TANNON'S Panhard 178
Heavy Metal War Machine
The Panhard 178 was an advanced French reconnaissance 4×4 armoured car that was designed for the French Cavalry before World War II. Affectionately known by it’s 4-man crews as “Pan-Pan”, it was equipped with an effective 25mm main armament and a 7.5mm coaxial machine gun.
By 1940, most experts agreed that the Panhard 178 was one of the most modern 4×4 designs worldwide.
In order to function as an effective long-range reconnaissance vehicle, the Panhard 178 had been kept as light as possible. The vehicle was 4.79 m (15 ft 9 in) in length, 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) wide and 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in) in height (1.65 m for the hull per se). Also the tapering engine compartment, where a Panhard ISK 4FII bis V4, 6332 CC, 105 hp at 2000 rpm motor had been installed, was built very low, giving the vehicle its distinctive silhouette, with a protruding fighting compartment. Both compartments were separated by a fireproof bulkhead.
The use of a large turret with 26 mm frontal armor and 13 mm side armor, combined with 7 mm (bottom), 9 mm (top and glacis), 13 mm (back, sides and front superstructure) and 20 mm (nose) bolted and riveted armour plate for the hull, had compromised weight considerations however, so the vehicle still weighed 8.2 metric tonnes. However the mobility was rather good for a French AFV of the period: a maximum speed of 72.6 km/h (45.1 mph), a cruising speed of 47 km/h (29 mph), and a practical range of about 300 km (190 mi), made possible by two fuel tanks of 120 and 20 liters, the main one located at the extreme back of the hull.
The driver was in the front, using an eight-speed gear box and a normal steering wheel. Steering could be switched into reverse immediately to allow the assistant-driver, facing the rear and seated to the left of the engine (or, from his point of view: the right), to drive the vehicle backwards in case of an emergency, using all four off-road gears, with a maximum speed of 42 km/h. This "dual drive" capacity is common for reconnaissance vehicles.
The second driver had a separate entrance door at the left side of the hull. He doubled as a radio operator in the platoon commander or squadron commander vehicles, operating the short range ER29 or medium range ER26 set respectively. To make long-range communications possible, one out of twelve armored cars was a special radio vehicle.
The APX3 turret, having a large double hatch on the back, was rather large and could accommodate two men, like with the AMC 35.
The secondary armament was an optionally coaxial Reibel 7.5 mm machine gun, with 3,750 rounds, 1,500 of which were armor-piercing. A reserve machine gun was carried to the right of the driver that could be mounted on top of the turret for anti-aircraft defense. Its magazines were carried on the inner walls of the fighting compartment, including the large main entrance door on the right.
Experience showed that the type had several shortcomings: a weak clutch, slow turret rotation, a cramped interior, unreliable radio sets, poor cross-country drive and very noisy brakes. On the other hand, it was reliable, easy to drive on roads and the engine as such was rather silent; all desirable qualities for a reconnaissance vehicle.
Source: http://www.warlordgames.com/new-panhard-178-armoured-car/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panhard_178