Renault AMR 33

The Automitrailleuse de Reconnaissance Renault Modèle 1933 (AMR 33 or Renault VM) was a French light tank developed during in the inter war period and used in the Battle for France in 1940.

In 1932 a requirement for the AMR (Automitrailleuse de Reconnaissance) class of cavalry vehicle was issued. The AMR was to be fully tracked, fast and lightly armoured, with local reconnaissance as its designated role. The first vehicle of this type to be accepted was the AMR 33. of which 120 were built, all by Renault. In service it was found to suffer from fragile tracks and weak suspension. On 10 May 1940 AMR were being used in the 5th, 3rd, 14th and 15th RDP of the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th DLC respectively, with a half squadron of eleven (two five-vehicle platoons) in each of the RDP's two battalions; each platoon usually worked in conjunction with a motorcycle platoon. In June 1940, the 4th RAM of the newly forming 7th DLM received fifteen AMR 33.

Developed by Renault from 1932, the type was in 1933 ordered by the French Cavalry; a total of 123 would be built until 1935. The AMR 33 was lightly armed and armoured; though it was very fast for its day, it proved to be a mechanically unreliable vehicle, especially its suspension elements were too weak. It was therefore succeeded by an improved type, the AMR 35.

Though its name might suggest otherwise, the AMR 33 was not a scout vehicle and mostly was not equipped with a radio set. The AMR 33s were intended to form a large mass of light tanks, preceding the medium types into battle. In reality they never served as such; when enough medium tanks were produced to form armoured divisions, the AMR 33 had already been replaced by the AMR 35 and was limited to the Cavalry Divisions and in 1940 to the Cavalry Light Divisions to provide fire support to motorised infantry and dismounted cavalry.

From 1 December 1939 till 15 February 1940 the last two cavalry divisions were disbanded and their personnel and matériel, supplemented with discarded older matériel from the former cavalry divisions, was redistributed among five new Divisions Légères de Cavalerie ("Cavalry Light Divisions"). It was first decided that these within each of the two battalions of their Régiment de Dragons Portés (motorised infantry regiment) would incorporate two AMR 33 platoons (half a squadron), which, together with two reserve tanks and a command tank, would create a demand for five times 23 or 115 vehicles, slightly lower than the available total of 118. In view of the poor general maintenance condition of the type this was again changed: the 1re DLC would use the AMR 35 instead and the other four DLCs would increase their strength to 26 by adding three reserve tanks; apart from this organic total strength of 104 a general matériel reserve of fourteen would thus be created.

On 10 May, the day of the German invasion, this measure was shown to have been still insufficient. Only 5e DLC had its official strength of 26, the other three divisions having apparently not yet started to make an attempt to increase their strength: 2e DLC fielded 22 AMR 33s, 3e DLC twenty and 4e DLC 23, for a total strength of 91. There was thus a matériel reserve of 22 vehicles. In the Battle of France the type fared very badly. The DLCs in the Ardennes unexpectedly encountered the main German armoured force and could only fight a delaying battle for which the AMR 33 was not very useful. It was poorly armed and armoured — and very unreliable because of its one good point: its speed which wore out the suspension units. It was faster than any German tank of the time. Around 10:00, the 10th of May, near Vance, AMR 33 N° 83950 of 3e DLC had the dubious distinction of being the first French tank to be destroyed in the battle, being hit by German anti-tank gunfire, killing the crew. During the first week of the fighting 75% of the AMR 33s was lost, often because of a breakdown.

On 7 June 1940 the 7e DLM was created, an emergency unit, of which 4e RAM was part. That regiment had an allocation of fourteen AMRs; to this number probably nine AMR 33s belonged from the matériel reserve. All these vehicles would again be lost before the armistice of 25 June.

Characteristics and Tabulated Data

Engine: Renault 24hp, 8 cylinder, bore/stroke 75 x 120mm, 4,241cc producing 85hp at 2,800rpm

Gearbox: 4 and reverse

Max speed: 60kph

Sustained speed: 45kph

Range: 200km

Petrol capacity: 128l

All up weight: 5,000kg

Armour: 13mm max

Crew: 2 commander/gunner in turret, driver in hull

Armament: 7.5mm MAC31 mg with 2,250 rounds (15 x 150round drums); spare MG carried for AA use from the turret

Width between track centres: 1.4m

Width of vehicle: 1.6m

Length: 3.5m

Height: 1.78m 

AMR 33 in Command Decision ToB

Stand

Class

Move

Def.

Weapons

Ammo

ROF

C

M

L

E

IDF

Year

AMR 33 VM

III

24/12T

2/1S

T:MG

SA

1

6(7)W

12(5)W

xx

xx

AMR 33 SQUADRONS 10 MAY 1940

Tank Squadron	I Mechanised Battalion	3rd Mechanised Regiment (RDP)	12th Mechanised Brigade	2nd Cavalry Division (DLC)
Tank Squadron	II Mechanised Battalion	3rd Mechanised Regiment (RDP)	12th Mechanised Brigade	2nd Cavalry Division (DLC)
Tank Squadron	I Mechanised Battalion	2nd Mechanised Regiment (RDP)	13th Mechanised Brigade	3rd Cavalry Division (DLC)
Tank Squadron	II Mechanised Battalion	2nd Mechanised Regiment (RDP)	13th Mechanised Brigade	3rd Cavalry Division (DLC)
Tank Squadron	I Mechanised Battalion	14th Mechanised Regiment (RDP)	14th Mechanised Brigade	4th Cavalry Division (DLC)
Tank Squadron	II Mechanised Battalion	14th Mechanised Regiment (RDP)	14th Mechanised Brigade	4th Cavalry Division (DLC)
Tank Squadron	I Mechanised Battalion	15th Mechanised Regiment (RDP)	15th Mechanised Brigade	5th Cavalry Division (DLC)
Tank Squadron	II Mechanised Battalion	15th Mechanised Regiment (RDP)	15th Mechanised Brigade	5th Cavalry Division (DLC)

Organisation of the Mixed Motorcycle/Light Tank squadron of the Mechanised Battalions Bataillon de Dragons Portes (BDP) of the Mechanised Regiments Regiment de Dargons Portes de Division Legere de Cavalerie (RDP) 1940:

	Officers	NCOs	Brigadiers	Cavaliers	Liaison Vehicles	Trucks	Lorries	AMR 33 Light Tanks	Supply Tractors	Trailers	Motorcycles
Squadron Commander	1			1	1
Command Platoon		1
1st Group (Signals/Intelligence)		3	3	16		1		1			9
2nd Group (Supplies and Services)		3	1	8	1	1	2			1
3rd Group (Repair and Recovery)		2	5	19		1	2		1		2
Light Tank Platoon	1	2	3	7				5			3
Light Tank Platoon	1	2	3	7				5			3
Motorcycle Platoon	1	3	5	17							13
Motorcycle Platoon	1	3	5	17							13
Total	5	19	25	92	2	3	4	11	1	1	43

Example usage of AMR 33 in a regiment de dragons portés (RDP) (1st Cavalry Division)

5th Mechanised Regiment (RDP) (Durand de Villers)

Headquarters: command stand, car, staff radio truck. Train: medium truck w/field kitchen trailer, medium baggage truck, support stand. I Mechanised Battalion: Headquarters: command stand, car, medium supply truck, support stand. Tank Squadron: command AMR33, AMR33, Motor Cycle infantry stand. Mechanised Squadron: command mech infantry stand, 2 x mech infantry stands, Medium Machine Gun stand, 2 x CP19halftracks. Weapon Squadron: 2 x Medium Machine Gun stands, 81mm mortar stand, 3 x P19halftrack, 25L72AT portee. II Mechanised Battalion: Headquarters: command stand, car, medium supply truck, support stand. Tank Squadron: command AMR33, AMR33, Motor Cycle infantry stand.  Mechanised Squadron: command mech infantry stand, 2 x mech infantry stands, Medium Machine Gun stand, 2 x medium truck.  Weapon Squadron: 2 x Medium Machine Gun stands, 81mm mortar stand, 3 x halftrack, 25L72AT portee or light truck.

 

Wargaming Usage and Model Availability

The AMR 33 was primarily used in the tank squadrons of the Mechanised Regiments in the French Cavalry Regiments, as shown in the organisation for battle above for the RDP from 1st Cavalry Division. They were normally grouped with motorcycle-borne infantry. All of the five French Cavalry Divisions entered the Ardennes and were roughly handled by the advancing German armoured main effort. Any gamers wishing to use the AMR 33 in wargames could look to the early battles in the Ardennes. In my scenario packs the AMR 33 can be found in Scenario 5: Through the Ardennes and in Scenario 7: Race to the Meuse.

AMR 33s are available in 20mm scale from (at least) Wespe models, FAA Miniatures, and From Early War Miniatures. It is also apparently available by Retro Kit.

http://www.wespemodels.ro/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=794

https://www.faaminiatures.com/p-507-tvr-french-amr-33-tankette.aspx

http://earlywarminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=237_243&products_id=1520