Souain experiment
Encyclopedia
The Souain experiment was a French
military experiment using a prototype tank
, in the former battlefield of Souain, in northeastern France
, on 9 December 1915. The experiment has a decisive influence of the French tank program and initiated the design and order of the first French operational tank, the Schneider CA1
. The experiment occurred the same month the British Little Willie
was being completed.
characterizing the First World War led to a need for a powerfully armed military engine that would be at the same time protected from enemy fire and could move on the extremely irregular terrain of battlefields. This led to numerous attempts at designing an effective all-terrain armoured vehicle.
sent out its chief designer, Eugène Brillié, to investigate tracked tractors from the American Holt Company, at that time participating in a test programme in England
, for a project of mechanical wire-cutting machines of the Breton-Pretot
type. On his return Brillié, who had earlier been involved in designing armoured cars for Spain
, convinced the company management to initiate studies on the development of a Tracteur blindé et armé (armoured and armed tractor), based on the Baby Holt chassis, two of which were ordered.
Experiments on the Holt caterpillar tracks started in May 1915 at the Schneider plant with a 75 hp wheel-directed model and the 45 hp integral caterpillar Baby Holt, showing the superiority of the latter. On 16 June, new experiments followed in front of the President of the Republic
, and on 10 September for Commander Ferrus, an officer who had been involved in the study (and ultimate abandon) of the Levavasseur tank project
in 1908.
.
Souain was a former battlefield with rough terrain and trenches, recently conquered over the Germans, and offered perfect conditions to test the qualities of the new tank prototype.
The Souain prototype was equipped with a Baby Holt caterpillar track, and protected with a mock-up armour made of boiler plates.
The results of the prototype tank were excellent, displaying remarkable mobility in the difficult terrain of Souain. The length of the Baby Holt however appeared to be too short to bridge German trenches, justifying the development of longer caterpillar tracks for the French tank project. The Souain prototype could effectively bridge shell holes and trenches up to 1 meter in width, with a maximum limit of 1.20 meters, but required some sustainment to bridge wider gaps, rendering it unsatisfactory as such. According to the official report "the machine can only cross through a cut-up terrain if some basic trench sustainment is prepared"
These very encouraging tests prompted General Estienne
to make a formal proposal to build tanks based on a modified, lengthened, 75 hp Holt caterpillar (rather than the shorter 40 hp Baby Holt). On 12 December Estienne presented to the High Command a plan to form an armoured force, equipped with tracked vehicles. This plan met with approbation and in a letter dated 31 January 1916 Commander-in-chief
Joffre ordered the production of 400 tanks of the type designed by Estienne, although the actual production order of 400 Schneider CA1
was made a bit later on 25 February 1916. Soon after, on 8 April 1916, another order for 400 Saint Chamond tanks was also placed. Schneider had trouble with meeting production schedules, and the tank deliveries were spread over several months from 8 September 1916.
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...
military experiment using a prototype tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
, in the former battlefield of Souain, in northeastern France
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...
, on 9 December 1915. The experiment has a decisive influence of the French tank program and initiated the design and order of the first French operational tank, the Schneider CA1
Schneider CA1
The Schneider CA1 was the first French tank. It was inspired by the need to overcome the stalemate of the trench warfare of the Great War.-Caterpillar development:...
. The experiment occurred the same month the British Little Willie
Little Willie
Little Willie was a prototype in the development of the British Mark I tank. Constructed in the summer of 1915 through a close cooperation of the military and industry of the United Kingdom, it was the first completed tank prototype in history...
was being completed.
Background
The immobility of the 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...
characterizing the First World War led to a need for a powerfully armed military engine that would be at the same time protected from enemy fire and could move on the extremely irregular terrain of battlefields. This led to numerous attempts at designing an effective all-terrain armoured vehicle.
Caterpillar experiments
In January 1915, the French arms manufacturer Schneider & Co.Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is a French global company. It was founded in 1836 by two brothers, Eugène and Adolphe Schneider.In the first part of the 20th century, Schneider et Cie associated itself with Westinghouse Systems, a major international electrical group at the time. The group began manufacturing...
sent out its chief designer, Eugène Brillié, to investigate tracked tractors from the American Holt Company, at that time participating in a test programme in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, for a project of mechanical wire-cutting machines of the Breton-Pretot
Breton-Prétot machine
The Breton-Prétot machine was a wire-cutting armoured vehicle developed in France from November 1914. The vehicle was developed by Mr. Prétot, engineer, and Jules-Louis Breton, representative to the French Assembly.-Background:...
type. On his return Brillié, who had earlier been involved in designing armoured cars for Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, convinced the company management to initiate studies on the development of a Tracteur blindé et armé (armoured and armed tractor), based on the Baby Holt chassis, two of which were ordered.
Experiments on the Holt caterpillar tracks started in May 1915 at the Schneider plant with a 75 hp wheel-directed model and the 45 hp integral caterpillar Baby Holt, showing the superiority of the latter. On 16 June, new experiments followed in front of the President of the Republic
President of the Republic
The President of the Republic is a title used for heads of government or heads of state in some republics:*President of Argentina, the Presidente de la República Argentina* President of Brazil, the Presidente da República Federativa do Brasil...
, and on 10 September for Commander Ferrus, an officer who had been involved in the study (and ultimate abandon) of the Levavasseur tank project
Levavasseur project
The Levavasseur project was an early project for a tank designed in 1903 by the French Captain Levavasseur of the 6th Artillery Battalion, described as a "automobile canon project" . It is considered as the first description, made by a soldier, of what was going to become the tank...
in 1908.
Souain experiment
Finally, the first complete chassis with armour was demonstrated at Souain on 9 December 1915, to the French Army, with the participation of Colonel Jean Baptiste Eugène Estienne and General Philippe PétainPhilippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
.
Souain was a former battlefield with rough terrain and trenches, recently conquered over the Germans, and offered perfect conditions to test the qualities of the new tank prototype.
The Souain prototype was equipped with a Baby Holt caterpillar track, and protected with a mock-up armour made of boiler plates.
The results of the prototype tank were excellent, displaying remarkable mobility in the difficult terrain of Souain. The length of the Baby Holt however appeared to be too short to bridge German trenches, justifying the development of longer caterpillar tracks for the French tank project. The Souain prototype could effectively bridge shell holes and trenches up to 1 meter in width, with a maximum limit of 1.20 meters, but required some sustainment to bridge wider gaps, rendering it unsatisfactory as such. According to the official report "the machine can only cross through a cut-up terrain if some basic trench sustainment is prepared"
Consequences
These very encouraging tests prompted General Estienne
Estienne
Estienne, or Etienne is the French form of the name of a French family of scholars and printers. Members are* Henri Estienne, founder of the dynasty * Robert Estienne...
to make a formal proposal to build tanks based on a modified, lengthened, 75 hp Holt caterpillar (rather than the shorter 40 hp Baby Holt). On 12 December Estienne presented to the High Command a plan to form an armoured force, equipped with tracked vehicles. This plan met with approbation and in a letter dated 31 January 1916 Commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
Joffre ordered the production of 400 tanks of the type designed by Estienne, although the actual production order of 400 Schneider CA1
Schneider CA1
The Schneider CA1 was the first French tank. It was inspired by the need to overcome the stalemate of the trench warfare of the Great War.-Caterpillar development:...
was made a bit later on 25 February 1916. Soon after, on 8 April 1916, another order for 400 Saint Chamond tanks was also placed. Schneider had trouble with meeting production schedules, and the tank deliveries were spread over several months from 8 September 1916.