I attach a photo showing these vehicles in company with two full size armoured cars - shows just how twee they were. The car on which they were based was the 1938 model Simca 5 (not to be confused with the later 1947 Simca 5). This was a French version of the tiny 1937 Fiat 500 (NSU also built a German version) precursor to the post war Fiat Topolino. (It also formed the basis for Noddy's car in illustrations of Enid Blyton's childrens stories). It only had a 500 cc engine and was a two seater provided that the driver and passenger were on very friendly terms. It has been described a bigger than a bubble car but not much. I attach two photos of the Simca 5 that show just how small it was. A machine gun could be fixed next to the driver but this would not have left any room for a gunner! I suspect that the driver was supposed to halt the car and lean across into the passenger position if he wanted to fire at anything.
It definitely was incredibly small. Online, I saw a picture of a Simca 5 model sitting next to a Jeep model of the same scale, the jeep having two soldiers in it. It looked like it would be impossible for those two Jeep soldiers to ever fit into the Simca.
And perhaps they couldn't!
I do not know how many times I have seen references to Japanese "One-Man Tanks", that turend out to be just the little Type 94 two man tanks. The reason is, the Japanese man is already of smaller proportions to your average european, and in WWII the Japanese military would put some of their smallest men into tanks! So in fact, the Type 94 might have been a "one-man" vehicle, depending on how big the investigating Allied soldier was!
Likewise, I have no doubt that these little Simca armored cars could operate with only one man of large stature inside. However, like the Japanese, who's to say the French didnt put in their smallest scrawniest men into these particular vehicles?
If it were to be listed in a book, it should definitely be regarded as a one-man. But I also would make note that this might not be the case, and cite my reasoning behind it.
You might squeeze two men in but not two men and a machine gun - thats the point. The amount of machine gun necessary to allow the belt or other magasine to be inside the vehicle would protrud too far over the second seat for there to be a gunner as well. The average Fenchman was almost certainly larger than the average Japanese of the time. These were not regular French army but local maquise units so its unlikely that had enough peopole to start picking and choosing crew. Its also worht noting that the armour slopes inwards leaving even less room inside. The other factor is weight - asking a 500 cc engine to move armour, two men a machine gun and ammo is a lot. Even loosing one man the car must have been dramatically underpowered. This isn't a case of mislabeling - like the type 94. Icks, Crow, Forty,Touzin etc all define the La Rochelle mini specifically as 'one man'. According to Icks the machine gun was mounted in the right hand apperture. The history of these little cars appears to be well known so there's no reason to doubt them.
Hi! The french resistance built those artisanal armoured vehicles in La Rochelle. The city and habour was part of a german Atlantic pocket and remain in their hands until spring 1945. four vehicles were built : two small armoured Simca and two heavy armoured trucks. The trucks was armed with a single LMG in small rotating turret, but I suppose the Simca could hardly be equiped with something else than a rifle! All of them took part of the victory ceremonies but didn't see any battle action.
Both models still exist today! One Simca in La Rochelle and one truck have been given in 2006 to the Saumur Tank Museeum where it would be now preserved. Regards Gilles
lostiznaos wrote: Hi! The french resistanceAs I said in my posting - the Maquisebuilt those artisanal armoured vehicles in La Rochelle. The city and habour was part of a german Atlantic pocket and remain in their hands until spring 1945 (Right up to the German surrender in May). four vehicles were built : two small armoured Simca and two heavy armoured trucks. The trucks was armed with a single LMG in small rotating turret,actually two LMG one being in the front plate - photos show this but I suppose the Simca could hardly be equiped with something else than a rifle!All the sources I have state an LMG as well. All of them took part of the victory ceremonies but didn't see any battle action.
Both models still exist today! One Simca in La Rochelle and one truck have been given in 2006 to the Saumur Tank Museeum where it would be now preserved. Regards Gilles
Its difficult to tell what kind of LMG except looking at the photos not a Hotchkiss - possibly a Bren
