Saint-Chamond

The Saint-Chamond, named after Saint Chamond, was the second French heavy tank o
f the First World War, with 400 manufactured from April 1917 to July 1918. Altho
ugh not a tank by the present-day definition, it is generally accepted and descr
ibed as such in accounts of early tank development. Born of the commercial rival
ry existing with the makers of the Schneider CA1 tank, the Saint-Chamond was an
underpowered and fundamentally inadequate design. Its principal weakness was the
Holt "caterpillar" tracks. They were much too short in relation to the vehicle'
s length and heavy weight (23 tons). Later models, however, attempted to rectify
some of the tank's original flaws by installing wider and stronger track shoes,
thicker frontal armour and the more effective 75mm Mle 1897 field gun. Altogeth
er 400 Saint-Chamond tanks were built including 48 unarmed Caisson tanks. The Sa
int-Chamond tanks remained engaged in various actions until the late summer of 1
918, belatedly becoming more effective since combat had moved out of the trenche
s and onto open ground. Eventually, however, the Saint-Chamond tanks were schedu
led to be entirely replaced by imported British heavy tanks
The Saint-Chamond, named after Saint Chamond, was the second French heavy tank o
f the First World War, with 400 manufactured from April 1917 to July 1918. Altho
ugh not a tank by the present-day definition, it is generally accepted and descr
ibed as such in accounts of early tank development. Born of the commercial rival
ry existing with the makers of the Schneider CA1 tank, the Saint-Chamond was an
underpowered and fundamentally inadequate design. Its principal weakness was the
Holt "caterpillar" tracks. They were much too short in relation to the vehicle'
s length and heavy weight (23 tons). Later models, however, attempted to rectify
some of the tank's original flaws by installing wider and stronger track shoes,
thicker frontal armour and the more effective 75mm Mle 1897 field gun. Altogeth
er 400 Saint-Chamond tanks were built including 48 unarmed Caisson tanks. The Sa
int-Chamond tanks remained engaged in various actions until the late summer of 1
918, belatedly becoming more effective since combat had moved out of the trenche
s and onto open ground. Eventually, however, the Saint-Chamond tanks were schedu
led to be entirely replaced by imported British heavy tanks
The Saint-Chamond, named after Saint Chamond, was the second French heavy tank o
f the First World War, with 400 manufactured from April 1917 to July 1918. Altho
ugh not a tank by the present-day definition, it is generally accepted and descr
ibed as such in accounts of early tank development. Born of the commercial rival
ry existing with the makers of the Schneider CA1 tank, the Saint-Chamond was an
underpowered and fundamentally inadequate design. Its principal weakness was the
Holt "caterpillar" tracks. They were much too short in relation to the vehicle'
s length and heavy weight (23 tons). Later models, however, attempted to rectify
some of the tank's original flaws by installing wider and stronger track shoes,
thicker frontal armour and the more effective 75mm Mle 1897 field gun. Altogeth
er 400 Saint-Chamond tanks were built including 48 unarmed Caisson tanks. The Sa
int-Chamond tanks remained engaged in various actions until the late summer of 1
918, belatedly becoming more effective since combat had moved out of the trenche
s and onto open ground. Eventually, however, the Saint-Chamond tanks were schedu
led to be entirely replaced by imported British heavy tanks

Saint-Chamond