In the occasion of the commemorative ceremonies of the 100 years of the armistice of World War I, Industeel Saint-Chamond donated pieces of steel for the construction of a scale model of a tank in Saint-Chamond.
Four years ago, the CERPI association, made up of a passionate team wishing to promote the Industrial Memory of the Valley of the Gier, launched a project for reconstructing one of the first armored vehicles made available to the French Army at this time: a tank model 62657 dating from 1917.
Saint-Chamond in the Loire (French department), is a city that was very touched by the industrial revolution and participated in the war effort during the world conflicts of the 20th century.
13,500 workers’ jobs were created during these events, and 400 tanks were born in 400 days! A feat for that time.
It is therefore quite naturally, and in order to perpetuate the duty of memory, that a scale model in real size was created and was inaugurated this Friday, November 9, 2018 to celebrate the 100 years of the armistice of World War I.
This project federated and associated many partners, from the wood supplier to the paint supplier, all from the Valley of Gier, as well as the high schools students of Lycée Claude Lebois and Lycée Grand Grange of Saint-Chamond who were more than enthusiastic in the development of this model.
Industeel Saint-Chamond also participated in this project by offering the steel intended to be a gypsy (cogwheel which drives the crawler).
The tank was named the Couramiaud in reference to the inhabitants of Saint-Chamond.
