Thread by @rac112apilas

🧵Anti-Tank Warfare in the French Army (1979-1989)

Today I will be discussing the the French Anti-Tank doctrine during the late Cold War.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, France realized that its conventional armored forces, which were mostly based on AMX-30 MBTs, would not be able to compete with the newest Warsaw Pact tanks. In addition to identifying a technological gap, it also involved revising France's tactical doctrine for a conventional land conflict in Europe.

The French Army refocused towards leveraging an extensive number of AT weapons, both individual and crew-served. The belief was that they could avoid the expenses of developing competing tank models while maintaining combat effectiveness by concentrating their efforts on more affordable, easily accessible AT means. The idea was to use a combination of weapon systems and maneuverability to fight Soviet tanks across various ranges.

This doctrine was based on a multi-tiered defense, with different weapons systems engaging advancing armor at varying ranges. This method, known as the "Trame Antichar" (or "Anti-Tank Suite"), blended sophisticated weapons like rockets and ATGMs with more basic but versatile weapons like rifle grenades. French tactics emphasized setting up ambushes, adapting to topography, and employing smaller, mobile AT units. This meant using rifle grenades for opportunistic, last-resort defense by regular infantry, intermediate rockets and missiles for close-in defense, and advanced anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) for long-range engagements.

The HOT wire-guided Anti-Tank Guided Missile served as the “First Echelon” of the anti-tank arsenal. These systems offered substantial range, being able to target tanks from over 4,000 meters. The HOT was mounted on dedicated AT helicopters like the Gazelle or heavier land vehicles such as the VCAC Mephisto, based on the VAB. These vehicles were deployed in dedicated AT units, with the Gazelles belonging to combat helicopter regiments and the VCAC Mephistos integrated into Anti Tank Companies within armored divisions.

The “Second Echelon” of the anti-tank arsenal was covered by the intermediate-range MILAN missiles. The MILAN was primarily deployed on infantry tripods, light vehicles like jeeps, and heavier vehicles like the AMX-10P and VAB in mechanized and motorized units respectively. These ATGMs were deployed in camouflaged ambush points or “kill zones” to target Soviet tanks.

With the development of the Eryx beginning in 1985, France aimed for a close-range guided missile system that could be carried and operated by a single soldier, filling the niche between longer-range ATGMs and handheld rockets. The Eryx was designed for urban and forested areas where short-range engagements were likely, with requirements set to penetrate any Soviet armor at up to 600 meters. However, due to its extended development timeline, France adopted the APILAS as an immediate solution.
The APILAS’s single-shot, disposable nature allowed it to be operated by an individual soldier, and its ability to penetrate 750mm of RHA made it one of NATO’s most formidable handheld, unguided anti-tank options. However, its weight, unwieldiness and loud report were noted as excessive. Another weapon available was the LRAC 89 reloadable rocket launcher, which, although less powerful than the disposable APILAS, offered a wider variety of warheads. The LRAC 89 were usually deployed in binomes as reinforcements to combat groups equipped with the APILAS, remaining at the level of the platoon commander. These intermediate-ranged weapons formed the “Third Echelon” of French AT weapons, for engagements between 300 and over 600 meters.

The “Fourth Echelon” was characterized by the rifle grenade. With the FAMAS rifle’s muzzle adapted for firing rifle grenades, the average Grenadier-Voltigeur could potentially damage or destroy armored vehicles at close range. This capability was to be used in self-defense and emergency scenarios, especially in confined urban or forested areas where ambushes were more likely to take place at these distances. They were to be employed at ranges from point-blank to 75 meters.

This approach integrated anti-tank capability into standard infantry, ensuring that every soldier could theoretically contribute to anti-tank operations​. In practice, these weapons were deployed in FAMAS-FLG (Fusil Lance-Grenade) binomes. Doctrine stated for a Grenadier-Voltigeur to carry around 2 rifle grenades, out of a total of 6-14 allocated to a platoon. However, actual distribution would depend on the initiative of the group or platoon commander.
The use of improvised anti tank weapons was encouraged; Molotov cocktails, Fuel canisters, Explosive charges… This role would have also fallen to the responsibility of the FLG binome.

This echelon also included the anti-tank mines, specifically the MIACID 51, MIACAH F1 off-route mine, and later the HPD series. These would have been placed on roads leading away from the main ambush, funneling columns into the designated fire zones of the AT units. These would have also been placed at the limit of the ambush, alongside an FLG or LRAC binome to prevent enemy forces from simply “running the gauntlet” and escaping.

In the 1980s, French forces trained heavily in defensive anti-tank tactics, including area denial, ambushes with rapid withdrawal, prolonged defense, and close-quarters combat. Soldiers were taught to use terrain to slow armored advances, take initiative, and build mental and moral resilience, preparing for the large-scale mechanized offensives they expected to face. The objective to delay Soviet advances through West Germany while awaiting NATO reinforcements. If this was not forthcoming and Soviet forces broke through towards France, the mission would pivot to guerrilla-style tactics, with troops fighting in urban and forested environments and, in spirit, reviving the Maquis resistance of WWII.

Thank you guys for reading! No fancy film for you guys this time, just a mashup of Eryx missile clips and some music for ambiance.

Sources:
- INF 202 Notice sur le combat de la section d’infanterie 1986, Reprinted in 1988.
- INF 231 Règlement sur le combat antichar de l’infanterie, 1979
- armee-francaise-1989.wifeo.com