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FCM 1A
FCM 1A
FCM 1A
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The FCM 1A was French heavy tank that served as a prototype of the char 2C.

Key Information

Development

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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 and 7 February 1918 also had satisfactory results.[3]

References

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FCM 1A

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The FCM 1A was a French developed during as an early design for fortified breakthrough operations, featuring a fully rotating turret and robust suspension system. Initiated in mid-1916 under the direction of General Mourret and the Direction des Études et Fabrication d'Armement (DSA), the project was assigned to the naval engineering firm Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée (FCM) on October 20, 1916, following the French acquisition of British Mark I tank intelligence. The design aimed for a 38- to 41-ton vehicle with enhanced mobility over contemporary French tanks like the , incorporating a 12-cylinder engine rated at 220-250 horsepower for a top speed of approximately 10 km/h on roads. Development faced delays due to engine supply issues from , but the single was completed by December 1917 at FCM's facility. Armed with a 105 mm in a front-mounted turret (later considered for replacement with a higher-velocity 75 mm or 47 mm gun) and two 8 mm Hotchkiss machine guns, the FCM 1A emphasized firepower for infantry support, with additional firing ports for small arms. Its armor ranged from 35 mm on the turret and frontal hull to 21 mm on the sides and 15 mm on the top and bottom, providing protection against while maintaining a low ground pressure of 0.6 kg/cm² for better traction on soft terrain. The tank measured 8.35 m in length, 2.84 m in width, and 3 m in height, accommodating a crew of six to seven. Trials conducted starting December 20, 1917, at highlighted the prototype's superior cross-country capabilities, including scaling 65% gradients, crossing 3.5 m trenches, and surmounting 1 m vertical obstacles, outperforming lighter French designs in rough terrain despite limitations in maneuverability and speed. The FCM 1A was not selected for production due to shifting priorities toward even heavier designs like the FCM 2C (), which evolved from its concepts, and the prototype's high cost of 600,000 francs amid wartime constraints. It was later displayed at the Versailles Palace until being scrapped after the German occupation in 1940.

Development

Inception

The development of the FCM 1A emerged in the wake of the in September 1916, where the debut of British Mark I tanks highlighted the potential of armored vehicles to break through entrenched positions amid the stalemate of on the Western Front. Inspired by these successes, French authorities sought to accelerate their own armored programs to provide support and artillery platforms capable of overcoming fortified lines. This initiative aligned with broader French efforts in design, such as the and Saint-Chamond, which emphasized mobile firepower for offensive breakthroughs. On October 20, 1916, the Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée (FCM), a shipbuilding firm with expertise in heavy engineering, was commissioned to develop a prototype heavy tank under the direction of General Léon-Augustin Mourret, who advocated for advanced armored designs based on British examples. The project, initially designated Char Lourd A, was led by FCM engineers Lucien Savatier and E. Jammy, supervised by Léonce Rimbaud at the company's La Seyne-sur-Mer shipyard. Key requirements focused on heavy armor to withstand enemy fire and a powerful artillery armament to support infantry advances, targeting a 38-tonne vehicle with at least 30 mm of armor plating. Plans initially incorporated 200 hp engines to achieve the necessary power for such a massive design. By April 1917, FCM had finalized the design specifications, incorporating a turret-mounted for direct fire support and enhanced mobility over rough terrain. Trials were scheduled to commence in early May 1917 to evaluate the prototype's performance, but these were postponed due to the demands of the , which diverted resources and attention to immediate combat operations in April. This delay underscored the challenges of wartime prioritization in France's rapidly expanding programs.

Construction

The construction of the FCM 1A prototype took place at the Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée (FCM) shipyard in , , following an order issued on 20 October 1916. A full-scale wooden mock-up was completed by January 1917 to validate the design, after which metal fabrication commenced in early 1917. The hull was assembled using riveted plates of varying thickness, including 35 mm on the frontal armor and turret, 21 mm on the sides and rear, and 15 mm on the top and bottom. This riveted construction was typical for French heavy tanks of the era, providing a robust but labor-intensive assembly process. The prototype was configured for a 7-man , comprising the , , crew for the planned 105 mm gun (gunner and loader), machine gunners, and a . Crew accommodations were arranged in a layout with the driver's compartment at the front, the main turret housing the and primary armament operators in the center, and secondary machine gun positions integrated into the hull. Significant delays plagued the build due to supply chain issues, particularly with the 220 hp engine and gearbox, which were prioritized for lighter tank production. Resource shortages exacerbated these problems amid the broader strains of manufacturing demands. Despite these hurdles, the prototype achieved initial mobility by late November 1917 and was deemed ready for formal trials by mid-December.

Design

Armament and protection

The FCM 1A was equipped with a primary armament consisting of a single Canon de 105 mle 1913 Schneider mounted in a frontal rotating turret, designed for delivering heavy support in breakthrough operations. This short-barreled carried 122 rounds of , stored in dedicated racks within the hull to facilitate reloading under combat conditions. Complementing the main gun, the tank featured two 8 mm Hotchkiss M1914 machine guns as secondary armament: one positioned coaxial to the in the turret for close-range suppression and another in a front hull ball mount to provide defensive fire against flanking threats. Up to five machine guns could be carried, with additional firing ports for small arms or revolvers. These machine guns emphasized the vehicle's role in engaging alongside its primary anti-fortification capability. Defensive protection relied on riveted armor plates, with maximum thickness of 35 mm on the frontal aspects to shield critical components like the turret and engine deck. Side and rear plating measured 21 mm, while the roof was 15 mm thick, offering balanced coverage against small-arms fire and shrapnel; the design specifically aimed to withstand impacts from 77 mm field guns at 100 meters. The armament layout incorporated a rotating turret for the primary weapon, providing full 360° traverse. Crew positions were integrated around the firing systems, with gunners and loaders positioned to support efficient operation of the and machine guns from within the protected hull.

Mobility

The FCM 1A was powered by a 12-cylinder gasoline engine producing 220 hp (160 kW) at 1,200 rpm, which provided sufficient propulsion for its substantial mass despite the era's technological limitations. This engine was mated to a mechanical transmission in the initial , enabling controlled power delivery to the tracks, though later unbuilt variants considered oil-electric or oil-hydraulic systems for improved efficiency. The tank's mobility was further defined by its 60 cm wide tracks supported by 20 road wheels per side arranged in 10 rigid bogies, which distributed the 41.2-tonne combat weight effectively across varied terrain. Ground clearance measured 40 cm, contributing to a top road speed of 10 km/h and an off-road capability of 2 km/h, prioritizing stability over velocity in combat scenarios. The overall dimensions—8.35 m in length, 2.84 m in width, and 3 m in height—reflected design choices that balanced the prototype's mass, influenced by construction requirements, with the need for a low silhouette. Suspension was achieved through rigid bogies equipped with leaf springs, a robust setup that enhanced the FCM 1A's terrain-handling by allowing it to cross obstacles such as a 1 m vertical wall and a 3.5 m , demonstrating its focus on heavy-weight maneuverability. This system, spanning the hull's length, minimized vibration and supported the tank's role as a breakthrough capable of navigating shell-cratered landscapes.

Evaluation and legacy

Testing

The initial mobility trials of the FCM 1A prototype commenced on 20 December 1917 at the manufacturer's facilities in , . Official evaluations were conducted under the supervision of General Jean Baptiste Eugène Estienne, head of French tank development, involving a route from La Seyne to Sablettes beach. These trials revealed challenges with the vehicle's long tracks and steering mechanism, including difficulties in executing sharp turns and limited on-the-spot pivoting, often resulting in skidding when the tracks were braked. The low ground clearance of 40 cm also proved limiting in certain rough terrains, though the prototype demonstrated a cruising speed of approximately 6 km/h on favorable ground, with a top speed of 10 km/h on roads. Firing tests of the 105 mm and machine guns were conducted separately from 5 to 7 1918 at Sablettes beach, where they were assessed for accuracy and functionality. The main gun exhibited satisfactory stability and precision, with the overall armament performing reliably despite the vehicle's size. The prototype successfully navigated varied obstacles during these trials, including 3.5 m wide pits, 2 m trenches with 3.5 m crests, 0.9 m vertical walls, and shell craters up to 6 m in diameter, crossing them with relative ease. It also demonstrated destructive capability in wooded areas by felling trees up to 35 cm in diameter. The French Army's 1918 assessment, drawing from these trials, praised the FCM 1A as a remarkable achievement—the most powerful, best-armed, and best-protected constructed before the of 11 November 1918. However, mechanical unreliability, particularly in maneuverability, was noted as a key limitation. While deemed promising for its armor and firepower, the FCM 1A was not selected for production due to shifting priorities toward the even heavier FCM 2C design in January 1918, with further development halted by the war's end. The single served thereafter as a developmental study model rather than entering service.

Influence on later tanks

The FCM 1A served as a direct prototype and predecessor to the Char 2C superheavy tank, retaining core concepts such as heavy armor plating up to 45 mm thick on the front and innovative full-length tracks for enhanced trench-crossing capabilities. The FCM 1A's rotating turret mounting for its 105 mm howitzer and structural emphasis on firepower influenced the evolution of the Char 2C's turret design, which incorporated a rotating turret armed with a 75 mm gun for improved flexibility. These design elements validated the feasibility of heavily armed, armored behemoths for breakthrough roles in French tank doctrine. Lessons from the FCM 1A's testing, including engine overheating and narrow track performance leading to mobility constraints, prompted key adaptations in the Char 2C. The successor addressed these by upgrading to a pair of 250 hp Maybach engines and wider 60 cm tracks, which reduced ground pressure to approximately 0.6 kg/cm² and improved stability on varied terrain. Production of the Char 2C began in 1919, with ten units completed by 1921, marking a shift toward more reliable superheavy designs. The FCM 1A's broader legacy contributed to French interwar doctrine, influencing FCM's subsequent projects in the , such as refinements to multi-turret configurations and heavy armor schemes seen in later developments like the program. Only one FCM 1A was ever built, and it saw no operational service, instead serving as a proof-of-concept that propelled FCM into prominent armored vehicle manufacturing. Post-World War I, the prototype was stored at the Versailles tank school before being scrapped by German forces after the 1940 occupation.
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