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Description

The ARL 44 was a tank of the immediate postwar French army. Developed clandestinely during the occupation, the ARL went through multiple phases and the project radically changed scope at least once. The Camouflage du Matériel (CDM) committee worked for years on various parts of the design under the guise of civilian work. After the Liberation, French High Command wanted to demonstrate France was an actual partner in the war, instead of a mere assisted and broken Nation, thus picking up the design for the war effort. As most of its designers were inspired by tank models they knew in detail, the ARL suffers from some outdated elements, like a suspension similar to the Char B1's. As the process was delayed by important changes to the vehicle's armament, among others, the first finished specimens only rolled out after the end of the war.

Classification: Heavy tank
Designed: ~1940 (1944-1947)
Produced: 1949-1951
Number built: 60

Mass: 50 (metric) tons
Length: 10.52 (7.15) m
Width: 3.40 m
Height: 3.20 m
Crew: 5

Armor: 10 mm to 120 mm
Primary armament: 90 mm SA 45 L/65 (37 rounds)
Secondary armament: 2x 7.5 mm MAC31 machine guns

Engine: Maybach HL 230 V-12 gasoline engine, 575 hp
Suspension: vertical coil spring
Maximum speed: 35 km/h
Operational range: 350 km

Description

The ARL 44 was a tank of the immediate postwar French army. Developed clandestinely during the occupation, the ARL went through multiple phases and the project radically changed scope at least once. The Camouflage du Matériel (CDM) committee worked for years on various parts of the design under the guise of civilian work. After the Liberation, French High Command wanted to demonstrate France was an actual partner in the war, instead of a mere assisted and broken Nation, thus picking up the design for the war effort. As most of its designers were inspired by tank models they knew in detail, the ARL suffers from some outdated elements, like a suspension similar to the Char B1's. As the process was delayed by important changes to the vehicle's armament, among others, the first finished specimens only rolled out after the end of the war.

Classification: Heavy tank
Designed: ~1940 (1944-1947)
Produced: 1949-1951
Number built: 60

Mass: 50 (metric) tons
Length: 10.52 (7.15) m
Width: 3.40 m
Height: 3.20 m
Crew: 5

Armor: 10 mm to 120 mm
Primary armament: 90 mm SA 45 L/65 (37 rounds)
Secondary armament: 2x 7.5 mm MAC31 machine guns

Engine: Maybach HL 230 V-12 gasoline engine, 575 hp
Suspension: vertical coil spring
Maximum speed: 35 km/h
Operational range: 350 km