french actually had a superiour tank but it was badly deployed ..ie split up willy nilly amongst infantry units and spread way to thin on the ground

 

Possibly the best western tank in 1940 was the somua S35 ,
later the chassis was recycled as a tank destroyer to equipe some german units in france

there is a good one in aberdeen museum and , of course , at saumur