Light, Mobile, and Deadly: the French Mle 1937 25mm Puteaux AT Gun

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After World War One, the French military set up a program to modernize all of its weaponry, and that included a replacement for the Mle 1916 light infantry cannon. An anti-tank gun had not been necessary during the Great War, as Germany never fielded tanks in substantial numbers - but as a pioneer of the modern tank, the French recognized the need for a good AT gun. Taking a lesson from World War One, they wanted a light gun that was flexible and mobile, easily moved around the battlefield and easily concealed from enemy fire. A 25mm cartridge was specified, and both the Hotchkiss company and the Puteaux arsenal created guns to use it. Both were adopted into service, with the Hotchkiss Mle 1934 being a bit heavier and the Puteaux Mle 1937 being a bit lighter, at only about 600 pounds. The Puteaux gun was quite small, easily moved by a horse or virtually any motorized vehicle. It had a long barrel and the 25mm AP projectile had a muzzle velocity of about 3150 fps, making it quite effective on the light and medium tanks of the 1930s. It was also remarkably accurate, and the long barrel and flash hider gave it a very small firing signature. Aiming was done with either a 4x magnified optic or a set of backup iron sights.
A total of 1285 of these guns were made before the armistice of June 1940, and they served ably in the Battle of France. A few were also used by the British before Dunkirk, and after the armistice they were used by German forces in limited numbers, and also supplied to Spain and Finland as military aid (this particular one has a Finnish property tag on it).
Thanks to DriveTanks.com in Uvalde Texas for giving me access to film this Puteaux cannon for you!
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle #36270
Tucson, AZ 85740

Пікірлер: 904

  • @kyle857
    @kyle8574 жыл бұрын

    Early war: "This 25mm should be more than enough. " Late war: "Well that 75mm just bounced right off..."

  • @TheArklyte

    @TheArklyte

    4 жыл бұрын

    Well, it wasn't enough for pre-War tanks of France herself. So. There's that.

  • @deeznoots6241

    @deeznoots6241

    4 жыл бұрын

    Tbf the 25mm was enough for France seeing as how they lost before the Germans had anything armoured enough to be safe from it.

  • @oleggusarov8514

    @oleggusarov8514

    4 жыл бұрын

    indeed, but the german 36mm wasn't that much up to the task neither, targeting a b1bis or somua was considered to be suicidal too (not even talking a t34!). Things changed so quickly that weapon got obsolete before entering services !

  • @paint4pain

    @paint4pain

    4 жыл бұрын

    Well this is a high velocity gun, 3150 fps is screaming fast, with Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot they could have cranked that up to 5500+ fps. The French developed APDS in 1940 just before the armistice but only for 75mm and 37mm AT cannons. It still would have been stopped by frontal armor but would easily punch holes in the sides and rear of most tanks and could damage tracks and turret rings.

  • @TheTheRay

    @TheTheRay

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@paint4pain how much fps are other guns?

  • @Hillbilly_Papist
    @Hillbilly_Papist4 жыл бұрын

    16 minutes of Ian showing us how to spread an old french gals legs, drop her breeches, and making sure we know to mind the tip if we fire when dry.

  • @casadelshed9128

    @casadelshed9128

    4 жыл бұрын

    Philip Farley Ba Bom Tish

  • @eleithias

    @eleithias

    2 жыл бұрын

    lmao!

  • @christhesmith

    @christhesmith

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@zulubeatz1 bsnurk

  • @maxpulido4268

    @maxpulido4268

    2 жыл бұрын

    Are you proud of yourself?

  • @belthesheep3550

    @belthesheep3550

    7 күн бұрын

    The only kind of date coaching I would accept

  • @jackmcslay
    @jackmcslay4 жыл бұрын

    3:52 Ian showing his teleporting powers

  • @proCaylak

    @proCaylak

    4 жыл бұрын

    maybe the scene loops when you get beyond the edge, like snake game on nokia phones :D

  • @whitelegion666

    @whitelegion666

    4 жыл бұрын

    @Biliary Clinton and can fire Chauchat in 30.06 without jamming

  • @alcoles9660

    @alcoles9660

    4 жыл бұрын

    Gun Jesus csn feed 5 thoudand guns with 5 cartridges

  • @evilassaultweaponeer

    @evilassaultweaponeer

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@alcoles9660 he can also resurrect from the range bin perfectly fireable 7.65 French Long!

  • @pierreferrer7237
    @pierreferrer72374 жыл бұрын

    My uncle, Albert Ferrer, used these with great results on the first waves of motorized infantry, in the beginning of the invasion of France. Then ammunition went scarce and all they received from the rear lines were... 75 mm. shells (!?!!). They had to pack up under fire and flee the Stukas.

  • @daveshrum1749
    @daveshrum17494 жыл бұрын

    Just wanted to say congratulations on the Forbes article Ian. As always love the show learn something new everyday.

  • @LukeBunyip

    @LukeBunyip

    4 жыл бұрын

    A link, perchance? 😉

  • @AGS363

    @AGS363

    4 жыл бұрын

    The funny thing is that the videos get far more views than the article.

  • @MarvinCZ

    @MarvinCZ

    4 жыл бұрын

    I didn't even know about that article, thanks. And congratulations to Ian.

  • @KorbinX

    @KorbinX

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@AGS363 I don't often read Forbes, so I didn't see it.

  • @raifsevrence

    @raifsevrence

    4 жыл бұрын

    Decent article. Is it just me or does the author seem to have an unspecified bias of some sort ? The author placed obvious focus on actively firing the weapons featured on Forgotten Weapons. It is as if he implied that a large portion of the content of this channel/project is dedicated to shooting guns on a range etc. It comes off as a bit disingenuous when any fan of the channel knows that the majority of the videos are done on a table in a museum or display area and not on a gun range. Very few of these rare devices are actively used.

  • @onsesejoo2605
    @onsesejoo26054 жыл бұрын

    In Finnish army during the Winter War the Hotchkiss gun was known for its aim of excellent quality which contributed to the precision well over the average. They were officially called "Panssarintorjuntakanuuna 25 K/34" = "Anti-tank cannon 25 K/34" where K / 34 = Kanuuna = Cannon year 1934. A total of 40 guns did arrive in time to that war of 50 ordered. They were phased out from frontline use in 1941. Due to the pros it was a well liked gun, the accuracy filling in quite a lot for the power. The troops gave it a nickname "Marianne", obviously Mary Ann in English version of the name. :) 7:30 The plaque says "Repaired" Tampella (engineering workshop) Tampere (town in Finland).

  • @gastonjaillet9512

    @gastonjaillet9512

    3 жыл бұрын

    Marianne is the symbol of France, that's very interesting, thanks!

  • @maxkennedy8075

    @maxkennedy8075

    2 жыл бұрын

    Fighting from their trademark concealed positions I can see the Fins getting good use out of this sort of small, mobile AT gun. Even if it couldn’t deal with heavy vehicles

  • @mitch075fr

    @mitch075fr

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@maxkennedy8075 not against front armor, but its precision allowed stuff like taking out tracks, wheels and shooting at the weak points of a tank, made easier by its mobility. Too bad about the lack of suspension though.

  • @IncredibleMD

    @IncredibleMD

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@maxkennedy8075 To be fair, Soviet armor in the Continuation War was kinda a joke. The Germans even sent Panzer IIs to the front lines of the Eastern Front, which is what made weapons like the PTRD realistic tank-killers, and accounted for a lot of the T-34s initial successes. This could do some work against a T-26.

  • @IncredibleMD

    @IncredibleMD

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Br1cht At the start of Operation Barbarossa, the Soviets had just started replacing tanks like the T-26, T-28, and BT series with T-34s. There were less than 1000 T-34s, and about 500 KVs of both types during the initial German invasion, and most of them were destroyed due to mechanical issues, poorly trained crews, and a purged officer corps. During Barbarossa, Soviets lost seven tanks for each German one, and the best regarded tanks by Soviet tankers were Lend-Lease Shermans. By the end of the war, only 210 KV-2s were fielded. Out of an initial armored force of 22,000. In comparison, about 200 M26 PERSHINGS were issued to troops by V-E Day. The Germans didn't send what they had, they sent what they could spare, and it was only after the Soviets worked out the mechanical defects and had trained crews that the Germans decided it was time to send Panzer Vs and VIs.

  • @Ethnarches
    @Ethnarches4 жыл бұрын

    The Finnish plate, with the word "KORJATTU", means "fixed" and then it has place names and dates so it's basically a list of repairs done to the gun in Finnish service.

  • @Ethnarches

    @Ethnarches

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@justforever96 That’s right, in Finnish it has only the meaning of repaired. I should have used "repaired" instead of "fixed", that's a better translation anyway.

  • @dareka9425
    @dareka94254 жыл бұрын

    Early in video I honestly thought the optical sight has a weirdly large eyepiece. Then Ian pulled the cone out and showed it as the muzzle brake.

  • @ramjb

    @ramjb

    4 жыл бұрын

    Same here. I was kinda thinking "wow, that's some weird scope they had on that gun" Then "POP" - nope it's a muzzle brake. Lol.

  • @richardhunter9995

    @richardhunter9995

    4 жыл бұрын

    I was thinking, "Why is there a klaxon pointed at the crew?"

  • @littlebigheroman

    @littlebigheroman

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@richardhunter9995 Anti-tank gun crewmen developed really terrible hearing loss after a few weeks of service. This was a solution for notifying them of air raids, lol.

  • @joe2987

    @joe2987

    4 жыл бұрын

    Same! Was wondering why the eyepiece was perforated!

  • @Ob1sdarkside

    @Ob1sdarkside

    4 жыл бұрын

    Glad I'm not the only one

  • @dr.johnpaladinshow9747
    @dr.johnpaladinshow97474 жыл бұрын

    Ian, You're really starting to get the hang of this.

  • @enfield_the_enigmatic2989

    @enfield_the_enigmatic2989

    4 жыл бұрын

    I know right? He's a total natural, it's like he's been doing it for almost a decade!

  • @ThorneyedWT
    @ThorneyedWT4 жыл бұрын

    Not the best concealed carry I'd say.

  • @anthonyhayes1267

    @anthonyhayes1267

    3 жыл бұрын

    Don't be absurd. It's practically ideal

  • @slashingraven

    @slashingraven

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@anthonyhayes1267 Dirty Harry, eat your heart out.

  • @Key_highway

    @Key_highway

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@slashingraven so overt it’s covert

  • @lucasward9506

    @lucasward9506

    3 жыл бұрын

    no, this is the best pistol for men.

  • @PolishCaptainC4

    @PolishCaptainC4

    3 жыл бұрын

    Conceal it in a garage, rain hellfire on the ATF

  • @snafuequals
    @snafuequals4 жыл бұрын

    Ian just going to pretend he didn't scratch the hell out of that floor 😂

  • @jackmcslay

    @jackmcslay

    4 жыл бұрын

    It was already scratched, you can see them before he opens it. so it's the owner's fault for not putting some pads to prevent scratching

  • @Torus2112

    @Torus2112

    4 жыл бұрын

    Can't you just buff it out if it's concrete?

  • @Hansengineering

    @Hansengineering

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@Torus2112 It's a polyurethane mop-on "wax" finish.

  • @jonmeray713

    @jonmeray713

    4 жыл бұрын

    Lol look at the steel tracks,i doubt they care.

  • @futuresonex

    @futuresonex

    4 жыл бұрын

    It'll buff out! 😁

  • @Hybris51129
    @Hybris511294 жыл бұрын

    "This particular gun has had its original French muzzle device replaced with this aftermarket one" I saw those muzzle brakes for sale on MidwayUSA on Black Friday last year.

  • @Internetspaceships
    @Internetspaceships4 жыл бұрын

    11:50 Nice to include the size of the cartridge. It usually gives a small pointer to what the velocity of the projectile is going to be and how good its going to be at penetrating armor.

  • @samhansen9771

    @samhansen9771

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, with the dummy cartridge case I thought it was straight walled and was confused as to why there would be such a big gun for such an anemic round!

  • @Paul-ie1xp

    @Paul-ie1xp

    4 жыл бұрын

    The French had a 25mm Anti Aircraft, guess what? it was a different cartridge, because that would have been too simple.

  • @Treblaine

    @Treblaine

    2 жыл бұрын

    The base diameter is about the same as 37mm anti-tank guns of the era for pretty similar performance to most 37mm anti-tank guns.

  • @theobuzat9091
    @theobuzat90914 жыл бұрын

    Ahh this beauty is one of my favorite. Here in France, Covid19 is very present, everybody is stuck in their home so watching your videos is really nice for me. Thank you Ian 👍👍

  • @cenzgullo3097

    @cenzgullo3097

    4 жыл бұрын

    Buzat Théo stay safe, mon ami.

  • @theobuzat9091

    @theobuzat9091

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@cenzgullo3097 Don't worry bro, if we go outside we need a paper to explain why we are going out. So I don't go outside alot😂

  • @cenzgullo3097

    @cenzgullo3097

    4 жыл бұрын

    Buzat Théo I was supposed to be visiting my aunt in Marseille, she says it is like martial law at the moment. Anyway, our thoughts are with you all. This too shall pass.

  • @theobuzat9091

    @theobuzat9091

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@cenzgullo3097 well Marseille is now as bad as other places but still, yeah if you are arrested by the police and u dont have this paper OR you have the paper but u are not going were u r suppose too, that's a fine of 135euros if not more if you get caught more than once...pretty salty 😅

  • @5000rgb

    @5000rgb

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@theobuzat9091 How do you get the paper?

  • @SirSaladhead
    @SirSaladhead4 жыл бұрын

    Straight-edged front shield: Dangerous and obvious high-caliber gun to be immediately flanked and destroyed Wavy-edged front shield: clearly a natural feature of the landscape, no need to be alarmed Herr Offizier

  • @ramjb

    @ramjb

    4 жыл бұрын

    It may sound stupid, it's not. Human vision is naturally able to clearly distinguish straight shapes out of very irregular backgrounds with ease. Meanwhile, wavy and curved shapes, not so much as those blend much better against it's background. Most camouflage schemes used in actual battlefields weren't focused so much in actually "hiding" something as to "break it's lines" to make straight shapes look straight no more and thus far less likely to stand out for the human eye against a natural background. Ditto with camouflage paint schemes.

  • @ScottKenny1978

    @ScottKenny1978

    4 жыл бұрын

    See also naval dazzle camo

  • @a.t6066

    @a.t6066

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@ramjb well evidently it didn't work too well and wasn't worth the effort because everyone totally threw this idea out the window after 1940

  • @Rhynome

    @Rhynome

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@a.t6066 We make wide use of camo netting nowadays.

  • @ramjb

    @ramjb

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@a.t6066 not completely, there were several different guns with shields like that during WW2. And in the cases where they weren't built that way, on the field everything that could be done to hide their regular shapes was done through camouflage nets, tree branches, paint, whatever that was available. it did work, it did work well and as it has already been noted avobe, the principle is widely in use even nowadays.

  • @jimlahey2905
    @jimlahey29054 жыл бұрын

    I can’t stop looking at the spokes on the wheels of that gun in the background. So pretty.

  • @mclare9817

    @mclare9817

    4 жыл бұрын

    They did them in 5 Spoke chrome as well as an upgrade😃

  • @marcusott5054

    @marcusott5054

    4 жыл бұрын

    Do you mean the wheels on the 25mm, or the ones on the Pak40? (I think?). I think the 25mm's wheels are nice, but I dislike the Pak40's.

  • @chrisd8866
    @chrisd88664 жыл бұрын

    I've been looking forward to this ever since spotting this guy in that Pak 37 video! 14:13 What also doomed the 47mm batteries was the doctrinal error in their use, early in the battle of France the guns were put too close to the frontline and lacked coordination with the infantry units they were tasked to defend. So a lot of guns only had time to fire a few rounds before they were spotted. The guns were also not fitted with HE rounds despite the larger caliber of this gun, so every AT battery was fitted with 8 Chattellerault LMGs or Hotckiss MGs. This proved to be insufficient sadly, and a lot of gun crews ended up focusing more on the infantry attacking them rather than on the tanks they were supposed to destroy. Moreover, most batteries were still horse-drawned, hence once in place they couldn't be moved to a safer position since the horses had to be kept away from the fight. Much like the rest of the french artillery, there was a plan to motorise every AT unit, but since the new Hotchkiss/Laffly W15 T 6x6 trucks suffered from production delays, they were instead given hand-me-downs obsolete late 1920's Citroën P17 half-tracks from the regular artillery. Still, reading the accounts of the gunners is pretty telling of the quality of the 47mm and the bravery of their crews who often died at their post after knocking out a handful of german tanks. One can only wonder how differently things could've turned out if they'd been used properly in May-June 1940. Then a few months later most batteries would've received their all-terrain trucks and an improved version capable of spinning at 360° without moving position would've begun to come off the assembly lines.

  • @MilesStratton
    @MilesStratton4 жыл бұрын

    Hey Ian, its important to point out there that the Russian testing regiment is slightly different to western nations. The russians rate a penetration value at a consistency of at least 50% whereas most western countries tend to rate a penetration around 80% which explains the differences in penetration between the French and Russian tests.

  • @thhseeking

    @thhseeking

    4 жыл бұрын

    Let me guess...written on a mobile? "The rations rate..." :P The evil Autocorrect Demon strikes again :D

  • @slerverysnake7299

    @slerverysnake7299

    4 жыл бұрын

    Didn know I'd find you here but ok

  • @MilesStratton

    @MilesStratton

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@thhseeking damn autocorrect

  • @Treblaine

    @Treblaine

    2 жыл бұрын

    It think it's the other way around. Western nations had the more forgiving 50% chance while USSR had the more stringent 80% chance of penetration. Projectiles don't always penetrate the exact same amount, there's a smaller chance (50% rather than 80%) it'll penetrate deeper to 40mm rather than 32mm.

  • @eleithias

    @eleithias

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hey Mr. Unicorn Reviews If true, that makes one wonder why Russian tests yielded worse penetration results. Were they firing at Stalinium?

  • @jamesdiggs847
    @jamesdiggs8474 жыл бұрын

    In the 70s my friends and I used to occasionally go down to the old Potomac Firearms in Alexandria VA. For years they had at least 2 of these in their back lot. A good memory.

  • @k.r.baylor8825

    @k.r.baylor8825

    4 жыл бұрын

    Interarms and their still-active warehouses were just down Prince Street from Potomac Arms (which was the civilian sales front for Interarms). Cummings bought the property expecting it to jump in price someday, which it did. It was also convenient being near one of their biggest customers for surplus arms (Hint: they are headquartered in Langley, Virginia).

  • @edmundlibby2215

    @edmundlibby2215

    4 жыл бұрын

    One of these guns sat right in front of the PF retail store in the 80s and 90s...

  • @giantskunk

    @giantskunk

    4 жыл бұрын

    I remember that place!

  • @kennethquesenberry2610

    @kennethquesenberry2610

    3 жыл бұрын

    I remember them. In fact, one Saturday morning when I was there, before they opened, I was looking them over. One of them must have been a Hotchkiss because it had the inscription in beautiful flowery script somewhere on the gun. It had been made in 1940, just a couple of months before the invasion. I decided that the inscription would make a good rubbing and that I'd do that on my next visit. But on my next visit I discovered that all the artillery pieces had been sold. But I thought the German 75mm infantry gun was much more interesting. The breech even opened. There was no ownership connection between Potomac Arms and Interarms, which was next door. Potomac Arms closed about fifteen years ago but I happened to run into the old owner just a few days ago at a militaria shop that his brother runs.

  • @ajsparx4133
    @ajsparx41334 жыл бұрын

    French name: Puteaux Me: *laughs in Spanish*

  • @arnaudpascal1691

    @arnaudpascal1691

    4 жыл бұрын

    Do you mean "jajaja" ? ^^

  • @damienpeladan481

    @damienpeladan481

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@arnaudpascal1691 Well it sounds weird in French too, for exactly the same reason

  • @S7midnight

    @S7midnight

    4 жыл бұрын

    what does it mean in Spanish?

  • @ajsparx4133

    @ajsparx4133

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@S7midnight its slang probably closest to the f-word in rudeness

  • @Ned-Ryerson

    @Ned-Ryerson

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@S7midnight He is referring to a word that is used to refer to ladies that work mainly in the horizontal.

  • @arnocharrier3438
    @arnocharrier34384 жыл бұрын

    In fact this was a really good gun early war, because most german tanks did have fairly light armor, during the battle of Hannut (May 1940, Belgium) some infantrymen with AT canons and AMD 178 (armored car armed with the Hotchkiss 25mm) scored kill hits on german tanks at around 1800m of distance (Ligne de Front, n°84, march/april 2020). That's cool to see a video about it, thanks Ian!

  • @Akm72

    @Akm72

    4 жыл бұрын

    Most pre-war tanks had 14 to 15mm of armour so these 25mm AT guns were perfectly optimised against them. Their only problem was limited growth potential (as events proved).

  • @joelhume
    @joelhume4 жыл бұрын

    Could you do a video on the British 6-pounder AT gun. It was really a great compromise between power and mobility and was still a very capable AT gun at the end of the war while still being able to be easily hidden and moved around.

  • @jukkakopol7355
    @jukkakopol73554 жыл бұрын

    In Finland those had nickname "Marianne".

  • @guyclair1

    @guyclair1

    3 жыл бұрын

    "Marianne" is another name given in France to the French Republic.

  • @criffermaclennan
    @criffermaclennan4 жыл бұрын

    My grandfathers units anti tank platoon (1st Cameron Highlanders) were issued with the hotchkiss...but encountered the same problems as units issued with this gun....most came with no instructions or,if they did, they were in french

  • @agentoranj5858

    @agentoranj5858

    2 жыл бұрын

    Le canon? What the hell is that supposed to mean?

  • @arlord9172

    @arlord9172

    Жыл бұрын

    Yep cause the bef came with little at weapons

  • @90mankku
    @90mankku4 жыл бұрын

    findin some finnish writing on a french gun stationed in america is like finding a fellow finnish person from other country. Easily distinguishable but hearth warming.

  • @randomlyentertaining8287
    @randomlyentertaining82874 жыл бұрын

    My cat started looking around the kitchen when that "artillery snap cap" hit the ground.

  • @joet.s.6283
    @joet.s.62834 жыл бұрын

    A poker? Sounds like you need something patented and plastic

  • @JanoTuotanto
    @JanoTuotanto4 жыл бұрын

    The plate says "Repaired by Tampella, February 12th 1941 and February 19th 1942 " This one is may have been French aid to Finland during Winter War rather than later German origin. Tampella factory was licence manufacturer of Bofors guns in Finland- btw.

  • @arlord9172

    @arlord9172

    Жыл бұрын

    @CipiRipi00 France actually gave weapons to the finns up until march 1940 i think

  • @liubeier
    @liubeier4 жыл бұрын

    the virgin patented plastic pokey hand vs the chad artilery push rod

  • @sergepetiteau765
    @sergepetiteau7654 жыл бұрын

    Very funny : i lived in Puteaux (which is close to Paris) some years ago and never knew that military weapons were made there. Thanks for (another) amazing info and video.

  • @Di-sc3wm
    @Di-sc3wm2 жыл бұрын

    Happy to see such beautiful mechanics

  • @Hipas_Account
    @Hipas_Account4 жыл бұрын

    that "korjattu" tag with Tampella really caught me off guard... having lived in Tampere its a neat thing to see a tag like that.

  • @esquad5406
    @esquad54064 жыл бұрын

    A family friend had one of them in his shed and would bring it out 2 or 3 times a year and we would shoot the hell out of old cars and stumps and the like. I was a little kid 10 or 12. It was really something. He is long passed away and don't know what became of the gun or all that high explosive ammo.

  • @dennislloyd494
    @dennislloyd4944 жыл бұрын

    Ian that was excellent! Hope to see more of the big guns in the future, some armoured fighting vehicles would be great.

  • @masaharumorimoto4761
    @masaharumorimoto47614 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Ian!!! we appreciate all the videos as always!!

  • @niilolahti4851
    @niilolahti48514 жыл бұрын

    7:28 Suomihan se siellä perkele

  • @ostsan8598
    @ostsan85984 жыл бұрын

    It's impressive how the French were able to make their infantry support weapons so compact in the interbellum. This Puteaux, their mortar, some of their solutions were really quite elegant. Also, appreciate your use of the Oxford comma in the video title. It's nice to see some proper usage of that ole comma.

  • @harrisonrawlinson5650
    @harrisonrawlinson56504 жыл бұрын

    Your videos are honestly amazing, you’re really good in front of the camera and I’ve learnt so much about the mechanics and workings of so many different weapons thanks to you. 10/10 best weapons channel on KZread

  • @silverfingerthesilverstack5062
    @silverfingerthesilverstack50624 жыл бұрын

    Its about time you were offered and appeared on one of the discovery channels with your own show doing these times of programs, I love the way you do these programs, you keep me interested all the way through .

  • @OriginalEric
    @OriginalEric4 жыл бұрын

    10:27 is that a giant spider hanging out in front of the rear sight??

  • @CP1871
    @CP18714 жыл бұрын

    "French 25mm AT Gun" Me: Oh it must be something from world war 1 "1937" Toi quoi, mec???

  • @Blei1986

    @Blei1986

    3 жыл бұрын

    lol... nah it was totally fine for 1937. it's not always the diameter of the gun that counts, at least when it's not shooting HEAT rounds. small diameter, large shell and long barrel = high velocity

  • @Fortress60
    @Fortress602 жыл бұрын

    That was a great presentation - clear, accurate and comprehensive. Thanks!

  • @3DGunner
    @3DGunner4 жыл бұрын

    Great video. I have been following your channel for years now and really appreciate your videos. Thanks

  • @unclejoeoakland
    @unclejoeoakland4 жыл бұрын

    Not calling this cannon "L'elefant" is simply a lost opportunity.

  • @hurdygurdyman3134

    @hurdygurdyman3134

    4 жыл бұрын

    unclejoeoakland why

  • @unclejoeoakland

    @unclejoeoakland

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@hurdygurdyman3134 just look at the thumbnail!

  • @channel5980

    @channel5980

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@unclejoeoakland Maybe the armor plates kinda look like an elephant's ears, but this anti-tank gun is relatively light, so that name wouldn't fit that well.

  • @TruthNerds

    @TruthNerds

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@channel5980 How about "l'enfant d´éléphant"? 😁

  • @searpaintball
    @searpaintball4 жыл бұрын

    It is a nice little gun. What is a pity is the lack of HE. Small HE is better than no HE. A paintball replica would make a handy AT asset though.

  • @yalelingoz6346
    @yalelingoz63464 жыл бұрын

    Oh! I never expected to see one of these up close. Thanks Ian and Drive Tanks.

  • @philipkelly7369
    @philipkelly73694 жыл бұрын

    This channel is just so neat, thanks so much for highlighting all these different cool weapons

  • @alexisseydoux3174
    @alexisseydoux31744 жыл бұрын

    This gun was the infantry anti-gun ; the artillery developed the 47mm anti-tank gun. And that was one of the problem of the French Army : two differnt guns maned by two different arm (Infantry and artillery) and with two different doctrine. The 25mm was in service into the Compagnie antichar at the regimental level ; the 47mm in the Batterie antichar divisionnaire at the divisional level. There were twelve gun by company and twelve in the batterie (a total of 48 guns... were the German infantry division had 72 guns, usually the PaK-36 37mm gun). With the two different guns, the anti-tank strength of the Infantry division was two small... and two dispersed. The 25mm were to be used In frontline regiment ; the 47mm as a special antitank force, but with no coordination. So, the French division did not have the strength to put enough antitank fire against a Panzer Division... even of the two guns were quite good...

  • @crabyman3555
    @crabyman35554 жыл бұрын

    pretty much a equivalent to what all other big players were fielding at the time for anti-tank needs. Good for first year, increasing outdated every coming year

  • @ramjb

    @ramjb

    4 жыл бұрын

    I wouldn't call it an equivalent. Both the british 2pdr and the german 37mm (and by extension the american one, which was more or less a copy of the german gun) had quite better penetration capabilities while being almost as mobile and as small. Unsurprisingly enough, of course because a 37mm or a 40mm gun will obviously have AP advantages a 25mm round won't be able to match. 25mm was far too small a caliber to remain relevant past one year of conflict against the growing armored plates seen in the battlefield even by then. Meanwhile the british 2pdr was still a credible threat (barely, but still credible enough) for uparmoured marks of the PzIII on North Africa 2 years later. Similar thing with the german 37mm. So nope, not equivalent.

  • @romainlapie6362

    @romainlapie6362

    4 жыл бұрын

    Actually in North Africa the 25mm continue to have a briliant carreer against Italians tanks and armored vehicle, as they never realy develop better armor during the war.

  • @crabyman3555

    @crabyman3555

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@ramjb ''had quite better penetration capabilities'' - in real life that didnt matter since they all could destroy early war tanks, and couldnt do much of anything against mid-late war ones. It didnt matter if you had british 2pdr or French 25mm or German 37mm, none of them could take out mid war Panzer 4 or T-34 anymore so the different there is academic more than anything. By the way, british 2pdr was struggling even with Panzer 3 once they uparmored it with 50mm front armour in around 1941/1942, so again, they were all obsolete around the same time and their HE shell was too small as well (25mm, 37mm, still way to small, its only at 50+mm when it gets a respectable blast radios).

  • @sparkling925

    @sparkling925

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@GerardMenvussa ikr panzer 3s and early panzer 4s with low armor got used all the way, same for m3 stuart tanks its not like at the end of the war everything was a pershing and king tiger

  • @ramjb

    @ramjb

    4 жыл бұрын

    ​@@crabyman3555 It did matter. In 1942 a 25mm like this would've done nothing against the uparmored versions of the PzIII and IV that were roaming in Northern Africa. the 2pdr was still relevant against those by then. VERY barely, and at rather minimum ranges, but they still were useful for the job. You correctly mention that once the tank was uparmoured to 50mm it was a hell of a task, but even then what was strenghtened was the front of the hull only and the tank itself had plenty of places where a 2pdr still could do the job (I mean you only have to read about the 1942 encounters to see how relevant the gun still was even against those uparmoured versions of the Mark III). this one would've been like shooting peas against them. So yes, it did matter. A lot, actually.

  • @adamak47miller90
    @adamak47miller904 жыл бұрын

    You have the BEST channel on KZread. I love History and firearms and you know your stuff. Thanks for what you do

  • @braddl9442
    @braddl94424 жыл бұрын

    Its always fun when you do some AT or field gun videos. Most people only focus on exciting things like Tanks, Planes, and such. Nice that you do these videos on top of your usual videos.

  • @shrekthecrusader8111
    @shrekthecrusader81114 жыл бұрын

    Of course the French would design a weapon that sounds like some sort of Cuisine

  • @heathroi

    @heathroi

    4 жыл бұрын

    rhymes with Gateaux

  • @SlowrideSteve

    @SlowrideSteve

    4 жыл бұрын

    Pate is what he is getting at baguette

  • @vulpsturm

    @vulpsturm

    4 жыл бұрын

    And shears the firing pin off if you fail to do something simple.

  • @apathetk
    @apathetk4 жыл бұрын

    Anyone else feel like "Puteaux" should be the French equivalent of an onomatopoeia for spitting?

  • @theJellyjoker

    @theJellyjoker

    4 жыл бұрын

    That was my thought as well.

  • @adamwebster9784

    @adamwebster9784

    4 жыл бұрын

    I thought more about the spanish word for whore

  • @markfergerson2145

    @markfergerson2145

    4 жыл бұрын

    Considering its admitted rapid obsolescence, maybe "spitball".

  • @Bobbymaccys

    @Bobbymaccys

    4 жыл бұрын

    I can’t un hear this now 😆

  • @ericvionnet

    @ericvionnet

    4 жыл бұрын

    Puteaux is the name of a city in the suburb of Paris

  • @eleithias
    @eleithias2 жыл бұрын

    Another interesting video, thank you Ian, I love your clear, factual approach with really insightful analysis

  • @bobjoned3398
    @bobjoned33982 жыл бұрын

    @ 9:40 gives new meaning to garand thumb.

  • @solidsnake4167
    @solidsnake41674 жыл бұрын

    So many French weapons lately! You gonna make me a Francophile Ian!!!!

  • @redoredo6445

    @redoredo6445

    4 жыл бұрын

    I think you mean Francophile, mon ami.

  • @solidsnake4167

    @solidsnake4167

    4 жыл бұрын

    redo redo ooof yeah you're right lol

  • @futuresonex

    @futuresonex

    4 жыл бұрын

    What kind of ad do you put with a French weapon? Only dropped once, never fired! 😁

  • @ethanwiley7605

    @ethanwiley7605

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@futuresonex hilarious, never heard that one before

  • @AlexGarcia-ie9wy

    @AlexGarcia-ie9wy

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@futuresonex The same ad that goes with 'Murica brain cells then?

  • @davidburt1763
    @davidburt17634 жыл бұрын

    Everyone please take some time to help out all the new gun owners. I have been asked so many questions from scared people in the last few weeks who are buying their first firearm. It is up to us to help them learn how to store and use guns safely. These people's mistakes can affect the future of the second amendment. We can control the future. Please take the time. I am hoping all content creators do the same.

  • @jaybee9269

    @jaybee9269

    4 жыл бұрын

    David Burt >> Great point and thank you! I noticed Ian has 1.5+ million subscribers; they should all read your comment.

  • @SteamCrane

    @SteamCrane

    3 жыл бұрын

    Like those careless idiots in front of their house in St. Louis. Bad image.

  • @-TheRealPatriot-
    @-TheRealPatriot-4 жыл бұрын

    Great Job Ian!

  • @46bovine
    @46bovine2 жыл бұрын

    Ian, a great video. Thanks, young man.

  • @vsk2377
    @vsk23774 жыл бұрын

    Man, when the French get it right, they make some handsome guns

  • @DC2022

    @DC2022

    4 жыл бұрын

    The 47mm SA37 was even more effective. This 25mm was not very destructive, you had to aim to internal components to cripple the tank (its penetration though was able to pass through any german tank in 39 and 40 up to 500m) but the 47mm... Man, this beast could RIP any tank with its APDS shells. The penetrating shell creating spalls while the 40mm tungsten core passed through the tank destroyed pipes and circuits, ruptured fuel tanks and liquified crews. Even up armored PzIV feared this gun and you could pierce Tigers I flank @500m and longer range against Panthers, around 400m for Tiger 2 since its side armor plates are a bit angled. Sad we hadn't time to build more of these...

  • @silvadossantos6803

    @silvadossantos6803

    4 жыл бұрын

    Unlike any other mechanics

  • @eastcorkcheeses6448
    @eastcorkcheeses64484 жыл бұрын

    I could see that being stuck on the back of a light truck to make it super mobile ...

  • @oOkenzoOo

    @oOkenzoOo

    4 жыл бұрын

    Say no more XD i.pinimg.com/originals/c8/c2/ee/c8c2eea9dcaf94e122985b127fd9bd30.jpg i.redd.it/u5e4gpdvar401.jpg

  • @davidbocquelet-dbodesign

    @davidbocquelet-dbodesign

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@quentintin1 Good point ! - A modified version was also used on the Panhard 178, our best armoured car of WW2.

  • @chaz8758

    @chaz8758

    4 жыл бұрын

    They were mounted on German Sdkfz 251's and still around during the Narmandy fighting.

  • @k.r.baylor8825

    @k.r.baylor8825

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@oOkenzoOo That Italian tankette with the 25mm Puteax is one sweet looking technical. I'd buy that just for the cool factor at the range.

  • @oOkenzoOo

    @oOkenzoOo

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@k.r.baylor8825 That's actually a prototype of a French Renault UE armed with the Hotchkiss 25 mm gun. In June 1940, around 150 of those were ordered but none were build before the armistice. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_UE_Chenillette#Armed_Renault_Chenillettes Bonus round : various weaponery mounted on the same chassis XD ost-front.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/467413_10150645588082389_1580639336_o.jpg s31.wheelsage.org/format/picture/picture-preview-large/r/renault/ue_chenillette/renault_ue_chenillette_00d300950325027c.jpg i.pinimg.com/originals/b9/f8/a0/b9f8a030745297e7e6618bbffdfb27d2.jpg 1.bp.blogspot.com/-Il0C_rSTJA4/WTNuB6JAqoI/AAAAAAAANks/Curt_3P3IBUUKPIn0fBPZ0bwCAyqX91FgCEw/s1600/25_7-d94a31a7136065e6f0b85c7bacbf062a.jpg i.pinimg.com/originals/6d/6c/a5/6d6ca53f56b29879db30cdef8f26b4af.jpg upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/vi/c/c5/Renault_UE_Chenillette_with_3%2C7_cm_Pak_36.jpg www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/1271d0625161.jpg

  • @nicholasmaugeri759
    @nicholasmaugeri7594 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Ian. I read about these in a Book called Case Red...amazing read

  • @Anlushac11
    @Anlushac112 жыл бұрын

    I like how everything unfolds and sets up without needing any tools.

  • @murderouskitten2577
    @murderouskitten25774 жыл бұрын

    last time i was up this early , this at was modern

  • @DJ-bh1ju
    @DJ-bh1ju4 жыл бұрын

    Cute little peashooter... Even now it could probably make a hole in many of our lighter vehicles....

  • @thomasgargano8813
    @thomasgargano88134 жыл бұрын

    Love to see this in action,please make a video of this gun firing,thanks

  • @amesbancal
    @amesbancal3 жыл бұрын

    Again good vidéo well documented well narrated

  • @TheAsbeth
    @TheAsbeth4 жыл бұрын

    considering the French approach considering sabotaging equipment, I think I remember something about rendering 2 MAS unusable, couldn't the firing pin sticking out be there for the same reason? If you need to leave the gun just break the pin so the other side won't use it against you ?

  • @clevermcgenericname891
    @clevermcgenericname8914 жыл бұрын

    That looks familiar...oh I get it. *happy gas mask noises*

  • @theotherwaldo
    @theotherwaldo4 жыл бұрын

    When I was a kid, one of these was in the toy department in Import Plaza in Portland, Oregon. One of my favorite toys.

  • @roadsweeper1
    @roadsweeper14 жыл бұрын

    Loving the Kettenkrad in the background :) Always wanted to have a play around on one of those

  • @casualobserver
    @casualobserver4 жыл бұрын

    If you have to stay home due to CV I would like to see forgotten weapons of Ian's gun safe

  • @shawnr771

    @shawnr771

    4 жыл бұрын

    He is not going to advertise.

  • @wierdalien1

    @wierdalien1

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@shawnr771 yeah thatd be stupid

  • @NBSV1

    @NBSV1

    4 жыл бұрын

    He’s shown some of his collection. There’s a video of him putting in a special wall to hold guns. But, he isn’t going to show everything as that is just asking for trouble.

  • @CarrotConsumer

    @CarrotConsumer

    4 жыл бұрын

    I'm petty sure any would be thieves already know he has an expensive old gun collection.

  • @charles_wipman
    @charles_wipman4 жыл бұрын

    Looks well enough for 1939 to me, and pretty easy to operate even for just a two men crew.

  • @nicolasrey-coquais1463
    @nicolasrey-coquais1463 Жыл бұрын

    Merci beaucoup pour cette présentation très instructive ! Thank you for this video, it’s a well-balanced weapon delivering packs of knowledge!

  • @McRocket
    @McRocket4 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting video. Thank you for this.

  • @stoneylonesome4062
    @stoneylonesome40624 жыл бұрын

    Peace to Ian McCollum from Albania 🇦🇱

  • @anttitheinternetguy3213
    @anttitheinternetguy32134 жыл бұрын

    Everytime you see something strange and desperate you know its used in finland 🥵 and somehow finns were just fine with it

  • @xXxTripleHxXx

    @xXxTripleHxXx

    4 жыл бұрын

    Well tbh the russians did not have the T34 in production jet and attacked with T-26 and BT7 lighttanks both of wich could be taken out by this 25mm gun

  • @stoneylonesome4062

    @stoneylonesome4062

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hyvää Suomi. I used to live in Uusikaupunki

  • @jankaas4504

    @jankaas4504

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@stoneylonesome4062 are yoy suomi gun jesus?

  • @stoneylonesome4062

    @stoneylonesome4062

    4 жыл бұрын

    jan kaas No, I’m an Albanian guy. I just used to live there.

  • @jankaas4504

    @jankaas4504

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@stoneylonesome4062 i dont judge

  • @loupiscanis9449
    @loupiscanis94494 жыл бұрын

    Thank you , Ian .

  • @markskelton2693
    @markskelton26932 жыл бұрын

    Excellent presentation! would've like to see it shoot

  • @troublingword3669
    @troublingword36694 жыл бұрын

    Yeeeettt the panzer twos meat

  • @worldtraveler930
    @worldtraveler9304 жыл бұрын

    Whenever I see a kettenkrad I just smile. 😁

  • @cernunnos8917
    @cernunnos89172 жыл бұрын

    With the protective wings folded out, it really gives a new meaning to "Elephant Gun", lol

  • @MrRedbeard762
    @MrRedbeard7624 жыл бұрын

    Excellent video on a little known gun. Thank you.

  • @556bc
    @556bc4 жыл бұрын

    New Gun Jesus Drinking Game. Take a shot everytime he says "actually".

  • @alexanderdimaria3326
    @alexanderdimaria33264 жыл бұрын

    too bad they never had enough of them

  • @wazzabear

    @wazzabear

    4 жыл бұрын

    They had heaps, they traded them to the Brits Boyes AT rifles

  • @kyle857

    @kyle857

    4 жыл бұрын

    The Chirftan talks about this in his TD video. After the fall of France the US looked at what happened and made the assumption, with the enemy tank force able to concentrate and attack at a point of their choosing, you are probably not going to be able to have enough anti tank guns spread out everywhere to stop such an attack. What is important is what you do after the penetration. Much like on prom night.

  • @ramjb

    @ramjb

    4 жыл бұрын

    what do you consider as "enough"?...there were more than 4000 of these built (including the Hotchkiss variant). It's very plain and simple here, the battle of France had nothing to do with numbers or quality of equipment (as can be clearly seen just by looking at the correlation of tank forces involved), but with differing doctrines on the use of armor, combined forces and operational principles. The french were in the jurassic in those compared with the germans. Mix that with a killer strategic plan (attract the strongest enemy into Belgium to outflank and surround it against the channel from the south), the FAR better officer leadership in the german side, the far better command of the operational level of the german generals, and the general immobilism and ineptude of most of the high hierarchy of the french army, and you get what happened. none of that was based on insufficient, or inadequate, weapons. The French army was a very strong, well equipped force. But it was led by incompetents and was living in WW1 doctrinary speaking. What happened to it was pretty much unavoidable in 1940.

  • @charliemcfacefuck4798

    @charliemcfacefuck4798

    4 жыл бұрын

    It's a shame the good guys lost the war...

  • @silure9502

    @silure9502

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@charliemcfacefuck4798 bruh xd

  • @WildBillCox13
    @WildBillCox134 жыл бұрын

    A thought. As I recall, you and Karl experimented with rifle caliber exploding ammunition and were quite favorably impressed when it worked properly. Imagine what one of the Mle 1937's 25mm HE rounds would do to a block of ballistic gel.

  • @pierremoreau7262
    @pierremoreau72622 жыл бұрын

    I work at nexter who is a far sucessor of Puteaux compagny (amx apx). Thanks for this beautiful vidéo

  • @shwattzfredrick4950
    @shwattzfredrick49504 жыл бұрын

    Yeet

  • @matthewspencer5086
    @matthewspencer50864 жыл бұрын

    Interesting sight picture for arachnophobes...

  • @alexspalding4945
    @alexspalding49454 жыл бұрын

    Good review

  • @danepatterson8107
    @danepatterson81074 жыл бұрын

    No one else does anything like your large caliber weapons. Simply engrossing.

  • @thechilledonion9313
    @thechilledonion93134 жыл бұрын

    I believe in Gun Jesus and he saved me! I just got His book today. Perfectly timed with the containment we have here in Switzerland because of the Covid-19.

  • @jaybee9269

    @jaybee9269

    4 жыл бұрын

    0nionjack >> I didn’t know Gun Jesus has a book! Awesome.

  • @Strelnikov403
    @Strelnikov4034 жыл бұрын

    Man, the French got their small arms so right, which is such a shame because their artillery was so wrong...

  • @robertobarazzutti3807

    @robertobarazzutti3807

    4 жыл бұрын

    Not all artillery was wrong. Did you see some 155 or 280 mm? Look at the battle the destruction of the Chaberton.

  • @Strelnikov403

    @Strelnikov403

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@robertobarazzutti3807 Their heavy guns and larger howitzers were alright, but their small-caliber guns - especially the anti-armour developments - were piss-poor in comparison to their counterparts fielded by the Soviets, Germans, and British.

  • @a.t6066

    @a.t6066

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@Strelnikov403 the French 47mm and 75mm guns were great in 1940. Better than what the Germans and brits were using at the time. Even the long 37mm was a good gun. Though the leftover short 37mm tank guns were a bit lacking

  • @ken0272
    @ken02724 жыл бұрын

    Love to see you review the 2 pounder AT gun, which was supposed to be quite advanced for its' day.

  • @silverfingerthesilverstack5062
    @silverfingerthesilverstack50624 жыл бұрын

    I am dripping with anticipation at this vid, I love these guns and have quite a few inert rounds from them.

  • @MrHalonoob117
    @MrHalonoob1174 жыл бұрын

    Great Video as always!

  • @demonprinces17
    @demonprinces172 жыл бұрын

    So good watching again

  • @sebstiangoriesky5265
    @sebstiangoriesky52652 жыл бұрын

    Okay, but I agree with Gun Jeezus that this is the most satisfying piece of artillery to set up EVER

  • @martiniv8924
    @martiniv89244 жыл бұрын

    It looks really well built 👌🏻

  • @bunkerairsoft8721
    @bunkerairsoft87214 жыл бұрын

    As french thanks a lot Ian for this show of a major AT gun of french army in WW2. Basically for some details (f.e. the shield) this piece of artilelry is clearly an engineer one but it did its goal during the fights agains german armored vehicules.