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In 1917, France introduced a new weapon onto the battlefield that would permanently transform land warfare. From the early Schneider CA1 and Saint-Chamond to the Renault FT, whose design would serve as a benchmark for generations of armored vehicles, French industry played a major role in the birth of the modern tank.
More than a century later, the tank remains at the heart of land combat. Between these two eras, the history of French tanks has seen successes, but also mistakes and profound developments. The B1 bis, SOMUA S35 and other R35s of 1940 were succeeded after the war by the AMX 13, the AMX 30 and then the Leclerc, designed in the final years of the Cold War. Today, recent conflicts, the widespread use of drones and the evolution of anti-tank threats are forcing new adaptations.
Richly illustrated with often unpublished photographs, this book traces over a century of French tank development, placing each vehicle in its historical context. Its origins, technical specifications, armament, protection, mobility and operational use reveal its strengths, limitations and the choices that shaped its development.
From the Renault FT to the Leclerc XLR and the projects shaping the future of armored warfare, this is also the story of a country and its industry, which for over a century have confronted the changing face of war.
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Author: Laurent Tirone
- Book size: 21 x 28.5 cm
- Hardcover
- Binding: Glued / Sewn with reinforced edges
- Number of pages: 200
- Type of publication: illustrated book
- ISBN: 978-2-489669-00-8
