France's wild 1940s centipede tank that stayed on paper

The article discusses an unusual and largely forgotten French armored vehicle concept from the 1940s known as the Train d’Assaut (Assault Train), designed by Victor-Barthélemy Jacquet during the final years of World War II. Unlike conventional tanks, this design featured a modular, articulated multi-segment structure resembling a mechanical centipede, with three fully tracked and hydraulically linked armored cabins. The front cabin was narrow and angled for obstacle engagement, the middle housed the engine and crew, and the rear contained secondary weapons and acted as a counterbalance. Each segment had independent suspension, tracks, and turrets, connected by hydraulic spherical joints that allowed semi-independent movement and multi-axis articulation. Jacquet’s innovative design aimed to address key challenges faced by tanks of the era, such as crossing difficult terrain and maintaining traction. The hydraulic articulation theoretically enabled the vehicle to climb vertical obstacles, flex horizontally over uneven ground, and lock joints to bridge anti-tank ditches. This three-se