The Puteaux SA 18 was a French single-shot,

breech-loading A breechloader is a firearm in which the user loads the ammunition from the breech end of the barrel (i.e., from the rearward, open end of the gun's barrel), as opposed to a muzzleloader, in which the user loads the ammunition from the ( muzzle ...

cannon A cannon is a large-caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder during th ...

, used in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

through

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, primarily mounted on combat vehicles. It is a development of the Canon de 37 mm à tir rapide Modèle 1916 (SA 16), also produced by Puteaux.

Technical details

It was a simple, reliable weapon with a high rate of fire made possible by a semi-automatic breech system. While its maximum fire rate was 15 rounds per minute,37mm wz. 18 (SA-18) Puteaux at Derela.pl
/ref> its practical rate was 10 rounds per minute. After firing, the breech opened and ejected the used cartridge case automatically. The gun was operated by the gunner, who aimed it through a simple 1x direct scope separately attached to the left side of the weapon. It was found easy to use, with a low incidence of jamming. The barrel length was 21 calibres (L/21). It was primarily intended to be used against infantry and machine-gun nests; its low muzzle velocity made it unsuitable for use against armour. Although its armour penetration capabilities were poor, it was able to combat light armoured vehicles as late as 1939.

Usage

This gun was standard on French light tanks and armoured cars, being mounted on the

Renault FT The Renault FT (frequently referred to in post-World War I literature as the FT-17, FT17, or similar) is a French light tank that was among the most revolutionary and influential tank designs in history. The FT was the first production tank to h ...

and White AM armoured car in

. In

, it was used on the

Renault R-35 The Renault R35, an abbreviation of ''Char léger Modèle 1935 R'' or R 35, was a French light infantry tank of the Second World War. Designed from 1933 onwards and produced from 1936, the type was intended as an infantry support light tank, ...

, Hotchkiss H-35 and H-38,

FCM-36 The FCM 36 or ''Char léger Modèle 1936 FCM'', was a light infantry tank designed for the French Army prior to World War II. It had a crew of two and was equipped with a short 37mm main armament and a 7.5mm coaxial machine gun. The FCM 36 wa ...

and several types of French

armoured cars Armored (or armoured) car may refer to: Wheeled armored vehicles * Armored car (military), a wheeled armoured fighting vehicle * Armored car (valuables), an armored van or truck used to transport valuables * Armored car (VIP), a civilian vehic ...

, mainly the White-Laffly AMD 50. In the Polish Army of the 1920s through World War II the wz.18 Puteaux gun was used on Renault FT light tanks and Renault R-35 and Hotchkiss H-35, Peugeot armoured cars, and the Samochód pancerny wz. 28, Samochód pancerny wz. 29 and Samochód pancerny wz. 34 armoured cars. It was also used on some Polish riverine craft and

armoured trains An armoured train (Commonwealth English) or armored train (American English) is a railway train protected with heavy metal plating and which often includes railway wagons armed with artillery, machine guns, and autocannons. Some have also h ...

References

* France 1940, L'armement terrestre, by Stéphane Ferrard, page 93-94

External links

French manual of 37 mm rounds

French manual of the 37 mm TR 16 from WW2

Conversation of the investigation on the battle of France (chief engineer talks about experimental rounds)

SA18 L/21 (37 mm) on old-wiki.warthunder.com
{{WWIIFrenchGuns Tank guns of France World War I artillery of France World War II weapons of France 37 mm artillery