Panhard AM 40 P
| Industry | Automotive, Military vehicles |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1887 |
| Founder | René Panhard, Émile Levassor |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Armoured cars, military vehicles |
The Panhard AM 40 P, also referred to as Model 201, was an experimental French armoured car developed by Panhard under the leadership of Louis Delagarde between 1938 and 1940.
History
In 1938, the French High Command initiated a competition seeking a "powerful armored car" (Automitrailleuse Puissante) to fulfill the army's demand for heavily protected vehicles. Panhard responded with the AM 40 P, designed to offer superior reconnaissance performance.
Description
The AM 40 P was characterized by a low silhouette and a pioneering eight-wheel drive (8x8) system. It featured bulletproof pneumatic wheels for steering at both front and rear, alongside centrally located retractable metal wheels equipped with grousers to improve off-road capability.
Its extended chassis included a sharply angled front upper glacis plate armored with 60 mm thickness, ensuring significant defensive strength. The vehicle accommodated two crew members: a driver positioned at the front and a commander/gunner stationed in a centrally placed turret.
This turret employed an early form of oscillating design, consisting of two half-cylinder sections that allowed simultaneous rotation for horizontal aiming and vertical pivoting for gun elevation. Armament comprised a 25mm SA 35 anti-tank cannon mounted on the turret's right side, supported by a 7.5mm Reibel machine gun.
Powered by an 85 horsepower gasoline engine, the AM 40 P could achieve speeds up to 80 km/h and had an operational range near 100 km, making it a swift and well-armored reconnaissance platform for its time.
Development
Finished in 1939, the prototype garnered favorable attention from the French Army, which placed an order for 600 units on May 1, 1940. Intended as a successor to the Panhard 178, production was halted by the Fall of France, resulting in only one prototype being completed. This single vehicle was transported to Morocco, though its final disposition remains unknown.
Following World War II, design principles from the AM 40 P contributed to the creation of the Panhard EBR. Additionally, its innovative oscillating turret concept was later incorporated into the successful AMX-13 light tank.