Panhard 178 AMD 35

The Panhard 178 (officially designated as Automitrailleuse de Découverte Panhard modèle 1935, 178 being the internal project number at Panhard) or "Pan-Pan" was an advanced French reconnaissance 4x4 armoured car that was designed for the French cavalry before World War II. It had a crew of four and was equipped with an effective 25 mm main armament and a 7.5 mm coaxial machine gun.

The first nineteen vehicles were in April 1937 taken into service by 6e Cuirassiers. At the outbreak of the Second World War 218 vehicles were fielded with eleven squadrons.

By 10 May 1940 about 370 completed vehicles were available. The Panhard 178s were allocated to reconnaissance units of the mechanised and motorised forces. At the time the Panhard 178 represented one of the best armoured cars in its class in the world.

The three armoured divisions of the Cavalry, the Divisions Légères Mécaniques, had a nominal organic strength of forty armoured cars, plus four radio vehicles and an organic matériel reserve of four vehicles. This would make for a total of 144 in these mechanised light divisions. The Light (i.e. motorised) Divisions of the Cavalry, the Divisions Légères de Cavalerie, had a squadron of twelve Panhards plus a radio car and a matériel reserve of four in their Régiment de Automitrailleuses (RAM). The total in the Cavalry Light Divisions would thus be 85.

Not only the Cavalry but the Infantry also employed the type, in the GRDIs or Groupes de Reconnaissance de Division d'Infanterie, the reconnaissance units of the Divisions d'Infanterie Mécaniques, that despite their name were largely motorised infantry divisions. These were 1er GRDI for 5e DIM, 2e GRDI for 9e DIM, 3e GRDI for 12e DIM, 4e GRDI for 15e DIM, 5e GRDI for 25e DIM, 6e GRDI for 3e DIM and 7e GRDI for 1e DIM. Their organisation was basically identical to the units of the DLCs, but the strength was sixteen, making for a total of 112 vehicles.

The actual strength of above units might differ, but if all were on strength 24 vehicles were present in the matériel reserve or used for driver training, as apart from colonial vehicles, exactly 378 exemplars had been delivered on 10 May 1940.

After the start of the invasion several emergency ad hoc units were formed; these included the 32e GRDI for the regular 43e DI, having five Panhards. The 4e DCR, the armoured division of the Infantry hastily assembled in May, received 43 Panhard 178s.

The DLMs used their Panhard units for strategic reconnaissance. In the case of 1DLM this entailed a movement well in advance of the main body of the division as it was supposed to maintain a connection with the Dutch Army during the advance to the Netherlands. Within 32 hours the armoured cars of the group Lestoquoi covered a distance of over 200 kilometres reaching the environment of 's-Hertogenbosch on the afternoon of 11 May. After some successful skirmishes with German armoured cars belonging to the reconnaissance platoons of the German Infanterie Divisionen, they withdrew, as the Dutch were already in full retreat. They were asked by the Dutch to assist an infantry attack on the southern bridgehead of the strategic Moerdijk bridges, held by German paratroopers. As the cars were not suitable for such a task the commander hesitated after incorrectly concluding the bridgehead was strongly defended. While thus being immobile, this group of Panhards was surprised in open polder landscape by a Stuka-attack with one vehicle disabled and quickly withdrew to the south.

The other two DLMs hurried forward to stop the advance of 3 and 4PD after the surprisingly swift fall of Fort Eben-Emael, their Panhards fighting a successful delaying battle against their German counterparts until the Battle of Hannut, the largest tank battle of the campaign. In general they had little trouble in dispatching with the lightly armoured German armoured cars, whose 20 mm main armament was not very effective against the Panhard frontal armour.

Characteristics and Tabulated Data

Engine: Panhard SK 4F 11bis, 4 cylinder bore/stroke 120 x 140mm, capacity 6,332cc producing 105hp at 2,000rpm

Gearbox: 2 x (4 + reverse)

Max speed: 72kph

Average speed: 47kph

Range: 300km

Petrol capacity: 140l

All up weight: 8200kg

Armour: 20mm max

Crew: 4 commander and gunner in turret, driver and reverse driver in hull

Armament: 25mm SA35 with 150 rounds; 7.5mm MAC 31 machine gun with 3,750 rounds

Width of vehicle: 2.01m

Length: 4.8m

Height: 2.31m

AMD 35 Panhard in Command Decision

AMD 35 Panhard Armoured Car Squadrons 10 May 1940

Armoured Car Squadron	I Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	6th Reconnaissance Regiment (Cuirassiers)	2nd Reconnaissance Brigade	1st Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Armoured Car Squadron	II Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	6th Reconnaissance Regiment (Cuirassiers)	2nd Reconnaissance Brigade	1st Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Armoured Car Squadron	I Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	8th Reconnaissance Regiment (Cuirassiers)	4th Reconnaissance Brigade	2nd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Armoured Car Squadron	II Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	8th Reconnaissance Regiment (Cuirassiers)	4th Reconnaissance Brigade	2nd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Armoured Car Squadron	I Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	12th Reconnaissance Regiment (Cuirassiers)	6th Reconnaissance Brigade	3rd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Armoured Car Squadron	II Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	12th Reconnaissance Regiment (Cuirassiers)	6th Reconnaissance Brigade	3rd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Armoured Car Squadron	II Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	12th Reconnaissance Regiment (Cuirassiers)	6th Reconnaissance Brigade	3rd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Armoured Car Squadron	Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	1st Armoured Car Regiment	11th Mechanised Brigade	1st  Cavalry Division (DLC)
Armoured Car Squadron	Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	2nd Armoured Car Regiment	12th Mechanised Brigade	2nd Cavalry Division (DLC)
Armoured Car Squadron	Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	3rd Armoured Car Regiment	13th Mechanised Brigade	3rd Cavalry Division (DLC)
Armoured Car Squadron	Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	4th Armoured Car Regiment	14th Mechanised Brigade	4th Cavalry Division (DLC)
Armoured Car Squadron	Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	5th Armoured Car Regiment	15th Mechanised Brigade	5th Cavalry Division (DLC)
Armoured Car Squadron	I Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	10th Armoured Car Regiment	4th Armoured Division (DCR)
Armoured Car Squadron	II Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group	10th Armoured Car Regiment	4th Armoured Division (DCR)
Armoured Car Squadron	7th Motorised Reconnaissance Battalion (GRDIm)	1st Motorised Infantry Division (DIM)
Armoured Car Squadron	6th Motorised Reconnaissance Battalion (GRDIm)	3rd Motorised Infantry Division (DIM)
Armoured Car Squadron	1st Motorised Reconnaissance Battalion (GRDIm)	5th Motorised Infantry Division (DIM)
Armoured Car Squadron	2nd Motorised Reconnaissance Battalion (GRDIm)	9th Motorised Infantry Division (DIM)
Armoured Car Squadron	3rd Motorised Reconnaissance Battalion (GRDIm)	12th Motorised Infantry Division (DIM)
Armoured Car Squadron	4th Motorised Reconnaissance Battalion (GRDIm)	15 Motorised Infantry Division (DIM)
Armoured Car Squadron	5th Motorised Reconnaissance Battalion (GRDIm)	25th Motorised Infantry Division (DIM)

Example AMD35 organisation for Command Decision: Armoured Car Company, I and II Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Regiment, 2nd Reconnaissance Brigade, 1st Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)

6th Reconnaissance Regiment (Cuirassiers)

Headquarters: Command Panhard. I Reconnaissance Squadron: command Panhard. Armoured Car Company: command Panhard, 3 x Reconnaissance Panhard. Motor Cycle Company: command Motor Cycle infantry, 2 x Motor Cycle infantry. II Reconnaissance Squadron: command Panhard. Armoured Car Company: command Panhard, 3 x Reconnaissance Panhard. Motor Cycle Company: command Motor Cycle infantry, 2 x Motor Cycle infantry.

Colonel DARIO

Example AMD35 organisation for Command Decision: 7th Motorised Reconnaissance Battalion (GRDIm) ,1st Motorised Infantry Division (DIM)

7th motorised Reconnaissance Group (GRDIm)

Headquarters: command, car, light staff radio truck, light baggage truck. I Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group: command stand, car Armoured Car Squadron (AMD): command Panhard, 2 x Reconnaissance Panhard. Motor Cycle Squadron: Motor Cycle command infantry stand, 2 x Reconnaissance Motor Cycle infantry stands. II Armoured Car/Motorcycle Group: command stand, car Armoured Car Squadron (AMR): command P16, 3 x reconnaissance P16. Motor Cycle Squadron: Motor Cycle command infantry stand, 2 x Reconnaissance Motor Cycle infantry stands. Weapon Squadron: Medium Machine Gun stand, Heavy Machine Gun, crew, 25AT, 3 light truck.

Det to Groupement SOUBEYRAN

Example AMD35 organisation for Command Decision: Armoured Car Squadron, 1st Armoured Car Regiment, 11th Mechanised Brigade, 1st Light Cavalry Division (DLC)

1st Armoured Car Regiment (RAM) (Lannurien)

Headquarters: command, car. Headquarters Squadron: command, car, ammunition 36R/w trailer, fuel 36R/w tlt, medium supply truck, support stand Reconnaissance Group: Headquarters: command, car. Armoured Car Squadron: command Panhard, 2 x Reconnaissance Panhard. Motor Cycle Squadron: command Motor Cycle infantry, 2 x Reconnaissance Motor Cycle infantry. Combat Group: Headquarters: command, car. Tank Squadron: command H35, 2 x H35. Motor Cycle Squadron: command Motor Cycle infantry, 2 x Motor Cycle infantry.

Wargaming Usage and Model Availability

The AMD 35 was widely used in France in 1940 and was involved in all major actions. It can be found in the Cavalry Divisions in the Ardennes battles, with the DLMs in Holland and Belgium, and with the reconnaissance battalions of each of the motorised divisions. It is an exceptionally capable vehicle and was highly prized by the Germans.

The AMD 178 is available in 1:72 from (at least):

Plastic: RPM http://misc.kitreview.com/armourreviews/rpm72300reviewgp_1.htm

Resin: Extratech http://www.onthewaymodels.com/reviews/Extratech/panhard178prev.htmMetal: Early War Miniatures: http://earlywarminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1523