France develops a new arsenal

Ah.. go back to the post where I linked the various French armored vehical research projects. Or here are the specific items.

The famous B1bis was designed specifically as a 'assualt' tank. Second in the B1 series its main 75mm gun served the same purpose as the cannon in the StGIII or the later Soviet SU armored vehicals. The turret on top is deceptive. This was not intended as a main battle tank or a exploitation vehical. It was intended to lead infantry in blasting through enemy defense postions.

The B1ter was the continuation of the B1 & B1bis desigins it had even better armor, a more rational gun aiming system, and a reliable drive train/transmission. The B1 designs were intended as assualt vehicals, with a tactical role similar to the Soviet SU type vehicals.

http://www.chars-francais.net/new/in...1202&Itemid=99

On the drawing board was the Char B40 which illustrates a further refinement of the assualt armor comcept.

http://www.chars-francais.net/new/in...=788&Itemid=36

For self propelled artillery these were being tested...

The SAU 40 and ARL 40 were not armored assualt guns like the StgIII or the SU vehicals. They were capable of indirect fire & to be equipped with the appropriate gunsights, communications, and trained crews. One of the prototypes was designed specifically for the use of the battery/battalion commanders for forward observation. It had its gun replaced with extra radios and the turret was to have a stereo optic range finder and surveyor quality direction and location sights.

http://www.chars-francais.net/new/in...=792&Itemid=36

http://www.chars-francais.net/new/in...d=54&Itemid=36

The development of these SAU 40 & ARL 40 prototypes ahead of any similar German, British, or other armys reflected the French focus on artillery as the dominant weapon.

For tank destroyers there were two small batches of test models. One was a 47mm AT gun mounted on a Laffley or Lorraine tracked cargo vehical. It had no armor protecting the gun, tho it was proposed to add it.

http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=108&Itemid=38

The other was a armored car chassis with the same 47mm AT gun. The photos do show a gunshield.

http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=800&Itemid=36

Last there was a truck mounted 47mm AT gun with a gun shield.

http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=107&Itemid=38

Since all tanks in production in 1939-40 had excellent 47mm guns, and 75mm & 90mm high powered guns were being tested it may be the French though tank destroyers as redundant and not worth much attention.

 

Enough about tanks. Are there any air experts with more information of French aircraft developments?

 

A kindly soul gave me a link to this web site for French aircraft.

http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/Files/2-Airplanes/Allies/4-France/French-Airplanes.htm

It has some nice drawings of the planes, and a date for the first flight of each model shown. Not much for statitics, but it does give a general idea of the direction aircraft development was headed. The largest question in my mind is engine development. The French engines do not seem to be any better than the Germans in terms of power. Information on engine development would be more usefull at this point than air frame.

I suspect that develoments in the US and Britian like the Merlin water cooled, or the Pratt & Whitney radials would have been important to the French as they took engine power to a significantly higher level. But, perhaps there were French designs around the corner that were equally advanced.

 

Here is another link to aircraft of WW2, I'll start out with the French D-520. The Dewotine D. 520, France’s most advanced fighter at the outbreak of the war was powered by either and imported or license built Hispano-Suiza V-12 (Hispano-Suiza 12Y-45) engine producing slightly over 900 hp. No doubt the engine tech would have advanced, as well and the rest of the aircraft if even slightly more time had been available to the French.

See:

WW2 Warbirds: the Dewoitine D.520 - Frans Bonné

In 1939, Hispano started prototype deliveries of the new Hispano-Suiza 12Z engine of 1,300 hp (969 kW). One was fitted to a modified Morane-Saulnier M.S. 410 to create the M.S.450 that had dramatically better performance, especially at altitude. However the engine never entered production before France fell, and the similarly modified Dewoitine D.520 (the D.523/D.551) was considered a better design for the engine anyway.

See:

Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I know, "wiki", but what can I say! That latest version of the H-S was even more powerful than the RR V-12 versions of the moment, so it is anyones guess as to what may have developed if the Nazi invasion had been held in place or defeated by mid-1940. Even the few D.520s which saw service deported themselves well against the Luftwaffe, in the few short days they could engage them.

 

Thanks for that. I've not studied up on the fighter planes of WWII since my callow adolecence. The nuances of speed and engine horsepower now escape me. Off to look for comparative stats on German and Alied fighters....

 

A sampler of a few prototypes built

Arsenal VB 10
http://www.aviastar.org/air/france/arsenal_vb-10.php

Bloch MB 157
http://www.aviastar.org/air/france/bloch_mb-157.php

...and a site with some intriguing photographs, but no data

http://rareaircraf1.greyfalcon.us/FRANCE.htm

I expect the best books on the subject are in French and not in the local librarys here. More important than aircraft types and performance would be two other factors. Frst the training of aircrew, Second the development of a good airdefense system. Like Germany France had nothing comparable to the British RAF methods for organzing the highly efficient interception of enemy intruders.

I dont kow much about fighter pilot training of the French AF. One author commented on how the recent and rapid expansion of the German air force caused a large number fighter pilots to have realtively few flight hours compared to the French. More than double the hours according to this writer. No idea how accurate that might be or if it meant anything in realtive skill.