History Characters / WorldOfTanksFrance

* FakeBalance: The B1 never fights tanks higher than tier 5, due to preferential matchmaking. The reason for this is presumably the low-powered gun... although the [[InNameOnly AMX 40 light tank]] doesn't benefit from the same treatment.

* NiceHat: The upgraded three-man turret has an extremely distinctive shape[[http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/wotrnk/imgs/3/1/31f8d59e.jpg]].

* FailedASpotCheck: An early aversion of the typically poor French gun depression, the D1 can aim its gun down [[UpToEleven 18 degrees]], which is better than most tanks in the whole game. Now if you can just get a decent gun to mount on it.

* WeakButSkilled: Although [[FanNickname The Duck]] is usually seen as [[ThatOneLevel that one tank]] in the French light tree, it's not unheard of to see someone [[OneManArmy carry a match]] by using its absurd armor and good positioning to make up for the terrible gun and worse mobility. Expect the enemy team to [[WorthyOpponent offer huge props]] for this, if they can stop laughing.

* NoPronunciationGuide: Americans have a very hard time pronouncing the full name, leading to [[FanNickname names]] like [=M4A1=] Ravioli. Expect much stumbling when attempting to pronounce the full name, at least from American players.

* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: It's a rather poorly-protected, sluggish tank that is also a tall target, and the [[FanNickname Steel Potato]] is widely made fun of because of that, at least until the [=90mm=] [=DCA-30=] cannon painfully stings them in the face.
* UnexpectedGameplayChange: The [[FanNickname Steel Potato]] represents the same shift in French armor paradigm in the heavy tree as the light [[FragileSpeedster ELC AMX]]. There is an impressive bump in firepower and mobility, at the cost of some armor protection.

* FanNickname: It is occasionally called a bathtub due to the shape of the vehicle.

* UnfortunateNames: Technically stands for "[[GratuitousGerman Blockhaus Schneider]]", the manufacturer of the 75mm cannon.

* FriendOrFoe: [[RealityEnsues Frequent mechanical breakdowns during mobilization]] caused this tank to spend a lot of time away from the theater of war... so much time, in fact, that some French infantry saw a company of D2s approaching from behind to support an assault and mistook them for [[UsefulNotes/NazisWithGnarlyWeapons a Panzer company]], causing them to promptly flee. [[LeeroyJenkins The D2s continued the assault anyway.]]

French tanks vary wildly between the tiers, but are generally geared to some sort of offensive action. At lower tiers, they accomplish this with great armor but have poor speed and are armed with poor guns. At higher tiers, they are very mobile and armed with great guns, but sacrifice their armor to achieve great performance. Most mid to high tier French tanks have an [[MoreDakka autoloader with a drum magazine]], which allow for several shots in a short period of time. Almost all French tanks suffer from having few crew members which makes for less variety when choosing crew skills or perks, lack of sufficient hull and turret armor at mid-high tier, lack sufficient speed and mobility at lower tiers, and their guns almost always have poor "gun handling" stats such as aim time and accuracy on the move. All are meant for offensive action; lower tier French tanks rely on their armor to withstand enemy hits and higher tier French tanks rely on their speed to avoid hits. With the exception to their tank destroyers, lower tier tanks will have trouble stopping heavily armored vehicles advancing on their position and higher tier tanks will find themselves handicapped when holding a position due to the extremely long reload times on the automatic loaders. On all tiers, poor gun depression and poor turret armor prevents them from using hull-down positions effectively.

!![=FCM=] 50 t

Development was started in December 1945. The vehicle was conceived as replacement for the [=AMX=] 50t and combined features typical of the pre-war French tank-construction industry as well as German innovations. The vehicle was to be equipped with an additional container trailer, equipment for underwater driving, and a demountable mine clearer.

This tank is a tier 8 premium tank.

* InNameOnly: While this tank is listed as a heavy tank, the speed and rapid-firing but low-caliber gun and middling armor lead to a decidedly medium-like playstyle.
* {{Acrofatic}}: It has a pretty long chassis, but can keep up with ''medium tanks'' with little to no issue.

!![=AMX=] 50 120

A prototype of the [=AMX=] 50 tank. Developed in the early 1950s under the influence of the Soviet IS-3 and T-10. The tank featured enhanced armor and a 120-mm gun in the oscillating turret.

* WeaksauceWeakness: The ammo rack can be [[OneHitKill struck]] from the front.
* {{Acrofatic}}: Larger and bulkier than the [=AMX=] 50 100, but is no less mobile.

!![=AMX=] 50 B

Developed starting in 1951 by [=DEFA=], the state weapons design bureau. By 1958, the [=AMX=] 50 B received a number of improvements, including a low-profile cast hull and torsion-bar suspension. A new oscillating turret with a 120-mm gun was also mounted on the vehicle. Despite the fact that the Maybach engine power provided just 1000 hp, the specialists from the German Gruppe M company were looking for a solution that would allow the vehicle to reach the speed up to 65 km/h. Only one finished prototype of this variant was built.

* LightningBruiser: This tank not only moves about as if it were a medium and has an improved 120mm cannon from the 50 120, the frontal hull armor is massively improved and capable of easily deflecting carelessly aimed shots.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:French Tank Destroyers]]
French tank destroyers have relatively weak armor at lower tiers, but have good guns. Later in the line, they gain tough and well-sloped frontal armor along with increased speed, but retain the good guns. Their guns have great penetration values and good accuracy, so they are not to be taken lightly. However, their side armor is rather weak and their front armor is covered in rather obvious weak spots. Due to their size, the later designs have poor camouflage values.

Lines:
* (T2) FT AC > UE 57 > [=SAu=] 40 > S35 CA > [=ARL=] V39 > [=AMX=] AC 46 > [=AMX=] AC 48 > Foch > Foch 155

!!Renault FT AC

As the French Army's vast fleet of Renault FT tanks passed into obsolescence, some efforts were made to upgrade the vehicles. One proposal was to convert them into tank destroyers, but the plan was never implemented.

* GlassCannon: The massive gun can [[UnblockableAttack reliably penetrate tier 4 tanks]] and has a [[MoreDakka very high reload rate]]. The result is an even heavier tank for the FT's weak engine, with nominal armor and a very narrow gun traverse angle. An unsupported FT AC is as much a sitting duck as an [=SPG=].

!![=FCM=] 36 Pak 40

In 1943, ten [=FCM 36=] tanks were converted into tank destroyers. Earlier, twelve vehicles of that type were converted into self-propelled guns carrying the 105 mm gun.

A tier 3 premium tank destroyer.

* FakeNationality: A captured French light tank outfitted with a German TD gun... fighting with a French insignia.
* [[MixAndMatchCritters Mix And Match Tanks]]: What would happen if you stacked a German [[{{BFG}} 7.5cm cannon]] on a [[MadeOfIron French light hull]]?

!!Renault UE 57

Developed in 1943 in Great Britain by mounting the British 6-pounder gun on the chassis of the French tankette [=UE2=]. One prototype was manufactured.

* ChronicallyCrashedCar: If anyone in a tier 3 game starts complaining publicly about [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks the new physics engine]], there's a better than even chance they're tipped on their side in a UE 57. It only takes a few minutes driving one of these little guys around to see how unstable the suspension can be.
* FragileSpeedster: It's small and fast because it's lightly armored.
* MagikarpPower: The aforementioned 6-pounder gun is only available as an upgrade, after quite a bit of grinding with the comparatively flaccid 47 mm SA-L mle. 1937-- at tier, it's okay at best with a [[MoreDakka high firing rate]]. But at tiers 4 and 5, you might as well be throwing rocks at anything but scouts. The 6-pounder has no trouble penetrating anything you come across, and with the UE 57's [[StealthExpert high camo value]], it might as well be invisible.
* [[MixAndMatchCritters Mix And Match Tanks]]: What would happen if you stacked a British [[{{BFG}} 6-pounder cannon]] on a [[FragileSpeedster French tankette]]?
* RammingAlwaysWorks: Against it. It's lighter than the American [=M56=] Scorpion at only ''3 tons'' which means contact with allies or enemies, accidental or not, can seriously damage or kill you.
* [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes Why Did It Have to Be Gun Depression?]]: One of the worst depression ratings in the game, of only 3 degrees. This generally throws any advantage of high ground out the window.

!!SOMUA [=SAu=] 40

A proposed tank destroyer on the basis of the SOMUA S35. Existed only in blueprints.[[note]]This description lies: One prototype armed with the 75mm gun and some production vehicles with the 47mm fought in the Battle of France.[[/note]]

* AwesomeButImpractical: Big, sturdy tank destroyer with powerful gun sounds like a good idea on paper. In-game however, it's slow speed hampers the ability to quickly get in or out of position. It can't take advantage of hill crest due to low gun placement and the vulnerable machine gun turret on top. The guns are inaccurate at long range, while the armor is useless to most frontline [=non-TD=] tanks it often gets put against. Many people compare it to equally awkward M3 Lee medium tank of American line, and those who can play the [=SAu=] 40 well often advise players to be extremely cautious.
* GoForTheEye: A big, thinly-armored machine gun turret pokes out of the top.
* RealityIsUnrealistic: As the note in the description implies, mounting a {{BFG}} on the S35 chassis actually happened. This makes it the first (French) TD in the French line to have actually seen action.
* TheBigGuy: The most physically imposing tier 4 French tank, and excepting the [=SPG=], armed with the most withering gun.
* UnexpectedGameplayChange: Trading in a tank destroyer that is so small and light that [[TooFastToStop it nearly flips over]] on its head when it stops or turns at speed... for an [[MightyGlacier enormous gun and tough frontal armor on the SOMUA S35 chassis]].

!!S35 CA

The design called for the conversion of tanks into tank destroyers by mounting a 17-pounder gun into an open-topped, lightly armored cabin.

* EliteTweak: One of the things that makes this TD stand out is that all of its guns are viable: The 17-pdr gives excellent penetration and solid DPS, the 90mm gives the best DPS while being middle-of-the-road in soft stats, and the 105mm is the raw alpha option.
* FanNickname: It is occasionally called a bathtub due to the shape of the vehicle.

!![=ARL=] V39

A prototype of the [=ARL=] 40. The vehicle was intended as an assault SPG. Mass production was to be launched in 1940 but never started due to the occupation of France.

* BadassOnPaper: Has some deceptively good on-paper statistics... which are completely ruined by numerous drawbacks that are not immediately apparent in the garage. This tank is only the first in the general trend of the French tank destroyer line, so you'd best prepare yourself...

!![=AMX=] AC mle. 46

The first design project of a heavy tank destroyer on the basis of the M4. Development was started in 1946. The configuration of the vehicle had a strong resemblance to the Jagdpanther. Existed only in blueprints.

* BadassOnPaper: Like most high tiered French tank destroyers, it has some deceptively good on-paper statistics (decent frontal armour, a decent gun selection, and unprecedented mobility) which are are marred by numerous flaws that are not apparent in the garage.

!![=AMX=] AC mle. 48

A draft project of a tank destroyer on the basis of the AMX 50. Developed in 1948. The vehicle featured rotating fire unit on the rear. Existed only in blueprints.

* WeaksauceWeakness: That rotating fire unit? Adds a third "cupola" to the TD that is surprisingly easy to hit and houses one of the gunners.
* BadassOnPaper: At this point, it's a RunningGag.

!![=AMX=] 50 Foch

Tank destroyer on the basis of the [=AMX=] 50. A prototype was manufactured in 1950. By 1951 a few more vehicles were ready for trials. The vehicle was in service until 1952.

* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: One of two French [=TDs=] named after Grand Marshall Ferdinand Foch, who was the commander of Allied Entente forces during the last year of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, and uttered the infamous words,
-->'''Foch:''' ''Mon centre cède, ma droite recule, situation excellente, j'attaque.'' ([[OhCrap My center is yielding, my right flank is retreating]], [[BlatantLies excellent position]], [[LeeroyJenkins I am attacking]].)
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Considered one of the worst tier 9 tank destroyers, with the lowest damage per shot (tied with the British Tortoise, but it compensates with a rapid rate of fire), lowest DPM, non-existant armour anywhere but the front, and appallingly bad gun handling.

!![=AMX=] 50 Foch (155)

In 1952, with the launch of the [=AMX=] 50 120 tank project, the French discontinued development of the [=AMX=] 50 Foch tank destroyer. A tank destroyer having the same 120-mm gun armament as the tank was thought to be unnecessary. There were attempts to upgrade the main gun to 155 mm, but these efforts were abandoned as France made moves to adopt standardized NATO equipment.

* LightningBruiser: Sports an [[MoreDakka autoloading]] [[{{BFG}} 155 mm gun]] that can take away ''2250 HP'' in just over 10 seconds. Its front is a tough nut to crack if the enemy doesn't understand its weakspots or flank around it. It's also [[{{Acrofatic}} quite mobile for a tank of its size]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder:French Self-Propelled Guns]]
French self propelled guns have good accuracy, quick aim times and high fire rates, but suffer from low gun arcs, slow-moving projectiles, and lower damage and penetration than their rivals. They are the fastest SPG's in the game and can outrun many of the tanks in the game, which allows them to escape base raids and easily relocate to continue finding lines of fire. They also sport relatively great camouflage values thanks to their smaller sizes. This trend, aside from camo, remains throughout the line. They are also some of the best artillery at defending themselves and make good emergency Tank Destroyers. After tier 8, the guns do not improve but instead new functionality is added such as turrets and autoloaders.

Lines:
* (T2) FT BS > Lorr. 39L AM > [=AMX=] 105 AM > [=AMX=] 13 AM > [=AMX=] 13 F3 > Lorr. 155 50 > Lorr. 155 51 > B-C 155 55 > B-c 155 58

!!Renault FT 75 BS

The first order for an SPG on the basis of the Renault FT-17 was placed in December 1917. However, no SPG entered service until the end of World War I. After the end of the war a total of 39 vehicles were manufactured.

* MoreDakka: A 100% crew and the top gun can fire once every 8 seconds... which is faster than some main battle tanks.
* UndergroundMonkey: Another one of the various flavors of FT available in this game.
* UnfortunateNames: Technically stands for "[[GratuitousGerman Blockhaus Schneider]]", the manufacturer of the 75mm cannon.

!!Lorraine 39L AM

Self-propelled gun on the basis of the Lorraine 37L. Development was started just before World War II. Existed only in blueprints.

* ATeamFiring: Despite its long range, it's not terribly accurate and it takes a ''long'' time to aim. It doesn't even get much of a benefit from splash damage, either.
* SniperDuel: Unusually for tier 3, has an effective range includes damn near the whole map, from any position. This makes it exceptionally useful for taking out enemy tank destroyers and [=SPGs=] from a safe distance.
* PintSizedPowerhouse: Just a tiny little guy. ''Very'' bad idea to [[ShortRangeLongRangeWeapon approach from the front]].

!![=AMX=] 105 AM mle. 47

A 105-mm SPG design project developed by the Construction Bureau in Issy-les-Moulineaux (Paris, France). The draft was ready in September 1947. However, development was discontinued and the project was canceled.

* LightningBruiser: Very quick for an SPG, with a punishing gun to boot.
* NotTheIntendedUse: Good mobility and a tough cannon both make it easy to adapt to urban maps as an ad-hoc tank destroyer, where [[ConcealmentEqualsCover buildings]] might prevent a more traditional SPG style from being effective.
* RadialAssKicking: The gun has quite a wide traverse arc, which allows it hold the hull steady while acquiring new targets. Of course, the low shot arc may introduce some unpleasant difficulties for getting over obstacles like... [[WeaksauceWeakness moderately tall hills and single-story houses]].

!![=AMX=] 13 105 AM mle. 50

Self-propelled gun on the basis of the AMX-B tank. The prototype was developed and tested beginning in 1949. Mass production was launched in 1955.

!!105 leFH18B2

In March 1941, the Rheinmetall-Borsig company ordered sixteen captured B1 Bis tanks to be converted into [=SPGs=]. The work was started only at the end of 1941 due to the lack of operational tanks. The vehicles entered service in 1942.

This SPG is a tier 5 limited premium, and one of only two premium [=SPGs=] in the game.

* DeathOfAThousandCuts: In a similar vein to the Bishop, this SPG does not take out enemies in one large hit but instead wears them down with a fast reloading gun.
* FakeNationality: Is a French tank despite historically being used by the Germans.
* MixAndMatchCritters: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin A French B1 bis hull mounted with a German Wespe's 10.5cm field howitzer.]]

!![=AMX=] 13 F3 AM

Developed at the end of the 1950s on the basis of the AMX 13. The vehicle was mass-produced until the end of the 1960s and is still in service in France, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Morocco, and other countries.

* {{BFG}}: Sports a 155 mm howitzer, which can be a surprise (welcome or not) to anyone expecting yet another [[DeathOfAThousandCuts rapid-firing low caliber SPG]].
* UnexpectedGameplayChange: Aside from the bigger gun, this tank also has a unique gun traverse arc, unique in that it's quite wide...if you ''only'' turn your gun to the right.

!!Lorraine 155 mle. 50

SPG prototype developed in 1952 on the basis of the experimental Lorraine 40t. Never entered mass production nor saw service.

* FragileSpeedster: Like most French [=SPGs=] (or most French ''tanks'' in general), it's fairly mobile. You are still an artillery vehicle though, so don't get carried away.

!!Lorraine 155 mle. 51

Experimental SPG on the basis of the prototype of the medium tank Char de Bataille Lorraine 40t. The prototype was manufactured in 1952. Never entered mass production nor saw service.

!!Bat.-Châtillon 155 55

A 155-mm SPG design project developed in 1955. The vehicle was intended to be manufactured on the chassis of the U.S. M47 medium tank, which was exported to France. However, the chassis of the French medium tank Batignolles-Chatillon 25t was preferred over other variants. The initial version existed only in blueprints.

* UnexpectedGameplayChange: Is one of the only [=SPGs=] in the game with a fully-rotatable turret.
* PowerUpLetdown: The upgraded gun only improves the aiming time by ''half a second''.

!!Bat.-Châtillon 155 58

SPG prototype on the basis of the Batignolles-Chatillon 25t manufactured in 1958. Never entered mass production.

* UnexpectedGameplayChange: Is one of the only [=SPGs=] in the game with a fully-rotatable turret, though you should have gotten used to it from the previous tank.
* CripplingOverspecialization: Suffers massively on damage in exchange for the autoloader: Sure you get 4 rounds worth of 6 seconds of reloading, but you're attacking with the same gun as the tier 8 SPG, and once those four rounds are fired you are out of the action for 73 seconds ''at best''.

* BadassGrandpa: Dubbed "the world's first modern tank" by historian Steven Zaloga, the Renault FT was first used in UsefulNotes/WorldWarI and captured vehicles were ''still'' in use by Nazis defending Paris in 1944. Many tanks from UsefulNotes/WorldWarII onward can trace design elements back to the FT. Even with its production year starting in ''1917'', it can hold its own- and often do ''far better''- than tanks produced 10 to 15 years later or more.
* HardHead: The vehicle's turret is very rounded, and has superior armor thickness to the hull. It's often difficult to penetrate it with a machine gun, even at close range.

* AssKicksYou: The above trope leads to a strategy in which an FT driver simply speeds straight for a machine-gun armed enemy in reverse, firing all the way. It might seem suicidal, but it somehow manages to be a viable strategy, simply because of how little can penetrate the FT's rear at Tier 1 (save cannons, which tend to be sidelined in favor of machine guns).

[[UsefulNotes/GaulsWithGrenades Armored fighting vehicles designed or produced by the nation of France]]. French tanks tend to be [[CripplingOverspecialization extremely specialized tanks]] and each should be examined carefully for fit before committing to play it.

This SPG is a tier 5 limited premium.

* ScratchDamage: While the B1 only sees up to tier 5, the best gun it can equip is a 47mm gun that has major problems getting through tanks even with [[BribingYourWayToVictory gold ammo]]. All it takes is a few games of running into the [[BritsWithBattleships British Matilda]] (much less a [[RedsWithRockets KV-1]]) and being utterly helpless for a player to get fed up with the gun. Not helping is the lack of multi-gun support, which prevents the use of the [[{{BFG}} hull-mounted howitzer.]]

* BadassGrandpa: Dubbed "the world's first modern tank" by historian Steven Zaloga, the Renault FT was first used in UsefulNotes/WorldWarI and captured vehicles were ''still'' in use by Nazis defending Paris in 1944. Many tanks from WorldWarII onward can trace design elements back to the FT. Even with its production year starting in ''1917'', it can hold its own- and often do ''far better''- than tanks produced 10 to 15 years later or more.

* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: One of two French [=TDs=] named after Grand Marshall Ferdinand Foch, who was the commander of Allied Entente forces during the last year of WorldWarI, and uttered the infamous words,