10.5cm leFH 16 auf Geschuetzwagen FCM

10. 5cm leFH 16 on FCM History mount

With the fall of France in May/June 1940, the Germans found themselves in possession of a large number of ex-French military assets, including tanks. One of the batches was the pre-war FCM-36, a light infantry tank of which only 100 were produced in 1938-1939. About 37 of them were captured by the Germans and renamed "Panzerkampfwagen 737 FCM(f)" and used for a short time. In 1943, 10 tanks were converted into "Marder I" tank destroyers.

In 1942, a batch of 12 were planned to be converted into self-propelled howitzers, becoming "10.5 cm leFH 16 (Sf) auf Geschutzwagen FCM (f)".

Conversion to SPH is relatively easy since the basic functionality of the main battle tank is retained. The remaining 10.5cm leFH 16 series howitzers were subsequently mounted over the center of the rear of the fuselage, thus removing the original turret. Surrounding this position is a thinly armored outdoor work area for infantry use. The driver retained his position in the fuselage, while the machine gun crew consisted of three operators.

Radiofit is the best. Spr. Ger settings. The car is 4.6 meters long and 2.14 meters wide. The height of French tanks is now 2.15 meters. The driving power is the original French Ricardo-Berliet 4-cylinder diesel engine with a power of 91 hp. Road speeds reach 17 mph and range is 124 miles.

The leFH 16 howitzer received 50 shells around the vehicle - mainly along the inner walls of the new superstructure. A 7.92mm MG34 machine gun was installed as a secondary weapon. This is essential for protecting vehicles from infantry attacks or low-flying aircraft.

2,000 rounds of 7.92mm ammunition were carried for this purpose. In addition, all personal weapons carried by the crew played a defensive role.

Conversion of 8 FCM-36 series tanks to 12 FCM-36 series tanks in the second half of 1942 (different sources). Due to the relative modernity of French tank design coupled with the venerable leFH 16 howitzer (which debuted after World War I).

Such delays are detrimental to the program, and could explain why fewer than a dozen were completed. They were eventually assigned to German mechanized artillery formations, and despite their short time, they proved to be a compact, economical solution, as they were both decommissioned in 1944.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

50 x 105mm projectile

2,000 x 7.92mm ammo

Changes