French Tank Strength in May-June 1940

Thought this might be of interest to someone. It is from the 1973 AFV Profile No59; French Infantry Tanksart 2.

Deployment of French AFVs in European Operations May-June 1940
Unit/Formation:
Tank battalions
organic to Armies
Eighteen-------810 R35/40
Two-------------90 H35/39
Two-------------90 FMC
One--------------6 2C
Eight-----------504 FT

Independent
Companies-----30 H35/39, 40 D, 57 B, 30 FT
1 DCR-----------90 H35/39, 66 B
2 DCR-----------90 H35/39, 66 B
3 DCR-----------90 H35/39, 66 B
4 DCR----------135 R35/40, 45 D, 66 B
1 DLM------------87 H35/39, 87 S35, 45 AMD, 60 AMR
2 DLM------------87 H35/39, 87 S35, 45 AMD, 60 AMR
3 DLM----------147 H35/39, 87 S35, 45 AMD
1 to 5 DLC-----110 H35/39, 70 AMD, 110 AMR
Reconnaissance
groups of seven
motorised infantry
divisions--------154 AMD, 154 AMR

Totals: 945 R35/40, 821 H35/39, 90 FCM, 85 D, 321 B, 6 2C, 534 FT, 261 S35, 359 AMD, 384 AMR

If you don't know to much about French tanks try this site:

http://www.wwiivehicles.com/html/france/

 

Thanks Paul !

Stuff like this is allways interesting.

 

Agreed! Too bad it wasn't used effectively. :-?

 

Some of the units listed had only just formed a few months earlier and no real tactics on their use had been drawn up.

 

A symptom of the French (and British) tendency to think only interms of refighting WW1 in the interwar period.

 

This leads to another question - why didn't anyone up there use the theories of Lidell Hart, or Guderian, or Fuller, or what the heck, Sun Tzu?! Any one of those tacticians could have provided them with plenty of ways to effectively use a new army in a new war.

 

DCR- Division Cuirassee de Reserve
DLM- Division Legere Mecanique
DLC- Division Legeres de Cavalerie

Quote:-
"Little thought had been given pre-war to the tactical handling of the DCR as an independent formation , and none was based on practical experience, with the result that there was no standard doctrine amongst any of the divisions. Even 1 and 2 DCR formed in Jan 1940, were not fully trained or equipped, while the vital command wireless channels were imperfect. Yet, suddenly, in May everyone expected miracles of the DCR in mobility and power to stop the German advance, without real understanding of how they should be used or of the problems involved."Profile No. 59.
In 1951, General Bruneau, commander of 1 DCR stated to La Commission d'Enquete Parlementaire;
"You do not improvise an armoured formation."

With that, the French Army had lost its offensive edge.

 

The fault goes to Gamelin and Daladier for that.

Fuller, Guderian, and De Gaulle all drew up effective tactics on how to use tanks and tank divisions, and De Gaulle and Guderian actually made very long campaigns saying basically the same thing.

Unfortunately Weygand was on a different planet during the 20s and 30s during the pro tank campaign and said the french army already had what was being asked for, Daladier was fanatically against anything that wasn't done in World War 1, Gamelin ignored him, and Petein influenced public opinion against tank divisions.

Guderian unfortunately had a lot more success in his campaign.

 

I may be overlooking it but I don't see the B1 Bis on that list. Probably the toughest tank the French fielded.

 

It seems to be referred to as the "B" in that list.

 

Thanks..of course that must be it..the numbers seem about right also.
Slow, not particularly reliable and with a one man turret (it's biggest drawback) still troublesome because the German 37mm was almost totally ineffective against it. Of course an 88mm had no difficulty against it, nor most any other tank either

 

Number of tanks on 10th May 1940 (1940 western campaign)

NUMBER OF AFVs ON 10th MAY 1940


*** FRANCE ***

1) HOTCHKISS TANKS

13e BCC : 40+5 Hotchkiss H35
14e BCC : 40+5 Hotchkiss H39 (2e DCR)
25e BCC : 40+5 Hotchkiss H39 (1e DCR)
26e BCC : 40+5 Hotchkiss H39 (1e DCR)
27e BCC : 40+5 Hotchkiss H39 (2e DCR)
38e BCC : 40+5 Hotchkiss H35
42e BCC : 30 Hotchkiss H39 (3e DCR)
45e BCC : 40+5 Hotchkiss H39 (3e DCR)

342e CACC : 15 Hotchkiss H39 (Norway)
1/42e CACC : 15 Hotchkiss H35

1e DLM : 86 Hotchkiss H35 (+ 8 reserve tanks)
--4e RC (43 Hotchkiss H35 and 48 Somua S35) : 43+4 Hotchkiss H35
--18e RD (43 Hotchkiss H35 and 48 Somua S35) : 43+4 Hotchkiss H35

2e DLM : 86 Hotchkiss H35 (+ 8 reserve tanks)
--13e RD (43 Hotchkiss H35 and 48 Somua S35) : 43+4 Hotchkiss H35
--29e RD (43 Hotchkiss H35 and 48 Somua S35) : 43+4 Hotchkiss H35

3e DLM : 153 Hotchkiss H39 (+ 10 reserve tanks)
--1e RC (43 Hotchkiss H39 and 48 Somua S35) : 43+4 Hotchkiss H39
--2e RC (43 Hotchkiss H39 and 48 Somua S35) : 43+4 Hotchkiss H39
--11e RDP : 22 Hotchkiss H35 and 47 Hotchkiss H39

1e DLC, 1e RAM : 13 Hotchkiss H35
2e DLC, 2e RAM : 13 Hotchkiss H35
3e DLC, 3e RAM : 13 Hotchkiss H35
4e DLC, 4e RAM : 13 Hotchkiss H35
5e DLC, 5e RAM : 13 Hotchkiss H35

1e RCA : 13 Hotchkiss H35 and 14 Hotchkiss H39 (Tunisia)

In the infantry divisions there is a cavalry unit in charge of reconnaissance or GRDI (Groupe de Reconnaissance de Division d'Infanterie). In the army corps there is a cavalry unit in charge of reconnaissance or GRCA (Groupe de Reconnaissance de Corps d'Armée). They were mostly equipped with motorcycles and horses but in the motorized infantry divisions they were grossly composed of one squadron of AMD, one squadron of AMR, one motorcycle squadron and one support company (about 26 armored cars, 15 side-cars, 2 cars, 2 trucks, 4 light trucks, 24 FM 24/29 LMGs, 12 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MMGs, 2 60mm mortars and 3-6 25mm AT guns)
2e GRDI (9e DIM) : 13 Panhard 178 and 13 Hotchkiss H39
5e GRDI (25e DIM) : 13 Panhard 178 and 13 Hotchkiss H35

TOTAL = 844 Hotchkiss tanks (including 42 tanks in Norway and Tunisia)

REINFORCEMENTS IN MAY 1940 :
· 3e RC (39 Somua S35 + 40 Hotchkiss H39) : 40 Hotchkiss H39 (attached to the 4e DCR)
· 7e RC (24 Hotchkiss H39 + 25 Somua S35) : 24 Hotchkiss H39
· 351e CACC : 11 Hotchkiss H39

CONCLUSION :
802 Hotchkiss tanks (328 Hotchkiss H35 and 474 Hotchkiss H39) in France on 10th May 1940.


2) RENAULT R35/39 TANKS

1e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
2e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39 (4e DCR)
3e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
5e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
6e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
9e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
10e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
12e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
16e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
17e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
20e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
21e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
22e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
23e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
24e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39 (4e DCR)
32e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
34e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
35e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
39e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
43e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39
62e BCC : 30 Renault R35 and 15 Renault FT17 (Morocco)
63e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35 (Levant)
68e BCC : 40+10 Renault R35 (Levant)

TOTAL = 1025 Renault R35/39 tanks (including 125 tanks in the colonies) on 10th May 1940


ON 20th MAY 1940 :
· 44e BCC : 40+5 Renault R35/39 (4e DCR)
· 40e BCC : 15 Renault R35/39 and 30 Renault R40
· 48e BCC : 16 Renault R35/39 and 29 Renault R40

IN JUNE 1940 :
· 25e BCC : recreated with 21 Renault R35/39 and 24 Renault R40
· 2e BCC : reinforced with 9 Renault R35/39
· Polish battalion : 17 Renault R35/39 and 28 Renault R40.
The 10th Polish armored brigade consisted only of the 1st tank battalion and one motorized infantry battalion. Companies "Pagézy" and "Chabowski" were rearmed with Renault R-40 tanks.

CONCLUSION :
900 Renault R35/39 tanks in France on 10th May 1940.


3) RENAULT D1 TANKS

Mostly all the Renault D1 tanks are in Tunisia : 61e BCC (45 Renault D1), 65e BCC (45 Renault D1) and 67e BCC (45 Renault D1). The 67e BCC is moved in France and engaged in mid-June 1940 with 45 Renault D1.
There are also 8 tanks in training schools in France and 17 replacement tanks in Tunisia.

CONCLUSION :
0 Renault D1 tanks in combat units on 10th May 1940 in metropolitan France


4) RENAULT D2 TANKS

100 of these tanks were produced between 1937 and 1940. They were armed with a 47mm gun (47mm SA34 gun for the first 50 tanks and 47mm SA35 gun for the last 50 tanks), a coaxial 7.5mm MAC1931 MG and a bow 7.5mm MAC1931 MG.
From the 50 first produced tanks, 5 were issued to schools and 45 equipped the 19e BCC. In April, the first company (1/19e BCC) was issued with 14 brand new D2 tanks (47mm SA35 gun) and became temporary the 345e CACC. The 14 old tanks were intended to be transformed in flamethrower tanks.
On 16th May 1940 the 346e CACC was equipped with 10 tanks and 12 tanks were issued to the 350e CACC on 20-16th May 1940. The 19e BCC and the 345e CACC are attached to the newly created 4e DCR.
The 14 remaining tanks were probably used simply to replace 14 other ones armed with the short 47mm gun or to replace damaged or destroyed D2 tanks in combat units.

CONCLUSION :
45 Renault D2 in combat units on 10th May 1940 (including at least 14 D2 with the 47mm SA35 gun).
In late May 1940 there are 67 Renault D2 in combat units (including at least 36 with the 47mm SA35, perhaps 50 ones with the last 14 produced ones.)


5) FCM36 TANKS

4e BCC : 40+5 FCM36
7e BCC : 40+5 FCM36

CONCLUSION :
90 FCM36 tanks in combat units on 10th May 1940.


6) SOMUA S35 TANKS

1e DLM : 88 Somua S35 (+ 8 reserve tanks)
--4e RC (46 Hotchkiss H35 and 48 Somua S35) : 44+4 Somua S35
--18e RD (46 Hotchkiss H35 and 48 Somua S35) : 44+4 Somua S35

2e DLM : 88 Somua S35 (+ 8 reserve tanks)
--13e RD (46 Hotchkiss H35 and 48 Somua S35) : 44+4 Somua S35
--29e RD (46 Hotchkiss H35 and 48 Somua S35) : 44+4 Somua S35

3e DLM : 88 Somua S35 (+ 8 reserve tanks)
--1e RC (46 Hotchkiss H39 and 48 Somua S35) : 44+4 Somua S35
--2e RC (46 Hotchkiss H39 and 48 Somua S35) : 44+4 Somua S35

IN MAY 1940
· 3e RC (39 Somua S35+ 40 Hotchkiss H39) : 39 Somua S35 (attached to the 4e DCR)
· 7e RC (24 Hotchkiss H39 + 25 Somua S35) : 25 Somua S35

CONCLUSION :
264 Somua S35 tanks in combat units on 10th May 1940.


7) RENAULT B1 and B1bis TANKS

1e DCR : 68 + 1 command tank = 69 Renault B1bis
--28e BCC : 31+3 Renault B1bis
--37e BCC : 31+3 Renault B1bis

2e DCR : 68 + 1 command tank = 69 Renault B1bis
--8e BCC : 31+3 Renault B1bis
--15e BCC : 31+3 Renault B1bis

3e DCR : 68 Renault B1bis
--41e BCC : 31+3 Renault B1bis
--49e BCC : 31+3 Renault B1bis


IN MAY 1940 :
· 46e BCC : 31+3 Renault B1bis (4e DCR)
· 47e BCC (1/47 and 3/47) : 18 Renault B1bis (4e DCR)
· 3/37e BCC reinforcement : 5 Renault B1
· 347e CACC : 12 Renault B1 and 3 Renault B1bis
· 349e CACC (2/47e BCC) : 10 Renault B1bis
· 348e CACC : 10 Renault B1bis
· 28e BCC reconstituted : 31+3 Renault B1bis

IN JUNE 1940 :
· 352e CACC : 10 Renault B1bis
· Compagnie Bibes : 11 Renault B1bis (2 turretless tanks)
· Compagnie de marche du 10e BCC : 8 Renault B1bis (4 turretless tanks)


CONCLUSION :
206 Renault B1bis tanks in combat units on 10th May 1940.


8) RENAULT FT17m and FT17c TANKS

These WW1 tanks were completely obsolete in 1940. They were much slower (about 10 times in cross country) than the German tanks, poorly armored and armed either with an infantry gun or a MG.

a) FT17 tank battalions :
11e BCC : 42 Renault FT17m/c
18e BCC : 63 Renault FT17m/c
29e BCC : 63 Renault FT17m/c
30e BCC : 63 Renault FT17m/c
31e BCC : 63 Renault FT17m/c
33e BCC : 63 Renault FT17m/c
62e BCC : 30 Renault R35 and 15 FT17 (Morocco) – in transformation on Renault R35
64e BCC : 45 Renault FT17 (Tunisia, coming from Algeria) – in transformation on Renault R35
66e BCC : 45 Renault FT17 (Morocco) – in transformation on Renault R35
colonial BCC : 63 Renault FT17m/c
343e CACC : 21 Renault FT17m/c
344e CACC : 21 Renault FT17m/c

Total in the tank battalions : 567 Renault FT17 tanks.

b) Regional platoons of FT17 tanks :
1 to 4 FT17 regional platoons (4 to 16 tanks) were issued to 25 regional regiments (sections de chars de régiments régionaux) for a total of 192 Renault FT17 tanks.

c) Protection for military and civilian installations in the military district. These units created during May 1940 included :
Anti-paratroops tank companies : 7 companies of 12 tanks for a total of 84 Renault FT17 tanks.
Airfield protection platoons : 1 to 5 FT17 regional platoons (4 to 20 tanks) were issued to 11 military districts for a total of 112 Renault FT17 tanks.
Important buildings protection platoons : 1 to 3 FT17 regional platoons (4 to 12 tanks) were issued to 7 military districts for a total of 72 Renault FT17 tanks.
Paris military region special group = 50e BCC : 50 Renault FT17m tanks.
regional platoon of protection tanks : 9 tanks in 10 military regions for a total of 90 Renault FT17 tanks.

Overseas regional platoons :
One independent tank company in Tunisia to guard the coastline : 16 Renault FT17 tanks.
District tank platoons to defend the major cities in Morocco (28), Tunisia (16) and Algeria (20) for a total of 64 Renault FT17 tanks.

In the Levant there were the 56 former FT-17 tanks of the 63e BCC. Most remained in depots but the CACL (compagnie autonome des chars du Levant was created) with 3 groups of 10 tanks (9+1 replacement tank = = 3x FT17m, 6x FT17c, 1x FT17BS) in the cities of Beyrouth, Alep and Damas for a total of 30 Renault FT17 tanks. In June 1940, the CACL is reinforced by 6 FT-17 tanks (1x FT17c in each groups and 3 FT17m for the protection of the airbase in Estabel in Lebanon).

There were also about 20 Renault FT17 tanks in Indochina (not all operational).

à TOTAL : 1297 FT17 tanks were still in service : 1062 tanks in France and 235 in the colonies. From the 1062 FT17 tanks in France, 462 were in combat units on 10th May 1940.

CONCLUSION :
462 Renault FT17 tanks in COMBAT UNITS on 10th May France in 1940.


9) FCM-2C TANKS

51e BCC : 8 FCM-2C

CONCLUSION :
8 FCM-2C tanks in combat units on 10th May 1940.

NUMBER OF FRENCH TANKS IN FRANCE ON 10th MAY 1940 : 2307 (2777)
· Hotchkiss H35 : 328
· Hotchkiss H39 : 474
· Renault R35/39 : 900
· FCM36 : 90
· Somua S35 : 264
· Renault D2 : 45
· Renault B1bis : 206
-->Modern tanks : 2322

· Renault FT17 : 462 (obsolete)
· FCM-2C : 8 (obsolete)
--> Obsolete tanks : 470

Tanks outside metropolitan territory on 10th May 1940 : 537
· Norway : 342e CACC (15 Hotchkiss H39)
· Algeria : 64e BCC (45 Renault FT17) and 20 Renault FT17 tanks.
· Morocco : 62e BCC (30 Renault R35 and 15 Renault FT17), 66e BCC (45 Renault FT17) and 28 Renault FT17 tanks.
· Tunisia : 1e RCA (14 Hotchkiss H39 + 13 Hotchkiss H35), 61e BCC (45 Renault D1), 65e BCC (45 Renault D1), 67e BCC (45 Renault D1) and 32 Renault FT17 tanks. The 67e BCC was sent in France in middle June 1940 and was engaged in the battle of Souain.
· Levant (Syria, Lebanon) : 63e BCC (45 Renault R35), 68e BCC (50 Renault R35) and CACL (30 Renault FT17 tanks).
· Indochina : 20 Renault FT17 tanks.

--> 537 tanks
· 29 Hotchkiss H39
· 13 Hotchkiss H35
· 125 Renault R35
· 90 Renault D1 + 45 Renault D1 transported to France in June 1940 = 135 Renault D1
· 235 Renault FT17


REINFORCEMENTS IN MAY / JUNE 1940 : probably about 556 (estimation)
· Hotchkiss H39 : 75
· Renault R35/39 : 123
· Renault R40 : 111
· Renault D1 : 45
· Somua S35 : 64
· Renault B1 : 17
· Renault B1bis : 131 (not counting the 6 turretless tanks)
--> 466 new or replacement tanks during May / June 1940.
During early June 1940, the remains of the 5 DLCs were to be converted to a DLM "type réduit", a reduced DLM. The deteriorating military situation meant only 4e DLM and 7e DLM were actually formed. The 1e DLM, 2e DLM and 3e DLM are also reconstituted beginning June, as reduced DLMs, with men evacuated from Dunkirk and who returned to France after a transit in Great Britain. These 5 DLMs fought until 25th June 1940. These units include old vehicles from former units, taken in dumps, park and schools but also some brand new vehicles just out of the factories. These new units add probably about 50 Somua S35 tanks and 40 Hotchkiss H39 tanks.


The total number of French tanks in COMBAT UNITS in France on 10th May (2837 tanks) seems quite impressive but :
- These tanks are dispersed on the whole metropolitan territory not all facing the German main attacks and their ability to concentrate tanks
- This number includes only 2367 'modern' tanks + FT17 tanks and a few FCM-2C
- Among all the H35/39 and R35 tanks, only about 20-25% (about 300-400 tanks) are armed with the 37mm SA38 gun. Only 350 37mm L/33 SA38 guns had been delivered until April 1940 to equip various Renault R35 (then called R39), Hotchkiss (H35 and H39) and a few FCM36 tanks (So the number of 400 could even be overestimated on 10th May 1940). Concerning the FCM36 tanks only very few were converted and the 37mm SA38 gun equipped mainly Hotchkiss tanks and in priority the Hotchkiss H39 tanks (newly produced ones or converted ones, in priority the platoon commander tanks).
Therefore on 10th May 1940, against the 955 Germans tanks armed with 3.7cm and 7.5cm guns there were only 515 French tanks armed with a 47mm SA35 and about 350 which had a 37mm SA38 gun = 865 tanks with an excellent (47mm SA35) to good (37mm SA38) anti-tank capacity. The huge majority of the French tanks are light tanks armed with the 37mm SA18 gun which could be used at 400m against the Panzer I and Panzer II but to knock out a Panzer III Ausf.E/F (the previous models were far less armored and were easier to destroy) or a Panzer IV Ausf.C/D they had to get as close as < 25-100m whereas the enemy could destroy them at about 300m (3.7cm KwK) to 500m (7.5cm KwK).


10) ARMORED CARS

1e DLM : 107 armored cars
--6e RC : 40 Panhard 178 (+1 radio car + 2 reserve armored car)
--4e RDP : 67 AMR33 / AMR35 ZT1 (+2 reserve armored cars)

2e DLM : 107 armored cars
--8e RC : 40 Panhard 178 (+1 radio car + 2 reserve armored car)
--1e RDP : 67 AMR33 / AMR35 ZT1 (+2 reserve armored cars)

3e DLM : 40 armored cars
--12e RC : 40 Panhard 178 (+1 radio car + 2 reserve armored car)

1e DLC
--1e RAM : 12 Panhard 178 (+1 radio car + 2 reserve armored car)
--5e RDP : 23 AMR33 / AMR35 ZT1

2e DLC
--2e RAM : 12 Panhard 178 (+1 radio car + 2 reserve armored car)
--3e RDP : 23 AMR33 / AMR35 ZT1

3e DLC
--3e RAM : 12 Panhard 178 (+1 radio car + 2 reserve armored car)
--2e RDP : 23 AMR33 / AMR35 ZT1

4e DLC
--4e RAM : 12 Panhard 178 (+1 radio car + 2 reserve armored car)
--14e RDP : 23 AMR33 / AMR35 ZT1

5e DLC
--5e RAM : 12 Panhard 178 (+1 radio car + 2 reserve armored car)
--15e RDP : 23 AMR33 / AMR35 ZT1

GRDIs (Groupe de Reconnaissance de Division d'Infanterie) :
1e GRDI (5e DIM) : 13 Panhard 178 and 12 Citroën-Kégresse P16
2e GRDI (9e DIM) : 13 Panhard 178 and 13 Hotchkiss H39
3e GRDI (12e DIM) : 13 Panhard 178 and 12 Citroën-Kégresse P16
4e GRDI (15e DIM) : 13 Laffly 50 AM and 12 Citroën-Kégresse P16
5e GRDI (25e DIM) : 13 Panhard 178 and 13 Hotchkiss H35
6e GRDI (3e DIM) : 13 Panhard 178 and 12 Citroën-Kégresse P16 and 4 AMR35 ZT3
7e GRDI (1e DIM) : 13 Panhard 178, 12 Citroën-Kégresse P16 and 4 AMR35 ZT3
(32e GRDI (43e DI) : 5 Panhard 178)

In these GRDIs were also dispatched some other armored cars including :
AMR35 ZT2 : 10 (25mm turret gun)
AMR35 ZT3 : 2 (25mm hull gun)
AMR33 / AMR35 ZT1 : 10 (approximate number)

-->TOTAL = about 575 armored cars in France on 10th May 1940
Panhard 178 : 223
AMR33 / AMR35 ZT1 : 259 (including about 150 AMR35 ZT1)
AMR35 ZT2 : 10
AMR35 ZT3 : 10
Laffly 50AM : 13
Citroën-Kégresse P16 Mle1929 : 60


NUMBER OF FRENCH ARMORED CARS ON 10th MAY 1940 : 575
· Panhard 178 : 223 (wheeled)
· AMR33 / AMR35 ZT1 : 259 (including about 150 AMR35 ZT1) (tracked)
· AMR35 ZT2 : 10 (tracked)
· AMR35 ZT3 : 10 (tracked)
· Laffly 50AM : 13 (wheeled)
· Citroën-Kégresse P16 Mle1929 : 60 (halftracked)
--> TOTAL : 575

Not counted are the APCs (unarmed) :
· Lorraine 38L VBCP : 150 (tracked)



Armored cars in the colonies on 10th May 1940 : 234 (estimation)
· AMR33 / AMR35 ZT1 : 10 (tracked)
· White Mle1918 : 50 (10 in Indochina and 40 in the Levant) (WW1, wheeled)
· Laffly 50AM : 50 (6-10 in Indochina and 12 in the Levant) (wheeled)
· Laffly 80AM : 27 (Africa) (wheeled)
· Panhard 165/175 TOE : 28 (16 in the Levant) (wheeled)
· Panhard 178 (but with APX5 turret) : 4 (in Indochina) (wheeled)
· Laffly S15 TOE : 45 (25 in North Africa and 20 in West Africa) (wheeled)
· MG armed Renault UE tractors : very few in Indochina (tracked)
· Peugeot and Renault Mle1915 : very few in Indochina (WW1, wheeled)
· Berliet VUM : 1 (Levant, in Syria)
· AMC Citroën-Kégresse-Schneider M23 : very few in the Levant
· AM légère (AML) Panhard-Zudel : 5 (in the Levant)
· AM légère du désert (AMLD) Hotchkiss : 13 (in the Levant, partially armored, only one LMG)
· AMLD Chenard et Walker : 15 (in the Levant, not armoured cars, one MG, not counted)

Not counted are the APCs (unarmed) :
· Berliet VUDB : 32 (wheeled)
· Panhard 179 : 30 (wheeled)
· Citroën-Kégresse P104 : 10 (3-5 in Indochina) (half-tracked)
· Panhard armored bus : 3 (in the Levant)


REINFORCEMENTS IN MAY / JUNE 1940 : probably about 270 (estimation)
· About 30 Renault AMC35 in various little units formed rather during June 1940 : "Escadron Audigier" and several "groupes francs de cavalerie"
· 40 Panhard 178 (+1 radio car + 2 reserve armored car) issued to the 10e RC (4e DCR)
· 70 Laffly W15 TCC tank destroyers
During early June 1940, the remains of the 5 DLCs were to be converted to a DLM "type réduit", a reduced DLM. The deteriorating military situation meant only 4e DLM and 7e DLM were actually formed. The 1e DLM, 2e DLM and 3e DLM are also reconstituted beginning June, as reduced DLMs, with men evacuated from Dunkirk and who returned to France after a transit in Great Britain. These 5 DLMs fought until 25th June 1940. These units include old vehicles from former units, taken in dumps, park and schools but also some brand new vehicles just out of the factories. Several Panhard 178 went in combat without turret : with home-made armor plates (16-20mm) forming a casemate (40 would have been produced during June 1940) and armed with 25mm SA35 or 47mm SA34 guns and a LMG or completely without turret/casemate and simply armed with a LMG.
Some Panhard 178 armored cars had a modified turret with a 47mm SA35 gun and a coaxial MG in June 1940 (Renault turret). This version participated to combats in June 1940 with at least one vehicle on the Loire River according to a photographic proof but the unit equipped with it is not know. It may have been of these DLMs. Several Renault AMR went also in combat without turret in June 1940, just with a mount for a LMG. These new units add probably about 80 Panhard 178 and 50 AMR33/35 new vehicles.



** BELGIUM **

Infantry units :
Infantry division n°1 : 12 T13
Infantry division n°2 : 12 T13
Infantry division n°3 : 12 T13
Infantry division n°4 : 12 T13
Infantry division n°7 : 12 T13
Infantry division n°8 : 12 T13
Infantry division n°9 : 12 T13
Infantry division n°10 : 12 T13
Infantry division n°11 : 12 T13
1e division de chasseurs ardennais : 3 T15 and 48 T13
2e division de chasseurs ardennais : 3 T15
Independent border cyclist company : 12 T13
8th border cyclist company : 12 T13
PFN fortress company : 12 T13 (PFN = Position Fortifiée de Namur, Namur fortified position)

Cavalry units :
1st Cavalry division : 18 T15 and 18 T13
2nd Cavalry division : 18 T15 and 18 T13
Escadron d'auto-blindées du corps de cavalerie : 8 Renault ACG-1. The Belgian ACG1 had a modified turret with a coaxial 13.2mm HMG instead of the 7.5mm MAC31 MG

--> TOTAL : 8 ACG-1, 42 T15 and 228 T13 = 278 tanks
The Belgian army had also a few FT17 tanks but they were apparently not in combat units anymore.

CONCLUSION : 278 Belgian AFVs on 10th May 1940



** NETHERLANDS **

All the Dutch armored car were in the 1st armored car squadron of the light division (Lichte Divisie).

Pantserwagen (Paw.) M36 (Landswerk L181) : 12
Paw.M38 (Landswerk L180) : 14 (including 2 command cars)
DAF M39 : 7 (never issued to combat units before the defeat)
--> TOTAL : 26 armored cars

CONCLUSION : 26 Dutch armored cars on 10th May 1940.



** UNITED-KINGDOM **

12th Royal Lancers
Morris armoured reconnaissance car : 38

4th Northumbrian fusiliers
Daimler Dingo scout car : 12

N°3 Air Mission Phantom (RAF)
Guy armoured car : 6

4th battalion Royal Tank Regiment
Matilda I : 50
Vickers MkVIb : 5

7th battalion Royal Tank Regiment
Matilda I : 27
Matilda II : 23
Vickers MkVIb : 7

13th / 18th Hussars (1st Division)
Vickers MkVIb : 28
(Carrier with Boys ATR : 44)

4th / 7th Dragoon guards (2nd Division)
Vickers MkVIb : 28
(Carrier with Boys ATR : 44)

Lothian & Border Horse (48th Division)
Vickers MkVIb : 28
(Carrier with Boys ATR : 44)

15th / 19th Hussars (3rd Division)
Vickers MkVIb : 28
(Carrier with Boys ATR : 44)

Innskilling Dragoon guards (4th Division)
Vickers MkVIb : 28
(Carrier with Boys ATR : 44)

East Riding Yeomanry (3rd Corps)
Vickers MkVIb : 28
(Carrier with Boys ATR : 44)

Fife & Forfar Yeomanry (51st Highland division)
Vickers MkVIb : 28
(Carrier with Boys ATR : 44)

--> TOTAL = 304 tanks and 56 armored cars
Matilda I : 77
Matilda II : 23
Vickers MkVIb : 208
Morris armoured reconnaissance car : 38
Daimler Dingo scout car : 12
Guy armoured car : 6
Carrier with a Boys ATR : 308 (not counted)
Lorry with a French 25mm AT gun : ? (1) (not counted)
(1) 220 French 25mm AT guns delivered to the BEF to increase the AT power in the British division. They were often mounted on a truck used as SP guns but their number is not known.



IN MAY 1940 :
1st Armoured Division arriving on 17th May 1940

1- Organization :

2nd Armoured Brigade
o 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)
o 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
o 10th Prince of Wales Lancers

3rd Armoured Brigade
o 2nd battalion Royal Tank Regiment (not present in France)
o 3rd battalion Royal Tank Regiment
o 5th battalion Royal Tank Regiment

2- Tank strength :
· Vickers MkVIb : 134
· Cruiser MkI (A9) : 24
· Cruiser MkII (A10) : 31
· Cruiser MkIII (A13) : 95
--> 284 tanks

CONCLUSION : 308 tanks and 56 armored cars in France on 10th May 1940.



** GERMANY **

Tanks in the 10 Panzerdivisionen
(source : Thomas L. Jentz on http://niehorster.orbat.com/011_germany ... -05-10.htm)
Pz.Kpfw. I : 643 (total available : 1077)
Pz.Kpfw. II : 880 (total available : 1092)
Pz.Kpfw. III : 349 (total available : 381)
Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) : 118 (total available : 143)
Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) : 207 (total available : 238)
Pz.Kpfw. IV A/B/C/D : 281 (total available : 290)
Pz.Bef. : 148 (total available : 244)

--> 2626 German tanks on 10th May 1940


Here is a reported loss table for the German tanks by the end of May 1940 : 529
· Pz.Kpfw. I : 101
· Pz.Kpfw. II : 150
· Pz.Kpfw. III : 84
· Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) : 44
· Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) : 43
· Pz.Kpfw. IV A/B/C/D : 63
· Pz.Bef. : 44

And were replaced by reserve / new production which totaled : 288
· Pz.Kpfw. I : 48
· Pz.Kpfw. II : 35
· Pz.Kpfw. III : 71
· Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) : 35
· Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) : 36
· Pz.Kpfw. IV A/B/C/D : 19
· Pz.Bef. : 44


Here is a reported loss table for the German tanks during May - June 1940 : 839
· Pz.Kpfw. I : 182
· Pz.Kpfw. II : 240
· Pz.Kpfw. III : 135
· Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) : 62
· Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) : 54
· Pz.Kpfw. IV A/B/C/D : 97
· Pz.Bef. : 69

source : Panzertruppen 1, Thomas Jentz, Schiffer. These losses do not include StuG III A/B, Panzerjäger I, 15cm s.I.G.33 auf Pz.Kpfw.I and all the armored cars that have been lost.


PanzerJäger I (4.7cm L/43.4 Pak(t) (Sfl) auf PzKpfw I) : 117 tank destroyers
Pz.Jäg.Abt. 521 : 18 (6 per Kompanie)
Pz.Jäg.Abt. 605 : 18 (indicated as not participating to the French campaign by several sources)
Pz.Jäg.Abt. 616 : 27
Pz.Jäg.Abt. 643 : 27
Pz.Jäg.Abt. 670 : 27

8.8cm FlaK (Sfl) auf Zugkraftwagen 12t (Sd.Kfz. 8) also known as "Bunkerflak" or "Bufla" : 6 tank destroyers
The Bufla was a special self-propelled version of the 8.8cm Flak 18 L/56 dedicated to anti-fortification role initially and also anti-tank role. 6 of these vehicles were issued to the 1. schwere Kompanie/Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung (for a total of 10 produced, 4 in reserve). The 'Bufla' was operational :
in Poland
in France along the 1.PzD and 2.PzD (there could therefore having been engaged in areas like Montcornet, Crécy-sur-Serre, Juniville etc.), at least 2-3 vehicles were lost in France
in Russia (with the XXXIX. Panzer Korps - Heeresgruppe Mitte -) where all the vehicles were probably destroyed, they served until March 1943.

Sturmgeschütz III A : 24 tanks
Sturmgeschütz-Batterie 640
Sturmgeschütz-Batterie 659
Sturmgeschütz-Batterie 660
Sturmgeschütz-Batterie 665

15 cm s.I.G.33 auf Pz.Kpfw.I : 38 self-propelled artillery
s.I.G.Kp. (mot S) 701 (to 9. Panzer-Division)
s.I.G.Kp. (mot S) 702 (to 1. Panzer-Division)
s.I.G.Kp. (mot S) 703 (to 2. Panzer-Division)
s.I.G.Kp. (mot S) 704 (to 5. Panzer-Division)
s.I.G.Kp. (mot S) 705 (to 7. Panzer-Division)
s.I.G.Kp. (mot S) 706 (to 10. Panzer-Division)
However the organization was two 15cm s.I.G.33 auf Pz.Kpfw.I in each Zug (three Zug in each Kompanie), along with four 1t Zgkw. (Sd.Kfz.10), which only accounts for a total of 36 15cm s.I.G.33 auf Pz.Kpfw.I (and a total of 72 1t Zgkw.(Sd.Kfz.10)), so that leaves two 15cm s.I.G.33 auf Pz.Kpfw.I unaccounted for.


Armored cars :
In each Aufklärung Abteilung (AA) there seem to be :
Battalion HQ with 1 SdKfz.247
Signal platoon
1 SdKfz.263 (Fu)
1 SdKfz.261 (Fu)
1 SdKfz.260 (Fu)
2 companies of armored cars each with :
o Company HQ with 1 SdKfz.247
o Signal detachment with 4 SdKfz.223 (Fu) and 1 SdKfz.263 (Fu)
o Heavy platoon with 3 6-Rad SdKfz.231 and 3 8-Rad SdKfz.232 (Fu)
o Light platoon with 6 SdKfz.221
o Light platoon with 4 SdKfz.221 and 4 SdKfz.222
--> TOTAL : 56 armored cars (including 20 armored cars with a 2.0cm L/55 gun)

There is an AA in each Panzerdivision, in 6 motorized divisions and in the 1. Kavallerie Division :
AA 4 (1.PzD)
AA 5 (2.PzD)
AA 3 (3.PzD)
AA 7 (4.PzD)
AA 8 (5.PzD)
AA 57 (6.PzD)
AA 37 (7.PzD)
AA 59 (8.PzD)
AA 9 (9.PzD)
AA 90 (10.PzD)
AA 2 (2. ID mot.)
AA 13 (13. ID mot.)
AA 20 (20. ID mot.)
AA 29 (29. ID mot.)
AA Totenkopf (SS-Totenkopf mot.)
AA Verfügungstruppen (SS VT mot.)
AA 40 (1. Kavallerie Division)

There were also at least some more armored cars in the 11th motorized brigade and the Lehr motorized regiment. Many infantry divisions had in fact at least 3 armored cars in their Aufklärungs-Abteilung. A total of 135 German divisions had been engaged, for 17 of them the AA have been listed previously. About 100 other divisions may have at least 3 armored cars. This leads to an approximation of 100x3 = 300 more armored cars of various models.

--> TOTAL : 1252 armored cars including at least 340 armored cars with a real anti-tank capacity (2.0cm L/55 gun)

CONCLUSION :
2811 German tanks / self-propelled guns and 1252 armored cars on 10th May 1940.



----------------------------------------

** CONCLUSION **

ALLIES :

1) Number of tanks, tank destroyers and self-propelled guns
· France : 2307 (2777 (2))
· United Kingdom : 308
· Belgium : 278
· Netherlands : -
· Luxembourg : -
--> TOTAL 1 : 2893 (3363(2))

2) Number of armored cars
· France : 575
· United Kingdom : 56
· Belgium : -
· Netherlands : 26
· Luxembourg : -
--> TOTAL 2 : 657

TOTAL 1+2 : 3550 (4020(2))
(2) counting the French FT17 and FCM-2C old tanks in combat units.


GERMANY :

Number of tanks and SP guns : 2811
Number of armored cars : 1252
--> TOTAL : 4063



ON 10th MAY 1940 :

· There is a comparable number of allied and German tanks with about 2900 tanks. If all the AFVs are counted there are 4020 allied vs 4063 German AFVs, with the obsolete French FT17 and FCM-2C tanks being counted. This apparent equality in the number of tanks is purely mathematical but in the facts it is completely false. All the about 3000 German tanks are concentrated in the 10 Panzerdivisionen unlike only about 960 French tanks in the DCR/DLM. Each DCR/DLM has less tanks than a Panzerdivision : there are grossly 10x300 German tanks against 6x160 French tanks and many dispersed battalions. That was the reality on the battlefield. The British 1st AD concentrated the cruiser tanks but did not really change the balance and was quickly neutralized. All the Belgian tanks were dispersed in small numbers in their infantry divisions, the higher number of Belgian tanks could be found in the 1e division de chasseurs ardennais with about 50 AFVs

· All the French tanks have a power/weight ratio of 7-10 hp/ton ; the German tanks have a power/weight ratio of 15-20 hp/ton, they have a better mobility. French tanks were generally more adapted to heavy and brutal charges against slow or immobile targets but were not really conceived for a war in which speed and mobility rules. And this speed and mobility was created by the revolutionary Panzerdivisionen. Only the Somua S35 cavalry tank could really compete with the German tanks in terms of speed, mobility and autonomy.

· All the French tanks have a better armor then the German tanks (13-30mm for the German tanks and 40-60mm for the French tanks). The 23 British Matillda II tanks are also far better armored than the German ones. French tanks are able to resist to many German hits.

· But the Germans tanks had often a better AT capacity, except the French 47mm SA35 gun and 75mm SA35 gun. The 47mm SA35 L/32 gun is able to destroy all the German tanks up to 800-1000m but generally the French rate of fire is slower because of the 1-man turret where the commander is also spotter, loader and gunner.


Notes :

The crude comparison of tank numbers gives not a good representation of the reality on the battlefield. The allied used their tanks often spread among the infantry to provide support while the Germans concentrated all their tanks.

The German "superiority" was mainly due to :
· better tactical regulation, much more concentrated armor (usually 4 vs 1, sometimes 8-10 vs 1 odds)
· generally higher speed and mobility of the German tanks
· tracer and smoke shells available in the German tanks (not in the French ones)
· more radio sets allowing to better organize and control the maneuvers
· mostly always presence of observation planes (Hs126 and Fi156) to provide information about the allied position and direct artillery and aerial support
· mostly omnipresent close air support
· German tanks were spreading into the allied rears … difficult then to preserve a HQ or a fuel supply dump … leading to tanks being abandoned and scuttled due to lack of fuel
· better and faster German logistical organization (and far less hindered by aerial attacks or artillery fire)
· 1-man turret in most of the French tanks and several very recently constituted units lacking training
· usually German tanks avoided combat with the heavy allied tanks like the B1bis which constituted a big threat, they were rather engaged by 8.8cm FlaK. and 10.5cm LeFH.

Germany's victory occurred as a result of a combination of factors, including air superiority, strategic and tactical innovation (including concentration of their armor), and the failure of the allies to anticipate or respond effectively to German tactics (The French had the luck to have well armored tanks compared to the British lightly armored ones which constituted the majority of their tanks, only the Matilda II tanks were really well protected but there were only 23 of them in France). However, it occurred in spite rather than because of German tanks.

The German ground forces suffered a lot in 1940 on the Western front. Their ground forces lost about 45,000 KIA and 111,000 WIA as well as 30% of the engaged tanks. 839 German tanks and numerous armored cars were definitively destroyed (for example about 2/3rd of the armored cars of the 7.PzD were knocked-out before the 1st June 1940). That gives of course not the total number of AFVs that were knocked out and needed to be repaired.

Allied human losses :
· Belgian losses in 19 days : 7500 KIA and 15850 WIA (all the AFVs destroyed or captured)
· Luxembourg : no resistance, French troops entered the country to meet the Germans
· Dutch losses in 6 days : 2890 KIA and 6889 WIA (all the AFVs destroyed or captured)
· British losses in 26 days : 3457 KIA , 13602 WIA and 3267 MIA (167 tanks lost in Arras and Abbeville, other tanks were lost in Calais and Boulogne but most of the tanks abandoned)
· French losses in 45 days : about 100,000 KIA and 202,000 WIA

The Swiss historian Eddy Bauer says also that the Germans lost much more men in the second part of the western campaign, in France the resistance was harder when time advanced and the tactic changed from the constant try to build a continuous front to the constitution of anti-tank strongpoints composed of all kind of units (like the German Kampfgruppe) in the woods and towns and cities and on important roads.
156,492 German losses (KIA and WIA) in 45 days, that's 3477 losses/day but in fact the French resistance harder in June than in May : 2499 German losses/day between the 10th May and the 3rd June but 4762 German losses/day between the 5th and the 24th June. You can compare that to the 4506 German losses/day during operation Barbarossa from 22nd June to 10th December 1941. The Western campaign was much more deadly than commonly known.


Main sources :
"L'automobile sous l'uniforme" (François Vauvillier)
"Chars B au combat - Hommes et matériels du 15e BCC" (Stéphane Bonnaud)
"The French army 1939-1940 – organisation, order of battle, operational history" (4 volumes, Lee Sharp)
"L'Arme Blindée Française (Tome 1) : Mai-juin 1940 ! Les blindés français dans la tourmente" (Gérard Saint-Martin)
"Weygand, De Gaulle et quelques autres – La Somme 16-28 mai 1940" (Henri de Wailly)
"Blitzkrieg à l’Ouest, Mai-Juin 40" (Jean-Paul Pallud)
"Des forêts d'Alsace aux chemins de Normandie – La 43e division d'infanterie dans la guerre, 3 septembre 1939 – 26 juin 1940" (Thibault Richard)
"Militaria" magazines (especially special issues n°4, 8, 17, 21, 31, 34)
"Panzertruppen" (Thomas Jentz, Schiffer)
http://www.chars-francais.net/ (Antoine Misner's website)
http://france1940.free.fr/ (Nowfel Leulliot's website) and its discussion list with skilled and gentle people
http://enpointe.chez.tiscali.fr/oobs.html (Stéphane Commans's website)

Acknowledgments : Christian Ankerstjerne who helped me with the German data and Jean-Guy Rathé who provided information about French AFVs in the colonies.

This document does only list vehicles in combat units, not the ones in depots or schools. Several times I saw so many mistakes about the number of French tanks that I thought I should try to research how many were really available for the 1940 western campaign. Finally I tried to list the AFVs of the other armies as well. This work was only led by my curiosity and is only personal. I don't pretend it being 100% accurate but I thought it would be worth sharing.

Best regards,

David

 

Hmm, that post would have high score in longest posts ever!

 

Amazing post!
How long did that take?

 

Hi,

Well the post itself was rather a copy/past from my MS Word document but on the document I spent several hours on several days

David

 

I updated my post ...

David

 

I found a website stating exact french tank strength at the beginning of WW2 , http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quart ... tnkfra.htm , the website may be inaccessible during some hours of the day , but eventually you'll get into the site , try getting into the website at around 7:30 to 10:30 am Newfoundland time

 

Only little is accurate on that site concerning French tanks ...

David

 

can you show me some examples ?