Renault AMC 35 ACG

The AMC 35 (from Automitrailleuse de Combat Renault modèle 1935), also known under a manufacturer's designation Renault ACG-1, was a French medium cavalry tank built towards the later part of the inter war period that served in the Second World War. It was developed as a result of the change of the specification that had led to the design of the AMC 34, calling for a vehicle that was not only well-armed and mobile but also well-armoured. Due to technological and financial problems production was delayed and limited, with Belgium as the only user to create active units with the type. The AMC 35 was one of the few French tanks of the period featuring a two-man turret.

At first the French tanks did not equip any units; no crews were trained to man the type. After the German breakthrough at Sedan it was decided on 15 May to send the entire tank materiel reserve to the frontline. Several ad hoc-units were hastily formed. First twelve AMC 35s were used to equip the 11e Groupement de Cavalerie; then five even more informal Corps-francs Motorisés were formed, each to be equipped with seven tanks, but only five AMC 35s could at first be made ready for them; seven more were later delivered. The crews reported that the materiel was unreliable, and suffered from an extremely short range in rough terrain. The CFMs fought a delaying battle between the rivers Seine and Loire.

In the anglophone literature the AMC 35 is often portrayed as a major failed chance for France to turn the tide against Germany: its two-man turret is then seen as better adapted to the demands of modern warfare. E.g. armour historian Brian White judged the type very favourably:

... one of the most advanced French tanks for its size in that as well as being equipped with a good gun it had a two-man turret ... with all the advantages in command it conferred. ... somewhat surprisingly, for in retrospect this seems to have been one of the best pre-war French light tank designs, only 100 were built.

 
This verdict, however, may be an example of judging a vehicle by its technical data rather than its actual performance. The long gestation of the vehicle led to chronic unreliability. The crews found it mechanically unreliable and its armour too thin, declaring that the ACG 1 'does not work'. In the final days it was rushed into service in scratch formations, operating in Champagne and on the Aisne with the Audigier Squadron, and on the Lower Seine and on the Loire with the GFMCs (groups francs motorises de cavalerie). The type can also be interpreted as an excellent example of the design constraints that forced France to adopt one man-turrets on its other tanks: the price for the AMC 35's roomy turret was an unreliable and, for the medium tank rôle, woefully under-armoured vehicle.

Characteristics and Tabulated Data

Engine: Renault 4 cylinder, bore/stroke 140 x 180mm, 11,083cc producing 180hp at 1,800rpm

Gearbox: 5 and reverse

Max speed: 42kph

Sustained speed: 27kph

Consumption: 170l/100km

Range: 125km

Petrol capacity: 300l

All up weight: 15,000kg

Armour: 25mm max

Crew: 3 commander and gunner in turret, driver in hull

Armament: APX 2 turret 47mm SA35 with 95 rounds; 7.5mm MAC 31 with 3,400 rounds. Spare MG in hull

Width between track centres: 1.72m

Width of vehicle: 2.13m

Length: 4.45m

Height: 1.55m to top of hull

AMC 35 ACG in Command Decision: Test of Battle 

AMC 35 (ACG 1)

IV

22/10T

3/2S

T:47L34

HE

1

6(4)W

12(3)W

18(2)W

40(1)W

AP

1

6(7) 5

12(5)4

18(3)3

36(1)3

T:MG

SA

1

6(7)W

12(5)W

xx

xx

Example Organisation: Groupes Francs as part of Group Duffour

Group Duffour		Raised 19 May to guard lower Seine. From 10 Jun included 17th Infantry Division and 236th Light Infantry Division
IV/239th Infantry Regiment	I Battalion: Headquarters: command. 3 x Company: command infantry, 2 x infantry. Machine Gun Company: 3 x Medium Machine Gun stand
	109 BCC: Headquarters: Command F17, ammunition Lorraine, 2 x fuel Lorraine, medium truck, support stand. 3 x Company: Command F17, 4 x F17
1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th Groupes francs de cavalry	1st: Motorcycle command infantry, motorcycle infantry, Panhard Armoured Car, ACG-1 tank, weapons stand, light truck, 47mm gun, light truck, crew, 25mm gun, light truck, crew 2nd: Motorcycle command infantry, motorcycle infantry, 2 Panhard Armoured Cars, 2 S35, machine gun platoon, light truck, 47mm gun, light truck, crew, 25mm gun, light truck, crew 4th: Motorcycle command infantry, motorcycle infantry, Panhard Armoured Car, ACG-1 tank, weapons stand, light truck, 47mm gun, light truck, crew, 25mm gun, light truck, crew 5th: Motorcycle command infantry, motorcycle infantry, Panhard Armoured Car, ACG-1 tank, weapons stand, light truck, 47mm gun, light truck, crew, 25mm gun, light truck, crew
126th Reconnaissance Group (GRDI)	Headquarters: command, car, baggage wagon. Cavalry Squadron: Command cavalry, Reconnaissance cavalry, crew, Weapon. Motor Cycle Squadron: Motor Cycle Command, Reconnaissance Motor Cycle. Weapon Squadron: Medium Machine Gun stand, Heavy Machine Gun, crew, 25L72AT, 3 x light truck.
GA/11th Artillery Regiment
190th Artillery Regiment (RALT)	I Heavy Artillery Group: command, spotter, 2 x car, staff radio truck, medium ammunition truck. 3 x 220L10 Battery. [Command, car, crew, 220L10 , Heavy Truck, support stand, medium truck]	remnants
196th Artillery Regiment (RALT)	I Heavy Artillery Group: command, spotter, 2 x car, staff radio truck, medium ammunition truck. 3 x 220L10 Battery. [Command, car, crew, 220L10 , Heavy Truck, support stand, medium truck]	remnants

Wargaming Usage and Model Availability

The AMC 35 was hardly used by the French except in the final days as noted above. There was one heroic action at the Ecole de Cavalrie at Saumur helping the cadets defend their school and as part of the Groupes Franc mobile raiding columns trying to buy time for the retreating Allied armies. The odd tank could be justified as noted in the organisations above, and perhaps used in a skirmish game.

AMC 35s are available in 20mm scale from (at least) Early War Miniatures.

http://earlywarminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=429_452&products_id=2366