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Lorraine 155 Mle.50

In the 1950’s the Lorraine company designed two SPG’s armed with a 155mm howitzer based on the Canon d’Assaut Lorraine. The first prototype, model 1950, had the superstructure mounted in the center of the vehicle, while the second, model 1951, had the superstructure pushed to the front of the vehicle with a bit of sloping on the frontal armor. The chassis of the Lorraine 40t tank that did not go into the series was taken as a base. A notable feature of this chassis was the road wheels with pneumatic tires. Initially, it was planned to install the Talbot engine on the cars, which was abandoned in 1951 in favor of the captured Maybach. The vehicle had a few problems, which led to the death of these vehicles.

The Lorraine 155 mle. 50 was a French self-propelled gun. Developed in France after the war on the basis of the experimental Lorraine 40 t. The vehicle passed trials in 1950, but never entered mass production or saw service. The Lorraine 155 mle. 51 is a French tier 8 self-propelled gun. Developed in 1951 based on the Lorraine 40 t and featured a 155-mm howitzer. The prototype passed trials simultaneously with the tank, but the Lorraine 40 t did not see service, and the SPG project was discontinued as well.

In 1950, Lorraine presents two prototypes of self-propelled 155 mm. The armament consists of the 155 mm howitzer model 1950 mounted in a fixed casemate. The Lorraine undercarriage, similar to that of the assault gun, had pneumatic wheels. Prototype # 1 is a central casemate, # 2 has an advanced casemate. The engine is initially provided by a Talbot engine which is replaced in the year 1951 by a Maybach engine. The two prototypes then take the denomination 1bis and 2bis. In 1954 a rotary casemate is under study but in 1955 the decision is made to adapt this armament on a chassis Batignolles-Chatillon. This choice was logically the consequence of the abandonment of the Lorraine assault gun whose chassis was common to both projects. This SPG is excellent example of most of the French artillery line.