Char D2

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Char D2
General characteristics
Crew	3
Length
Width
Height
Weight	20 tonnes
Armour and armament
Armour	mm
Main armament	47mm SA34 Gun, later models 47mm SA35 Gun
Secondary armament	2x MG
Mobility
Power plant	120 hp
Suspension	vertical springs
Road speed	23 km/h
Power/weight
Range

The Char D2 was a French tank of the Interbellum.

At a time the Char D1 had not even entered production, the Renault company had agreed to build a more capable version called the Char D2. Early prototypes were among others fitted with turrets of the Renault's FT-17 during a mock-up. The production models had the APX-1 turret, armed with a 47mm SA34 tank gun and a coaxial 7.5mm MG. From March 1940 the more powerful 47mm SA35 tank gun is fitted, many older tanks are re-equipped with it. Both models had a bow 7.5mm MG. Only a hundred of these tanks were ever produced, because it was decided to use the Char B1 as the main tank equipping the armoured divisions.

[edit] Development

At the same time the Char D1 was ordered, a plan was made to develop a more modern tank. The Direction de l'Infanterie proposed on 23 January 1930 in a letter to the ministry of defence, to build a better armoured tank, using 40 mm plate, that nevertheless would be swifter at 22 km/h by fitting a 120 hp engine. The weight however should rise only from 14 to 15.5 tons, made possible by using welded instead of rivetted armour plate. On 14 April the plan is approved and in May Louis Renault is contacted who agrees to develop this type as the Char D2, together with a colonial tank, the Char D3.

To introduce the new welding technique entails hiring foreign experts, which is very expensive. Renault insists that the costs are paid for beforehand by the French Army, which however has no budget for this. On 8 December 1931 the deadlock is broken by a new agreement: Renault will first build a prototype with a rivetted hull, the Renault UZ, which is delivered in April 1932. First the type is tested in Rueil; in May 1933 field tests are carried out by 503e RCC. The type is accepted for production, which decision is affirmed by the Conseil Consultatif de l'Armement on 12 December 1933. On 14 January 1934 the High Command confirms the plan to make a first production order of fifty. All these decisions are taken on the basis of experience gained with the rivetted prototype, though it is well understood that from it no firm conclusions can be drawn on the quality of the intended welded type.

Meanwhile two welded prototypes had been ordered in December 1932. These were finished in August 1933, but only delivered in November. From December 1934 till the summer of 1935 the Commission de Vincennes uses the three available prototypes to test different engine configurations. The rivetted hull is equipped with a 120 hp petrol engine; the other two with diesel engines. As these are rejected, still the combination of the final engine with a welded hull has not been tested.

Nevertheless already on 29 December the order of fifty hulls had been granted to Renault, at a price of 410,000 French Francs per piece. The turrets are produced separately. First the ST3 had been tested in 1933, then it was considered to use the ST2 but at last a choice is made for the APX1, originally developed for the Char B1, costing 200,000 FF which brings the unit price to 610,000 FF. The fifty vehicles are only delivered between May 1936 and February 1937. Due to the delay a planned second order of 150, to be made in 1936, is cancelled.

[edit] External links

• Specifications and Description

French armoured fighting vehicles of World War II
AMC, AMR, and Light Tanks
FT-17 | AMR 33 | AMR 35 | FCM 36 | H35/H38/H39 | R 35 / R 40 | AMC 34 | AMC 35
Medium/Heavy		Cavalry tanks	Heavy tanks
Char D1| Char D2 | Char B1		S-35	Char 2C
Armoured Cars and Half-tracks
Panhard 178 | Laffly Armoured Car | AMC P16 | P107
Armoured Carriers
Renault UE | Lorraine 37L
Experimental vehicles
FCM F1 | ARL 40 | Char G1 | S 40 and SAu 40 | ARL-44
French armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II
Unarmoured vehicles