Puteaux SA 18
Encyclopedia
The Puteaux SA 18 was a French semi-automatic gun, used from World War I onward, primarily mounted on combat vehicles.
It was a simple but reliable weapon with a high rate of fire. It was primarily intended to be used against infantry and machine-gun nests, due to its low muzzle velocity which proscribed anti-armour use. Though armor penetration was poor, even as late as 1939 it was sufficient to combat light armoured vehicles. The gun was operated by one soldier, and found easy to use with a low incidence of jamming.
This gun was standard on French light tanks, being mounted on the Renault FT-17
in World War I. In World War II, it was used on the Renault R-35, Hotchkiss H-35 and H-38, FCM-36 and several types of French armored cars, mainly the White-Laffly WL-50.
In the Polish Army the wz.18 Puteaux gun was used on the Renault FT-17 light tanks and Renault R-35 and Hotchkiss H-35, Peugeot armored cars, and the Samochód pancerny wz.28, Samochód pancerny wz. 29 and Samochód pancerny wz. 34
armored cars. It was also used on some Polish riverine craft and Armored trains.
It was a simple but reliable weapon with a high rate of fire. It was primarily intended to be used against infantry and machine-gun nests, due to its low muzzle velocity which proscribed anti-armour use. Though armor penetration was poor, even as late as 1939 it was sufficient to combat light armoured vehicles. The gun was operated by one soldier, and found easy to use with a low incidence of jamming.
Technical details
The barrel length was 21 calibres (L/21). The maximum rate was 15 rounds per minute, with the effective rate 10rd/min.This gun was standard on French light tanks, being mounted on the Renault FT-17
Renault FT-17
The Renault FT, frequently referred to in post-WWI literature as the "FT-17" or "FT17" , was a French light tank; it is among the most revolutionary and influential tank designs in history...
in World War I. In World War II, it was used on the Renault R-35, Hotchkiss H-35 and H-38, FCM-36 and several types of French armored cars, mainly the White-Laffly WL-50.
In the Polish Army the wz.18 Puteaux gun was used on the Renault FT-17 light tanks and Renault R-35 and Hotchkiss H-35, Peugeot armored cars, and the Samochód pancerny wz.28, Samochód pancerny wz. 29 and Samochód pancerny wz. 34
Samochód pancerny wz. 34
Samochód pancerny wz. 34 , was a standard light armored car used by the Polish Army during the September Campaign of 1939.The vehicle was based on the earlier half track samochód pancerny wz. 28, which entered service in 1928...
armored cars. It was also used on some Polish riverine craft and Armored trains.