The Belgian ACG1

[flyfight500 30]

The Belgian ACG1
 

 Image by JoniGustavo, skin by JoKer_BvB09,  

History:

 

In 1934, the belgian army ordered 25 AMC34 to Renault SA. But the mass production of this tank is canceled and is replaced by the AMC35 ACG1. The belgian order is maintained but the vehicles that will be delivered are AMC35 ACG1. After tests and evaluations of first delivered tank, in 1937, it is judged to heavy and no adapted for the belgian army. The order is reduced to 10 tanks after negociations with the Renault manufacturer. They are delivred in 1938. In belgian army, the tank keep the industrial name ACG1, sometimes it is designed "auto blindé lourd ACG1" (heavy armored car ACG1). The initials "AMC", for Auto Mitrailleuse de Combat, are used only in french army.

Only 8 tanks are in working order in 1940 and are used by cavalry corps in the escadron "Auto blindé du Corps de Cavalerie" or a.b./C.C. (armored car of cavalry corps). The 2 tank out of order are used as source of spare part.The escadron fought north of Brussels, near Antwerp then near Ghent and finally at the Battle of the Lys. The escardon surrendered on 28th of may 1940 with the belgian army. 4 tanks were lost in this campaign.

PS: The initial order was composed of 2 orders, the first order for 25 chassis of amc34 (remplaced by the AMC35) and second order for 25 turrets APX B. It's the first one that has been reduced from 25 to 10. So 15 turrets are without chassis. The belgian army used them on casemate two near Liège and the rest on the Belgian coast. The Germans reused them for the Atlantic Wall.

 

Spoiler

 

Today, only two turret remains, one in the Bastogne Barracks War Heritage Institute, the other is near Liège.

 

 

The technical characteristics:

 

The differences between the belgian and the french ACG1 are the armament, little modifications on the turret and the chassis and the interior layout.

 

The armament

The belgian ACG1 has the F.R.C. 47 mm AntiTank gun, as the T13s and the SA F.R.C. 47, and a 7.65 mm Hotchkiss.

Spoiler

Main Armament		Ammunitions
main gun	SA-FRC 1932/L30	Obus de rupture (AP)
caliber	47 mm	weight	1,55 kg
rate of fire	15 round/ min (on affut)	speed	675 m/s
Elevation	-18° +20°	penetration at 30° (source: Trucks and Tanks)
traverse	360°	100 m	51 mm
turrel rotation speed	2-3 tours/min	500 m	44 mm
ammunition carried	75 ammo	1000 m	37 mm
Secondary Armament		Obus explosif (HE)
type	Hotchkiss	weight	2,435 kg
caliber	7,65 mm	speed	450 m/s
ammunition carried	1260	penetration	0,175 kg
	14 magazin of 90 rounds
position	coaxial

 

The turret:

 

The changement of the machingun for a 7,65 Hotchkiss required to modify the turret. To be able to reload the machine gun, the left side espicope was moved towards the left. An amour plate is put on the old site of episcope. The form of machinegun sleeve is different. And a sightslot is added beside slot of machine

 

above, french turret APX2 and below a begian turret APX2 B

 

In game, there is a error on the turret of AMC 35. The sight slot is present but only the belgian turret had it.

 

the others differences

 

The arrangement of shells in the belgian tank is of 56 shells on the right side above the track, 7 shells stored behind the driver's seat and 12 on the floor under the turret.

 

There is no radio base in the chassis

 

Source:
 

Georges E. Mazy et Frank Vernier, "Les Chars Renault ACG1 de la cavalerie belge", édition du Patrimoine
http://www.wardrawings.be/WW2/Files/1-Vehicles/Allies/5-Others/03-Belgium/1-TrackedVehicles/Files/ABCC.htm
https://www.quartermastersection.com/belgian/afvs/1079/ACG-1
http://tank-photographs.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/belgium-amc-35-acg1-tank.html
Steven J.Zaloga, French Tanks of World War II (2): Cavalery and AFVs, p10-11, 18 février 2014 : https://books.google.be/books?id=IIelCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=belgian+acg+1+tank&source=bl&ots=tBeOf_QLN2&sig=ACfU3U0u6ttxyd2OHj5jymk6fh7monnL_A&hl=fr&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjPnM396YnjAhXOIlAKHV_iAXU4ChDoATAHegQIBhAB#v=onepage&q=belgian acg 1 tank&f=false

https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=559

 

 

 

Edited June 28, 2019 by flyfight500

[blaZzinG_FurY@psn 298]

Open for discussion

[Milocat 4,857]

Ooh, this would be a great vehicle to see in the game in some capacity.  +1.

[PrussianOwl 442]

I like the idea,+1

[Valcour 1,141]

+1  A wonderful suggestion.

 

[gennaroita 113]

+1 i can see this easly as a low tier premium/ gift vehicle 

[CaID 8,996]

sound like a good french premium to me.

[Solarmod 1,204]

+1 for Belnelux tree

[eleks12 1,079]

+1