WesWorld

January 1st, 1937:

The Armee de Terre, has authorized a commission to consider several new armoured vehicle developments being offered by national armaments companies. Various military equipements under scutiny with the Les Armements et les Tactiques le Spéciales Corps have already entered production, and begun to reach the troop formations.

AEM has presented the French Armoured Troops with a new self-propelled tank destroyer for use by armoured and infantry formations. The AEM Tank Destroyer s an unusual concept, and has been viewed with some skepticism. The vehicle designated the AEM-36 Anti-char Canons automoteur (or Anti-Tank Self-Propelled Gun) weighs in at about 8 tons, is 4.4 meters long, 1.84 meter wide and 1.40 m in height. It is manned by a crew of 2-3, who have to drive and operate the vehicle's 25-mm APX gun, mounted in the tank destroyer's small cylinderical turret fixed at the front of the chassis. The engine compartment takes up practically the rest of the vehicle. A 13.2-mm AA MG is mounted on a pintle mount on the roof of the fixed turret. A particular mechanical oddity to the AEM-36 is it's use of four individual and overlapping tracks systems, two are mounted each side of the vehicle, each individual track being less then a third of the length of the overall vehicle. With the front set taking up more space then the rear set.

ACL (Ateliers et Chantiers de le Loire) is also offered the Armee de Terre as self-propelled gun, although this vehicle is ment for use in the heavy armoured divisions, to provide long-range and close-range supporting artillery fire. The ACL orginally offered this equipement for consideration by the Armee de Terre as early as 1931. A large, tracked machine mounting either a 75-mm gun at the front of the chassis, the ACL-135 is a boxy, slab-sided brute, with a square command tower mounted on the back part of the left side of the gun compartment which dominates the front of the chassis. Neither ACL or the War Ministery have released any other details conscerning the ACL-135.

Perliminary reports suggest that the Armee de Terre is seriously considering putting either vehicles into production. Although some objections to the caliber of the weapons mounted has been expressed in some quarters of both the Armee de Terre and the War Ministery. In the AEM-36's case, arguments have already developed even before the commission concerning it has been convened, over whether it should mount a 37-mm or 47-mm AT instead of the 25-mm the prototype is equiped with. Similar arguments over the gun mounted in the ACL-135 have also begun to surface, although it is expected that the commission will settle quickly on either a 105-mm or 120-mm weapon.

The Renault corporation, rather surprisingly offered the Armee de Terre, the Renault D-3 light tank, which had already been viewed by a commission in 1932. This light tank had been considered during 1926-32, when a requirement for an overseas deployable tank for use by colonial troops had been seriously investigated. The D-3, had been rejected at the time due it's being considered to be too weakly armoured, overweight and it's low speed and operational range. The D-3 tank prototype weighs 10t measured in length 5m, in width 2.13m and height 2.30m. Defensive armour being only 22mm at it's thickest, while the armament consisted in a gun of 47-mm S34 and two 7.5-mm machine-guns. The gasoline 6-cyl./120 hp engine allowed a maximum speed on road of 32km/h and a range of 150km only.

The War Ministry and Armee de Terre are rather skeptical of this offering, but have agreed to let the Renault company building another 'Colonial' tank, if the defects of the D-3 can be dealt with satisfactorially. Renault has promised the D-4 prototype will meet all of the Armee de Terre's requirements.

Even 47mm is entirely too small for a tank destroyer these days, even if it is relatively realistic for the period.

Quoted

Originally posted by Agent148
A particular mechanical oddity to the AEM-36 is it's use of four individual and overlapping tracks systems, two are mounted each side of the vehicle, each individual track being less then a third of the length of the overall vehicle. Wth the front set taking up more space then the rear set.

I think I can get away with saying That's Weird!

There any historical vehicles like that?

Both the AEM tank destroyer and the ACL-135 are actually vehicles offered to France by AEM and ACL in the 30s, believe it or not, neither was accepted for service.

The AEM was such an odd vehicle, I just had to add it for consideration, lol.

Quoted

Originally posted by Agent148
Both the AEM tank destroyer and the ACL-135 are actually vehicles offered to France by AEM and ACL in the 30s, believe it or not, neither was accepted for service.

Hum. Have any photos or drawings? I'm afraid I'm picturing this vehicle looking oddly like the Scorpion tank from Halo...

AEM design here. It looks even odder than it sounds from the description.

Chars-francais gives the ARL-135 as having a 75mm gun, rather than 135mm. There's more than likely enough space in there to cram in the larger gun. Seems to be pretty limited elevation - more of an assault gun than self-propelled artillery.

Quoted

Originally posted by Red Admiral
AEM design here. It looks even odder than it sounds from the description.

Whhoooaaawkaycrazytank.

IMHO the OTL SAu-40 would probably fit the french army better

Quoted

Originally posted by Vukovlad
IMHO the OTL SAu-40 would probably fit the french army better

This?


...yeah, I'll agree with that!

Yep and its sister project ARL39

The sAU-40 is on the list so to speak although it might come out under the guise of sAU-35 designation rather then our OTL's.

January 2nd, 1937:

In a move to reorganize and stabilize the Inspectorate of Armoured Troops and the Les Armements et les Tactiques le Spéciales Corps -- after General de Division DeGaulle's removal. the Armee de Terre has appointed General Pierre Hering, a member of the Supreme War Council and the former military-governor of Strasbourg, to head the Inspectorate of Armoured Troops. A long time advocate of interarm cooperation and the development of armoured tactics, his assuming the post has been immediately well recieved both amoungst subordinates and the rank and file of the Armoured Troops.

General de Brigade Pierre Armand Gaston Billotte, also a member of the Supreme War Council, now promoted to General de Division, is set to assume command of the Special Armaments and Tactics Corps. While being considered something of a protege of General de Division DeGaulle in some quarters, is another keen advocate of armoured tactics and a firm support of General Hering. The appointment of these two general officers is expect to put renewed fire but not further controversy into the pace of the training and equiping of the Armee de Terre's armoured units.

Both Generals Hering and Bilotte, were chosen for the difficult assignment by the Chief of the Army General Staff, General Louis-Antoine Colson. General Colson has made cystal clear his support for Hering and Bilotte, over the objections of others both on the General Staff and the Supreme War Council. General Hering's first problem will be tackling the continued efforts with regards to the formation and training of the Army's four Divisions Blindé lourdes (DBLs)/heavy armoured divisons. Currently each DBL has three Bataillon Blindé lourd (BBL), one Batalillon de Chars de Combat (BCC), one Battalion de Chasseurs Portés (BCP) and one artillery group, equiped with 75-mm field guns, plus a headquarters and divisional services units.

Generals Hering and Bilotte regard these prototype formations as useful for training, and tactical exercises, but not fully equiped for mililtary operations. The forming of the I and II Corps blinde has helped somewhat in this regard, but is still far from satisfactory an arrangement as far as both generals and the army chief of the general staff are concerned.

January 7th, 1937:

The Armee de Terre, Inspectorate of Cavalry has announced the formation of two light mechanized cavalry division, to test the feasibility of fully mechanizing the French cavalry arm. The new divisions will be equiped with a variety of tracked vehicles, half-tracks and motor vehicles, as well as medium and light tanks. Currently the cavalry divisions of the French Army are largely horse cavalry, with only certainly selected units within a cavalry division mounted in scout, armoured or combat cars.

The most common tank to be fielded by the Light Mechanized Cavalry Divisions will be the Somua S-35 medium cavalry tank, and two variants worked out during the 1936 exercises and field experiments by the Les Armements et les Tactiques le Spéciales Corps. The first variant is the SAu-36, which uses the Somua S-35 chassis to mount a 75-mm gun, in a forward hull mounting. The SAu-35, mounts a 47-mm AT gun on the same chassis. Both vehicles also carry a machine gun for local defence.

January 12th, 1937:

Charles Andre Joseph Marte de Gaulle, general de divison, military reformer, writer and confounded nuisance to the French War Ministry, Armee de Terre General Staff and political establishment at large, has unexpected returned to France. During his enforced exile from the French military scene since mid-1936, De Gaulle's supports within the Supreme War Council have been working to bring about his return.

De Gaulle's removal from from the Inspectorate of Armoured Troops and the Special Armaments and Tactics Corps, did not sit well with some reformist elements within the French military. For them today is a triumph, as De Gaulle returned to Paris for a meeting with General Louis-Antoine Colson, the powerful chief of the Armee de Terre General Staff.

Relations between de Gaulle and Colson, could best be described as strained, while General Colson is more then willing to entertain some of de Gaulle's ideas and experiments in armoured warfare, he does not always agree with how the opinionated and extremely touchy de Gaulle chooses to express himself on such points. More particularly how de Gaulle reacts when he is blocked, refused or even disagreed with. Undoubtly the meeting between the two generals will be a cool one, and it is not at all certain that de Gaulle will recieve an re-appointment to the Inspectorate of Armoured Troops or a even significant military command. Certainly his reappointment to his old post of Secretary-General of National Defence Council is out of the question.

January 18th, 1937:

General d'armee Louis-Antoine Colson, Chief of the Army General Staff in a move that has puzzeled some within the General Staff, the Supreme War Council and the War Ministry, has ordered the expansion of the Armee de Terre F.O.E.S. Detachment in French Indochina. This army special warfare detachment has been deployed there on a special security assignment for several years. The Les Français de Détachement de Stature Extraordinaire (the Frenchmen of Extraordinary Stature Detachment), consists - since it's founding - of a single company of specialist anti-tank rifle troops and their supporting units.

The Armee de Terre General Staff has decided to enlarge the company-sized detachment to a battalion-sized unit with at least three and perhaps four companies, under the command of a chef de batailon (major). The XXIII Corps headquarters in Saigon has been authorized to do the necessary recruiting and re-organizational work for the F.O.E.S. and draw necessary recruits or specialists from the regular, colonial and foreign legion in Indochina.

At present the F.O.E.S. number some one-hundred and sixty men, and are armed with thirty-two PTRS 14-mm AT rifles, sixteen 8-mm machineguns, one-hundred and eight 8-mm rifles, plus other assorted weaponry. The unit name derives from the employment of the thirty-two uncommonly large and powerful men equiped with the 14-mm PTRS heavy rifle. Capitaine Thierry Cadieux, current CO - F.O.E.S. Detachment is slated to command, the upgraded detachment's 1st Company, built up around a cadre of his experience special company. The rest of of his unit will be used to provide cadres and unit leaders for the other two companies.

January 20th, 1937:

In an combined Armee de Terre and Armee de l'Air move authoritized by the War Ministery, volunteers are being requested from both services to form three special units to help develop, the French military's airborne and airlanding capacity. These units, which are to be organized on light infantry lines, are to be called Chasseurs Parachutistes. At present both the Armee de Terre and Armee de l'Air are contemplating a total force of three infantry battalions to form the core of the new force - the Regiment Chasseurs Parachutistes (RCP)

If sufficient volunteers come foreward, and can be trained, it is intended to upgrade the three cadre parachute and airlanding battalions into full-scale regiments. The Army General Staff has expressed some reservations at ongoing developments in foreign countries with airborne/airlanding troops, and has no desire to be left behind in this regard. The Armee de l'Air is undertaking to provide a permanent transport unit for the three para/air landing battalions.

January 28th, 1937:

Furious open quarrels have broken out between partisans of General d'armee Maurice-Gustave Gamelin, and General d'armee Louis-Antoine Colson. The two very senior and distinguished generals relationship has become increasingly strained as Colson, the Chief of the Army General Staff has superintended various military reforms within the French Armee de Terre. Many of these reforms are viewed by various factions, as necessary, some are considered novel, and some consider them downright dangerous and totally un-necessary. Maurice Gamelin, a former Chief of the Army General Staff, currently serving as both a member and vice-president of the Supreme War Council, and Inspector-General of the Army has set himself to oppose the Colson directed military reforms.

General Gamelin has loudedly and repeatedly informed both France's political and military leadership, that the reorganizations and reforms of the French military are absolutely un-necessary. In Gamelin's own words: the tried, proven and well tested "Methods of 1918" are more then sufficient for France, now or in the future. General Louis-Antoine Colson, while not a violent proponent of reform for it's own sake, has placed himself at the fore-front of military and organizational change within the French army. His view is that France must move with the times, and keep abreast of developments rather then be left behind militarily by it's neighbours.

Febuary 1st, 1937:

Arsenal presented the General Stafff of the Armee de l'Air with two prototype aircraft for evaulation - the Arsenal VG-33 and the Arsenal VB-10. Air force officals are looking forward it is reported to inspecting and testing the two new machines. Both aircraft are being considered as replacements for existing fighter and fighter-bomber designs currently in service.

Arsenal VG-33
Type: Fighter
Crew: 1
Engine: Hispano-Suiza 12Y31 12-cylinder liquid-cooled engine | 860 hp | Pistons
Length: 8.55 m | Width: 10.80 m | Height: 3.31 m
Weight: 2050 kg | Max. Combat Weight: 5853 kg
Max. Speed: 558 km/h | Ceiling: 11000 m | Range: 1200 km
Armament: 1 x 20mm HS-404 & 4 x 7.5mm MAC 1934 M39

Arsenal VB-10
Type: Fighter
Crew: 1
Engine: 2 x Hispano-Suiza 12Z Ars 15 | 1150 hp | Pistons
Length: 12.98 m | Width: 15.49 m | Height: 5.20 m
Weight: 6230 kg | Max. Combat Weight: 8860 kg
Max. Speed: 700 km/h | Ceiling: 11000 m | Range: 1700 km
Armament: 4 x 20mm HS-404 Gun, 500 kg of bombs

Febuary 7th, 1935:

Supporters of both General d'armee Louis-Antoine Colson, and General de division Charles de Gaulle, within the War Ministry and the Army General Staff have struck down - to their mind - the man who represents the biggest threat to long-term and timely military reform within the army. General d'armee Maurice-Gustave Gamelin. General Gamelin was bluntly informed that he was being relieved of duty as Inspector-General of the Army, today during a special secession of the Supreme War Council. General Gamelin, was further confounded when he was informed that he was also being relieved as Vice-President of the Supreme War Council. Gamelin, managed to retain his position as a member of the Supreme War Council.

Febuary, 10th, 1937:

General de division Charles de Gaulle, has been reappointed as a member of the Supreme War Council. De Gaulle, in addition to his re-appointment was offered command of the second of the two mechanized cavalry divisions being formed from the army cavalry establishment. General de Gaulle, has reportedly accepted the offered command with aclerity, many of his supporters believe it will provide an suitable outlet for his fercious energies and a showpiece for his ideas on armoured warfare.

It is equally true, that enemies of General Colson, and General de Gaulle, allied with those who most vehmenently oppose any reform of the French army, are hoping that de Gaulle, will fail at this new assignment. However many feel the cut and thrust of the newly created Divisions legere mecanique (1st and 2nd DLM) will be more to General de division Charles de Gaulle's taste and temperment then the slower, more cumbersome heavy armoured divisions.

Feburary 15th, 1937:

The Marine Nationale's Aeronavale Air Ship Division, received it's second airship today, the Charles Nungesser from the DFTE construction hangers. The arrival of the sister ship to the recently aquired Jacques Charles, at the Brest Naval Air Station, was a moment of considerable satisfaction for Contre-amiral Marc Chasset, the commander of the Naval Air Ship Division. Two further sister ships, the Adolphe Pegoud and the Jean Navarre are expected to join up later this month.

Capitaine de corvette Pascal Bremond, fresh from training with the DFTE's airship training center outside Paris has been appointed the Charles Nungesser's commanding officer. With two airships in operation, to provide operational experience and training, the gradual expansion of the the Air Ship Division is expect to proceed. Capitaine Bremond, will undertake several test cruises over the Bay of Biscay, to aquaint himself with both the qualities and abilities of his new command and that of his crew, a mixture of aeronavale ratings and DFTE naval reservists. The Charles Nungesser is slated to become the training/cadet ship of the Air Ship Division once it finishs running it's naval service and acceptance trials.