Laffly Trucks

This page contans what little information I have gathered on Laffly trucks. Hopefully, in the future, it will be expanded to one page per truck like that for the S20TL.

Overview

During the 1930's Laffly produced a range of all-wheel-drive cross-country trucks (and tractors) for military purposes. They were often designed by Laffly and produced in conjunction with other companies such as Hotchkiss who even provided the engines. All featured an additional set of small wheels in front and similar set suspended beneath the driver's cab to help the vehicle cross ditches and obstacles.

S15R

The Laffly S15R was a 6x6 all-terrain liaison vehicle (VLTT - voiture de liaison tout terrain) used as a personnel carrier and reconnaissance vehicle. It shared a common design and chassis with the S15T although the S15R had a lighter rear cab and a different transmission that allowed for higher road speed.

S15T

The Laffly S15T was a 6x6 light artillery tractor used to tow modernized variants of the 75 mm mle 1897 field gun and the 105mm C mle 1935 B howitzer. It shared a common design and chassis with the S15R although the S15T had a heavier rear cab and a different transmission that allowed towing but gave a lower road speed.

S15TOE

The Laffly S15TOE (Théâtre d'Opérations Extérieures - Overseas Theatre of Operations) was an armoured scout car designed and built for service in the African colonies. The standard S15 chassis was used with the addition of an armoured body. It had a small turret armed with a single Reibel mle 1931 7.5 mm machine gun. This was a hybrid vehicle in that it operated both as an armoured car and an armoured personnel carrier; it could transport an half-section of infantry.

V15R

The Laffly V15R was a 4x4 all-terrain liaison vehicle (VLTT - voiture de liaison tout terrain) used as a personnel carrier and reconnaissance vehicle. It shared a common design and chassis with the V15T. It was usually armed with a armed with an FM 24/29 LMG and 1000 rounds.

V15T

The Laffly V15T was a 4x4 light artillery tractor used to tow the 25 mm SA-L mle 37 anti-tank guns. The Laffly company itself only manufactured the first 100 vehicles, the rest of the production being taken over by La Licorne company. It shared a common design and chassis with the V15R.

A group of two 25mm guns had four V15T trucks. Two trucks were used to tow the guns and had a driver and gun crew of four: Corporal (gun commander), Gunner, Loader and Ammunition bearer. The other two trucks, also with a driver and 4 passengers, were used to carry the Staff Sergeant commanding and extra ammunition. One truck was armed with an FM 24/29 LMG for local defence.

W15T

The W15T was designed by Laffly who only produced one prototype. It was a derivative of the S15T. Two different versions were produced by other manufacturers. Hotchkiss produced the W15T / 47mm AC as a tractor for the 47mm anti-tank gun and Citroën produced the W15T / 25mm AC as a tractor for the 25mm anti-aircraft gun. Additionally Hotchkiss produced a version of the W15T intended to replace the S15T as the tractor for the 75 mm mle 1897 field gun and the 105mm C mle 1935 B howitzer; however only four examples had been produced before the war ended.

W15T / 47mm AC

Hotchkiss produced the W15T as a tractor for the 47 mm SA modèle 1937 Atelier Puteaux anti-tank gun. After the first 80 vehicles had be produced, the remaining production was redirected to the W15TCC tank hunter.

W15T / 25mm AC

Citroën produced the W15T as a tractor for the Hotchkiss 25mm mle 1939 anti-aircraft gun. The first of these vehicles evtered service in April 1940. They were issued to the anti-aircraft platoons of the W15TCC tank hunter batteries. 

W15TCC

The W15TCC  was a tank hunther version of the W15T equipped with a 47mm anti-tank gun. Details can be found on its own page.

S20TL

The Laffly S20TL was a 6x6 truck intended primarily to transport the dragoon regiment belonging to the DLM. Details can be found on its own page.

S25T

This artillery tractor was used initially planned to tow the 155mm C mle 1917 Schneider heavy howitzers but went in service in three battalions towing the new 105mm L mle 1936 Schneider medium field guns.

Additionally a few recovery vehicles were produced, and these were assigned, one per battery, to the W15TCC tank hunther batteries.

S35T

This artillery tractor was intended primerily to tow the 155mm L mle 1918 Schneider, 155mm mle GPFT and 155mm mle GPF heavy field guns. It was also used to tow the 220mm mle 1916 siege mortar. 

Some S35T trucks were equipped with winches and could act as recovery vehicles.

S45T

From 1935 the typical recovery vehicle for heavy tanks was the SOMUA MCL5. However this vehicle, with only a 90hp engine, reached its limits with the advent of the Char B1 heavy tank. The Laffly S45T was developed to replace the MCL5. These recovery vehicles together with the 30 tonne trailer (three of each) equipped the "compagnie d'échelon" och the Char B1 bis heavy tank battalions. 

Because so few were delivered, the S35T or the older MCL5 was often found doing this duty instead.