The first attempts to create promising armored vehicles, undertaken during the First World War, led to very interesting, albeit useless, results. Without the required experience, designers from different countries offered a variety of ideas and solutions. A curious variant of an armored combat vehicle in 1918 was proposed by the French designer A. Varlet. Subsequently, his project was finalized and led to the emergence of new similar developments. All of them, however, remained at the design stage or assembly of the demo model.
In 1918, Amede Varle served as chief designer of the Delahaye automobile company. By this time, all the countries participating in the First World War began to create one or another armored vehicle for the armies, which attracted the attention of many different industrial enterprises who wanted to take part in new projects and, of course, get lucrative contracts. Delaye is no exception. The chief designer of this enterprise proposed his own version of the original combat vehicle, which in the future could be used on the battlefield.
All A. Varle's developments were named under the general name Char Varlet ("Tank Varle"), derived from the class of such equipment and the surname of the creator. The name Char AV (Amédée Varlet) is also known to exist. In addition, in some cases projects can be distinguished by specifying the year of development. Other options for distinguishing several projects were not used.
Scheme of the tank A. Varle first version
One of the main issues that needed to be solved in the framework of new projects was the patency of equipment. A typical World War I battlefield was dug by numerous shell-bursts, and traversed by barbed wire and trenches. To move over such terrain, the combat vehicle had to have high cross-country ability, given to it by the chassis of the corresponding design. In his project, A. Varle proposed to solve the problem of cross-country ability not only through the design of the undercarriage, but also with the help of the original structure of the entire machine.
By the beginning of work on the first version of the "Tank Varle", the tracked propulsion unit managed to show its capabilities and advantages over other types of undercarriage. Because of this, the French designer decided to equip his promising armored vehicle with tracks. In addition, in order to increase cross-country ability, it was planned to use two pairs of tracks that can move relative to each other. For this, it was necessary to develop an original design of an armored vehicle having two separate hulls. They were to be mated with each other using a hinge and other devices.
The front body of the Char Varlet received a simple shape, formed by several rectilinear panels. Two frontal sheets were used, the upper one of which was placed with a slight backward tilt, and the lower one formed the front overhang of the hull. Used vertical sides and stern, made of a central vertical and inclined upper and lower sheets. For proper interaction with the elements of the second hull, it was proposed to use a curved convex roof.
The second hull was supposed to have an unusual frontal shape. Its characteristic feature has become a large front unit, mounted in its upper part. Due to this part, the body had to have an L-shape, necessary for connection with the front section. The rest of the rear hull was not difficult, with sides collapsed outward and an inclined stern sheet. On the lower part of the protruding front unit and on the frontal sheet, the rear body had to carry two devices for connecting the two bodies.
As the surviving drawings show, A. Varle proposed to connect the two housings with a hinge based on a cardan drive, placed in their lower part. This allowed the front body to rotate around the longitudinal axis, as well as swing in a horizontal plane. To prevent damage to the housings when the relative position was changed, the front hull on the roof had a special roller that had to move along the corresponding rail on the protruding assembly of the rear hull.
The Char Varlet project proposed an original tracked undercarriage design. Each building had to be equipped with two swinging bogies of a special design. As part of the bogie, it was proposed to use large guide and drive wheels, as well as several road wheels of small diameter. All units of the bogie were placed on a common support beam. The latter was proposed to be hinged on board the hull. Next to the hinge, the drive axles were removed from the body, connected to the power plant of the body. With the help of a chain drive, the axle was connected to the drive wheel. The drive wheels of the front hull tracks were to be in the back, the rear ones in front.
Accurate information about the type of power plant, engine power and transmission units has not been preserved. The alleged composition of the combat vehicle's armament is also unknown. It is only known that each tank Varle had to carry its own engine and transmission. In addition, there had to be enough room in the hull to accommodate the crew and weapons.
The second version of the Char Varlet
The proposed design of the tank as a whole and its chassis made it possible to assume a significant increase in cross-country ability in comparison with the technique of a less daring look. "Tank Varle" had to overcome various obstacles due to several main factors. So, the use of four tracks in theory gave a noticeable increase in the area of the supporting surface. In addition, each of the carts could swing freely in a vertical plane, adapting to the characteristics of the landscape. It was proposed to compensate for larger differences in height by changing the relative position of the two sections of the hull.
On the basis of the original project, A. Varle soon created an updated version of the combat vehicle, featuring an improved design and availability of weapons. It was again proposed to use an articulated structure of two hulls, as well as a set of four tracked vehicles. At the same time, it was planned to change the design of the hulls, as well as the means of their interface. The biggest innovation of the project in this case was to be a turret with weapons.
The hulls of the updated Char Varlet tank were supposed to have an updated design. On the rectangular box-shaped base of the front hull, there were inclined frontal and stern plates connected to a curved roof part. In the lower part of the sides, the hinges of the tracked carts and the drive axle of the propeller were located. A hinge was provided on the roof for connection with the corresponding units of the rear section of the machine. The rear hull of the new version differed from the front hull in a less complex structure formed by vertical sides, a horizontal roof, as well as inclined parts in the upper part of the forehead and stern.
On the frontal part and the roof of the rear hull A. Varle proposed to install a special unit of several beams. This design was supposed to have a wide rear section, an extended center section and a tapered front section. The front part of the frame was intended to be connected to the hinge of the front hull, it was proposed to place a turret with weapons in the center, and the feed was rigidly attached to the rear section. It was assumed that such a design would solve the problem of installing weapons, but at the same time preserve the mobility of sections and tracked vehicles at the level of the first project.
In the central part of the connecting frame, a swivel tower of a fairly simple design was placed. It was proposed to use a tower consisting of a cylindrical side and a conical roof with a horizontal top. In the tower of the new design, it was possible to place artillery or machine-gun weapons of the type required by the customer. Such placement of cannons or machine guns made it possible to fire at targets in any direction. It is noteworthy that the weapon had to be mounted rigidly, because of which the vertical guidance from -2 ° to + 60 ° had to be performed by tilting the entire tower.
According to some reports, the tower could not only rotate and swing to guide weapons, but also move along the rails backward or forward. Having run into the rear hull, the turret changed the balance of the vehicle accordingly, allowing it to overcome various obstacles.
Also, the second Char Varlet project offered several additional places for installing weapons. Two machine-gun or cannon installations were to be mounted in the frontal sheet of the front section and in the rear of the rear. Thus, the armament complex could include at least five units of barrel armament with a certain potential in terms of further modernization.
Model tank A. Varle of the thirties
As conceived by the author of the project, a promising articulated tank of the new version could be used on highly rugged terrain in the form of battlefields of the First World War, where its characteristics would allow it to move freely along the required route and support the infantry with fire. There was also some potential in the fight against enemy aircraft. The design characteristics and capabilities fully allowed Amed Varlet to count on receiving an order from a potential operator of such equipment in the person of the French army.
The Char Varlet project was one of many original proposals made to the French military. By the time of receipt of the proposal from A. Varle, the military had managed to consider many similar projects, as well as build and test several prototypes. All these works have shown that not always the original proposals of enthusiasts allow you to get real results. The "Tanka Varle" project was studied and received an appropriate assessment. Despite the expected high characteristics of mobility and firepower, such a machine turned out to be unacceptably complex and expensive, both in production and in operation. Naturally, no one even gave permission for the construction and testing of an experimental vehicle.
Lack of interest on the part of the main customer led to a halt in work. As it became clear later, the stop was temporary, albeit long. In the mid-thirties, almost two decades after the appearance of the first two projects, the French designer again tried to offer the military an original design of technology. This time, the Char Varlet combat vehicle was supposed to participate in the competition for the development of a heavy tank, which started in 1936. A few months later, in the 37th, A. Varle sent the military documentation on a new version of the unusual tank.
In the new project, the designer decided to use some existing ideas, formed back in 1918, in combination with a number of original developments. At the same time, the chassis was to undergo the main changes. Moreover, it was decided to abandon the use of traditional tracks. As part of the 1936-37 project, a new version of the propeller of an unusual design was developed, in which there were separate features of both wheels and tracks.
The basis of the original propeller was a triangular frame with a set of fasteners for certain parts. In the center of the frame there was a unit for connecting to the hinge of the body and for entering the drive axle of the transmission. In the corners of the frame, one drive and two guide wheels were placed. The lead was connected to the drive axle using a set of gear wheels, the guides were equipped with spring track tension mechanisms. Between the drive and idler wheels, there were mounts for small diameter road wheels that did not have any shock absorbers. On wheels and rollers, it was proposed to tighten the track.
The tank of the new version was supposed to receive four propellers of this design. When moving on a flat surface, the triangular system had to remain in its original position, using the lower part of the caterpillar lying on the ground for movement. When driving over rough terrain, the propeller could rotate around its axis, to a certain extent improving cross-country ability. It was assumed that the rotation of the triangular device with a tensioned caterpillar would maintain contact with the ground, regardless of the terrain.
Diagram of the propulsion device created for the third project
The general design of the 1936-37 Char Varlet tank was to be borrowed, with some modifications, from the second project during the First World War. At the same time, some notable changes were proposed. For example, the front hull had to be distinguished by reduced dimensions and the presence of only one frontal gun mount. On the roof of the hull, however, the hinge elements were connected. The rear section of the tank also had to undergo some changes. The hulls were connected to each other using a long frame, the front part of which was pivotally connected to the front, and the rear was rigidly fixed to another section. A movable tower with weapons was to be installed on the frame.
According to the calculations of the designer, the total length of the "Tank Varle" of the third version was supposed to reach 9 m, width - less than 3 m, height - 2, 7 m. It was proposed to install a 75-mm cannon in the frontal part of the front hull. A 47-mm gun should have been mounted in the turret. The car was to be driven by a crew of three or four people. It was assumed that this version of the tank would differ from competing developments with increased cross-country ability on difficult terrain.
Like the previous project, the new one was proposed to the French military department and studied by army specialists. It took almost 20 years since the previous study of the project, but this did not affect the results of the new analysis. The proposed project again turned out to be too complicated from the point of view of construction and operation in the army. A. Varle received a new refusal. The military, for obvious reasons, were more interested in other projects that did not promise a colossal increase in cross-country ability, but did not differ in unacceptable complexity. The new version of the Char Varlet project lost the chance for further development, and all work was stopped.
From 1918 to 1937, the French designer Amede Varlet proposed three options for a promising combat vehicle, distinguished by increased cross-country characteristics and capable of carrying various weapons. These two developments were offered to a potential customer, but due to the excessive complexity they did not receive approval. As a result, two projects created during the First World War remained on paper, and the car of the mid-thirties was built only in the form of a large-scale model. The construction of full-fledged prototypes was never planned.
A. Varle's projects can be of certain interest from a technical point of view. Within the framework of three projects, original ideas were proposed aimed at increasing the patency of equipment. In addition, the third version of the "Tank Varle" was to be equipped with an original propulsion system. In the future, the idea of building articulated off-road vehicles was developed and found its application in a number of new projects created in different countries. Other original features of A. Varle's projects were no longer used.
An interesting feature of the three successively created projects was the confidence of their author in the possibility of full implementation of ideas. Because of this, the first two projects of 1918 look too bold, but still acceptable against the background of other original developments of their time. An attempt to develop existing ideas and find their application in the mid-thirties, on the contrary, looks dubious and strange. By this time, the classic appearance of the tank was formed, having all the necessary features. Nevertheless, this feature of the project is fully consistent with its result. Ideas that had been rejected earlier could not find real application again, which is why they were soon forgotten.
