Batignolles-Chatillon Char 25T

Medium tank
Batignolles-Chatillon Char 25T
TypeMedium tank
Place of origin France
Production history
DesignerBatignolles-Chatillon
Designed1954
Specifications ([2])
Mass25.375 tonnes (in combat order)
  • Armor and fittings: 6,300 kg
  • Undercarriage and suspension: 5,610 kg
  • Engine: 635 kg
  • Transmission (clutch - gearbox and reducer): 1,350 kg
  • Lot fittings - electrical installation: 1,390 kg
  • Complete turret (16 shells of 90): 8,470 kg
  • Petrol - ammunition (36 shells of 90): 1,220 kg
Length5.67 m
Width3.16 m
Height2.37 m
Crew4
Armor20-50 mm(0.7-1.9 in)
Main
armament
90 mm D.911 APX gun
Secondary
armament
1 7.5 mm coaxial machine gun electro-mechanical firing (lever control on the pointer's vertical aiming wheel)[1] 1 reproached 7.5mm defense machine gun
EngineGasoline,

Brand "Moteur Moderne", Type 3.M-27, 3 vertical cylinders, 2 stroke, suppressor ignition system, displacement: 8250mm3, cooling system: water,

radiator: cooled by air ejector operating by means of exhaust gases.
500hp at 2700 rpm
Power/weight20hp/t
SuspensionHydraulic suspension,

Four torsion bars, Undercarriage: 6 double rollers - fitted on each side with rubber tires - (580mm x 140mm), Shock absorbers: on the 8 extreme rollers,

Track tension: by rear pulley - all-steel track.
Fuel capacity700L
Maximum speed 65km/h
Steering
system
ensured by a differential system allowing turning on the spot

The Batignolles-Chatillon Char 25T was an early Cold War medium tank of France, developed in the 1954 by the Batignolles-Chatillon company. The vehicle was not developed beyond the two prototypes.

Development

It was designed for a 25-ton weight class, which is nearly twice the weight of the AMX-13. Its primary armament was a 90 mm cannon, and was operated by 4 crew members. Its speed could reach 65 km/h. Two prototypes were made before it was set aside. However, some principles of creation of the tank and some of its technology were used in other French AFVs. Some variants were developed, but none of these were ever used in active service with the French Army.[1][3]

Design

The Char 25T was designed around the gun and mobility so therefore little to no importance was put on the armor. The 90 mm gun shared the same ammunition as the T119 gun used in the American M47 Patton (later designated 90 mm M36). The tank was supposed to get up to 65km/h on the road with a 40km/h cruising speed. The gun was fed by an automatic loader. The total amount of ammunition that was stored inside the tank totaled to 52 shells 16 of which were found in the turret.[4] The turret was of the oscillating type and consisted of two pieces. The bottom part functioned as the base of the turret, which also contained the turret ring which moved the turret horizontally, while the top part (containing the cannon) was joined by a hinge and was capable of moving up and down to elevations of -6˚/+13˚. In terms of armor, the Char 25T was extremely lacking, with the thickest point being 50mm. This armor could only protect against heavy machine guns but that was enough considering the role of the tank being focused on a hit-and-run tactic. The tank was also equipped with 2 7.5mm machine guns for close range anti infantry fire and/or estimating the range until to the enemy target. The tank also had four smoke grenade launchers (two on each side) so it could deploy them for extra shielding while it ran away from a difficult situation. As the tank lacked any thermal imagery devices aiming was hard and time consuming. That is why the tank was equipped with a total of 16 periscopes and one fixed binocular. The tank commander was also fitted with a priority device using which he could take control of the cannon from the gunner in case he needed to shoot urgently and the gunner wasn't ready.[4]

Surviving examples

There were at least 2 prototypes of the Char 25T of which one is at the Musée des Blindés in Saumur, France. The fate of the other prototype is yet unknown.

The restored prototype at the Musee des Blindes, Saumur, France.

See also

  • AMX-13
  • AMX-30
  • AMX ELC
  • AMX-10P

References

Note
  1. ^ a b "Model of the French main battle tank — Batignolles-Chatillon Char 25 t". Archived from the original on 2014-10-13.
  2. ^ "1954 BATIGNOLLES-CHATILLON 25t". Archived from the original on 2014-02-20.
  3. ^ "Batignolles-Chatillon".
  4. ^ a b Char 25T, retrieved 2022-10-02
References
  • Jeudy, Jean-Gabriel (1997). Chars de France (in French). Boulogne: E.T.A.I. ISBN 2-7268-8369-9.

External links

  • (in French) Chars-francais.net
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Main battle
Light
Medium
Heavy
Prototypes,
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