Char 2C tank (French)

Description

The French Char 2C was a super-heavy tank that set several records in the history of armored warfare. Developed during World War I, it did not see combat until after the war ended. In terms of size, weight and firepower, it outmatched any contemporary tank.

The Char 2C was designed by the Forges & Chantiers de la Méditerranée (FCM) shipyard, as during WWI it expanded production to also include armoured vehicles. The tank had a length of 12.27 meters, a width of 3 meters and a height of 4.09 meters. It weighed 69 tons and had a crew of 12, with a top speed of 15km/h. The tank had a complex suspension system that allowed it to cross trenches and obstacles.

A 75 mm gun mounted in a rotating turret provided the main armament. The tank also had four machine guns, two in the front and two in the rear. It also had thick armor (for the period) that ranged from 22 to 45 mm. It could carry up to 250 rounds of ammunition and 12,000 rounds of machine gun ammunition.

Conceived as a breakthrough weapon that could crush enemy defenses and support infantry attacks, the Char 2C had many drawbacks that limited its effectiveness. The tank was not only very expensive to produce, requiring special transporters and railways to move it, maintenance was also difficult and time consuming. . A lack of anti-aircraft defences and smoke launchers made it vulnerable to artillery fire and aerial attacks, additionally the sheer size and noise of the 2C also made it difficult to conceal from the enemy.

In total, France produced only 10 Char 2C tanks, each with a different name and color scheme. The 51st Tank Battalion received the tanks in 1921 and they remained stationed near Verdun. They saw no combat; their only use being training and propaganda purposes. The invasion of France by Germany in 1940 saw the end of the Char 2C tanks as their crews destroyed them to prevent them from falling into enemy hands. Thus, the Char 2C tanks ended their short and uneventful service life as the largest operational tanks ever made.

• Model: Char 2C super heavy tank
• Country/Army: French
• Dimension (mm) (WxLxH): 68 x 185 x 64
• Material: UV Cured resin
• Original Designer: DeweyCat productions
• Painted by: MarDav Miniatures
• These models are designed for modellers and collectors. They are not toys and are not suitable for children.
• Model supplied unassembled and unpainted. Additional finishing may be required during assembly.
• Finished colour of the product may vary from images shown.
• Photos and dimensions are at 28mm unless noted otherwise.
• All dimensions are complete with weapons unless otherwise stated.
• Other scales and dimensions may be available upon request.
• Models supplied at scales smaller than 20mm may be an alternative design more suitable for small scale prints. These are designed by Bergman or TigerAce1945.