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The Batignolles-Chatillon Char 25T is a medium tank, developed in the 1950s by the Batignolles-Chatillon company in France.

Batignolles-Chatillon Char 25T
Type	Medium tank
Place of origin	France
Production history
Designer	Batignolles-Chatillon
Designed	1954
Specifications ([1])
Mass	25.375 tonnes (in combat order)Armor and fittings: 6,300kg Undercarriage and suspension: 5,610kg Engine: 635kg Transmission (clutch - gearbox and reducer): 1,350kg Lot fittings - electrical installation: 1,390kg Complete turret (16 shells of 90): 8,470kg Petrol - ammunition (36 shells of 90): 1,220kg
Length	5.67 m
Width	3.16 m
Height	2.37 m
Crew	4
Armor	20-50 mm(0.7-1.9 in)
Main armament	90 mm gun
Secondary armament	1 7.5 mm coaxial machine gun electro-mechanical firing (lever control on the pointer's vertical aiming wheel)[2] 1 reproached 7.5mm defense machine gun
Engine	Gasoline, 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/weight	20hp/t
Suspension	Hydraulic 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 capacity	700L
Maximum speed	65km/h
Steering system	ensured by a differential system allowing turning on the spot

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 90mm 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.[2][3]

Design

The Char 25T was designed around the gun and mobility so therefore little to no importance was put on the armor. The 90mm gun shared the same ammunition as the American M46 Patton. 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 one was the base of the turret which also contained the turret ring and moved the turret horizontally, while the top part (containing the cannon) was joined by a hinge and could move up and down to elevations of -6˚/+13˚. The armor was extremely lacking with its thickest point being 50mm. This could only protect against heavy machineguns 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.

See also

• AMX-13
• AMX-30
• AMX ELC
• AMX-10P

References

Note

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

На других языках

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[de] Batignolles-Châtillon Char 25T

Der Batignolles-Châtillon Char 25T war ein französisches Panzer-Projekt aus den 1950er-Jahren. Das Projekt war sehr fortschrittlich für die damalige Zeit (sehr flache Wanne, hydraulische Federung, Wiegeturm), erreichte aber nie die Serienreife; es wurden lediglich zwei Prototypen gebaut.

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- [en] Batignolles-Chatillon Char 25T

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[ru] Batignolles-Chatillon 25t

Batignolles-Châtillon 25t — опытный французский средний танк, разрабатывался в начале 1950-х годов. Batignolles-Châtillon 25t должен был стать основным танком в вооружённых силах Франции, но в конце концов эту позицию занял AMX-30.

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