Hi guys,
Besides the posts I already make to talk about potential additions for the French tech tree after every disappointing patch, I will now also make a post to dive into specific lineups and what additions could be made to improve them. Thus creating a more enjoyable grind through the ranks of France.
I wish to start this series (it’ll be a series only if this post actually does well ofc) by looking at the French 7.3 lineup.
Before you say anything, yes obviously I would fill it up with 7.0 vehicles, but the reason why I didn’t here is because it shouldn’t be needed. All the 7.0 vehicles could be replaced with something 7.3. Even if you bring 7.0 tanks though, the lineup has its issues. You have no proper SPAA for this br, the 5.7 and 6.3 options really don’t cut it anymore here. Your CAS and CAP options are very much outdated, your best option is also sitting one full BR lower, more if you bring the F4U instead of the F8F. This becomes extra painful when you realize almost every vehicle you can currently take at this BR can be penned by aircraft cannons. This leaves you almost helpless in a game where the enemy spawns a lot of planes.
Capability-wise it is actually a somewhat monotonous lineup as well. 7.3 in isolation is purely tank destroyers, leaving you wanting when you get a city map usually. With 7.0 to pad it out, you get tank destroyers and some highly mobile autoloading tanks, but nothing to actually slug it out properly in close quarters.
The reason then why I start with this lineup, is twofold.
- The 7.0 lineup actually has a lot of potential, the Foch alone is an iconic vehicle that people would want to build a lineup around. The AMX-10M perhaps not so much, but it is a meme in itself.
- The options here are plentiful and don’t even require that much effort from Gaijin to implement. Making it a particularly easy one to focus on improving.
Now, let’s dive in to my proposed additions.
The M47 (niveleur):
I’ve got to be honest here, suggesting this is probably not gonna be the most popular choice, but it would be a very easy and very effective way to improve the 7.3 lineup. Historically, France was one of major operators of the M47, having one of the biggest fleets of the vehicle outside of the US. This gives France a very good reason to get the vehicle. I have chosen to present the niveleur variant here, as instead of a direct C&P it is a version unique to France. It comes with a unique dozer blade, and the frontal machine gun hub has been removed, thus giving it ever so slightly better frontal protection in exchange for worse mobility.
The VBL 20:
This is France’s counterpart to the Wiesel 1A4, and it is very very similar. The base is obviously different, being the French VBL armoured car. A little guy with exceptional mobility, capable of reaching top speeds up to 95 km/h with a power to weight ratio of 25.
The weapon system is the exact same as the one found on the Wiesel 1A4, as it has the same turret. It also features the same thermal imaging system attached to it.
Your playstyle will be very similar, quickly sneaking through the map, attacking enemy ground vehicles and surprising enemy planes from unexpected map locations.
The VBC 90 (Lynx 90):
A prototype of the well-known VBC 90 outfitted with the Lynx 90 turret, which is in turn outfitted with a cockerill mk.3 cannon. This cannon is already in-game on the C.13 T90 in the Italian tech tree. It’s a 90mm low-pressure gun which can fire a HEAT round with 250mm of penetration. Combined with the mobile VBC 90 platform, this should be a fun light tank to harass your enemies’ flanks.
BeNeLux option: M113 CM90:
A prototype consisting of an M113 chassis with a Cockerill CM90 turret. This again features the Cockerill Mk.3 cannon with the same properties as with the vehicle above. This turret could optionally be fitted with a laser rangefinder, so it would be less mobile than the VBC 90, but better at range. It’s a worse anti-tank gun than what can be found on the Israeli/Chilean Bardelas, which why I think it could go at 7.3 instead of 7.7.
Adding these ground vehicles would make the 7.3 lineup feel complete. You get a properly armoured medium tank with the M47, a useable SPAA with the VBL 20 and a light tank with the VBC 90 (Lynx 90). Optionally even 2 of the latter if the M113 CM90 were to get added as well (but I consider this much more of a nice-to-have than the preceding vehicles).
We’ve still got the issue of CAS and CAP though. France notoriously has a large gap between its last props and first jets, it is an issue that can be resolved, but not with ease. The French aircraft that fit into this gap were mostly built as unarmed prototypes, being cancelled before their planned armament could be applied.
The Fouga 90:
A further development of the Fouga Magister which featured improved engines, pushing the total thrust to 695kgf or 1390 kgf combined for both engines. It had 4 external hardpoints on which a variety of weapons could be fitted. Planned but not actually fitted was an armament of 2x 20mm cannons. A later version featured upgraded engines offering 790kgf, good for a combined thrust of 1580kgf. This brings it very closely in-line with the performance of the L-39.
SNCAC NC.1071:
The first jet bomber developed by the French after WW2. It was developed from a different prototype which was originally prop powered. It’s forward armament is disputed, but it features a rear defensive turret with 2x 20mm mg151s and an internal bomb bay that could carry up to 800kg of ordnance. Combine this with a top speed of about 800km/h and you get a plane that could be CAS at 7.3.
Conclusion:
A few key additions and the currently nearly empty 7.3 lineup could flourish into one of the most enjoyable and diverse lineups that the French tech tree has to offer, finally giving a proper home to the legendary Foch. This will make the transition from the lower mid ranks into France’s superb 7.7 lineup a lot less painful and hopefully result in more people sticking around until the end.
As always feel free to give your own suggestions if you can think of anything else that could be a good addition for this lineup.