#fcm 2c

[charsdefrance]

The FCM 1A, the would be King of all Tanks, had it not been rejected in favor of the much larger Char 2C.

The prototype was built in 1916 and tested in 1917, with a short 105mm howitzer. It represented the pinnacle of French tank development during WWI, with its only noted fault being it’s difficulty in turning.

After testing it was proudly placed in front of the Versailles tank school, before having its tracks removed and placed into storage in an inner courtyard of the school.

There it would sit until at least 1940, after which it is presumed the Germans scrapped it, having no need for the outdated piece of history. After all, they already had one of the Char 2Cs…

[carbone14]

Char FCM 2C n°92 « Picardie » du 51e BCL sabordé et abandonné à Piennes, Meurthe-et-Moselle - Bataille de France - juin 1940

Le char super-lourd n°2 « Picardie » a été affecté au 511e Régiment de chars de combat le 9 juillet 1936. La numérotation des chars passe d'un à deux chiffres. Il devient le n°92.

Après la dissolution du 511e RCC, les chars FCM 2C furent regroupés dans le 51e Bataillon de chars lourds en juillet 1939. En réparation le 23 septembre 1939 il fut remis en service le 11 mars 1940.

Le « Picardie » tombe en panne électrique à Piennes le 12 juin 1940. Il fut sabordé et abandonné le 13 juin sur ordre de la IIIe Armée.

[charsdefrance]

Newly released footage of the FCM 1A heavy tank firing its main gun, on the coasts of La Seyne.

Honestly amazing to see this 100 year old iron beast moving and shooting, after so long of seeing nothing but still photos.

[charsdefrance]

A man stands beside the wooden mock-up of the successor to the Char 2C, the mammoth FCM F1 superheavy. Toulon, 1940

My favorite picture of any concept/prototype French tank

[charsdefrance]

The last surviving pieces of the Char 2C: the mammoth railroad mounts used to transport them, stored away at the Musée des Blindes in Saumur