Char D2

Top: Char D2 from the first production batch with the APX 1 turret mounting the short SA 34 47mm. Bottom: Char D2 from the second batch with the APX 4 and longer SA 35 47mm

From the start of the development programme of the Char D1 the need was recognised for increasing armour protection in the infantry support role, and in early 1930 a demand was stated for a more heavily armoured tank. In April Army Headquarters ordered development of another model, based on the D1 and armoured to 40mm with the result that prototypes of a new Char D2 started trials in 1932.

Direct in line of descent from the light Renault FT through the NC 27 and NC 31 the Char D2 was one of the first modern types of infantry tanks to be supplied to the French Army after the First World War. The Renault-designed Char D2 had a rear mounted engine - a six-cylinder Renault of 150hp - with transmission via a four-speed gearbox to rear sprockets. The crew compartment and turret were set fairly well forward, the cast turret mounting a 47mm gun and one 7.5mm machine gun. Armour was to a maximum of 40mm and the top speed was 22kph. The suspension, protected by hinged side skirting plates, consisted on each side of three bogie units of four road wheels and sprung on vertical coil springs. Additionally there were single road wheels each side in front of and behind the bogie groups. First appearing in 1933 the Char D2 was largely superseded by the Char B1by 1940. It did remain in front line service and formed part of De Gaulle's 4th Armoured Division.

The order for the first 50 Char D2 was not completed until 1938 and in June of that year a second contract was awarded; only 50 more were built before the German invasion in May 1940. In production the battle weight of the D2 went up to 20tons. It carried the same number of crew and same armament as the D1. In appearance the tanks were quite different: the D2 had the modern Puteaux cast APX 1 turret which was also mounted on the initial versions of the Char B1; track guards were fitted with stowage bins sloping up to the superstructure; and recesses were made in the upper part of the skirting plates to provide mud chutes beneath the four return rollers.

The Char D2 was initially assigned to the 1st Battalion of 507th Tank Regiment at Metz; de Gaulle commanded the battalion from 15 September 1937 until 25 December 1937. On 27 August 1939, just before the Second World War broke out, the 1/507 was renamed the 19th Tank Battalion19e Bataillon de Chars de Combat. . The Battalion was activated for the brief Saar offensive although was held in reserve and did not see combat. Just as well perhaps because the battalion suffered considerable mechanical problems on its approach march and had few tanks actually battle worthy.

By the outbreak of war the tanks were largely worn out and in need of refurbishment. The Battalion was to be equipped with new D2s from the second production batch but this did not fully materialise. The 1st Company did receive new tanks on 29 April 1940, was redesignated as the 345th Independent Tank Company, and was assigned to the task force preparing for action in Norway. Although the task force did eventually see action in Norway the 345th did not embark and join them; this may have been because the new tanks were found to be in very poor mechanical condition and not battle worthy.

As of 10 May 1940 the battalion was in a sorry state. The 1st Company was still detached with its new but mechanically deficient tanks. Its old D2s had been stripped of their canon connector boxes as the new tanks had arrived without them. Of the other two companies the 2nd Company had 15 tanks with the new APX 4 turret and the 3rd Company had six upgraded. The remaining tanks of 3rd Company were without their turrets as these had been sent for upgrading.

The 19th Battalion was ordered on 15 May to reunite with its old commander de Gaulle now assembling the 4th Armoured Division near Laon. The assembly took some time, so long in fact that the two companies of 19th Battalion missed the initial counter attacks on the 17th and 19th May and only the 345th Company, reassigned back to 19th Battalion, was able to participate.

On 21 May 345th finally re-joined the rest of the Battalion near Amiens. By cannibalising tanks and other field expediencies the Battalion managed to get 24 tanks running on 24 May. By 27 May, the day of the counterattack on the Abbeville bridgehead the Battalion was down to seventeen runners, and suffered loss to enemy action and further breakdown. 346th Independent Company was assigned to 19th Battalion on 2 June, but it was equipped with older D2s and the crews were so poorly trained that they were used as replacements. On 8 June 350th Independent Company was formed with 12 new vehicles, and was assigned to 19th Battalion on 19th June just before the fighting ended. By 23rd June the Battalion had no tanks battle worthy and was redesignated a motorised infantry battalion.

Char D2 Characteristics and Tabulated Data

Engine: Renault 40HP,6 cylinder, bore/stroke 120 x 140mm, 9,500cc producing 150hp at 2,000rpm

Gearbox: 5 and reverse

Max speed: 22kph

Range: 100km

Petrol capacity: 240l

All up weight: 19,000kg

Armour: 40mm max

Crew: 3 commander/gunner in turret, driver/mechanic and radio operator in hull

Armament: Turret. SA 47mm gun Model 1934 with 112 rounds (1st batch) or SA 47mm gun Model 1935 with 108 rounds (2nd batch), and 7.5mm MAC 31 machine gun. Hull: fixed MAC 31 with elevation only, no traverse. 4,500 rounds in total for both machine guns

Width of vehicle: 2.21m

Length: 5.23m

Height: 2.66m

Char D2 Characteristics for Command Decision

Char D2 Squadrons 10 May 1940

Organisation of the Tank Company Type D Compagnie de Chars de Combat (Type D)

Example Char D2 Organisation for Command Decision: 19th Tank Battalion (BCC)

Wargame Usage and Model Availability

Equipping only one battalion and a couple of independent squadrons the D2 saw little action. Luckily, if you want to use it, the actions were reasonably significant involving de Gaulle's much-hyped but still important counter attacks into the German flank as part of 4th Armoured Division.

The model is available in 20mm from at least:

Cromwell in resin:

Early War Miniatures: Renault D2 Tank - Early War Miniatures