The FCM 36 was a light infantry tank that was designed for the French Army prior to World War II. It had a crew of two and was equipped with a short 37 mm main armament and a 7.5 mm coaxial machine gun. At the outbreak of the Invasion of France, 90 FCM 36 tanks were available in two battalions of 45 each. The German Wehrmacht captured about 50 of this series; 12 were rebuilt in 1942 as self-propelled artillery, and in 1943, ten were rebuilt as Marder I tank destroyers. Although relatively unknown, the FCM 36 was one of the French Army’s light tanks used during the battles of May and June 1940. Technically very advanced compared to other French vehicles of the type, it proved its effectiveness during a victorious counter-attack at Voncq in early June 1940.
FCM 36FCM 36 30009 named Le Terrible of the 7e BCCFCM 36FCM 36 tank named FantomeFCM 36 tank 30018 of the 7e BCCFCM 36 of the 7e BCC 4 July 1939, ParisFCM 36FCM 36 30067 INCH’ALLAH of the 4e BCC VoncqFCM 36FCM 36Abandoned FCM 36 tanks, France 1940FCM 36FCM 36FCM 36
Abandoned
Wehrmacht soldiers next to a FCM 36 tankTank FCM 36 number 53CM 36 number 51940FCM 36 of the 7 BCCFCM 36 from 7e BCCFCM 36 and B1 bis 1940FCM 36 30098 from 4 BCCFCM 36 30087 of the 7e BCC white 32, Voncq 1940Abandoned FCM 36Abandoned FCM 36Abandoned FCM 36 tankAbandoned FCM 36 tankAbandoned FCM 36 1940Abandoned FCM 36 tank
Knocked Out
Knocked out tank FCM 36Knocked out FCM 36 tank, number 30042 of the 4e BCC, Voncq 1940FCM36 knocked out during the French campaign, 1940FCM 36 of the 7e BCCFCM 36 of the 7e BCC France 1940FCM 36 30085 lying on its side, Chemery 1940FCM 36 30055 of the 7e BCCFCM 36 30053 of the 7e BCC lying on its side, Chemery 1940FCM 36FCM 36 damaged turretDestroyed FCM 36FCM 36 of the 7e BCCFCM 36FCM 36 30014 Mon Tapadou of the 7e BCC
In German Markings
Panzerkampfwagen 737 FCM (f). Of the 100 FCM 36 built by the French 37 were captured and used by the Germans
10.5 cm leFH 16 18 (Sf) auf Geschuetzwagen FCM (f)
In 1943 ten FCM 36s were rebuilt as Marder I tank destroyers, with the 75mm PaK 40 anti-tank gun and officially called 7.5cm PaK40(Sf) auf Geschützwagen FCM(f). These were employed by 21 Panzerdivision in the Battle of Normandy in 1944. In 1942, twelve were rebuilt as self-propelled artillery, the 10.5cm leFH 16/18 (Sf) auf Geschuetzwagen FCM (f).
10.5 cm leFH 16 18 (Sf) auf Geschuetzwagen FCM (f)
The Soviet Union purchased two Dornier Do 215 B-3 long range reconnaissance aircraft for evaluation. Originally ordered as Do 215B-2s by the Luftwaffe, which had cancelled its order in favour of the Junkers Ju 88 and Heinkel He 177, they were redesignated Do 215B-3s. They were not equipped with either defensive armament of cameras when delivered.
Dornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet MarkingsDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet MarkingsDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet MarkingsDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet MarkingsDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings Flap detailDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings nose detailDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings lower rear machinegunDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings rear machinegunDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings tail detailDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings cockpitDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings undercarriageDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings tail wheelDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings engine and propeller detailDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings engine and propeller detailDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings engine and propeller detailDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings engine and propeller detailDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings engine coverDornier Do 215 B-3 in Soviet Markings air intake cover
The Dornier Do 215 was designed as an export version of the successful Do 17 bomber. Three prototypes were built: The V1 was essentially the same as the Do 17Z ans ws powered by Bramo 323 Fafnir radial engines; The V2 was powered by Gnome-Rhône 14-NO radial engines, while the V3 was powered by Daimler-Benz DB 601 Ba inline engines. With the more powerful engines, the V3 was faster and attracted interest from Sweden, who ordered 18 aircraft.
Due to deteriorating international conditions leading up the Second World War, Germany embargoed the Swedish aircraft and they were used by the Luftwaffe, where they were designated Do 215 B-1.
Official figures indicate that 105 Do 215s were produced between 1939 and 1941 by Dornier. The last machines were retired in late 1944.
Click on the links below to go see photos of the different variants used by the Luftwaffe.
Night fighter version called Kauz III. 20 aircraft converted from B-1 and B-4 versions with Do 17 Z-10 “Kauz II” nose-equipped with IR searchlight for the Spanner infrared detection system. Do 215 B-5s were armed with four 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 machine guns grouped above the IR light and two 20 mm MG FF cannon in the lower nose. The Spanner system proved to be useless and the Lichtenstein 202 B/C radar was installed on some aircraft starting from the middle of 1942.
Dornier Do 215 B-1Dornier Do 215 B-1Dornier Do 215B-1Dornier Do 215B-1 PK+5HDornier Do 215B-1 NO+TBDornier Do 215B-1 NO+TB 1940Dornier Do 215B-1 NO+TBDornier Do 215B-1 NO+TBDornier Do 215B-1 N+TBDornier Do 215 B-1Dornier Do 215 B-1Dornier Do 215 B-1Dornier Do 215 B-1
Dornier Do 215B-2
Dornier Do 215B-2
Dornier Do 215B-4
Dornier Do 215B-4Dornier Do 215B-4 PK+EMDornier Do 215B-4
Dornier Do 215B-5 Nightfighter
Dornier Do 215B-5Dornier Do 215 B-5 of NJG 2 in 1942Dornier Do 215B-5Dornier Do 215B-5 KD+MZDornier Do 215B-5
Unidentified
Dornier Do 215Dornier Do 215Dornier Do 215Dornier Do 215Crashed Dornier Do 215Dornier Do 215 engineDornier Do 215 cockpit
