The specifications for the AMC and AMR were written to include wheeled and halftracked armored cars as well as the tanks discussed above. In the AMR classification, a six-wheeled armored car was accepted as the AMR GendronSomua modele 39, but did not go into production because of the war situation.

In 1932, the only existing vehicle meeting the AMC specification was the AMC Schneider P. 16, mounting the short 37mm SA 18. This halftrack was developed in the late 1920's, but was not produced in large quantities. The 60 or so produced were issued along with the tracked AMCs.

A third specification was issued in 1932, for Automitrailleuses de Decouverte (AMD). This required a fastvehicle with a wide radius of action for strategic reconnaissance. Only wheeled vehicles were developed to this specification. The two most common vehicles in the AMD classification were the Panhard AMD. 178 and the AMD White Laffly. At the end of World War I, the French had about 230 Automitrailleuses White in service, built on American-made chassis and armed with short 37 SA 18 cannon. From 1932 to 1934 Laffly renovated 99 of these, which were then designated AMD White Laffly type 50 AM. These were retained in France. Surviving earlier versions were used mostly in the colonies, although Groupe 97 of the Legion Etrangere used the earlier pattern in France. Small numbers of an improved new version, the AMD Laffly S. 15, were used in North Africa.

The second AMD was the Automitrailleuse Panhard et Levassor type 178 modele 1935, referred to as the AMD178 or the AMD-35. The AMD-178 was developed'in 1934 from the earlier TOEM32 which was used in small numbers in the colonies. More than 360 AMD178s were produced through May 1940, armed with 25mm antitank guns.

AMD-178s and White Laffly's were assigned to the reconnaissance units of the DLMs, DLCs, DIMs, the Corps de Cavalerie, and the 4e DCR.

Only a single type of French tank destroyer saw action in the 1940 campaign, the Laffly W15 Tcc Chasseur de Char. This wheeled vehicle mounting the 47mm M37 anti-tank gun was developed between September 1939 and February 1940. The army showed little official interest until after the German attack began. The Chasseur de Char was ordered for production on May 17, 1940. Of the 70 produced between May 24 and June 17, only 15 saw action, assigned to three anti-tank batteries. One battery was assigned to the 7e Cuirassier Groupe, another to the 3e DCR. The third battery was apparently independent.

The most numerous armored vehicles in the French Army were the thousands of infantry carriers assigned to the motorized infantry bataillons of the DLMs, DCRs, and the reconnaissance groups of the DIMs. A few were assigned to each active infantry division. Several different carriers were used. The most numerous were the Renault UE tractors based on the Carden Loyd tractor. These were supplemented by a small number of Citroen-Kegresse and Somua halftracks. In 1938, the Lorraine-38L was adopted to replace the UE as the standard armored supply carrier, however less than 400 were produced before the Armistice. A small number of Lorraine-38Ls were completed as armored personnel carriers. The DLCs were equipped with Lorraine-37 wheeled carriers.

More French Armor Battle of France 1940

Introduction
Infantry Tanks
Cavalry Tanks
Other Armored Vehicles
Armored Units and In Action 1940
Fatal Flaws and Bibliography
French Armor in "Fall of France" OB
Table 2: Armored Units and Equipment: May 1940