French OOB06 (v.7)

[Pibwl]

Second part: armoured cars only

197 AMD 80 - there seems no point in this unit, available in 7/40 only, since there is the same 408 Laffly 80 AM, available until 7/40. Unit 408 has more correct name (AMD abbreviation was used only with last digits of a year) and speed.
Same for Vichy, where it appears as 197 AMD 80 and 408 Laffly 80AM.

As for 408 Laffly 80 AM, Russian Bronekollektsya 5/2009 states speed 76 km/h, so 27 is a bit too much, and size of 4 is too big comparing with other ACs. Crew should be 4 (3). It was used only in Africa.

I also don't know if it should be A/T wheel - it had a rear drive only. The same remark for 391 Laffly 50 AM, 393-394 Panhard 165/175, 407 White-Laffly AM

The second entry of Laffly 80 could be available from 11/42 - they were used again by the Free French, until the 50s.


310 Mrm-Hrtn II - the French also used a variant rearmed with 25mm gun
(http://www.chars-francais.net/new/in...d=83&Itemid=36 , photo http://s427.photobucket.com/user/sko...l?t=1242072836 though maybe of a German vehicle)
From available photos, 21118 is good (btw, it should be also used for British gun-armed Marmons)

312 Humber I - if France used this early variant at all for anything but training, I don't think they changed 15mm Besa with 13.2 Hotchkiss (if it was feasible at all).
The page http://www.chars-francais.net/new/in...275&Itemid=101 doesn't list Humbers among French armoured cars at all.

313 Humber III - as above

314,315 Humber scout I,II - produced from 1943/1944 only (now 1940). However, according to http://www.chars-francais.net/new/in...=109&Itemid=36 78 exemplaires de ce véhicule ont servi dans l'armée française d'Indochine à partir de 1946. (seems they were used from 1946 only)

316 Ironside I - better icon is 3254 (of turreted version though). However, the quoted page nor Osprey NV177 "Humber Light Reconnaissance Car 1941-45" doesn't mention French use.

317 Ironside II - should be Humber LRC II, like in the British oob - icon 3254, picture 2308. It was produced from 1941, however sources given above don't mention French use.

BTW: Humber LRC III #362 in British oob lacks an icon.


391 Laffly 50 AM - crew should be 4(3)
It should be default armoured car rather, than White.

393 Panhard 165/175 - according to Russian Bronekolektsya 5/2009 on French AC and http://www.chars-francais.net/new/in...d=82&Itemid=38 it appeared in definitive form in 1933 (now 1/32). Crew was 4 (3). It was rear drive only. Gun ammo according to this source was only 50 (now 194 - such info is present on some forums).

Maybe it should be a different class of colonial armoured car, since it was used in North Africa only?
In Africa by 1940 there were used armoured cars: Panhard 165/175 (only), Laffly 50, Laffly 80 (only), White TBC, AMC P16, Laffly S15 TOE (only), Berliet VUDB (only)

The same for Vichy 393

394 Panhard 165/175 - same remarks as above, but Bronekolektsya doesn't mention MG-armed variant. It is available from 7/40, but this type wasn't used in occupied France at all. There is an information, that some were rearmed with 25mm guns, but in 1941 only (it would apply to Vichy #394).
They were used again by the Free French after 1943 until 1946 at least.


There are other interesting armoured cars, that could be added:
- Panhard 178 w/Renault turret, hastily ordered in 6/40 - probably only one was used in action in 6/40. It was armed with 47mm SA35 gun (might be called eg. Panhard 178 (47) or AMD 35/Renault). Turret armour was 25mm on sides and sloped 38mm in front. Apparently it had no CMG.
photo:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MZPnbqxJrl...p178-47_01.jpg or
http://albyminiatures.e-monsite.com/...0178-47-r1.jpg

- AAC 37 aka AM Chevrolet armoured car - unit #455 from Spanish Republican OOB - several were interned and used in action in 6/40. According to Trackstory 20, some of them were armed with 37mm SA18 gun (only?), some were armed with MGs only (apparently only 1 MG).

- Laffly S15 TOE colonial 6x6 AC, used from 1939. Later used by Vichy and Free French.

- Berliet VUDB colonial 4x4 AC, used from 1930 (a Russian page for Berliet http://www.aviarmor.net/tww2/armored...rliet_vudb.htm )
It could use icon 2839 - not ideal, but a turretless AC. Later used by Vichy until 1942.


407 White-Laffly AM - it should be named just White AM or White TBC AM - White-Laffly were modernized vehicles (aka Laffly 50)
Size 4 is too big.
It had a rear drive only.

That's all as for now.

Michal