AMR 33 VM
| AMR 33 VM | |
|---|---|
AMR 33 VM as a museum vehicle |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 2 (commander, driver) |
| length | 3.50 m |
| width | 1.60 m |
| height | 1.73 m |
| Dimensions | 5 tons |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | 13 mm |
| Main armament | 1 friction MG 7.5 mm |
| agility | |
| drive | 8-cylinder gasoline engine with 84 hp |
| Top speed | 60 km / h |
| Power / weight | |
The Renault AMR 33 VM was a light main battle tank of the French army that was still in service during World War II .
development
The tank was originally intended as a replacement for the armored vehicles used for reconnaissance purposes in World War I , which lacked the necessary off-road mobility and speed. In 1922/1923 a new vehicle was required that would better meet these criteria. After its completion, the prototype was named "Auto Mitrailleuse de Cavalerie". It was still equipped with the turret of the Renault FT tank. A number of vehicle types were then tested without much success until 1931 when the demand for three different cavalry vehicles was made.
- AMD "Auto Mitrailleuse de Découverte" (which corresponded to the Panhard 178 )
- AMC "Auto Mitrailleuse de Combat" (see AMC 35 )
- AMR "Auto Mitrailleuse de Reconnaisance"
Renault manufactured a light tracked vehicle as AMR, which was identical in some parts to the AMC 35, and received an order for 123 vehicles after testing in 1933. The official name of the French military administration was: "AMR 33 VM".
Further technical data
- Climbing ability: 0.61 m
- Trench crossing ability: 1.52 m
- Gradeability: 60%
- Tub: riveted
- Drive: four rollers (two on coil spring cradles, two on torsion bars), four support rollers, drive wheel at the front.
Further developments
A further development was the AMR 35 , 200 of which were built. It was a little heavier (6500 kg) and, with the same drive unit, a little slower (55 km / h) than its predecessor. The armament of the ZT consisted of a 7.5 mm machine gun , a 13.2 mm machine gun or a 25 mm anti-tank cannon , depending on the version .
commitment
The lightly armored and equally lightly armed AMR 33 was assigned to the cavalry divisions of the French army. When two of these divisions were converted into tank divisions in 1936/37, the AMR 33 was also concentrated; the other three units only kept 15 of the vehicles each. The tanks were supposed to accompany the motorized infantry.
In the battle for France , the expected deficits of the AMR 33 became apparent - insufficient armament and armor as well as mechanical problems. The unusually high speed didn't change that.
The vehicles were captured in large numbers by the German Wehrmacht and incorporated into the inventory as PzSpWg VM 701 (f) and PzSpWg ZTI 702 (f). Some vehicles were converted to mortar carriers. To do this, the tower was removed and an 80-mm mortar was installed.
literature
- Ray Bonds (ed.): Panzer and other combat vehicles 1916 to today , Buch und Zeit Verlagsgesellschaft, Cologne 1977.
