History
The Saint-Chamond was the second tank to be designed and built in France, after the Schneider. Like the Schneider it had many faults, but it also began the battlefield revolution and led to later and much more efficient tanks.
The Saint-Chamond began with plans for the arms manufacturer, Forges et Aciéries de la Marine et d’Homécourt à Saint-Chamond, to build Schneider tanks, but it evolved into quite a different vehicle.
Four hundred were ordered on 8 April 1916 and the final one was delivered in March 1918.
The hull was longer than the Schneider to accommodate the large field gun and, as a result. the tank had a large overhang which made it cumbersome in the field and easily stranded.
The flat roof also made it vulnerable to hand grenades.
This model represents an early Saint Chamond of the 1st Battery, AS 31, in 1917.
Reviresco 1/72 kit with Black Knight decals. Completed in May 2012.