French 75mm L/17 Sa35 gun (mounted in Char B1 bis)

[hchris]

Does anybody have any penetration tables for this gun using the Obus de rupture mle 1910 M APHE ammunition?

Would be very useful.

[David Lehmann]

Hello,

75mm SA35 L/17.1
Renault B1 and B1bis hull gun
Theoretical rate of fire : 15 rpm (in a B1bis tank, RoF will be about 6 rpm with APHE and the 6 first HE shells, but 2-4 rpm probably with following HE shells, time to put the fuzes on the shells.)
Telescopic sight : two L.710 sights for the 75mm SA35 gun forming prismatic binocular sights - may constitute a stereoscopic range finder together – (each sight with 3.5x magnification, field of view 11.15° and range ladders, adjustable drum up to 1600m for the HE shells and 1560m for the APHE shells).
Practical AT range : 800-1000m

Ammunitions :
Obus de rupture Mle1910M (APHE)
Caliber : 75x241R mm
Weight of projectile : 6.400 kg (90g explosive)
Length of projectile : 239.5mm
V° = 475 m/s
Penetration : 40mm /30° at 400m [probably about 55-60mm at 100m and 0°]
The APHE shell is intended to detonate once the armor has been penetrated. Because of the necessity for a hard point to APHE shells, the fuze is fitted into the base of the projectile. This fuze acts through inertia. As the shell passes up the barrel, either the shock of firing or the rapid rotation removes a safety device and arms the fuze. This fuze contains roughly a weight held by a spring. When the shell hits something hard, momentum throws the weight forward so it strikes the firing element of the fuze and thereby ignites the HE filler of the APHE shell.

Obus explosif Mle1915 (HE)
Caliber : 75x241R mm
Weight of projectile : 5.550 kg (740g explosive)
V° = 500 m/s
Equipped with the long RYG Mle1921 fuze for better anti-personal efficiency. This long fuze explains probably why there were only 6 armed shells in the B1bis and 6 longer emplacements for them in the ammunition racks.
The 75mm HE shells are able to destroy the armored cars, Panzer I and Panzer II and are very efficient at short range against the tracks and lower parts of the heavier tanks. The HE shell has a penetration of 17mm/30° even at 800m.

Regards,

David

[hchris]

Thank you very much again!

[The Edge]

75mm SA35 L/17.1
Renault B1 and B1bis hull gun
Caliber : 75x241R mm
Weight of projectile : 5.550 kg (740g explosive)
V° = 500 m/s

Is this ammo someway related to 75 mm caliber Schneider Mle 1919 & Mle 1928 mountain guns?
(alraedy in use of French Alpine divisions)

[hchris]

75mm SA35 L/17.1
Renault B1 and B1bis hull gun
Caliber : 75x241R mm
Weight of projectile : 5.550 kg (740g explosive)
V° = 500 m/s

Is this ammo someway related to 75 mm caliber Schneider Mle 1919 & Mle 1928 mountain guns?
(alraedy in use of French Alpine divisions)

Yes I think so. I read that all 75mm rounds were interchangeable in the French Army.

[Tony Williams]

75mm SA35 L/17.1
Renault B1 and B1bis hull gun
Caliber : 75x241R mm
Weight of projectile : 5.550 kg (740g explosive)
V° = 500 m/s

Is this ammo someway related to 75 mm caliber Schneider Mle 1919 & Mle 1928 mountain guns?
(alraedy in use of French Alpine divisions)

Yes I think so. I read that all 75mm rounds were interchangeable in the French Army.

The classic French '75' field gun fired ammo with a 75x350R mm case.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

[The Edge]

So far I know about following 75 mm ammo in French service (before WWII):
- 75 x 241R (Char B hull gun)
- 75 x 350R (standard Mle 1897 field gun and some obsolete AAA based on it)
- 75 x 518R (Mle 39 AA gun)
- 75 x 688R (Naval L/50 AA guns)
- 75 x 837R (AA guns from Schneider Mle 28 family)

Anyway, I’m particulary interested in mountain artillery. 75x241R ammo was used for Bofors L/22 Pack guns (in service with Persia and Switzeland, Mle 34 with Belgium), so I’m puzzled – since these guns were made on commercial bassis, did Bofors adopted some already internationaly available ammo? (like one for Schneider Mle19/28 mountain guns – probably its main rivals in this class).

[Brady]

Any references known for the 75 mm SA 35 gun taking out German tanks ?