2x all terrain tractors (used for emergency purposes to tow the guns).1x commander (captain), 1 NCO, 2 brigadiers, 6 gunners, 1 horse driver, 9 driver = 20 men.ORGANIZATION OF A HORSE-DRAWN BDAC (Batterie Divisionaire Anti-Char = AT divisional battery) The armament is composed of 8 AT guns (each with 200 shells), 8 LMGs, 700 AT mines and small arms (carbines, pistols etc.). 5 NCOs, 2 brigadiers, 15 gunners, 6 drivers = 28 men.4x lorries (2 lorries transporting 350 AT mines each = 700 AT mines).2x all-terrain light tractors transporting ammunition + 2 ammunition trailers.8x all-terrain light tractors towing the guns (and carrying 40 shells).6x truck (4 trucks transporting the signal equipment, the observation equipment and the 8 LMGs).8x 47mm Mle1937 AT guns and 8x FM Mle1924/29 LMGs.(including 4 messengers and 16 observers / LMG gunners) 4 officer (lieutenants), 12 NCOs, 12 brigadiers, 8 master gunners, 60 gunners, 32 drivers = 128 men.1x commander (captain), 1 NCO, 2 brigadiers, 6 gunners, 7 drivers = 17 men.ORGANIZATION OF A MOTORIZED BDAC (Batterie Divisionaire Anti-Char = AT divisional battery) Modified Mle1932 HE projectile, usually with a Gaba Mle1932 fuze. Weight of projectile : 1.410 kg (142g explosive) Obus explosif Mle1932 M39 (HE) - in German service : Pzgr 181(f). Regarding that the 5.0cm Pzgr.39 had 0.330 kg more weight than the 4.7cm Mle1936 and only 20m/s less muzzle velocity this makes sense. To compare the German data for the 5.0 cm Pak38 and 47mm SA37 L/53 AT gun for 30° angle : This was sufficient to penetrate any German 1940 tank armor on this distance and angle. German data tells a penetration of 36mm at 1500m and 30° hit angle. ![]() The penetration data for the French 47mm SA37 L/53 AT gun is positioned between the penetration data of the 4.7 cm PaK36(t) and 5.0 cm PaK38, where it should be regarding shell weights and muzzle velocities. The ballistic cap screwed on the APC is in magnesium, resulting in a burning and brilliant lightning at the impact point, helping somewhat in the aiming.įrench tests with Mle1936 APCBC (source : French Ministry of Defence, 24th September 1939) Length of projectile : 192 mm (APC 144.5mm + BC 92mm, total length of the shell : 555.5mm) Weight of projectile : 1.726 kg (1.710 kg without ballistic cap) Obus de rupture Mle1936 (APCBC) - in German service : Pzgr 178(f). General Heinz Guderian himself in his memories ("Achtung Panzer !") indicates that he led the fire of a captured French 47mm AT gun against a Renault B1bis. The German reports indicate that 1226 shells were fired with these booty guns furing the battle of France. But already in May/June 1940 some of the captured guns were immediately used against French tanks, especially the dreaded Renault B1bis. The Germans produced also a dedicated 4.7cm APCR shell for this gun. Of course that gives not much info in terms of penetration, these tanks could be PzIs as well as PzIVs but the gunsight, accuracy and crew of this gun seem to be rather good ones.Ībout 823 4.7cm Pak181/182(f) (captured on the front or in factories / repaired / newly built) were used after the campaign of France by the Germans. During the retreat, one 47mm SA37 gun destroyed successively 3 moving German tanks at 1500m. First they stopped all the German assaults in part thanks to their good supporting artillery and took about 800 German POWs, then they had to pull back because of the collapse of the 2nd infantry division facing two Panzerdivisionen more west. An example of report concerning the 47mm Mle1937 AT gun : the French 18th infantry division on the Aisne river on 9-10th June 1940 faced the 10.ID, 26.ID, the SS "Polizei" and elements of the 6.PzD. The Laffly S15T or Laffly W15T (and sometimes Citroën-Kégresse P17 and Unic P107) generally towed the 47mm Mle1937 AT gun if the battery was not horse drawn. Initially a BDAC should have included 12 47mm AT guns but due to the lack of guns this number was reduced to 8. The French army had about 1200 of them in service in May 1940, they were depending from the artillery regiments and not all came into service. ![]() It exceeded widely the German 3.7cm PaK in terms of penetration and was also superior to the Czech made 4.7cm AT gun. This AT gun was the best AT gun on the battlefield in 1940, after the 8.8cm Flak18 used in AT role and perhaps the best one before the arrival of the 5.0cm Pak38. Telescopic sight : 4x (field of view 10.13°, + reticle, adjustable drum up to 3500m)
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