FRENCH TANKS
FRENCH TANKS WERE BUILT TO SUPPORTED THE "METHODICAL BATTLE" WAR PLAN. FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE IN WORLD WAR I, THE FRENCH BELIEVED THAT THEIR KEY TO SUCCESS LAY IN A WELL-DESIGNED PLAN AND STRONG, DELIBERATE DEFENSES. THE OFFICIAL FRENCH STRATEGY FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF TANKS STRESSED THAT THEY WOULD BE USED TO SUPPORT THE INFANTRY. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE FRENC DID NOT BELIEVE THE TANK WAS VALUABLE; THEY LEARNED THE SAME LESSON FROM WWI THAT THE BRITISH DID; THE ALLIED INTERPRETATION OF EVENTS WAS THAT THE TANK, USED AS AN INFANTRY SUPPORT PLATFORM, WAS DECISIVE IN WWI.
FOR THIS REASON THE FRENCH DID IN FACT PLACE EMPHASIS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF TANKS, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE SUBORDINATE TO THE INFANTRY AND ARTILLERY. IN 1940, FRANCE FIELDED MORE TANKS THAN DID GERMANY. THE FRENCH CHAR B1BIS WAS, PERHAPS, THE FINEST TANK IN THE WORLD IN 1940.
READ MORE ABOUT THE BATTLE OF FRANCE, 1940.
TO VIEW PICTURES OF WWII FRENCH TANKS, CLICK BELOW!
Donnely and Naylor Clash of Chariots: The Great Tank Battles
Johnson, . Fast Tanks and Heavy Bombers
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by Chris Shimp March 1, 2001