The FCM 1A began development in January 1917 when 200 hp engines became available. Trials were planned to start at the beginning of May after the first prototype began construction in April. However, after the failed Nivelle Offensive, the first operation where French tanks were used, all French tank development was halted. After a reversal of that decision, development was repeatedly delayed due to multiple problems.[1]
Testing began on 20 November 1917 after six months of delays. The vehicle was the largest tank built up to that point, measuring 8.27 m (27.1 ft) long. The hull was extremely elongated in order to cross the trenches of the Western Front. The tank originally had a crew of 7, but the crew was reduced to 6 in December. The main armament was a shortened version of the Canon de 105 Court Schneider with a large ammunition capacity of 122 rounds.[2]
It had a Renault 220 hp engine, allowing a maximum speed of 10 km/h (6.2 mph) and a minimum speed of 2 km/h (1.2 mph). The suspension consisted of bogies, sprung by leaf springs, of four wheels. The tank could cross a 3.5 m (11 ft) gap and overcome a 1 m (3.3 ft) gap.[2]
Mobility tests showed issues with the tank’s tracks and with the engine overheating, but mobility was deemed unsatisfactory. Firing tests conducted between 5 - 7 February 1918 also had satisfactory results.[3]
"1916 FCM 1A Heavy Tank". www.chars-francais.net (in French). 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
January 01, 1970
french, heavy, tank, that, served, prototype, char, typeheavy, tankplace, originfrancespecificationsmass41, short, tons, length8, width2, height3, crew7, later, reduced, 6armor35, front, sides, rear, mainarmamentcanon, 1913, schneider, roundssecondaryarmament2. The FCM 1A was French heavy tank that served as a prototype of the Char 2C FCM 1AFCM 1ATypeHeavy tankPlace of originFranceSpecificationsMass41 2 t 45 4 short tons Length8 27 m 27 ft 2 in Width2 842 m 9 ft 3 9 in Height3 m 9 ft 10 in Crew7 later reduced to 6Armor35 mm 1 4 in front 21 mm 0 83 in sides and rear MainarmamentCanon de 105 mle 1913 Schneider 122 roundsSecondaryarmament2 8mm Lebel Hotchkiss M1914 machine gunEngineRenault twelve cylinder220 horsepower 160 kW Ground clearance40 mm 1 6 in Maximum speed2 10 km h 1 2 6 2 mph Contents 1 Development 2 References 2 1 Citations 2 2 BibliographyDevelopment editThe FCM 1A began development in January 1917 when 200 hp engines became available Trials were planned to start at the beginning of May after the first prototype began construction in April However after the failed Nivelle Offensive the first operation where French tanks were used all French tank development was halted After a reversal of that decision development was repeatedly delayed due to multiple problems 1 Testing began on 20 November 1917 after six months of delays The vehicle was the largest tank built up to that point measuring 8 27 m 27 1 ft long The hull was extremely elongated in order to cross the trenches of the Western Front The tank originally had a crew of 7 but the crew was reduced to 6 in December The main armament was a shortened version of the Canon de 105 Court Schneider with a large ammunition capacity of 122 rounds 2 It had a Renault 220 hp engine allowing a maximum speed of 10 km h 6 2 mph and a minimum speed of 2 km h 1 2 mph The suspension consisted of bogies sprung by leaf springs of four wheels The tank could cross a 3 5 m 11 ft gap and overcome a 1 m 3 3 ft gap 2 Mobility tests showed issues with the tank s tracks and with the engine overheating but mobility was deemed unsatisfactory Firing tests conducted between 5 7 February 1918 also had satisfactory results 3 References editCitations edit Press 2017 p 43 a b Press 2017 p 44 Press 2017 p 45 Bibliography edit Ray Merriam 2017 04 01 World War 2 In Review French Fighting Vehicles Merriam Press ISBN 9781365864865 via Lulu Press Inc self published source 1916 FCM 1A Heavy Tank www chars francais net in French 2015 Retrieved 29 January 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title FCM 1A amp oldid 1068683546, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
