Edgar Brandt
Encyclopedia
Edgar William Brandt was a French
ironworker
, prolific weapons designer and head of a company that designed 60mm, 81mm and 120mm mortars
that were very widely copied throughout and subsequent to World War II. He also invented discarding-sabot
artillery
shells, and contributed substantially through his development of HEAT rifle grenades to the development of effective HEAT-warhead weapons for infantry anti-tank use.
In 1902, Brandt set up the business établissements Brandt, where he produced ironwork and light armaments; this was based at 76 rue Michel-Ange in Paris
.
His company was nationalised in 1936, and subsequently it purchased several engineering companies including the société Mécanique Industrielle de Précision (MIP) at Tulle
in 1938. The same year, Brandt opened a major facility at La Ferté-Saint-Aubin
which became the company's headquarters.
In 1956 Hotchkiss et Cie
merged with établissements Brandt to form the Hotchkiss-Brandt company, which ten years later merged with Thomson
and became Thomson-Brandt Armements. After further evolutions, the company is now called TDA Armements SAS and is a part of the Thales Group
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
ironworker
Ironwork
Ironwork is any weapon, artwork, utensil or architectural feature made of iron especially used for decoration. There are two main types of ironwork wrought iron and cast iron. While the use of iron dates as far back as 4000BC, it was the Hittites who first knew how to extract it and develop weapons...
, prolific weapons designer and head of a company that designed 60mm, 81mm and 120mm mortars
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
that were very widely copied throughout and subsequent to World War II. He also invented discarding-sabot
Sabot
A sabot is a device used in a firearm or cannon to fire a projectile, such as a bullet, that is smaller than the bore diameter, or which must be held in a precise position. The term is also applied to a battery stub case, a device used similarly to make a small electrical battery usable in a...
artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
shells, and contributed substantially through his development of HEAT rifle grenades to the development of effective HEAT-warhead weapons for infantry anti-tank use.
In 1902, Brandt set up the business établissements Brandt, where he produced ironwork and light armaments; this was based at 76 rue Michel-Ange in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
His company was nationalised in 1936, and subsequently it purchased several engineering companies including the société Mécanique Industrielle de Précision (MIP) at Tulle
Tulle
Tulle is a commune and capital of the Corrèze department in the Limousin region in central France. It is also the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulle...
in 1938. The same year, Brandt opened a major facility at La Ferté-Saint-Aubin
La Ferté-Saint-Aubin
La Ferté-Saint-Aubin is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.-See also:*Communes of the Loiret department*Sologne...
which became the company's headquarters.
In 1956 Hotchkiss et Cie
Hotchkiss et Cie
Société Anonyme des Anciens Etablissements Hotchkiss et Cie was a French arms and car company established by United States engineer Benjamin B. Hotchkiss, who was born in Watertown, Connecticut. He moved to France and set up a factory, first at Viviez near Rodez in 1867, then at Saint-Denis near...
merged with établissements Brandt to form the Hotchkiss-Brandt company, which ten years later merged with Thomson
Thomson-CSF
Thomson-CSF was a major electronics and defence contractor. In December 2000 it was renamed Thales Group.-History:In 1879 Elihu Thomson and Edwin Houston formed the Thomson-Houston Electric Company in the United States....
and became Thomson-Brandt Armements. After further evolutions, the company is now called TDA Armements SAS and is a part of the Thales Group
Thales Group
The Thales Group is a French electronics company delivering information systems and services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets...
.
Products
Some of the products designed and built by Brandt's company and its successors include:- Brandt 60 mm LR Gun-mortar
- Brandt 60 mm HB Gun-Mortar
- MCB-81
- Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1The MO-120 RT-61 or MO-120-RT is a heavy mortar of French origin. It was designed by Thomson-Brandt as the successor for the MO-120 AM-50...