Lorraine 40t

Lorraine 40t
Lorraine 40t
Type	Medium Tank
Place of origin	France
Specifications
Mass	39.7 metric tonnes
Length	10.80 m (35 ft 5 in)
Width	3.30 m (10 ft 10 in)
Height	2.85 m (9 ft 4 in)
Crew	4 (commander, gunner, driver, loader/radio)
Armour	30-45 mm
Main; armament	100 mm SA 47
Secondary; armament	1 x 7.5 mm coaxial machine gun and 1 x 7.5 mm machine gun on roof
Engine	Maybach HL 295 12VC; 850 hp
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational; range	300 km
Speed	60 km/h (37 mph)

The Lorraine 40t was a prototype France medium tank of the Cold War.

Development

After the end of the Second World War, the French Army was in pressing need of a modern tank with heavy armament. In March 1945, French industry was invited to design a tank, which resulted in the AMX-50.

However, it was already obvious in the early 1950s that the AMX-50 tank might turn out to be too heavy due to attempts to improve the gun and armor in response to Soviet tanks such as the IS-3. Thus, in 1950, a 40 tonne medium tank project was started. The Lorraine company built a medium tank prototype based on their earlier Canon D’Assaut Lorraine project.

Description

The total weight was limited to 39.7 tonnes.^[1] The Lorraine 40t featured a pike nose design similar to the IS-3. It had an oscillating turret like the AMX-50.^[2] The Lorraine 40t mounted a 100 mm SA47 gun fed from a drum autoloader similar to that of the AMX-50 project.

The vehicle inherited the Veil Picard pneumatic tires from the Canon D’Assaut Lorraine which helped to reduce weight.^[2] The engine used was the Maybach HL 295 12VC engine which gave a speed of 60 km/h (37 mph).^[2]

The Lorraine 40t had a SCR 508 radio for external communications.^[3]

The two prototypes were apparently scrapped after the discontinuation of the project.