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French Tank And AT Rounds From WWII.

75 Mle 1931 - Correct Shell for Char B Tank?

There is a thread out there in which two people identify this 75mm shell as the correct one for the Char B tank. However, this head stamp does not match any of the ones shown in this thread. It is the correct length. Was this used for the Char B hull gun also?

char b 75mm shell.jpg
 
1940 French 37mm Mle 1937 Steel/Magnesium Armor Piercing Round

Here is new favorite French tank round from WWII. It went up for auction in the US. It came with a 1940 dated case. This would have been used by R35 and H35 infantry support tanks. I won the bidding war, so it was not inexpensive.
 

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  • French Mle 1937 AP3.jpg
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  • French Mle 1937 AP.jpg
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Not easy to find in original condition. I may have posted this image before, but
it fits this thread ~
 

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  • 37x94R shells and 150 rounds magazine on a Renault R35.jpg
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This was sold some years ago (not by me) but I saved the images. It hit a Sherman (American forces) just after the D-day landing and
upon wondering what the racket was this was found out side of the tank and kept as a souvenir. There was no mention
if the firing gun was located and it may have been at extreme range from what I recall of the story.
 

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This was sold some years ago (not by me) but I saved the images. It hit a Sherman (American forces) just after the D-day landing and
upon wondering what the racket was this was found out side of the tank and kept as a souvenir. There was no mention
if the firing gun was located and it may have been at extreme range from what I recall of the story.

Interesting shot (nice souvenir).
I can't find reference of this one in my doc. Not exaxtly model 35 or 37. Crimp groove on base is not common.
I have a picture in my doc of an unknow AP. This shot could be the same.

french 37 SHOT UNK.jpg
 
What model of French 37mm AP is pictured here? Is this an Mle 1935? The Mle 1935 in the French manual looks like the Mle 1937 I have pictured above. This seems confusing.
 

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  • French 37mm Magnesium AP - long nose.jpg
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  • French 37mm Tank Ammo Manual.jpg
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I have seen two or three variations of this projectile, with the hardened steel penetrator (exposed to varying degrees) in a magnesium sheath. The magnesium deteriorates over time, so I think that any found in good condition are likely to be replicas.
 
What model of French 37mm AP is pictured here? Is this an Mle 1935? The Mle 1935 in the French manual looks like the Mle 1937 I have pictured above. This seems confusing.

A picture with two different models :

french shot.jpg
 
Here is new favorite French tank round from WWII. It went up for auction in the US. It came with a 1940 dated case. This would have been used by R35 and H35 infantry support tanks. I won the bidding war, so it was not inexpensive.
Nice find Steve. Looks like yours has paint on it.
Would love to see some info about the French issuing these. I've never seen German references about using this ammo either.
It did bring the armor penetration of the older SA18 L/21 up to that of the newer SA38 L/33 gun (which was about 30mm at point blank range). Unfortunately for the French the real problem was with their turret layouts.
Mine looks to be from a slightly earlier production lot than yours;
DSCF0986.jpgDSCF0988.jpg
 
Hello Jeff. The Germans did document this ammo.
 

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  • German manual on French 37mm Mle 1937 AP.jpg
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P1010053.jpgP1010054.jpgP1010055 (1).jpg

Four French tank rounds. 75mm SA35 (Char B, hull), 47mm Mle35 (Char B turret, S35, AMC45 etc), 37mm Mle38 (H35/39etc), 37mm Mle16/18 (R35,FCM36 etc)
 
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