The AMX 38 was an experimental French light tank developed by Ateliers de construction d’Issy-les-Moulineaux, with design work beginning in 1937. Intended for infantry support, it aimed to improve on existing French light tanks through better protection, mobility, and trench-crossing ability. Its initial design featured approximately 40 mm of welded armour, a 37 mm SA 38 gun, and a MAC Mle. 1931 coaxial machine gun. A diesel engine powered the vehicle to around 25 km/h, while its long hull and rear trench-crossing tail helped it navigate difficult ground. By late 1939, the French Army wanted stronger armour and more powerful weapons to counter enemy tanks. AMX therefore proposed a heavier version with 60 mm frontal armour, a 47 mm gun, and a more powerful engine. These changes brought the design closer to the weight and capabilities of a medium tank, although it retained its infantry-support role. The AMX 38 never entered mass production, and France’s defeat in 1940 brought development to an end.
