France
Battle of France 1940
The development of the battle plan for Fall Gelb from the original plan developed by OKH. The Battle of France, spanning May 10 to June 22, 1940, was the brilliant triumph of Germany’s Fall Gelb (“Case Yellow”) invasion plan, which brought about the ignominious defeat of the forces of France, Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. At the start of the…
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French 75 – Mademoiselle Soixante-Quinze
The French industrialist Eugene Schneider began cannon production in 1870 and by the turn of the century commanded an arms empire to rival the German industrial giant Krupp. The Schneider concern employed some 14,000 employees and incorporated company- owned railways and mines as well as a huge factory complex. By…
Battle of Friedland, the decisive battle of the campaign of 1807.
Napoleon Watching The Battle Of Friedland 1807 A major engagement between French forces under Napoleon and the Russian army under General Levin Bennigsen Friedland was the decisive battle of the campaign of 1807. Following the bloody stalemate at Eylau in February, the Russian and French armies spent the spring recuperating…
THE “GUÉPARD” (“CHEETAH”)
The French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, has announced that the launch of the Joint Light Helicopter (HĂ©licoptere InterarmĂ©es LĂ©ger; HIL) programme has been brought forward to 2021. The HIL programme, for which the Airbus Helicopters’ H160 was selected in 2017, was initially scheduled for launch in 2022…
Gazelle Helicopters in service with the French Army
A total of 340 Gazelles were procured for the Aviation LĂ©gère de l’ArmĂ©e de Terre (ALAT), 171 SA.341Fs with the TurbomĂ©ca Astazou IIIC turboshaft, which entered service in 1969, and 161 of the later SA.342M that was a dedicated anti-tank variant with the more powerful TurbomĂ©ca Astazou XIVH engine. The…
JOSEPH FRANÇOIS DUPLEIX
A decade after his lucrative dealings in India came to an end, Dupleix died a broken man, his wealth spent and honor impugned. (1697–1763), influential governor-general (1742–1754) of the French East India Company. During his three decades in India, the Marquis Joseph François Dupleix expanded the commercial, political, and military…
Automitrailleuse Panhard et Levassor Type 178
A Panhard 178B. The APX3B turret is of the latest type with a rear episcope. Rear view showing the position of the second driver; the hull, despite having been repainted with a number belonging to the third production batch. Panhard 178B/FL1, French Indo-China, 1947. Panhard 178 tank hunter with the…