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Post by Pachy » 14 Jul 2005, 23:58



French self-propelled light anti-aircraft guns, 1927 to 1942



please forgive the repost... Some here might be interested (or notIn the late 1920s the Hotchkiss company started developing self-propelled anti-aircraft mountings, using its range of 13.2 mm and 25 mm guns, in cunjunction with several car manufacturers.(1927)The first prototype was based on the P4T half-track chassis from Citroën-Kégresse. A quadruple Le Prieur-type 13.2 mm mounting was fitted on a crude wooden platform with no provision for ammo storage. Twin wheels were fitted forward. Trials performed near Paris and in the Landes region demonstrated the vehicle wasseverly underpowered. Due to interest from the Chilean military, trials continued, and revealed a serious lack of stability. The project was abandoned in 1929.(1932?)Due to renewed interest from Chile, Around 1932, Hotchkiss fitted a twin 13.2 mm mounting to a P19 half-track chassis, with a platform organized not unlike Berliet experiments.(1928-1932?)Not much is known about this experiment with a Renault chassis. The platform hosts a quadruple 13.2 mm mounting with a two-gunner configuration, similar to the naval mountings.(1928)Berliet revealed this uncomplete prototype at the Salon de l'Automobile in 1928. The six-wheel chassis with twin wheels on the central axle was derived from the VPRM armoured car project. "Legs" could be deployed to help stabilize the chassis while firing. This prototype was not completed.Its characteristics were the following:

weight: 6200 kglength: 4.5 mwidth: 2.06 mwheelbase (axle-to-axle): 1.65 mengine make: Berlietpower: 62 hp (metric)# of cylinders: 6cubic capacity: 4085 ccfuel capacity: 85 larmament:2 x 13.2 mm Hotchkiss(1930)Berliet presented the VPR2 prototype in 1930. Like the VPM, it was a six-wheel chassis with twin wheels on the central axle. The prototype was rather completewith ammunition storage, seats for the four-man crew, and so on. Extensive tests were ran with both a twin and a single 13.2 mm mountings. In either case the gun tripod was simply resting on the platform. Trials demonstrated the chassis needed to be strenghtened, and the VPR2 did not enter production.However, the single example did see operational service as part of the anti-aircraft defense system around Toulon.Characteristics:weight: 4500 kglength: 4.8 mwidth: 1.94 mheight: 2.30 mwheelbase:- front: 1.82 m- aft: 1.75 mengine make: Berlietpower: 40 hp (metric)# of cylinders: 6cubic capacity: 2736 ccfuel capacity: 120 lmax speed: 53 km/hendurance: 300 kmmax slope: 60%tyres: 36 x 8.25crew: four men- driver and rangefinder operator- loader- gunner- sighting system operatorarmament:2 x 13.2 mm Hotchkiss or 1 x 13.2 mm Hotchkiss1440 rounds on storage boxes on platform2500 rounds under platform(1932)As a response to issues with the VPR2, Berliet introduced the VPH in 1932. The chassis was strenghtened, the tyres larger and the platform could accomodate more ammunition. The twin mounting was permanently fixed to the chassis (naval mount?). Two examples were built and accepted for service, but no further production took place.Characteristics:weight: 6200 kglength: 5.07 mwidth: 2.10 mwheelbase (axle-to-axle): 1.90 mengine make: Berlietpower: 62 hp (metric)# of cylinders: 6cubic capacity: 4085 ccfuel capacity: 80 lmax speed: 44.5 km/harmament:2 x 13.2 mm Hotchkiss(1940?)At least one prototype with a twin 25 mm mounting was trialed, probably in 1940. It was externally similar to the VPH. Ferrard mentions that a few self-propelled 25 mm guns were manufactured in 1940, but does not say whether they were from Berliet or not.This unindentified six-wheel chassis featuring a twin 13.2 mm mounting was seen during manoeuvres in the Alps in August 1936.(1941?)This picture is usually said to be showing one of the truck-mounted 20 mm mle 39 Oerlikon gun that were on the French OOB during the Franco-Siamese conflict in Indochina in 1941 . However, the gun looks more like a 13.2 mm mle 1930 Hotchkiss. The chassis is unidentified.(1941)This GMC truck was modified in Morocco in 1941 to accomodate a 25 mm mle 1938 Hotchkiss gun, complete with its crew and 270 rounds. The Germans and Italians allowed Vichy authorities to perform firing tests in August 1941. A Citroën C45 chassis with a 25 mm CA mle 39 gun was to be built and trialed too. Not much more is known.(1942)Free French troops were equipped with several self-propelled 13.2 mm mountings during the battle of Bir Hakeim. The quad mounting below is served by sailors. It could have been recovered from a French ship held in Great Britain after July 1940. The truck chassis seems to be a Chevrolet 15cwt (thx Torgen).That's about all I know. Main reference are Pierre Touzin's books, except when reference is indicated.