| Hotchkiss H-35/H-39 |
| Hotchkiss H-39 Light Tank Crew: 2 Armament: one 37mm gun, one 7.5mm mg Armor: 40mm maximum, 12mm minimum Weight: 12,000 kg Performance: 22.5mph road speed, 93miles range History: In service with French Army 1936-1940. Operated and modified by Germany When France formed its first armored divisions, it called that they should be equipped with medium tanks, the SOMUA S-35, and light tanks supporting these. The H-35 and later H-39 were developed to fill the light tank role. A considerable number of these tanks were produced and in service when the war started. They were disadvantaged having only two crew members. The commander being charge of operating the main gun as well as commanding. This often was a deciding factor on the battlefield. However, the tank was superior to German light tanks in respects to armor, and armament, as even the low velocity 37mm gun of the R-39 was more powerful then the 20mm gun on the German PzKpfw II. A number of these tanks were captured by the Germans and put into use on other fronts. Several R-39�s also found their way into the conflict in Palestine in 1948. |
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