What anti-tank weapon was most commonly used in french army in early war?Is it boys or something else?
And another question:What was polich light mg in ww2?I would apriciate if you find me some pics
Two questions:
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David Lehmann
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In 1940 only a very modest number of Boys AT rifles had been provided by the British army in exchange for French 25mm AT guns which became the weapon of the BEF's brigade AT companies. As well as some GRDIs and GRCAs they equiped partially the two French paratroop companies in existence.
Except the 25 mm and 47 mm AT guns, as well as the famous "75" also used in an AT role the French infantry had no infantry unit AT weapons. Several landmines have been used in combat against german tanks ... the VB launcher (rifle grenade) could perhaps also be effective against light armored vehicles like the german SdKfz 250 and 251 but limited effect I guess since it is an AP grenade.
The 25 mm AA guns were also developped for the dual AT and AA role but French lacked AA weapons and above all AA ammunitions.
The 13.2 mm Hotchkiss M24/26 HMG had also AT purposes and it was better the the Boys AT rifle in that task. But this HMG has only been used in fortifications (Rhine Maginot Line), vehicles and French Navy.
Caliber : 13.2x96 mm
Sighting optic : 2.3x
Rate of fire : 450 rpm
capacity : 30 rounds magazine
- mle 1935 P (armor piercing) penetration of 25 mm at 100 m, 20 mm at 200 m and 15 mm at 400 m (only 21 mm for the Boys AT rifle at 100 m)
- ordinary cartridge (penetration of 17 mm at 200 m)
range : 2500 m
V° : 800 m/s
It has been mounted in bunkers (96 HMGs in the Maginot Line), in a twin AA version (270 twin HMGs in 1939), in tanks and vehicles (28 in the Laffly AM 50 armoured car, an unknown number in the Panhard AM 80, an unknown number in the AMR modèle 1935, an unknown number in Renault armoured cars model 1915) but however most of the HMGs were used in the French navy which installed them on double and quadruple mountings. The Japanese, Romanian and Polish also used the 13,2 mm Hotchkiss. It has some AT capacities and is often used in this role against weak armored vehicles which are common in 1940. Nevertheless the French army did not use this HMG in a ground (tripod) version that could have been very effective I guess.
... Just my two cents about your first question.
Regards,
David
Except the 25 mm and 47 mm AT guns, as well as the famous "75" also used in an AT role the French infantry had no infantry unit AT weapons. Several landmines have been used in combat against german tanks ... the VB launcher (rifle grenade) could perhaps also be effective against light armored vehicles like the german SdKfz 250 and 251 but limited effect I guess since it is an AP grenade.
The 25 mm AA guns were also developped for the dual AT and AA role but French lacked AA weapons and above all AA ammunitions.
The 13.2 mm Hotchkiss M24/26 HMG had also AT purposes and it was better the the Boys AT rifle in that task. But this HMG has only been used in fortifications (Rhine Maginot Line), vehicles and French Navy.
Caliber : 13.2x96 mm
Sighting optic : 2.3x
Rate of fire : 450 rpm
capacity : 30 rounds magazine
- mle 1935 P (armor piercing) penetration of 25 mm at 100 m, 20 mm at 200 m and 15 mm at 400 m (only 21 mm for the Boys AT rifle at 100 m)
- ordinary cartridge (penetration of 17 mm at 200 m)
range : 2500 m
V° : 800 m/s
It has been mounted in bunkers (96 HMGs in the Maginot Line), in a twin AA version (270 twin HMGs in 1939), in tanks and vehicles (28 in the Laffly AM 50 armoured car, an unknown number in the Panhard AM 80, an unknown number in the AMR modèle 1935, an unknown number in Renault armoured cars model 1915) but however most of the HMGs were used in the French navy which installed them on double and quadruple mountings. The Japanese, Romanian and Polish also used the 13,2 mm Hotchkiss. It has some AT capacities and is often used in this role against weak armored vehicles which are common in 1940. Nevertheless the French army did not use this HMG in a ground (tripod) version that could have been very effective I guess.
... Just my two cents about your first question.
Regards,
David
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daveh
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- Location: uk
Polish Light MG 1939
French Model 15 Chaucat modified to fire 7.92mm ammunition. Still used by some reserve units in 1939.
rkm wz.28 a licenced built version of the Browning automatic rifle (BAR) Model 1918 in 7.92mm. Produced by PFK who had made c 10,000 by 1939 of which 1445 were exported. An infantry division had 326 of these a cavalry brigade 80.
Austrian Model 08/15 and Bergman Model 15 were in use by artillery units for local defence.
French Model 15 Chaucat modified to fire 7.92mm ammunition. Still used by some reserve units in 1939.
rkm wz.28 a licenced built version of the Browning automatic rifle (BAR) Model 1918 in 7.92mm. Produced by PFK who had made c 10,000 by 1939 of which 1445 were exported. An infantry division had 326 of these a cavalry brigade 80.
Austrian Model 08/15 and Bergman Model 15 were in use by artillery units for local defence.
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uros k
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