Hotchkiss H 35 and H 39

Description

The Hotchkiss H 35 was a light tank that entered service with the French army in 1935. In 1938 production of the H 35 was replaced by the H 35 model 1939, the H 39

Three H 35 tanks in 12mm from Minifigs
Note that the lead tank has been converted and given a longer SA38 gun and is probably the platoon leader.

Development

The development plan of 1926 called for a cheap mass-produced light tank to replace the Renault FT-17. Renault developed the Char D1 to fulfil these requirements, but it was neither cheap nor particularly light (being classed as a medium tank). Following the combined exercises of 1932 and 1933, a plan was created inviting French industry to tender designs. Seventeen companies responded, five submitted prototypes of which three were taken into production: Hotchkiss H 35, Renault R 35 and the FCM 36. There was great rivalry between Hotchkiss and Renault, and in the end the Hotchkiss tank was adopted by the cavalry and the Renault tank by the infantry.

The H 35 was a light tank designed for use by the cavalry just as the Renault R 35 was designed for the infantry. The Hotchkiss and the Renault were rather alike in appearance, but can easily be told apart; 6 wheels on the Hotchiss and 5 on the Renault. As would be expected of a cavalry tank the H 35 had a faster speed than the R 35 but this was obtained to some extent at the expense of armour protection. The H 39 had improved armour and a bigger engine giving a faster top speed. The difference between the two models can be seen by the raised engine compartment at the rear of the tank in order to accomodate the larger engine.

H 35 with APX-R1 and long barrelled SA 38 gun by Pithead Miniatures.

Most H 35 and H 39 tanks had the APX-R turret armed with the 37mm SA18 gun but some received the new APX-R1 turret armed with the longer barrelled 37mm SA38 which had a better anti-tank capability. A total of 350 SA38 guns were installed in the R 39, H 35 and H 39; this being a very small percentage of the available tanks, and generally only enough to equip the platoon leader's vehicle. It is often stated, but wrongly, that the SA18 equipped the H 35 and the SA38 the H 39.

H 35 tank belonging to the 18th Dragoons.

Operation

The commander was very overworked in the one-man turret. Apart from directing the driver and keeping in touch with other tanks in his unit (by flags) the commander was also the main gunner and loader. So in action he would have his head in the cupola directing the driver, he would then have to spot the target and jump down into the turret when he would load with the correct ammunition, rotate the turret by hand onto the target, peer through the gun-sight and set the range, finally fire the gun.

The turret had a cupola where most other tanks would have a turret hatch. The commander could not raise his head out of the turret and thus had a more restricted view than was possible for German tank commanders who often when into battle so. When captured and used by the German Army the cupola was modified by cutting away the top and installing a two-door hatch. This gave the commander much improved visibility.

The driver sat in the hull on the right. He had a hatch in front of him which was usually left open when the tank moved behind the lines but which would have been suicidal to have open in combat when he relied on an observation slit and a episcope which necessitated detailed instructions from the commander.

H 39 equipped with a 37mm SA38 gun.

Deployment

The Hotchkiss light tanks equipped the following:

• The four Light Mechanised Divisions (DLM) - 86 tanks per division together with 96 SOMUA S 35.
• The Light Cavalry Divisions (DLC) - 13 tanks per division
• The first three Reserve Armoured Divisions (DCR) - 80 tanks per division together with 68 Char B1 bis.
• A few independant smaller units; BCC, CACC, RCA, GRDI

10th May 1940

When the Germans's attacked the French army had the following Hotchkiss H 35 and H 39 tanks on active service. 802 Hotchkiss tanks (328 Hotchkiss H35 and 474 Hotchkiss H39) were in France and 42 abroad.

• 13th BCC: 40+5 Hotchkiss H-35
• 14th BCC: 40+5 Hotchkiss H-39 (part of the 2nd DCR)
• 25th BCC: 40+5 Hotchkiss H-39 (part of the 1st DCR)
• 26th BCC: 40+5 Hotchkiss H-39 (part of the 1st DCR)
• 27th BCC: 40+5 Hotchkiss H-39 (part of the 2nd DCR)
• 38th BCC: 40+5 Hotchkiss H-35
• 42nd BCC: 30 Hotchkiss H-39 (part of the 3rd DCR)
• 45th BCC: 40+5 Hotchkiss H-39 (part of the 3rd DCR)
• 342nd CACC: 15 Hotchkiss H-39 (in Norway)
• 1/42nd CACC: 15 Hotchkiss H-35
• 2nd GRDI: 13 Hotchkiss H-39 (part of 9th DIM - also 13 Panhard 178)
• 5th GRDI: 13 Hotchkiss H-35 (part of 25th DIM - also 13 Panhard 178)
• 1st RAM: 13 Hotchkiss H-35 (part of 1st DLC)
• 2nd RAM: 13 Hotchkiss H-35 (part of 2nd DLC)
• 3rd RAM: 13 Hotchkiss H-35 (part of 3rd DLC)
• 4th RAM: 13 Hotchkiss H-35 (part of 4th DLC)
• 5th RAM: 13 Hotchkiss H-35 (part of 5th DLC)
• 1st RC: 43+4 Hotchkiss H-39 (part of 3rd DLM - also 44+4 S-35)
• 2nd RC: 43+4 Hotchkiss H-39 (part of 3rd DLM - also 44+4 S-35)
• 4th RC: 43+4 Hotchkiss H-35 (part of 1st DLM - also 44+4 S-35)
• 1st RCA : 13 Hotchkiss H-35 and 14 Hotchkiss H-39 (in Tunisia)
• 18th RD: 43+4 Hotchkiss H-35 (part of 1st DLM - also 44+4 S-35)
• 13rd RD: 43+4 Hotchkiss H-35 (part of 2nd DLM - also 44+4 S-35)
• 29th RD: 43+4 Hotchkiss H-35 (part of 2nd DLM - also 44+4 S-35)
• 11th RDP: 63+6 Hotchkiss H-39 (part of 3rd DLM)

During the fighting the following tanks were added.

• 351st CACC: 11 Hotchkiss H-39
• 3rd RC: 40 Hotchkiss H-39 (part of the 4th DCR - also 39 S-35)
• 7th RC: 24 Hotchkiss H39 (also 25 Somua S-35)

Technical Data

Hotchkiss H 35
Manufacturer	Hotchkiss (1935-1938)
Quantity	1st September 1939: 400
Physical Characteristics
Weight	9.4 tons, 9.6 tonnes, 9,600kg
Length	4.22 m (13' 10")
Width	1.95 m (6' 5")
Height	2.15 m (7' 1")
Armament
Main	37mm SA18 or 37mm SA38
Secondary	7.5mm Chatellerault MAC mle 1931 coaxial machine-gun
Elevation	-16 to +20°
Traverse	360° (hand)
Ammunition	Main: 100 (60 HE and 40 AP), Machine-gun 2250 (1350 ball and 900 AP)
Armour thickness and angle from verticle
Turret Front	40mm @ 5° and 28°
Turret Side	40mm @ 28°
Turret Rear	40mm @ 30°
Turret Top	25mm @ 90°
Gun Mantlet	40mm round. The Germans measured 45mm
Superstructure Front	35mm round
Superstructure Side	35mm @ 20°
Superstructure Rear	35mm @ 25°
Superstructure Top	22mm @ 90°
Hull Front	35mm @ 30°
Hull Side	35mm @ 0°
Hull Rear	22mm @ 30°
Hull Bottom	12mm @ 90°
Performance
Engine	Hotchkiss 3.5 litre, 6 cylinder, petrol, 75 hp at 2,700 rpm
Speed (Road)	36 km/h (22 mph)
Speed (Cross-Country)	12 km/h (8 mph)
Range (Road)	130 km (81 miles)
Range (Cross-Country)	95 km (59 miles)
Other
Crew	2: Commander, Driver
Radio	None
Other nations	Germany: Panzerkampfwagen 35H 734(f)

An H 35 tank in 12mm from Minifigs.
In this scale the difference is so small that it could easily be used as an H 39.