Char 25t

Char 25t

Lorraine 40t

AMX-30 (1972)

Char 25t

Lorraine 40t

AMX-30 (1972)

France

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
8.0	8.0	8.0

Class:

Light tank

Research:53 000

Purchase:300 000

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Description

The Batignolles-Chatillon Char de 25 tonnes (shortened as Char 25t) is a Rank V French light tank with a battle rating of 8.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.81 "The Valkyries".

The Char 25t is similar to other French light tanks in that it is a small, closed tank with a compact autoloader turret in the rear of the tank. It is a bit wider than traditional French lights, but not by much. Its armour design is more akin to the AMX-50 or the Panther with a flat front and angled cheeks on the chassis. On the top of the turret is an oddity for cold war French designs, a machine gun. Though only a 7.5 mm machine gun that can be used for spotting targets or to deter some planes along with the coaxial.

General info

Survivability and armour

The Char 25t has more armour than other French light tanks, at steeper angles. With distance, it may be able to bounce the 40 mm Bofors, though it will be rare. The top of the tank is well armoured and will easily defeat .50 cal (12.7 mm) rounds from airborne enemies though anything bigger will go through. The sides and rear are nonexistent comparatively and anything "antitank" will go through with ease. Most APHE shells fired at thinner parts of the tank may fail to detonate inside, it may save your life once or twice but don't rely on it. The driver has a 50 mm plate in front of him so that will help once or twice.

Armour type:

• Cast homogeneous armour (hull cheeks, turret base, turret, cupola)
• Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret roof, cupola roof)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	30 mm (64°) Front glacis - Left 50 mm (64°) Front glacis - Right 50 mm (36°) Lower glacis	25 mm	30 mm Top (53°) 20 mm Fuel Cover 30 mm Bottom (24°)	30-50 mm (26°) Front glacis 20 mm Centre and rear 15 mm Driver's hatch
Turret	50 mm (53-56°) Turret front 30 mm (20-59°) Turret base 50 mm Barrel shroud	25 mm Turret 30 mm (0-22°) Turret base	20 mm Turret bustle 20 mm (11-21°) Pivot ball 15 mm Turret underside	20 mm
Cupola	20 mm (conical)			20 mm (conical) Outer ring 20 mm Centre

Notes:

• Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 15 mm thick.
• Belly armour is 20 mm thick.
• 8 mm Structural steel firewall separates the driver from the engine.

Mobility

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	73	73	25.4	775	954	30.51	37.56
Realistic	66	66		442	500	17.4	19.69

The Char 25t is very fast, both in top speed (even in reverse) and acceleration. With a top speed of 65 km/h and great hp/ton, it will take you anywhere you want to go. The wide tracks compared to its low weight are just another cherry on top. The transmission has 12 gears, 6 forward and 6 backward, and then a neutral. The reverse gears are identical to the forward gears, so driving in reverse is no problem (except for the more exposed crew). Also, the Char 25t can neutral steer quickly.

Armaments

Main armament

90 mm SA45					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)*
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	52	-6°/+11°	±180°	N/A	22.9	31.6	38.4	42.5	45.2	6.70	6.70	6.70	6.70
Realistic					14.3	16.8	20.4	22.6	24.0

Note:

• The main armament is reloaded by an autoloader, therefore the loader's weapon reloading skill doesn't change the reloading rate of the vehicle.

The gun is decent for its BR and role. Although it lacks a HEAT-FS shell like its nearby cousin the AMX-13-90, it still boasts the 90 mm SA45 cannon used on the AMX M4 with the same ammunition. It carries only APC, which can easily take out multiple crew if aimed correctly, though can be a tough one to master if new to solid shot. The HE shell is mostly useless though it can be useful if used against really light vehicles. 1 kg of TNT isn't nothing to scoff at.

The reload time is short, 6.7 seconds between shots (even with a knocked out loader)! It carries 7 shots in the drum, like the AMX M4, allowing for a sustained fire at multiple enemies. Make your shots count though! The solid shot will not be very forgiving to players who do not target crew positions or modules on enemy vehicles.

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
90 mm Obus de rupture	APC	215	212	201	188	175	164
90 mm Obus explosif	HE	13	13	13	13	13	13

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile Mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
90 mm Obus de rupture	APC	1,000	10.6	N/A	N/A	N/A	48°	63°	71°
90 mm Obus explosif	HE	700	11.3	0.0	0.1	945	79°	80°	81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Char 25t

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
52	44 (+8)	35 (+17)	26 (+26)	17 (+35)	8 (+44)	1 (+51)	No

Notes:

• Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
• Rack 6 (autoloader magazine) is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 7 shells.
  • This racks get filled first when loading up the tank and is also emptied first.
  • As it is equipped with an autoloader, manual reloading of the gun is not possible.
  • Once the autoloader magazine has been depleted, you can't shoot until the loader has restocked the autoloader. The restocking time is longer than the normal reload time of the gun. Take this into account when playing.
  • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 to 5 into rack 6. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
  • The depletion order at full capacity is: 6 - 1 - 2 up to 5.

Machine guns

7.5 mm MAC 31
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	4,950 (150)	1,350	N/A	N/A
Pintle	1,200 (150)	1,350	-10°/+80°	±180°

The small calibre of the MAC 31 machine guns makes them largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. They still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight.

Usage in battles

The Char 25t is a very fast flanking tank that can take on multiple foes if it has to. Engaging other tanks frontally is not advised as the main shell has a maximum pen of 193 mm, and even then there is no explosive filler, so hitting obscure weakpoints may not even disable heavier tanks. Against lighter tanks, be sure to avoid relying on armour as it only protects from some autocannon fire.

The following tactics could be used proficiently with the Char 25t:

Long range sniper/flanker: Start off the match by heading for one of the flanks. If it's an open map, hide behind hills and passively scout as you drive or head for the outermost capture point. Be wary of the speedy M18 tank destroyers, any of the Sd.Kfz. 234 series, or any other quick tanks that may be trying the same thing as you. Once in a nice position (shadow cover, somewhere to retreat, nice sight lanes), sit and wait for someone to pass by. Don't stay tunnel visioned! Slower tanks may be approaching and they will be able to instantly destroy the Char 25t if it gets the chance. If you notice enemies at a far distance, first scout them using the scout key so your team knows where they are in case you miss or are destroyed. Next, either range-find, or just go for the shot if they are close enough. Neutralize the target, and either change position and then rinse and repeat.

Brawler: Surprisingly, this tank makes a decent brawler with its compact size, incredible speed, and great reload rate. Keep near the outer flanks of any main road or capture point, and drive around looking to shoot out engines/turrets. Try not to engage any heavier tank frontally, as you will be wiped out quite quickly, and you will rarely penetrate through their frontal armour. If you manage to get the first shot, you will have the superior reload for the follow-up shot, especially if their gunner is knocked out from the first shot. Be wary though, and assume the enemy always has a shot loaded, so either be prepared to go back into cover if they're gunner gets replaced.

Support: Due to the new repair mechanics, light tanks can help repair teammates if a friendly repair has been initiated. Stick near teammates, especially heavier ones like the T95 or Maus which may occasionally meet. When they engage in a firefight, either flank around the enemy to disable their gun/movement, or if your teammate already finished off the enemy(s) and is repairing, help them. Go around and help your teammates repair and disable/destroy enemies.

Mixed: Mix and match the tactics above and of other French lights. Try to flank and don't get destroyed. The roof machine gun can allow the Char 25t to harrass planes trying for a ground strike at the team, so there's always a role that the Char 25t can play as.

Modules

Tier	Mobility		Protection	Firepower
I	Tracks		Parts	Horizontal Drive
II	Suspension	Brake System	FPE	Adjustment of Fire	Airstrike
III	Filters		Crew Replenishment	Elevation Mechanism	Smoke grenade
IV	Transmission	Engine		Artillery Support	Improved optics

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Low profile.
• Thin armour will sometimes cause APHE to penetrate straight through without detonating.
• Has smoke launchers (high arc of fire).
• Can reach its top speed quite fast.
• As fast in reverse as forward.
• Gun performance is comparable to the British QF 17-pounder's.
• Fast turret rotation.
• Good gun depression value: high gun placement make hull-down positions very efficient.
• Short reload time thanks to the 7-round autoloader: 1 shot every 6.7 seconds, comparable to reload times at low ranks.
• Has scouting ability.

Cons:

• Thin sides will get shredded easily by nearby SPAAs.
• Bad at stop-and-shoot due to oscillating turret design.
• Gun penetration rates are often subpar: relies heavily on flanking manoeuvres.
• Poor gun elevation angle of 11 degrees.
• Ammo is stored everywhere, a single penetrating shot can easily cause an ammo rack detonation.
• Restocking the autoloader is very slow once it has been depleted and it limits severely your combat performance.

History

Design

The Batignolles-Châtillon 25t or project Super AMX-13 was designed in the 1950s for a weight class twice bigger than the AMX-13. It reused many parts from the AMX-13 like the oscillating turret and the autoloader. Its primary armament was a 90mm cannon capable of shooting the same ammunition as US M47 and M48 tanks. It was equipped with a 500 HP engine and could reach 65 km/h. It was operated by 4 crew members.

Development

Two prototypes were made in 1954 before the project was abandoned. The hurdles of the concept were the impossibility to guarantee NBC protection on the oscillating turret, the external reload of the autoloader exposing the crew during combat, an unreliable hydraulic suspension and external shot traps on the turret. Proofs of concept and technologies developed in this program were however later reused on other French tank projects, especially the AMX-30 (transmission).

Combat usage

It never saw service or combat action in the French Army.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Char 25t from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Best experimental vehicles discusses the Char 25t at 4:00 - War Thunder Official Channel

Char 25t - Stock vs Spaded - First Impressions - Napalmratte

Char 25t Tank Review - NUSensei

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same gun

• ARL-44
• AMX M4

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

• AMX-13 (Family)

External links

• [Devblog] Char 25t and T-80B
• [Wikipedia] Batignolles-Chatillon Char 25T
• [Tanks Encyclopedia] Bâtignolles-Chatillon Char 25 tonnes