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Posted on 01/31/2005 10:29:43 PM PST by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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 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. 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.
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Hi miss Feather.
No snow yet, although the weather geeks keep promising.
Hiya Sam
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Like that did you?? LOL
OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT!
Unknown to me, the landing had been delayed one orbit, so I wasn't staring skyword at the moment. I had gone into city hall to vote on a school bond issue. When I cam out, I saw the smoke/contrails across the sky, and thought, "that's wierd looking". I tuned into the radio a moment later.
LOL The girl's expression is priceless.
Oh, that was a horrible day. I wrote a tribute poem for them. Have you seen the poem?
My poem is published in an Anthology.
Columbia Crew is the name of the poem.
I believe you sent me a link some time ago.
Sam, where does the white flag go on those French tanks??
IMHO, this is the only way to deal with any of today's terrorists.
Afternoon SZonian.
IMHO, the German 88mm was the best all around gun in WWII.
Afternoon Darksheare.
Free Dixie!!
Thanks Valin.
Oops! Watch out for puddles. ;-)
I remember turning on the TV and seeing the news story just breaking. :-(
LOL! They were standard equipment. As well as being loader/gunner, the commander also had to wave the white flag.
Now this is a mini poodle, one pampered, expensive, hand fed dog. I don't think leaving him out in the rain will work...(my luck he'd get sick and need to go to the vet..his last trip for his yearly shots was $165.)
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