Army Trucks - France: Illustrated History Books & Guides

Tous les Latil militaires 1914-1940 (Volume 1) - Camions et tracteurs routiers

Georges Latil is remembered as one of the pioneers of front-wheel drive thanks to his patented invention of 1897. At the beginning of the automobile era, his system was designed to replace the horse-drawn front axle of a vehicle with a powered unit driving the front wheels, which remained steerable while becoming driven.

This invention established Latil's reputation and led to the development of vehicles such as the Latil TAR artillery tractor, supplied in large numbers to the French Army during the First World War. Featuring four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering, the TAR was designed for maximum traction and military use.

Pages of the book "Tous les Latil militaires 1914-1940 (Volume 1) - Camions et tracteurs routiers"

After the war, the Suresnes-based manufacturer continued to improve and modernise its main models while expanding its range of four-wheel-drive tractors, trucks, and commercial vehicles. Although Latil production numbers were relatively limited, the company produced many military variants.

This book is the first of two volumes dedicated to Latil military vehicles. It covers the TAR tractor family, including the smaller TP tractor carrier, as well as trucks and vans used by the French armed forces from the early 20th century until the armistice of June 1940.

Part of a series on vehicles used by the French Army, the book presents models chronologically with historical documentation and period colour references.

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Le grand album des Citroën-Kégresse sous l'uniforme

When the word "autochenille" comes up in conversation between vintage car enthusiasts, the association of ideas immediately leads to the mention of two names that have become legendary: Citroën and Kégresse.
While the first does not need to be introduced, the second is no less famous for having invented, developed and brought to series production a system of flexible tracked propulsion systems replacing the rear wheels of commercial vehicles.
Thus were born the first "all-terrain" vehicles, light half-tracks capable of driving on roads as well as on varied terrain. And naturally, the main customer for this new family of vehicles would be the French army.

Pages of the book "Le grand album des Citroën-Kégresse sous l'uniforme"

For the first time, all the non-armored Citroën-Kégresse vehicles used under the tricolor flag from the 1920s to 1940 are reviewed, respecting the chronology, the technical evolution of the equipment and their various military uses: liaison cars, ambulance cars, light artillery and airfield tractors, transport of mounted dragoons, medium recovery tractors, etc.
No model is forgotten, each is treated by giving first place to the illustration, following a solidly structured sequence by the author's customary rigor of analysis and synthesis.

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Tous les Panhard militaires 1914-1940

Examined from a military perspective, the Panhard & Levassor company is best known for its armoured cars. These, from the Panhard-Genty of the Morocco campaign in 1908 to the eight-wheeled prototype of 1940 that would later give birth to the EBR, are of course present in this new work.
But it is above all a completely unknown aspect of the production of the manufacturer from Avenue d'Ivry that is highlighted: the Panhard vans and trucks that served under the flag from the dawn of the 20th century until the armistice of June 1940.

During the First World War, Panhard delivered thousands of liaison cars and tarpaulin vans to the French armies, as well as specialized vehicles: ambulances, squadron estates and, above all, remarkable four-wheel drive artillery tractors.
During the interwar period in mainland France, it was the turn of gas-powered trucks, which the manufacturer had made a specialty of, while in Morocco in the 1930s, Panhard heavy-duty trucks adapted to hot countries crisscrossed the tracks following the brand's armored cars.
Finally, during the rearmament period and the 1939-1940 campaign, Panhard, although it was focused on the production of its famous discovery armoured car (AMD 35), would nonetheless produce several thousand 3.5 t and 5 t trucks.

This book is the fourth in a collection intended to cover all the vehicles used by the French army. Each work, very visual, presents all the models in a systematic manner, following a chronological classification, the main ones being restored in their period colors.

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Tous les Berliet Militaires, 1914-1940 (Volume 1) - Les Camions

Marius Berliet, the most illustrious of the French pioneers of industrial vehicles, embarked on the then fledgling path of the military truck in 1906. From success to success, many times winner of endurance events, he developed on the eve of the Great War the immortal CBA which would become one of the symbols of the Sacred Way at Verdun and of the victory of 1918, "the French road having defeated the German rail".

After the Great War, the great Lyon manufacturer remained one of the most important suppliers to the French army. The very hard service in Morocco during the Rif War (1925-1926) completed the popularization of military Berliet and, at the time of rearmament in the face of the new German threat, the Vénissieux factory produced thousands of 3.5-ton and 5-ton trucks, tarpaulins or tankers, as well as special 7.5-ton heavy-duty trucks and 15-ton tank transporters.
All these models, and many others, are reviewed in this volume.

Pages of the book "Tous les Berliet Militaires, 1914-1940 (Volume 1) - Les Camions"

This book devoted to the Berliet is the third in a rich collection intended to cover all the vehicles used by the French army, all manufacturers combined.
Each book, very visual, reviews the models systematically, following a chronological classification, with for each the most beautiful photographs, the detailed technical sheets and, as far as it was possible to find them, the original registrations.
In addition, the main models are presented in color, allowing collectors and modelers to discover their period liveries.

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Tous les Laffly militaires 1914-1940

Who could have predicted that the venerable company founded in the mid-19th century and specialized for a very long time in road construction equipment, would become one of the most famous vehicle manufacturers for the French army?
During the Great War, Laffly, faithful to its original vocation, only supplied national defense with... steamrollers. But from the end of the 1920s, the manufacturer seduced the army with its LC2 "camion rapide". Its range continued to grow from then on, with particular success in the field of overseas and Saharan vehicles, as well as radio vans.

Then came the secret purchase of the patent of the Austrian engineer Hollos, which would propel Laffly to the firmament of all-terrain vehicle specialists. To the point that, unable to satisfy all the demands due to the modesty of its industrial tool, the Asnières manufacturer formed a consortium with Hotchkiss and La Licorne to ensure production which was unfortunately struck in its momentum in 1940.

Pages of the book "Tous les Laffly militaires 1914-1940"

This book devoted to military Lafflys is the second in a rich collection intended to cover all vehicles used by the French army, all manufacturers combined.
Each book, very visual, reviews the models and types systematically, following a chronological classification, with for each the most beautiful photographs, detailed technical sheets and, as far as it was possible to find them, the original registrations.
In addition, the main models are presented in color, allowing collectors and modelers to discover their period liveries.

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Tous les Renault militaires 1914-1940 (Volume 1) : Les camions

Of all the French automobile manufacturers, the company founded in 1898 by the Renault brothers is the one that has supplied the greatest number of vehicles intended for national defense. As early as 1911, the Billancourt company entered its trucks in the "endurance tests" organized annually by the French army. This was the beginning of a very large production of trucks.
The growth of the sector, linked to the Great War, would not stop and, from one conflict to another, tens of thousands of Renault industrial vehicles would leave the Billancourt factories to fulfill eminent services under the flag.

All these models up to June 1940, from 2 tons of payload, are reviewed in this volume. A historical documentation paying tribute to all the engineers and workers who worked in the French automobile industry, in the service of the Nation.

Pages of the book "Tous les Renault militaires 1914-1940 (Volume 1) : Les camions"

This book devoted to Renault trucks is the first in a rich collection intended to cover all vehicles used by the French army, all manufacturers combined.

Each book, very visual, reviews the models and types systematically, following a chronological classification, with for each the most beautiful photographs, detailed technical sheets and, as far as it was possible to find them, the original registrations.

In addition, the main models are presented in color, allowing collectors and modelers to discover their period liveries.

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