Panhard AMD 178 – Fotos & Videos

The Panhard 178 (officially designated as Automitrailleuse de Découverte Panhard modèle 1935, 178 being the internal project number at Panhard) or “Pan-Pan” was an advanced French reconnaissance 4×4 armoured car that was designed for the French Army Cavalry units before World War II. It had a crew of four and was equipped with an effective 25 mm main armament and a 7.5 mm coaxial machine gun. A number of these vehicles were in 1940 taken over by the Germans after the Fall of France and employed as the Panzerspähwagen P204 (f) for some months after the armistice of June production continued for the benefit of Germany. After the war a derived version, the Panhard 178B, was again taken into production by France.

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The Panhard AMD 178 was an armoured car designed and produced by the French company Panhard for reconnaissance missions during World War II. It was based on the earlier Panhard 165/175 model, which was developed in the early 1930s. The Panhard AMD 178 had a four-wheel drive system and a two-man turret armed with a 25 mm SA 35 cannon and a 7.5 mm Reibel machine gun. It had a crew of four and a top speed of 72 km/h. It was protected by 20 mm of armour on all sides. The Panhard AMD 178 entered service with the French Army in April 1937 and saw action in various theatres of war, including France, North Africa and Indochina. It proved to be an effective and reliable vehicle, capable of engaging enemy tanks and infantry with its powerful cannon. However, it also suffered from some drawbacks, such as limited visibility from the turret, poor cross-country performance and vulnerability to mines and anti-tank weapons. After the fall of France in June 1940, many Panhard AMD 178s were captured by the Germans and used as Panzerspähwagen P204 (f). Some were also modified with different turrets or mounted on railway tracks. The production of the Panhard AMD 178 continued under German occupation until about October 1940. After World War II, a new version of the Panhard AMD 178 was developed, called the Panhard AMD 178B. It featured a new turret made by Fives-Lille with a 47 mm SA 35 gun and an improved suspension system. The Panhard AMD 178B served with the French Army until the early 1960s.