History
Background
The Laffly S15 was developed in the 1930s as an artillery tractor for the French Army, designed to tow artillery pieces across rough terrain. Its six-wheel-drive chassis provided excellent off-road capabilities, allowing it to navigate obstacles with ease, thanks to additional rollers.
In 1938, Laffly introduced another variant of the S15 family, the Laffly W15T, tailored to meet specific requirements from the French Army. Like the S15, the W15T was a light artillery tractor with exceptional off-road performance and a low profile, making it difficult for enemies to target. Unlike the S15, however, the W15T featured another pair of rollers at the front and another set between the two axles to improve traction when crossing trenches or high obstacles. This vehicle was also capable of towing 47 mm anti-tank guns.
The French Army approved the W15T and placed an initial order for 75 vehicles on September 2, 1939, followed by a second order for 15 vehicles on September 17. By December 21, the order was revised to 150 units, with deliveries expected by January 1940. Due to Laffly’s limited production capacity, Hotchkiss was brought in to assist with manufacturing.
Laffly W15 TCC’s Debut as a Mobile Anti-Tank Platform
In October 1939, following the fall of Poland to the German Blitzkrieg, the French Army urgently needed a mobile self-propelled anti-tank gun. General Keller, the Inspector General of French Tanks, proposed mounting a 47 mm anti-tank gun on an armored tractor chassis. On December 6, 1939, the Laffly W15T chassis was selected for this role.
The initial prototype featured full armor and an enclosed armored box on the truck bed to house the anti-tank gun. This prototype, known as the Laffly W15 TCC (Tracteur Chasseur de Chars, or “Tank Hunter Tractor”), underwent its first off-road trials on March 2, 1940, followed by firing tests with the 47 mm SA37 gun on March 4. The trials were successfully completed on March 12, and the French Army accepted the vehicle for service.
However, by May 10, 1940, the Battle of France had begun, and German Panzer divisions were advancing rapidly. The French Army lacked sufficient W15 TCCs to counter the threat. On May 17, an emergency order was placed for 50 W15 TCCs. Due to the critical situation, these vehicles were built without the enclosed armored box, featuring only an armored windscreen for the driver’s cab and an extended gun shield with 12–15 mm plating to protect the crew. The first vehicles were delivered on May 25, just eight days after the order, with a production rate of five vehicles every two days. In total, 70 Laffly W15 TCCs were hastily produced and immediately deployed to the front lines.
Laffly W15 TCC in Combat
On May 29, 1940, the 54th BACA (Mobile Anti-Tank Battery) of the 11th RA (Artillery Regiment) received its first five W15 TCC tank hunters. By June 5, they were deployed to the Belloy heights near Abbeville on the River Somme, where they prepared to ambush German armored vehicles. That evening, 20 German light tanks were spotted advancing toward Abbeville. The W15 TCCs opened fire at a range of two kilometers, destroying two tanks and immobilizing two others.
The next day, on June 6, the 54th BACA was tasked with defending the Abbeville road from a German advance. Approximately 50 German tanks were spotted, and the W15 TCCs engaged, knocking out three Panzer IVs before retreating to lure the enemy into an ambush. Two supporting W15 TCCs then opened fire, destroying six more tanks and immobilizing four. Sources conflict on the number of W15 TCCs lost, but at least one was confirmed destroyed.
Despite these successes, the 54th BACA was eventually encircled and forced to scuttle its vehicles to prevent their capture. Other BACA units (51st to 61st) of the 11th RA also used the W15 TCCs to great effect, achieving numerous kills against German tanks and armored cars. These engagements demonstrated the W15 TCC’s effectiveness as a mobile anti-tank platform, excelling in hit-and-run and ambush tactics. However, by the end of June 1940, the French Army’s situation had become untenable. After the armistice, all remaining W15 TCCs were either destroyed in action, scuttled, abandoned, captured, or scrapped.
