French OOB06 (v.7)

[Pibwl]

Hello,

Several thoughts on the French OOB, while making pictures, for eventual future use (or mod makers)

01 AMC-35 - armament was much better #22 47mm SA35 (L34), not SA34 (ammo should be changed from sabot to AP, but I don't know for sure how much it carried. The page http://www.chars-francais.net/new/in...=691&Itemid=36 states 96 rounds).
Produced from 1937 (now: 1/36), though delivered only from 11/38 (Histoire de Guerre, Blindes & Materiel no.075 and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMC_35 ) BTW: it was very rare tank, not used in regular units.
I suggest a better name AMC-35 ACG1 (it is widely known under a factory designation Renault ACG1), like unit AMR-34 YR.


02 AMR-33 - radio is 00, if it matters.

03 AMR-35 - photo is AMR-35 ZT2 with 25mm gun. 7.5mm MG variant needs a new one, eg. http://www.drivehq.com/file/df.aspx/...amr35_005.jpeg or http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...MPvGs4goX_HHOJ
Same for Vichy

04 R35 - first were ordered in April 1935, and according to J. Magnuski's book, delivered in March 1936 (now: 1/35)

05, 175, 188 H-35 - used from 7/36 by the cavalry and only from 1938 by the infantry (unit 175) (now all from 1/36).

06, 176, 189 H-39/SA18 - it has a photo with long 37mm gun - for a short gun there could be eg. 27553 pic

(Btw: H-39/SA18 was a primary model, so it could be H-39, and variant with a long gun could be named H-39/SA38 )

11 AMR-35/13mm - photo is AMR-35 ZT2 with 25mm gun. Proper one is 27537 or 30271

13 Char D1 - photo is D2, proper is 27547 or 27548
According to Trackstory No 20, they were delivered from 1932 (now 1/31), but initially until 1935 they were armed with Renault FT turrets (presumably with 37mm SA18 gun). Only since around 1935-36 they were equipped with definitive turrets. Ammo was 91 HE and 21 AP.
They were fitted with radio as a standard, indicated by a massive antenna support frame. Same for Vichy.

Between 1937 and 5/1940 D1 tanks were used in Africa only. Maybe there should be another class of colonial tanks created? (there should go also AMC-34 YR). Only in 6/40 one battalion returned to France.


16 Char-D2 SA34 - introduced in 4/36 (now 12/35) according to "Histoire de Guerre Blindes & Materiel" no 74.
Fitted with a radio as a standard.

19, 199, 493 Renault UE - produced from 1932 (1/30)

24, 506 Mortiers de 81 - picture is a generic Soviet 82mm with a round base. Same for Vichy 24
Photos of French Stockes-Brandt:
http://www.dws-xip.pl/encyklopedia/moz81mm27-fr/
http://www.3dlm.info/spip/local/cach...49-6-ec410.jpg

42 P.631 - bomber variant was Potez 633 B2, Potez 631 was a fighter with 20m guns (maybe a full name Potez is better).
Same for Vichy 141

45 Morane MS 406 - there is no information, that MS 406 could carry any bombs.
Same for Vichy.

46 Potez 63.11 - it's worth to give it an own photo, since 63.11 had a quite distinctive look. Same for Vichy 46.
This variant entered service only in 9/39 (now 1/38), according to a Czech book "Letadla 1939-45: Francie a Polska".
It would demand extending a lifespan of 232 Potez 25, or better adding ANF Mureaux 115, which was a basic French close recce plane from 1935 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANF_Les_Mureaux_113. It could use 2902 icon and could also appear as a bomber, with 200 kg bombs.


108 Mortiers 60mm - unit 286 uses a better picture 21120 of US 60mm mortar (mortar on a photo is too big).

132 M3 75mm GMC - photo is 105mm T19

142, 226 Mortiers de 81 - it is a late war 81mm mortar, when crew should have US helmets - maybe a photo 598 of US mortar would be better

170 FT-17m - I guess, that it should be available since 1938 (now 1/40) - now there is no MG FT-17 available in 1938-39 in CS tank category (formation: Ancient tanks).

Btw: in computer-generated battles in early 30s the AI picks only MG-armed FT-17m, which has no chance against enemy tanks, while cannon-armed FT-17 seemed a basic variant (3/5 tanks in platoons according to WW1 pattern).
Possibly the French retained a pattern of mixed FT platoons until the 30s?

177 FMC Char 2C - should be FCM

The other tanks picked by the AI in 1930-31 are superheavy 2C, while it would be rather improbable to meet these tanks in a meeting engagement, and two companies, which are picked by the AI, are actually more, then there were produced...


179, 505 Mortier de 60 - picture is a bigger generic Soviet 82mm. Same for Vichy 179
Photos of French mortar are eg. here http://www.dws-xip.pl/encyklopedia/a...afall/page/71/
http://www.3dlm.info/spip/IMG/jpg_art449-3.jpg


(190 AMR-35 ZT2 - it was actually a kind of a tank destroyer for GRDI infantry recce groups, not used in a way like regular AMR-35 (only 10 were made). There were plans, that it should be platoon's commander vehicle, but apparently they were used in AT sections of two.)

The other interesting vehicle of this kind, that could be added, was a turretless tank destroyer AMR35 ZT3, introduced in 1939 (10 built, two for each GRDI as well)

195 Char-D2 SA35 - I believe it should be class Infantry tank, like unit 16 Char-D2 SA34, not Light Inf. tank? Both types were used in the same 19th battalion of De Gaulle's 4th DCR.
Only from 3/40 there started their rearmament with long 47mm guns - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_D2 (now 6/36)
Seems, that all had radio.


219 Morris 15cwt - better photo is 30123 (of Bedford 15cwt, though)

228 Dodge T214 WC53 - I guess it's supposed to be open body WC51 or 52, WC53 was a closed carryall.

309 Cam Blindes - this model of improvised AC was called Dodge Tanake - http://www.minitracks.fr/n6n2f.htm


343 Renault UE/MG - according to Trackstory 05 "June 1940 the impossible revival" similar vehicles were also used in 6/40 (it is however not clear, if with MG mounted in a casemate, which were ordered in 6/40 for production, or just externally mounted).

380 37mm Mle 1916 - too big icon, better is 2107

387 Potez 25 - icon is Republican, better is 2902.


430 AMC-34 YR - according to a reliable-looking http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMC_34 , first delivered in 10/35, as 2-men tanks with short 47 mm gun. Then, from 12/37 all sent to colonies and subsequently modified with 3-men crew and 25 mm guns (according to http://www.chars-francais.net/new/in...d=71&Itemid=36 short fortress 25 mm SA RF).

Maybe it should be made a different class colonial tank after 1937?
In colonies there were also used: R35, D1, H35 and H39 (short gun), not counting FT.


431 R-35 bis - R-35 started to receive new guns L/33 already in 3/40 (now 7/40)

435 Char-B1 ter (prototype tank) - a prototype made out of B-1bis was tested only in 5/38, with disappointing results (now 12/37). Two improved prototypes of real B1 ter were completed only in 6/40, but did not see action, and the third wasn't completed (they were sunk on a ship according to Trackstory no 03). It would be more sense to have it in 6/40 only (it would need a change in a formation #27).

438 Laffly V15T - scout version was named V15R (T was tractor)

Regards
Michal