Somua SM
#62273

Description:
A French heavy tank, presented as an alternative to the AMX 50 at a design competition. Development started in 1946, but the prototype was not ready until October 1951. German tank-building technologies were applied in the development of the vehicle: it was equipped with a 100 mm gun with a magazine-system autoloader installed in an oscillating turret. The tank underwent trials from January through July 1953, during which it did not show any promising results. Consequently, the project was discontinued in favor of the AMX 50.