ARL V 39

Following the rejection of the Automoteur Garnier-Renault sur chassis D3 project in 5/1935, work began on a self-propelled gun intended to support infantry at S.O.M.U.A. (Société d´Outillage Mécanique et d´Usinage d´Artillerie) and ARL (Atelier de Construction de Rueil). SOMUA created the SAu-40 project, ARL competed with its ARL V 39, sometimes also referred to as the ARL 40 (this designation is misleading, it is found in older sources, and could possibly be the designation given to production vehicles produced in 1940). Work started at Baudet-Donon-Roussel but with the help of ARL workers. The chief engineer was Mr Valle (ARL). The initial of his surname "V" is found in the type designation ARL V 39.
The machine used components from the B-1 heavy tank, which the company was involved in the production of. The armament, which was to consist of a 75 mm gun, was completed and supplied by APX. It was a modification of the 1929 modelle de casemate 75 mm fortress gun, which was to be mounted in the front of the hull, whose armour was 50 mm thick. The gun had a semi-automatic breech mechanism and an automatic loading device. The secondary armament, a 7.5 mm calibre machine gun, was located in a small turret located on the hull roof, the same as that of the rival project SAu-40. The prototype was worked on in 1937 and 1938. It was completed and delivered on 22 June 1938 and tested by the Army between 23 March 1939 - 25 March 1939 (together with SAu-40). After the tests, the project was approved for series production. The order of 7.11.1939 was for the construction of 72 units (including 24 units of the Command Vehicle series), but serial production did not begin until the surrender of France. Francois Vauvillier states that in 9/1939 the order was increased to a total of 108 vehicles (including 36 command vehicles).
The prototype was evacuated to North Africa (Morocco). There is no further information about its further fate.
In the event of series production, a commander's modification with extended radio equipment was to be created as well. In this form, the hull-mounted gun would be removed from the command machine.

Francois Vauvillier - The encyclopedia of French tanks and armoured vehicles 1914-1940, Histoire & Collections, published in 2014, ISBN: 978-2-35250-322-4
Pierre Touzin - Les Véhicules Blindés Francais 1900-1944, published by E.P.A., published in 1979, ISBN : 2-85120-094-1
Ivo Pejčoch - Obrněná technika 7, France 1919-1945, published by Ares, Prague 2007, ISBN 978-80-86158-47-1
www.chars-francais.net
http://france1940.free.fr/armee/otdb1.html