Weapons of FranceGo Back to Countries Go Back To Weapons Home Anti-Tank WeaponMILANA Franco-German wire-guided anti-tank missile system designed to defeat modern armor. It is man-portable and highly accurate, with a range of up to 2 kilometers. Widely used globally, it has proven effective in numerous conflicts.Heavy Cannon75mm field gun M1897 on M2 carriageAn updated version of the French 75mm M1897 field gun, mounted on an M2 carriage for mobility. It was notable for its rapid-firing capability and use in World War II.HowitzerObusier de 155 mm Modele 50A French 155mm towed howitzer introduced after World War II. It was known for its modernized design, providing effective indirect fire support.Infantry Support GunCanon d Infanterie de 37 modele 1916The Canon de 37 modele 1916 is a French infantry support gun developed for trench warfare in World War I. Compact and lightweight, it was used for destroying machine gun nests and fortifications.Muzzleloading CannonM1857 12-pounder NapoleonA smoothbore cannon used extensively during the American Civil War by both Union and Confederate forces. It was favored for its reliability, range, and ability to fire both explosive shells and solid shot.Rocket ArtilleryS-2 MissileThe S-2 was France's first-generation medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), deployed in the 1970s. It had a range of approximately 3,000 km and carried a nuclear warhead. It was part of France's nuclear deterrence strategy under the Force de Frappe.PlutonA French tactical ballistic missile system introduced in the 1970s, the Pluton had a range of 120 km and was designed for battlefield nuclear strikes. It was mobile and could be launched from a truck-mounted platform. It was retired in favor of more advanced systems like the Hades.HadesA French tactical missile system developed in the 1980s, the Hades was intended as a replacement for the Pluton. It had an extended range of 480 km and was designed to deliver nuclear warheads with high precision. However, it was never fully operationalized and was eventually scrapped in the 1990s.Submachine GunMAT49The MAT-49 is a French submachine gun used primarily during the post-World War II era. Chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, it was designed by the Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Tulle (MAT) and became a standard weapon for French forces in the Indochina and Algerian Wars.MAS 38The MAS-38 is a French submachine gun developed before World War II and used during the war. Chambered in 7.65x20mm Longue, it had a distinctive design with a forward-slanted grip and was used by French and German forces during the occupation.General Purpose Machine GunAA-52 Machine GunThe AA-52 is a French general-purpose machine gun chambered in 7.5x54mm or 7.62x51mm NATO. Known for its rugged design and rapid rate of fire, it saw service with French forces from the 1950s to the 2000s.Hand-Cranked Machine GunReffye mitrailleuseAn early type of volley gun used by the French military in the late 19th century. It featured multiple barrels and was capable of firing volleys of projectiles simultaneously, serving as a precursor to modern machine guns.Heavy Machine GunHotchkiss M1914A French heavy machine gun used during World War I and World War II. It was known for its reliability and was used by French and other Allied forces.Light Machine GunHotchkiss M1909A light machine gun of French design, used by various forces during World War I and World War II. It was known for being relatively lightweight and portable for its time.FM 24/29 light machine gunThe FM 24/29 was a French light machine gun introduced in the late 1920s, chambered in 7.5x54mm French. It was reliable and durable, serving as the main squad automatic weapon for French forces during World War II and beyond. Its bipod-mounted design made it well-suited for infantry support roles.Modele 1915 CSRG ChauchatA French light machine gun, infamously known for its poor reliability. It was used extensively in World War I but was plagued by jamming issues and design flaws.Muzzle-Loading PistolPistolet modele An XIIIA French flintlock cavalry pistol introduced during Napoleon's reign, commonly issued to French cavalry until the mid-19th century. It was durable and reliable for its time.RevolverLefaucheux M1858A French-designed revolver, one of the first to use self-contained pinfire cartridges. Widely used in Europe and America, it was a popular sidearm in the mid-19th century. It featured a six-round cylinder and single-action mechanism.Mle. 1892 Lebel RevolverA French service revolver used from the late 19th century through both World Wars. It was known for its robust design and reliability.LeMat RevolverA unique Civil War-era revolver, notable for its additional central barrel that fired a shotgun round. It was favored by Confederate officers for its increased firepower.Chamelot-Delvigne 1873 RevolverA service revolver used by the French military, chambered in 11mm French Ordnance. It was known for its rugged design and served as the standard sidearm in the late 19th century.Assault RifleFAMAS"A French bullpup-style assault rifle, also known as the ""Clarion."" It is chambered in 5.56mm NATO and is known for its distinctive shape, high rate of fire, and use by the French military since the 1970s."CarbineM1916 BerthierA French bolt-action rifle used during World War I. It was an improvement on earlier Berthier rifles, featuring a five-round magazine and was widely used by French and colonial troops.Mle. 1892 BerthierA French bolt-action rifle that was originally designed as a carbine for cavalry but later adapted for general infantry use. The Mle. 1892 was chambered in 8x50mmR Lebel and saw service in World War I and World War II. It was praised for its simplicity and reliability.Infantry RifleFusil Automatique Modele 1917A French semi-automatic rifle used during World War I. Chambered in 8mm Lebel, it was one of the first semi-automatic rifles to see combat use, though it faced reliability issues in the field.M1874 GrasA French bolt-action rifle that was the standard service rifle of the French Army during the late 19th century. It was the first French rifle to use a metallic cartridge.M1866 ChassepotA French bolt-action rifle that was the standard infantry weapon during the Franco-Prussian War. It was notable for its use of a paper cartridge and needle-firing mechanism, which gave it a significant range and rate of fire advantage over earlier muzzle-loading rifles.M1886 LebelA French bolt-action rifle, the first to use smokeless powder cartridges, which revolutionized military small arms. The Lebel was the standard French infantry rifle during World War I, known for its accuracy and range.MAS 36A French bolt-action rifle adopted in 1936, the MAS 36 was chambered in 7.5x54mm French and served as the standard infantry rifle for the French military during World War II and beyond. It was known for its simplicity, durability, and ease of use, with a short, robust design suited for modern warfare.MAS 49/56An updated version of the French MAS 49 semi-automatic rifle, the MAS 49/56 was introduced in 1956. It retained the 7.5x54mm French chambering and featured a shorter barrel and integrated grenade launcher. The MAS 49/56 was widely used by French forces in the post-World War II period, including in colonial conflicts.Mle 1853/67 TabatiereA French single-shot breech-loading rifle, converted from older muzzle-loading muskets. It was chambered in a large-caliber rimfire cartridge and used primarily in the mid-to-late 19th century.Musket1777 An IX MusketA French flintlock musket adopted in 1777 and modified in 1801 under the An IX (Year 9 of the French Revolutionary Calendar). It was the standard infantry weapon of Napoleonic troops and saw extensive use in the Napoleonic Wars. The musket was renowned for its durability and effectiveness in massed volley fire.1766 Charleville MusketA French flintlock musket introduced in 1766, which became the standard infantry weapon for French forces and was also used by American forces during the Revolutionary War. The Charleville musket was known for its reliability and was a key weapon in the 18th century.Liege M1853 MusketA Belgian-made percussion musket, often a copy or variant of the French Mle 1853. It was widely used in Europe during the mid-19th century and was known for its reliability and accuracy.Cavalry SaberCuirassier sword model An XIIIA heavy cavalry sword used by the French during the Napoleonic Wars. It featured a long, straight blade designed for powerful thrusts and slashing, suited for shock cavalry tactics.Cutlass1790 Grenadier SaberA short sword used by infantry and grenadiers, commonly seen in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It featured a curved blade and was employed in close combat or as a status weapon. Please Rate the Content on this page 1 - Least Useful 2 3 4 5 - Most Useful Submit