Saint-Chamond (tank)
| Industry | Arms manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Saint-Chamond , France |
| Products | Saint-Chamond tank |
The Saint-Chamond was the second French tank model deployed during World War I, with a production run of 400 units between April 1917 and July 1918. Its name derives from the town of Saint-Chamond, Loire, and it was built by the Compagnie des forges et aciéries de la marine et d'Homécourt (FAMH).
Conceived in the context of competition with the creators of the Schneider CA1, the Saint-Chamond was hampered by insufficient power and flawed design. A significant weakness was its short Holt caterpillar tracks, which were inadequate for supporting its 23-ton mass and extended chassis. Subsequent models improved upon these shortcomings by incorporating broader, more robust tracks, reinforced frontal armor, and the more potent Canon de 75 modèle 1897 field artillery piece.
Among the total units produced, 48 were unarmed caisson variants. The Saint-Chamond remained in operational use until October 1918, proving more effective as combat shifted toward open-field engagements. Eventually, it was designated to be replaced by British heavy tanks imported into France, such as the Mark V (tank).
The Schneider
In January 1915, French arms manufacturer Schneider sent their chief designer, Eugène Brillié, to England to examine tracked tractors produced by the American Holt Company. Originally intended to mobilize Breton-Pretot wire-cutting equipment, Brillié—who had prior experience designing armoured cars—convinced Schneider to develop an armoured and armed tractor based on the Baby Holt chassis, commissioning two prototypes.
Testing of Holt caterpillar tracks commenced at Schneider in May 1915, involving a 75 hp wheel-steered vehicle and a 45 hp all-tracked Baby Holt model; results favored the latter. Demonstrations were held before French military officials in June and September of that year. By early 1916, the first Schneider tank prototype was assembled in an army workshop using American Holt tracks previously utilized for towing heavy artillery. The fighting compartment was designed by Private Pierre Lescure, while Lieutenant Fouché extended the tracks to improve trench-crossing capabilities. This prototype, named Tracteur A, was ultimately rejected by Brillié, who instead developed a tail extension to enhance trench mobility without adding excessive weight or length.
The Saint-Chamond
While Brillié developed the second prototype that evolved into the Schneider CA1, the arms manufacturer Forges et Aciéries de la Marine et d'Homécourt (FAMH) located in Saint-Chamond, Loire received a government contract for 400 tanks—a politically motivated decision influenced by General Mourret. The Saint-Chamond project aimed to produce a tank partially resembling Schneider's design but declined to pay royalties for Brillié's patents. Unable to incorporate patented elements such as the tail extension, FAMH created its own model: the "Char Saint-Chamond", which employed a "Crochat-Colardeau" gasoline-electric transmission system previously used on French railcars. This larger tank design accommodated a full-sized 75 mm field gun along with four Hotchkiss machine guns, exceeding Schneider’s armament of two machine guns.
Colonel Émile Rimailho, technical director at Saint-Chamond and dissatisfied with earlier recognition for his artillery inventions, adapted a Mondragon 75 mm field gun into what became known as the proprietary Canon de 75mm TR Saint-Chamond (Modèle 1915), firing standard French 75 mm shells. In May 1915, the French government agreed to procure this weapon. Rimailho successfully persuaded the Ministry of War to require this gun's installation on Saint-Chamond tanks, overshadowing Schneider CA1’s smaller fortress gun which used reduced-charge ammunition. To fit this full-size artillery piece, the hull was lengthened; the heavier Saint-Chamond prototype was presented to military authorities in April 1916.
Colonel Jean Baptiste Eugène Estienne, founder of France’s tank arm, initially welcomed an order placed on April 8, 1916 for 400 additional tanks but was taken aback when they turned out to be a different model altogether. He objected that such a substantial contract had been issued without consulting him—the officer responsible for overseeing comprehensive technical and tactical studies that guided tank development.
Description
Modifications introduced by Rimailho resulted in a tank that was both bulky and lacked sufficient power, notably missing a rotating turret. Instead, it featured a large protruding front section containing the lengthy 75 mm gun extending from the vehicle's nose. Since all French 75mm field guns utilized a traverse mechanism where the entire gun carriage rotated on the trail via a worm gear, Saint-Chamond's engineers were compelled to accommodate the entire gun within the fighting compartment.
The forward fighting area housed the driver/commander on the left side, while a machine gunner occupied the right, responsible for operating both the front Hotchkiss machine gun and the breech of the 75 mm cannon. This gunner had to pivot on his seat to manage these tasks. A loader handled elevation adjustments of the main weapon, aiming through a small hatch at the front that exposed him to enemy fire. To traverse the main gun beyond its limited 6° range, the entire tank needed to be rotated by the driver. The rear fighting compartment contained an additional machine gunner and a secondary driver who could maneuver the tank backward in emergencies. Positioned between these compartments were the gasoline engine and electric generator, with narrow corridors on either side housing further Hotchkiss machine gun stations. Altogether, the Saint-Chamond was equipped with four Hotchkiss M1914 machine guns: one each at the front and rear, plus one on each flank.
Weighing in at 23 tons, it was capable of reaching a maximum speed of , though this was seldom realized under battlefield conditions due to its elongated nose digging into uneven terrain. This comparatively high velocity was made possible by the "Crochat Colardeau" transmission system, which connected a Panhard-Levassor four-cylinder sleeve-valve gasoline engine to an electric generator delivering 260 amperes at 200 volts. This generator powered two independent electric motors—one per track—enabling precise steering control.
Nevertheless, its short track length combined with an extended hull created significant challenges when crossing trenches and obstacles, leading to strong dissatisfaction among crews during training exercises. These grievances were formally communicated up to General Headquarters.
Improved Saint-Chamond tanks (1918)
The initial Saint-Chamond design featured steel armor measuring 11 mm on its sloped front and 17 mm along the sides, protecting its nine-man crew. Subsequently, an additional spaced armor layer of 8.5 mm was added to enhance frontal defense. Beginning with unit number 151, the roof was redesigned with a double slope intended to deflect satchel charges and grenades more effectively. The original pair of observation turrets was replaced by a single low-profile square turret, which improved visibility for the driver/commander. Track width was progressively increased from 324 mm to 500 mm in three stages to reduce ground pressure. After tank number 210, the less efficient Rimailho 75 mm gun was substituted with the Model 1897 field gun, and cylindrical rollers were installed beneath both front and rear sections to facilitate trench crossing. This upgraded variant became informally known as the Modèle 18. Production decelerated in March 1918 after manufacturing at least 377 units and ceased entirely by July 1918.
A total of forty-eight Saint-Chamond tanks were modified into supply and recovery vehicles capable of towing lighter Schneider tanks. Their combat debut took place at Laffaux Mill on May 5, 1917, where sixteen tanks participated; although several became immobilized, only three were lost in action. Throughout World War I, twelve units (Artillerie Spéciale Nos. 31–42) operated these vehicles. By mid-1918, as combat shifted toward open terrain, they engaged German field artillery batteries at distance using their 75 mm cannons and demonstrated effectiveness as assault guns. The final recorded combat use involved sixteen tanks supporting the U.S. First Division near Montfaucon in October 1918; however, mechanical failures limited their performance. By this time, the Renault FT had become France’s primary tank model and was also adopted by American forces.
Following the war, roughly fifty-four units were reportedly converted into ammunition carriers; however, documentation on their operational deployment is scarce, with most remaining vehicles being dismantled. One Saint-Chamond was preserved as a monument at the École des Chars in Versailles until approximately 1940 when it was likely destroyed during German occupation. Unconfirmed accounts suggest Poland may have employed some against Soviet forces in 1920; nevertheless, these claims are questionable since Soviet troops never received them and French Expeditionary Forces in Russia operated exclusively Renault FTs.
Surviving example
The sole remaining Saint-Chamond tank, a refined version from mid-1918, is currently exhibited at the Musée des Blindés in Saumur, alongside other French World War I armored vehicles such as the Schneider CA1 and Renault FT. Initially displayed at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds Ordnance Museum in Maryland, USA, it was repatriated to France in 1987. Between 2015 and 2017, the tank underwent a restoration to operational status costing €120,000, was repainted with a World War I camouflage pattern, and subsequently featured in commemorative events celebrating the French army’s inaugural deployment of tanks.
Additionally, a life-size model crafted from polystyrene foam by students at Lycée Le Corbusier in Tourcoing is showcased outdoors at the Historial de la Grande Guerre located in Péronne, France.
In media
- The Saint-Chamond tank is represented as a playable vehicle (labeled "St-Chamond") in the 2016 first-person shooter Battlefield 1, developed by DICE and released by Electronic Arts.
- The 2022 motion picture All Quiet on the Western Front includes scenes with Saint-Chamond tanks assaulting German positions. For filming, practical replicas were constructed using a BMP-1 chassis, which led to noticeable differences in track design compared to the authentic vehicle.
- In 2025, Gaijin Entertainment introduced the Saint-Chamond as an unlockable unit during an April Fools’ event within their multiplayer vehicular combat game War Thunder.
References
- Lieutenant-colonel P.Malmassari, "Les chars de la Grande Guerre", 2009, 14–18. Le Magazine de la Grande Guerre. .
- Ralph E. Jones et al., The Fighting Tanks from 1916 to 1933, originally published in 1933 and reprinted in 1969 by We, Inc. Publishers.
- Francois Vauvillier, French Tanks and Armoured Vehicles 1914–1940, 2014, Histoire et Collections-Paris, .
External links
- Chars-francais.net
- Saumur Tank Museum
- St. Chamond tank @ 5 Star General site
- Video of the newly restored (2017) Saint-Chamond undergoing test runs at Saumur armoured vehicle museum.