Batignolles-Châtillon Char 25t

[ThermalLeft 11]

Informations of Batignolles-Châtillon Char 25t

(Batignolles-Châtillon Char 25t at saumur tank museum in 2004, www.char-francais.net)

    1. Length : 5.67m

    2. Height : 2.37m

    3. Width : 3.16m

    4. Total Weight : 25.3t

    5. Engine : SOFAM 3M 27.101(500hp)

    6. Maximum Speed : 65km/h

    7. Crew : 4(Commander, Gunner, Driver, Loader)

    8. Armament : 90mm DCA 45(Main gun), 7.62mm LMG(Coaxial machine gun)

    8.1. Main Gun Muzzle Velocity : 930m/s

    9. Front Chassis Armour : 30~50mm

   10. Side Chassis Armour : 25mm

   11. Rear Chassis Armour : 20mm

   12. Radio : SCR 528F

 

Features

Batignolles-Châtillon Char 25t was developed to improve AMX-13 in 1954.

Thus, it shared many features with AMX-13. 2 prototypes were made and tested at Batignolles-Châtillon in Nantes and at NW France in Britanny.

This tank had typical French oscillating turret and loader-free carousel system which required  external reloads. By installing oscillating turret, linear structure of inner part of turret(Main gun - Turret - Autoloader) could be retained and large gun was able to be equipped.

Because of light weight and proper engine horsepower of the "Bat Chat", maneuverability of this tank was excellent but had bad protection.

There were 6 doubled roadwheels, 3 return rollers, front drive sprokets and rear idlers in the tank. And, hydralic suspension was installed.

 

Crew

When we see front chassis of this tank, driver sat to the right side with 3 periscopic sights, and sliding hatch. Raido operator was sat in compartment of driver.

And, gunner, loader and commander took place in the turret. In a same visual point, gunner's hatch on the left side was circled by an extra machine gun ramp and commander's cupola on the right side had 6 vision blocks. When reloading was needed, loader had to climb upper turret and reload bullets.

 

Problems and Fate

There were some technical problems at this tank.

First, hydralic suspension was unreliable so that frequent maintenance for the chassis was required.

Second, Shot traps occured too much.

Third, NBC protection was impossible because of oscilating turret. This tank was developed in 1950s and that means tanks at the time needed to provide against nuclear war.

But, this tank did not offer NBC protection and it was huge weakness so that the Bat Chat lost in the competition with AMX-30.

However, Some technologies and ideas such as hydralic suspension were reused in other French vehicles.

 

References

1. Tank Encyclopedia

2. Namu Wiki(Korean)

3. Wikipedia(Dutch language)

4. Chars Francais(French)

5. Châtellerault’s Archives(French)

6. Pierre Touzin, Les véhicules blindés français, 1900-1944. EPA, 1979.

7. Jean-Gabriel Jeudy, Chars de France, E.T.A.I., 1997.

*Link 1 has a detailed explanation about Batignolles-Châtillons Char 25t

*Link 2, 3 and 4 has a brief description about this tank.

*Link 4 also has various images of this tank.

*Link 5 has design data and drawing of this tank. Informations from other links need cross validation with data from this link when you consult other references.

*Book 6 and 7 are references of Link 3.

 

(Batignolles-Châtillons Char 25t in 1954, www.chars-francais.net)

 

 

(I will research it again and again for accuracy of data)

 

 

 

Edited July 16, 2018 by YOU_MUST_DIE

[SAUBER_KH7 3,325]

Open for Discussion.

 

I added a "Not Sure" option for question 3. Sorry I forgot to mention it earlier.

Edited July 14, 2018 by SAUBER_KH7

[ThermalLeft 11]

16 minutes ago, SAUBER_KH7 said:

Open for Discussion.

Thank you for opening this topic and adding one more selection of question #3 :

[Slipslime 660]

+1 Yes a thousand times

 

Also I would recommend you add a section to the poll to choose an appropriate br

[ThermalLeft 11]

1 hour ago, Slipslime said:

+1 Yes a thousand times

 

Also I would recommend you add a section to the poll to choose an appropriate br

the question about br will be interesting one thanks!

Edited July 14, 2018 by YOU_MUST_DIE

[Milocat 4,842]

Awesome!  More French-built tanks are always welcome.  This one looks like a fantastic addition.  +1.  

[Guest]

More jiggly turrets? Develop an underdeveloped tech tree? I support.

[LeTigreRoyal 321]

It's a "must" for the French tree! gib! 

[swpixy 1,220]

yes.+1.

[Priest5000 1,049]

+1 This tank is a must-have, but for all of you who voted for it's BR to be above 6.3 let me shine some light on this tank's armament. The 90mm SA45 is the same cannon on the ARL 44 and AMX M4. The only way it could perform well against enemy tanks is if it's set at 5.7 like the ARL 44 or right at 6.0. Also, if this tank (along with the ARL 44 and AMX M4) received the experimental APCR shell it'd be nice. It's kinda needed. This is what I'm referring to: 



The shells are listed in order: APC, Experimental APCR, and the HE shell. We already have APC and HE but the APCR would be a great addition, especially for the Batignolles-Châtillon Char 25t. 

Edited July 27, 2018 by Priest5000

[Tasty95215 2,099]

4 hours ago, Priest5000 said:

+1 This tank is a must-have, but for all of you who voted for it's BR to be above 6.3 let me shine some light on this tank's armament. The 90mm SA45 is the same cannon on the ARL 44 and AMX M4. The only way it could perform well against enemy tanks is if it's set at 5.7 like the ARL 44 or right at 6.0. Also, if this tank (along with the ARL 44 and AMX M4) received the experimental APCR shell it'd be nice. It's kinda needed. This is what I'm referring to: 



The shells are listed in order: APC, Experimental APCR, and the HE shell. We already have APC and HE but the APCR would be a great addition, especially for the Batignolles-Châtillon Char 25t. 

 

So the APCR penetrated 170mm at 1000 meters, as compared to the current performance of the French 90mm SA45, which penetrates 168mm at 1000 meters. While that is only 2mm more, APCR in general does lose more penetration over range than standard shells IIRC, so the APCR should have considerably more penetration at closer ranges compared to the APC. That is, assuming the current performance of the SA45 is correct.

 

Still though, that's very helpful information for the gun.

[Priest5000 1,049]

2 hours ago, Tasty95215 said:

 

So the APCR penetrated 170mm at 1000 meters, as compared to the current performance of the French 90mm SA45, which penetrates 168mm at 1000 meters. While that is only 2mm more, APCR in general does lose more penetration over range than standard shells IIRC, so the APCR should have considerably more penetration at closer ranges compared to the APC. That is, assuming the current performance of the SA45 is correct.

 

Still though, that's very helpful information for the gun.

The APC shell actually had 150mm's of pen at 1,000 meters so it's penetration will need to be adjusted here and there if they add the APCR shell. 

Edited July 28, 2018 by Priest5000

[Tasty95215 2,099]

18 minutes ago, Priest5000 said:

afaik, the APC shell actually had 150mm's of pen at 1,000 meters so it's penetration will need to be adjusted here and there if they add the APCR shell. 

 

Oh, nevermind then. If Gaijin does end up nerfing the penetration of the APC at 1000 meters, would the penetration at closer ranges also be nerfed? Or are there sources for the penetration at those ranges?

[Priest5000 1,049]

31 minutes ago, Tasty95215 said:

 

Oh, nevermind then. If Gaijin does end up nerfing the penetration of the APC at 1000 meters, would the penetration at closer ranges also be nerfed? Or are there sources for the penetration at those ranges?

I don't think the penetration at ranges below 500 meters would be nerfed, and if so then only a very small amount of penetration below 500 meters would be shaved off. On the same note, the experimental shell would've likely went into production if not for the French Military receiving M47's from the US, since the French were looking to boost their anti-tank capabilities after seeing what the Soviet Union was parading around. The 90mm SA45 being among the best anti-tank weapons the French had at the time (early 1950's) would've needed more than just it's APC shell if they chose not to receive any Patton tanks for a while longer. 

Edited July 28, 2018 by Priest5000

[Arghail 1,219]

On 27/07/2018 at 19:14, Priest5000 said:

+1 This tank is a must-have, but for all of you who voted for it's BR to be above 6.3 let me shine some light on this tank's armament. The 90mm SA45 is the same cannon on the ARL 44 and AMX M4. The only way it could perform well against enemy tanks is if it's set at 5.7 like the ARL 44 or right at 6.0. Also, if this tank (along with the ARL 44 and AMX M4) received the experimental APCR shell it'd be nice. It's kinda needed. This is what I'm referring to: 



The shells are listed in order: APC, Experimental APCR, and the HE shell. We already have APC and HE but the APCR would be a great addition, especially for the Batignolles-Châtillon Char 25t. 

 

 

Well, apparently the version that is going to be implemented in the game has been put at BR 6.7. Basically, he'll be similar to the Lorraine 40t, but with a weaker canon. I do hope it will be treated as a light tank, because I fear it's gonna be a glass canon with a not so good canon at its BR.

[Milocat 4,842]

Coming in 1.81!  

[ThermalLeft 11]

On 23/08/2018 at 02:59, Milocat said:

Coming in 1.81!  

YAY

[BrentD15@psn 1,116]

Should this be moved to implemented?

[CokeSpray 7,270]

On 30/08/2018 at 15:09, *BrentD15 said:

Should this be moved to implemented?

We move suggestions on features/vehicles that are confirmed to be coming to the game only when they actually get released on the live servers. With that said;

 

Moved to Implemented suggestions as this vehicle was added to the game with update 1.81 "The Valkyries".