The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - the french S-35, R-35 and H35/39 Tanks - Feb. 1st, 2005

www.wwiitechpubs.info ^ | Daren Beazley

[SAMWolf]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.

.................................................................. .................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer.

If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions.

We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.

To read previous Foxhole threads or
to add the Foxhole to your sidebar,
click on the books below.

Somua S35

Somua S-35 of the Char de cavalerie of 4e Cuirassiers. 1e DLM during fierce fighting in the Mormal Forest, 18 to 21st May 1940. The heavily armoured Somuas inflicted severe damage on 5. Panzer Division but were eventually overwhelmed.

The Somua S-35, in May 1940, was simply regarded as the best medium tank in the world. The vehicle was designed and manufactured by Société d'Outillage Mécanique et d'Usinage d'Artillerie (SOMUA) and stems from an initial requirement instigated during the French tank building programme of 1931 which was then ratified on the 26th June 1934. The requirement specified a vehicle of 13 tonnes with 40mm of armour, a 47mm cannon and machine gun. It was to have a range of some 200km and a top speed of 30 km/h.



A prototype of some 17 tons, somewhat heavier than at first envisaged, was then produced during the Autumn of 1934. Trials began in the Spring of 1935 and an order for 50 vehicles was placed in March 1936. The Somua S-35 was the first ever tank to be manufactured from a casting process and among its many attributes, it incorporated for the very first time sloped armour. Thus the vehicle was extremely well armoured for its size to weight ratio and had a maximum speed of 40 km/h. Moreover, the cast APX4 turret was the same mounted to the Char B1 bis which incorporated the superb high velocity 47mm SA-35 L/34 cannon. Thus it was capable of dealing with any enemy armoured vehicle of the time, with relative ease, up to 800 metres away.



By May of 1940 the French army had over 400+ Somua S-35's in service which equipped the Régiments de Cuirassiers and Régiments de Dragons in the Division Légère Méchanique (DLM). DLM's consisted of four armoured regiments each with 44 tanks, a sum total of 176 light and medium tanks. Two of these regiments were equipped with the Somua S-35 medium tank, while the other two were equipped with the Hotchkiss H-35 or H-39 light tank. By May of 1940 the French could boast three such DLM's. They all took part in the early part of the conflict mostly at Hannut in Belgium and acquitted themselves extremely well.



The thick and relatively well sloped armour made the S-35 extremely difficult to kill. High velocity shells from 37mm cannon equipped tanks such as the Panzer III and Panzer 38(t) along with the anti-tank guns that equipped German field units were simply unable to penetrate the armour. Somua S-35's were lost in combat to 88mm anti aircraft guns pressed into an anti-armour role and marauding ground attack aircraft such as the Stuka dive-bomber. Others simply broke down and were abandoned. Elements of the 3rd DLM took part in the mainly British led counter attack at Arras on the 21st May 1940 and again acquitted themselves extremely well. The 47mm SA-35 cannon proved to be extremely effective against any enemy vehicle out to extreme ranges.



The Somua S-35's major 'design' drawbacks were in many instances the lack of a functioning radio and a one-man turret. This resulted in a rather slow rate of fire. French military doctrine at the time stipulated that tanks in general were thought of as infantry support vehicles pure and simple and were often committed to battle in a piece meal fashion. They were dispersed around the countryside in one's and two's to support local infantry actions and formations. Thus the German invader often had local superiority in numbers and generally outmaneuvered and outsmarted their French opponents through superior tactical leadership, command, control and communications.

Remarks

First ever tank to be manufactured entirely from a casting process.

First ever tank to incorporate sloped armour.



The Somua S-35 consisted of five main pieces. The lower hull, left and right, made from cast iron, were bolted together on the inside of the vehicle. The superstructure, also made of cast iron, came in two pieces and was bolted together similarly on the inside of the tank. This consisted of one piece to cover the fighting compartment (fore) and one to cover the engine compartment (aft), the engine being mounted in the rear of the vehicle. The hull was then mated to the superstructure and bolted together on the outside. The APX4 turret, cast in one piece and mounting both the 47mm SA-35 L/34 cannon and a coaxial 7.5mm Reibel machine gun was lowered onto the 'fighting compartment' cover to essentially complete the assembly.


Somua S35 in German service

The commander sat to the left inside the turret and had immediate access to a rotating cupola for observation purposes. There was no hatch fitted to the cupola but he had vision slits to the left and right of the APX4 turret. Unlike in the Char B1 bis he was able to electrically traverse the turret. However, elevation adjustment of the main weapon was still done by hand.


Somua S35 in German service

Entry to the vehicle was via a large door cut into the left hand side superstructure. The commander had an escape route through a large square hatch situated to the rear-right of the turret. Another escape hatch was provided in the floor behind the driver's seat for the other two members of the crew. The loader/radio operator was situated behind and to the left of the driver who was situated on the right and controlled the vehicle by means of a steering wheel. The loader/radio operator sat on a rather tall seat and was able to pass the commander/gunner 47mm ammunition from the rack situated on the left-hand side of the superstructure.

[SAMWolf]

Char Léger Modèle 1935-R (Renault R35)


Renault R35s of the 44éme B.C.C. counter attack German positions in the Abbeville area, May 29th 1940. Under the able command of Lieutenant René Bardel, the R35s enjoyed considerable, if short lived success in this attack, breaking through the German frontline and causing considerable material loss in the village of Villers-Mareuil before being forced to withdraw by superior forces.

Following combined exercises in 1932 and 1933 the French infantry called for the design of what became known as the '6 ton tank' as a replacement for the light Renault FT tank. The vehicle was to have a crew of two and be armed with one or two 7.5mm machine-guns or a 37mm gun. It was to be armoured to 40mm and be capable of a top speed of between 15 to 20 km/h. Four manufactures took part in producing design studies to meet the specification. These were Renault, Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée (FCM), Compagnie Général de Construction des Locomotives and Delaunay Belleville.

The first prototype was manufactured by Renault at the end of 1934 and was based upon the Auto-mitrailleuse de Reconnaissance 1935 Type ZT which had already been accepted into service. The vehicle was thus christened the Renault ZM. The tank was sent to the trials commission at Vincennes for extensive testing which started in January of 1935 and continued throughout the spring at both Vincennes and Mourmelon. Events in Germany then began to hasten the process of development and by April the Renault ZM was accepted into immediate production without waiting for the completion of the aforementioned trials. An initial order was confirmed in May 1935 for 300 examples under the name of char léger modéle 1935-R (R-35). The R-35 was to become the most numerous of French light infantry tanks in service in 1940. Over 1,600 examples were produced.

As with most French vehicles, R-35 tanks were taken over and used by the German Wehrmacht. Approximately 200 R-35’s were issued in 1941 to German units in preparation for operation ‘Barborossa’, primarily for reconnaissance duties. They were designated Panzerkampfwagen 35R. When the weather and ground conditions during the Russian winter deteriorated, large numbers were used as ammunition carrier or tractors to replace or support wheeled transport. Without turrets they were known as Traktor or Munitionpanzer 35R. Captured Hotchkiss H-35 and H-39’s were also pressed into service in this role.

Other conversions were made for the roles of self-propelled anti-tank gun or field howitzers. For example the Czechoslovakian manufactured 4.7cm PaK(t) L/43.4 anti-tank gun was mounted to the R-35 chassis and became known as the 4.7cm PaK(t) auf Panzerkampfwagen 35R(f) ohne Turm. 200 examples had been modified to this standard by the end of 1941.

The standard German issue 10.5cm field howitzer was also mounted on the R-35 chassis. Conversions were made to this standard in 1943/44 by the firm of Alfred Becker, Krefeld. They also made similar mountings for the H-39, FCM 36 and Char B1. In this conversion the R-35 was designated 10.5cm leFH16(SF) auf Geschützwagen 35R(f) and had a crew of 5.



Another version of the R-35 was developed by Atelier de Construction d’Issy-les-Moulineaux (AMX) which introduced a new suspension that gave slightly more ground clearance and a better cross-country performance and consisted of 12 small road-wheels each side mounted in pairs with vertical coil springs protected by skirting plates. The tracks were redesigned and were similar to that of the Char B1. This vehicle was essentially the same as the R-35 although some examples mounted the longer barreled 3.7cm SA 38 L/33 cannon. It was officially referred to as the AMX 40, but generally became known as the R-40. Two battalions were equipped with this tank in May 1940.

Remarks

The vehicle had a crew of two, driver and commander/gunner and weighed nearly 10 tonnes. Main armament consisted of a 3.7cm SA18 L/21 in a cast APX-R turret that was also standard issue to the Renault R-40, the Hotchkiss H-35 and H-39 series of vehicles.

Suspension consisted of five road wheels each side, two pairs on bell-cranks acting upon each other through rubber springs between the upper arms and one mounted independently.

The tank commander gained access to the vehicle via a hatch at the back of the turret. He stood on the floor of the vehicle and had access to a rotating cupola and three periscopic binoculars (or episcopes) in the turret walls for observation purposes. Here he also had access and could fire both the 1918 model 3.7cm SA18 L/21 cannon along with the coaxial machine-gun.

The driver sat on the left while the engine and transmission took up the right hand side of the vehicle. He gained access by two doors in the superstructure, which opened upwards and forwards, the upper half of which incorporated an episcope with armoured visor. Vision to either side was provided through vision slits backed by armoured shutters.

A fire-proof partition separated the fighting compartment from the rear part of the tank which included the Renault 4-cylinder engine, radiator and fuel tank. The self-sealing fuel tank was mounted immediately behind the partition on the left hand side. It was divided in to two parts, a reserve tank on top provided a direct, gravity feed to the carburettor while the main tank supplied fuel by pump. Behind the fuel tank was a radiator and engine oil cooler. Behind that was a belt-driven fan drawing air in through grills in the engine deck and from the fighting compartment.

The engine, on the right, transmitted power forwards, through clutch and gearbox situated in the fighting compartment, to the differential unit at the front and thus drove the sprockets through a final drive reduction system.

[SAMWolf]

Hotchkiss H-35



While the infantry chose the R-35, the cavalry had to make do with the rejected H-35. It was faster than its colleague in the infantry and better suited for the reconnaissance and covering missions.



Having the same turret as the R-35, it suffered under the same handicaps: only one seat in it and a short 3.7 cm gun useless against other tanks. The Germans captured lots of those tanks and put them in service on the Eastern Front in the rear area, among other as turretless tractors.



Identification: The H35 differs from the R-35 by its running gear (the three bogies are similar and do not have a visible central spring) and the pilot's hatch is on the right of the hull. Compared to the H-39, the H-35 has a rear hull sloped to the ground. Some H-35 will be rearmed with the same longer 3.7 cm gun as the H-39.


A H-35 destroyed during the campaign of May 1940 in the West. Notice the running gear with three similar running gear. That differentiates this tank from the very close R-35.

Hotchkiss H-38/39

H38, char leger 1938 model H serie d, was the infantry designation for Hotchkiss H-39 tank. H39, char leger modele 1935 H modifie 1939, was the cavalry designation for Hotchkiss H-39 tank..Both H-38 and H-39 could have short or longer 37mm gun.


Hotchkiss H-38

Improvement of the cavalry tank H-35. The engine is more powerful and the armor reinforced. With a greater speed and a better autonomy, this tank is in a better position to fulfill the covering and reconnaissance missions devolved to the cavalry.


Hotchkiss H-39



Despite its qualities, it can not avoid the defeat in 1940. It continued its career in the Wehrmacht in secondary missions. One captured H-39 was the first tank of Tito's partisans. Just after the war, Israelis got hold of a dozen units, the first model they had in numbers, and used them until 1956.



Identification: The rear hull, sloped on the H-35 is almost flat on the H-39. Many H-39 were rearmed with a longer 3.7 cm gun.


H-39 of the 7th Cuirassé, which tried around Amiens to oppose the German progressin first to the Sea then to the South. The H-39 on the picture have longer 3.7 cm guns.

Additional Sources:

users.swing.be/tanks.tanks/complet
www.achtungpanzer.com
www.somua.com
www.military.cz
www.jeux-strategie.com
oberkampf.muddeln.free.fr www.fronta.cz
www.ww2tanks.com

[SAMWolf]

The Germans captured some 600 Hotchkiss light tanks after the fall of France. In 1942, 24 (some sources state 60) captured French Hotchkiss H-39 (including at least one H-35) light tanks were converted to self-propelled anti-tank guns. The new vehicle was armed with the 75mm PaK 40 L/46 anti-tank gun. The new panzerjäger was designated 7.5cm PaK40(Sf) auf Geschutzwagen 39H(f). This vehicle, too, was known as the Marder I. In this conversion, the armament was mounted in an open-topped fighting compartment. A four-man crew operated the vehicle. The main armament could be traversed 30 degrees to the left and right. In addition to the main armament, a 7.92mm MG 34 was carried inside the fighting compartment. Armor protection ranged from 10 to 34mm.



Conversions were done by Captain Alfred Becker's Baukommando in Paris and at Krefeld (in cooperation with Alkett in Berlin) as well. New vehicles served with units stationed in France, including the 8th Panzerartillerie Abteilung and Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 200, commanded by Major Alfred Becker.

Turrets of vehicles converted to weapon carriers were used in fortifications along with some tanks dug in as fixed bunkers. Similar vehicles carried a 105mm howitzer in place of the PaK 40, and were known as 10.5cm leFH 18(Sf) auf Gw 39H(f).

[SAMWolf]

Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization. The primary area of concern to all VetsCoR members is that our national and local educational systems fall short in teaching students and all American citizens the history and underlying principles on which our Constitutional republic-based system of self-government was founded. VetsCoR members are also very concerned that the Federal government long ago over-stepped its limited authority as clearly specified in the United States Constitution, as well as the Founding Fathers' supporting letters, essays, and other public documents.

---

Actively seeking volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.

---

UPDATED THROUGH APRIL 2004



The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul

Click on Hagar for
"The FReeper Foxhole Compiled List of Daily Threads"

---

LINK TO FOXHOLE THREADS INDEXED by PAR35

[snippy_about_it]

"FALL IN" to the FReeper Foxhole!



It's TreadHead Tuesday!


Good Morning Everyone

If you would like added to our ping list let us know.
If you'd like to drop us a note you can write to:

The Foxhole
19093 S. Beavercreek Rd. #188
Oregon City, OR 97045

[snippy_about_it]

Free Republic Treadhead Ping





mostly cajun ;archy; Gringo1; Matthew James; Fred Mertz; Squantos; colorado tanker; The Shrew; SLB; Darksheare; BCR #226; IDontLikeToPayTaxes; Imacatfish; Tailback; DCBryan1; Eaker; Archangelsk; gatorbait; river rat; Lee'sGhost; Dionysius; BlueLancer; Frohickey; GregB; leadpenny; skepsel; Proud Legions; King Prout; Professional Engineer; alfa6; bluelancer; Cannoneer No.4; An Old Man; hookman; DMZFrank; in the Arena; Bethbg79; neverdem; NWU Army ROTC; ma bell; MoJo2001; The Sailor; dcwusmc; dts32041; spectr17; Rockpile; Theophilus;


************Snippy, I bequeath to you the FR TH PL.

148 posted on 08/24/2004 11:39:45 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)

Good morning Cannoneer, I'm awake just long enough to post, 'see' you in the morning. :-)

[Brad’s Gramma]

Sleep well, snippy. Thanks again, for the ping! :)

[radu]

Good morning to all at the Foxhole!!

To all our military men and women past and present, military family members, and to our allies who stand beside us
Thank You!

[Iris7]

Looks like the Germans got a lot more use out of those French tanks than the French did.

That last piece on German converted self propelled guns I found interesting. They all seem to be direct fire weapons. I have been curious about the Marder 1 for some time.

The Germans confiscated nearly all cars and trucks in conquered areas and used them for the war. The Eastern Front used a lot of truck transport up since the Germans had so many different kinds of trucks that getting parts in the field to fix them was nearly impossible. Logistic problems for the logistic service, heh heh.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Snippy.

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, snippy and everyone at the Foxhole.

[alfa6]

Treadhead Tuesday Bump for the Freeper Foxhole

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[The Mayor]

February 1, 2005

A Clear Call

Read: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears." —1 Samuel 3:10

Bible In One Year: Exodus 14-17

---

When George Washington Carver was a student at Iowa Agricultural College (now Iowa State University), he and a friend planned to go as missionaries to Africa. But as his agricultural studies progressed, Carver, a devout Christian, began to sense a different calling from God.

When Booker T. Washington asked him to join the faculty of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, Carver made it a matter of earnest prayer. In 1896, Carver wrote to Washington: "It has been the one ideal of my life to be of the greatest good to the greatest number of my people possible, and to this end I have been preparing myself for these many years." He pledged to do all he could through the power of Christ to better the conditions of African-Americans in the racially segregated South.

Carver's sensitive heart and willing obedience to God bring to mind the experience of Samuel. Under the guidance of Eli the priest, Samuel responded to God's voice by saying, "Speak, for Your servant hears" (1 Samuel 3:10).

During a lifetime of service, the distinguished African-American scientist George Washington Carver honored God by obeying His call. He has left a rich legacy and lasting example for us all. —David McCasland

Oh, make me, Lord, so much like Thee,
My life controlled by power divine,
That I a shining light may be
From which Thy grace may ever shine. —Robertson

A life lived for God leaves a lasting legacy.

[GailA]

Good morning...it's still looking gloomy, with threat of rain. Guess that means the dog gets to delay his dreaded bath for yet another day.

[Professional Engineer]

Goooooood Morning Foxhole! Flag-o-Gram.

[Professional Engineer]

Rollin', rollin', rollin'
get them bogies rollin'
TREADHEAD!

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone!

[Soaring Feather]

GM, PE. Thank You.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Brad's Gramma

[SAMWolf]

Hey Radu.

You surviving the winter down there?