AMC 34

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AMC 34

The AMC 34 was a small French light tank built by Renault for cavalry units in the 1930s. Only 12 hulls were made, and the design was quickly outpaced by newer tanks, with most vehicles never seeing front-line service by the time France was invaded in 1940.

Key specs
- Weight (hull): 9.7 tons
- Length x width: 3.98 m × 2.07 m
- Height: about 1.55 m (varies with turret)
- Crew: 2 (APX1 turret) or 3 (APX2 turret)
- Armor: 20 mm
- Main armament: 47 mm SA34 gun (APX1); later 25 mm gun (APX2)
- Secondary armament: MAC 1931 coaxial machine gun
- Engine: 7.125 L V-8, 120 hp
- Suspension: central bogie with vertical spring; front and rear wheels with horizontal spring
- Range: 200 km
- Top speed: 40 km/h

Overview
- Development and purpose: Part of France’s Plan 1931 to modernize cavalry forces, aiming for fast, lightly armored tanks to counter enemy armor.
- Prototypes and evolution: Renault’s early concepts evolved from the VO and YR, eventually yielding the AMC 34. The plan to improve armor depth led to the creation of the heavier AMC 35, and some changes were incorporated into later vehicles.
- Service history: The first hulls were delivered in 1935. Some AMC 34s served with the 4th Cuirassiers in France, then a number were sent to Morocco (1937) and updated with APX2 turrets and, where possible, 25 mm guns. They received improvements such as a protected fuel tank and better ventilation.
- End of production and use: By 1939 the AMC 34 was being replaced by newer tanks such as the H 39. A few hulls were used for training or hidden; others were scrapped as the war began. Belgium ordered 25 hulls and 25 APX turrets in 1935, but production and delivery faced delays, with only some hulls and turrets eventually seeing use or repurposing.