LeClerc Fades Away

May 5, 2008: France is reducing its tank force, currently consisting of 396 AMX-56 LeClerc, reducing it to 314. The oldest versions will be put on the used tank market. Only 240 will be for combat units (four battalions), while the rest will be for training. The original Cold War plan was to buy 1,400, but lack of money, and a compelling foe, drove that down to 406. Another 458 were built for export.

The 55 ton tank was designed in the late 1980s and entered mass production just as the Cold War ended. Its three man crew, effective auto-loader and impressive electronics made for an attractive package. But it was not superior to the earlier 1980s designs (the U.S. M-1, German Leopard II and British Challenger). The LeClerc was all dressed up, but there was nowhere to go. The tank has never been in combat and faced stiff competition from those other tanks when it came to export orders. There were a lot of second hand, hardly used and inexpensive, M-1s and Leopard IIs out there. LeClerc production finally ceased in 2005. France also has about 1,000 1960s era AMX-30 tanks, but only about 600 are in active service.

www.strategypage.com . . .

a tank designed for the cold war (in case it should become hot) is no longer that interesting. But this plan to sell Leclercs before its replacement is even planned is part of the Dwarf's plan to disband the French defense. Even though some improvements are necessary, scuttling the ship is definitely not a good idea.

Do they have any forward gears?

Might make a fun off road toy to tear around the sand dunes in Glamis with.

It's the kind of toy that makes you sorry when you say to the gas attendant:
"Fill it up!"

Shitrack did the same two years after being elected : he cut the Army armaments by two. And now Sarkozy cut again ...

This is not "the Leclerc is a bad tank", this is high treason.

I served in the cuirassiers, but i think this is a logical decision.
May be the situation will be different in 2030/2050, but today, armoured cavalry is a little bit obsolete. Helicopteres are doing a better job.

Tanks are like aircraft carriers: a relic of the past. These days, ragheads have surveillance satellites and advanced anti-tank missiles. Tanks are only good to patrol the 9-3.

And by the way, it is “Leclerc”. It is not because you spell your name “GeryUhu” that you shall not spell properly the name of Maréchal Phillipe Leclerc de Hauteclocque.

The fact they are already painted white makes them a viable raw material source for Coca Cola to produce Diet Dr Pepper cans and Diet Sprites

Picture fixed

WilyB wrote:

And by the way, it is “Leclerc”. It is not because you spell your name “GeryUhu” that you shall not spell properly the name of Maréchal Phillipe Leclerc de Hauteclocque.

Leclerc actually had a decent record as a general. Why name such a crappy tank after him, when you could have named it the Bazaine (loser at Gravelotte and Metz in 1870, 180,000 surrendered), the Nivelle (187,000 killed in a disastrous 1917 offensive), or the Gamelin (poor dispositions led to 1,500,000 captured in 1940)?

If I were Marshal Leclerc or a descendant of his, I'd much rather have my name misspelled than have my name shamed with being associated with a piece of military equipment that the whole world believes sucks.

"Tanks are like aircraft carriers: a relic of the past. These days, ragheads have surveillance satellites and advanced anti-tank missiles. Tanks are only good to patrol the 9-3."


Wow..

francois wrote:

I served in the cuirassiers, but i think this is a logical decision.
May be the situation will be different in 2030/2050, but today, armoured cavalry is a little bit obsolete. Helicopteres are doing a better job.

You served in the Army and you find normal that two allegedly "right wing" Presidents of France, one after the other, slashed our all Defence apparatus ?

This is high treason.

Armoured divisions will never be obsolete.

At the best they will be replaced by unmanned armoured vehicles, Radio/Satellite Controlled ...

Only 240 will be for combat units (four battalions),

France in 1939 - 3,384 tanks, German forces in 1939 - 2,445 tanks,

June 1941: Germans - 3,600 tanks, Soviets - 12-15,000 tanks.

240 painted white tanks would look very pretty during the surrender parade de jour

Whatcha wrote:

This is high treason.

C'est pas de la haute trahison, uniquement des contraintes budgétaires.

Au fait, grand patriote, tu as fait ton service ?

Well, this article you quote is pure bullshit.
First selling older tank is a rumor and ministrer of defense has said it is false since.
Second: the Leclerc is much superior in some respect to other older tanks like M1 even updated (like the fire on the move ability at long range and all terrain speed).
(One of my friend is a superior officer having lead a Leclerc unit)
Third: France will have rougly the same than British in active units if we reduce Leclerc active units

In July 2004, the UK Ministry of Defence announced plans for a reduction of seven Challenger 2 armoured squadrons (about 100 tanks) by March 2007 and the change of role of one Challenger 2 regiment to an armoured reconnaissance regiment.
www.army-technology.com . . .

Check your information first!

Leclerc is typically french, to light in the pants to take on any other MBT, thus it has no battle record. No exports potential afterall who whould buy a french tank given the french's stellar military record?!?!?! It was outdated, under armoured and out gun the day it rolled off the production line. Simply put just another french piece of shit.

FUCK france!

RetardB wrote:



Tanks are like aircraft carriers: a relic of the past.

For france they are.

The first ten off the production line had the transmission in backwards. These super rare french tanks had more speed forward than reverse. This hickup in production was fixed for the rest of the run.

Tanks are only good to patrol the 9-3."
---
Wouldn't they burn like Renaults?

WilyB wrote:

Tanks are like aircraft carriers: a relic of the past. These days, ragheads have surveillance satellites and advanced anti-tank missiles.

I heard this in the 1960's, too. It wasn't true then and isn't now.

And by the way, it is “Leclerc”.

LeClerc, Leclerc, LeCar, LeClunker...I could care less how its spelled. I merely used the same spelling as used in the original article. Unlike some posters on FF, I don't routinely make stuff up, nor "edit" it to spin towards my bias. In addition, I also provide links to an/the original source.

Anyway, I don't blame anyone for not buying a French tank. Hell, even Saudi Arabia won't buy them. I would not be surprised if Italy gets the French market share in tanks, since theirs have actually seen combat.

EDIT:

Apparently the French have learned something about the use of the MBT in the 21st Century (unlike some posters). from 2006:

The French Army, like an increasing number of armies around the world, is more likely in the future to become involved in urban warfare rather than in full-scale high-intensity conventional military operations.

It is against this background that Giat Industries completed in late May, as a private venture, the prototype of a Leclerc tank optimised for urban operations under the name of AZUR (Action en Zone URbaine).

Over the frontal arc Leclerc has adequate protection against most of the threat weapons likely to be encountered during urban operations.

In urban operations attacks are likely to come from the sides or rear, and for this reason the original Leclerc side skirts have been replaced by new skirts of passive armour with a higher level of protection that extends two-thirds of the way along the chassis.

Over the remainder of the chassis and through the hull rear is a new package of bar armour that has been designed to neutralise the warheads of incoming weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades. There is also additional roof protection armour, as well as protection over the rear engine decks against petrol bombs.

To provide close-in protection, a roof-mounted machine gun is fitted, which is aimed and fired from under armour. In addition, the vehicle has a new communications system and two resupply containers at the rear.

The 120mm smooth bore gun is retained and in addition to firing standard natures of 120mm ammunition, it can also fire the recently developed Giat Industries high explosive round, of which 10,000 have been ordered by the French Army.Production of the Leclerc for the United Arab Emirates has been completed and the final batch of vehicles for the French Army is now on the line at Roanne, with production to be completed by the end of this year.

www.janes.com . . .

Maybe theres hope for the Frogs, after all.

if Italy gets the French market share in tanks, since theirs have actually seen combat.

In North Africa 1941?

CroixDeLorraine wrote:

In North Africa 1941?

I was thinking of something more recent:

Italian MBT Ariete, in Iraq







As you can see in the photos, the Italians have beefed up the armor for urban role in 2004...two years before the French did. That's what use in actual combat does. I wonder if the French copied the Italian modifications?

ADDED:

The photos above is more relevant in terms of french armoured forces. Lost of reverse gears and an easy eascape hatch with extra white flags for easy surrender and capitulation.

FUCK france!

Flince has 300+ tanks? That's it?

Fuckin' banana republic...ROFL.....fuck franch!

z_french_r_fried wrote:

Flince has 300+ tanks? That's it?

Fuckin' banana republic...ROFL.....fuck franch!

Three hundred can surrender just as fast as three thousand.

Tanks are like aircraft carriers: a relic of the past

That's what I'd post too if my country could only build carriers that did 360s ..... fuck franch!