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.
The Panhard 178, nicknamed “Pan-Pan”, was a highly advanced and successful pre-WWII French reconnaissance vehicle. It featured a four-wheel drive chassis and dual driving controls for rapid reversal.
Property
Value (AMD 35 / Panhard 178)
作用
Reconnaissance Armored Car
制造商
Panhard et Levassor
介绍
1937
船员
4 (Commander, Gunner, Driver, Rear Driver)
Combat Mass
8.2 metric tonnes
Dimensions (L × W × H)
4.79 m × 2.01 m × 2.31 m
Armament and Protection
System / Component
Details
主要武器装备
25 mm SA 35 high-velocity anti-tank cannon
次要武器
1 × 7.5 mm Reibel coaxial machine gun
Ammunition Capacity
150 rounds (25 mm); 3,750 rounds (7.5 mm)
Max Armor Thickness
20 mm (Hull Front); 26 mm (Turret Front)
Turret Type
APX-3 (powered traverse)
Mobility and Powerplant
Engine: Panhard 4-cylinder petrol engine (various models)
Power Output: Approx. 105–110 hp
Maximum Road Speed: 72 km/h (45 mph)
Maximum Reverse Speed: 65 km/h (40 mph)
Operational Range: Approx. 300 km
Key Feature: Dual steering controls (front and rear) for quick escapes and reconnaissance maneuvers.
After the Fall of France in 1940, over 200 captured Panhard 178s were pressed into service by the German Wehrmacht, designated as thePanzerspähwagen P 204(f), often used for railway security and on the Eastern Front.