Peugeot Armored Car
Encyclopedia
The Peugeot
armored car was a four wheeled armored vehicle based on a commercial Peugeot truck that was quickly developed by the French in 1914 for use in World War I
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, and possessed a single rather ungainly turret mounted to the top of the vehicle. The turret was equipped with a single 37mm gun, giving the vehicle effective firepower for the period, though a comparatively slow rate of fire compared to other vehicles equipped with machine guns. Early experiences on the battlefield quickly brought about improvements in armament and firepower to combat the new armored fighting vehicles emerging from Germany, and eventually the introduction of the tank. Production of the vehicle slowed once the war switched to trench warfare, finally ending with the end of World War I.
the vehicle was of little use, and was delegated to patrolling roads in rear areas, though the Peugeots speed was brought to advantage on one final occasion to stem the German breakthrough of March 1918. Following World War I the few survivors were handed over to the Polish Army, where they remained in service for several years, seeing action against the Russians. Four cars were send to Serbia as military aid from France, and later used by Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
armored car was a four wheeled armored vehicle based on a commercial Peugeot truck that was quickly developed by the French in 1914 for use in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
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History
The Peugeot armored car was rapidly developed by the French Army in 1914 to halt the advance of German forces. The vehicle was improvised from an existing commercial Peugeot truck, and underwent a rapid series of developmental changes once entering production. The vehicle resembled other armored cars of the era, such as the Rolls-Royce Armoured CarRolls-Royce Armoured Car
The Rolls-Royce armoured car was a British armoured car developed in 1914 and used in World War I and in the early part of World War II.-Production history:...
, and possessed a single rather ungainly turret mounted to the top of the vehicle. The turret was equipped with a single 37mm gun, giving the vehicle effective firepower for the period, though a comparatively slow rate of fire compared to other vehicles equipped with machine guns. Early experiences on the battlefield quickly brought about improvements in armament and firepower to combat the new armored fighting vehicles emerging from Germany, and eventually the introduction of the tank. Production of the vehicle slowed once the war switched to trench warfare, finally ending with the end of World War I.
In combat
The vehicle was designed for speed and movement, making it suited to counter the initial German invasion of France in 1914. Once World War I had switched to trench warfareTrench warfare
Trench warfare is a form of occupied fighting lines, consisting largely of trenches, in which troops are largely immune to the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery...
the vehicle was of little use, and was delegated to patrolling roads in rear areas, though the Peugeots speed was brought to advantage on one final occasion to stem the German breakthrough of March 1918. Following World War I the few survivors were handed over to the Polish Army, where they remained in service for several years, seeing action against the Russians. Four cars were send to Serbia as military aid from France, and later used by Kingdom of Yugoslavia.