TRC 37 L Lorraine

The Chenillette Lorraine formed part of a military production programme ordered to replace the Renault UE light tracked infantry transport vehicle. The requirement for the new vehicles was set in the context of the expanding mechanisation programme that envisaged light, tracked armoured vehicles operating in logistic and support roles. The development of the mechanisation programme was pointing to a need particularly for more powerful and versatile machines. The Chenillette Type 37L met these requirements extremely well. The power plant, a 70hp Delahaye Type 135, was a considerable improvement on its predecessors. The basic, elongated vehicle chassis, suspended on three bogies each side gave better traction and the transport capacity was increased. It was decided to equip the Armoured Divisions (Divisions Cuirassees) then in formation with the new Chenillettes to be known as tank resupply vehicles or tracteur de ravitaillement pour chars TRC). Several versions and roles were envisaged: supply and ammunition vehicles with a tracked trailer; supply and ammunition vehicles with a tracked petrol trailer for refuelling battle tanks; and armoured personnel carriers for light infantry with a specially designed tracked trailer.

Only the first two versions went into major series production. Prototype construction and series production was undertaken by the Company's original factory at Luneville. The first trials were made with a shortened version of the Chenillette Lorraine - the Chenillette Legere - in which the suspension was carried by only two bogies on each side. The silhouette of this machine was closely similar to the Renault 1931 UE. The first order for 214 production vehicles was sanctioned by the Army Council on 17th October 1936 and the contract was finally signed on 3rd May 1937.

The first production Chenillette Lorraine was delivered a few months later and vehicles began to equip service units towards the end of 1937. In 1939, facing the imminent outbreak of war and because the factory was dangerously close to the German frontier, it was decided to transfer military production to Bagneres de Bigorre where it would be less exposed. This establishment had been closed since 1936 for lack of orders. The Company installed a forge, new machine shops and at the same time set about putting the old workshops back into use. The completed plant did not finally come into production until the second half of 1940 and, meanwhile, events in France had moved more quickly. The Chenillettes constructed at Luneville - which by May 1940 totalled 387 - played their part in the battle for France supporting the armoured divisions.

Description. The Chenillette Lorraine, in its basic supply and ammunition carrier role, was of simple construction. It had armour up to 9mm thick. The vehicle consisted of a shallow, rectangular, armoured box divided into three sections from front to rear. The centre section was the larger and was wholly occupied by the engine compartment. The front section was occupied by the transmission and two crew positions set on either side of the main gearbox. The differential housing was carried right forward and projected partly outside the front of the hull. It was protected by a steel housing reinforced with cast armour plate. On a number of later production models, because of a tendency for the combined differential, track steering and braking mechanism to overheat, the original smooth and rounded housing was replaced by a new casing with vertical fins in cast steel to increase the surface area and allow improved cooling. This basic layout of the Chenillette ensured that the rear compartment of the vehicle was left unencumbered so that so that its full dimensions could be employed as an armoured pannier for carrying supplies including, especially, vulnerable cases of ammunition to forward battle areas. A heavy towing hook for the trailer was mounted on the rear hull plate.

The chassis running gear was of equally rugged and simple design. The track drive was effected by forward mounted sprocket wheels of 19 3/4" diameter and the tracks were tensioned at the rear by large idler wheels of 15 3/4" diameter. The suspension was carried by three bogies on each side each with two 17" road wheels that tilted freely for and aft pivoted on the vertical suspension arm, which, in turn, was mounted on horizontal leaf springs. The vertical arm also included an easily accessible shock absorber unit. The top track run was supported by four return rollers situated at the outer ends or hull mounting points of the leaf springs.

Several minor external differences were noticeable among the production models of the Chenillette Lorraine. The armoured exhaust pipe casing mounted immediately above the track run was slotted along its whole length in some vehicles to provide improved cooling. On some versions the sprocket mounting bolts were proud and on others they were countersunk.

Given the small carrying capacity of the Chenillette Lorraine, relative to the overall size of the vehicle and the tractive effort available, it was logical to increase the capacity by the use of a trailer. A highly effective cross country transport was achieved by the development of a four-wheeled tracked trailer. The two wheels on each side were mounted on a single, rigid, horizontal suspension arm carried on a central spring pivot. The trailer wheels were large and set close together providing reasonably effective distribution over the track run, and simple pivoted suspension enabled reasonably stable towing over rough ground. The trailer could be detached by a release mechanism operated from the Chenillette driving position.

It should be noted that in the light, twin bogie version of the basic Chenillette the rear compartment was virtually eliminated by the shortening in overall length of the vehicle. Chenillettes in this configuration which entered service carried a small armoured munition or transport tray at the rear that was detachable and overhanging the chassis. This tray could be automatically released to fall away from the vehicle by a control in the driving cab. This versions, directly inspired by the earlier Renault UE was required for resupply of infantry units but did not enter series production before 1940.

Deployment. The plan was to deploy 12 TRCs in each light tank battalion, 18 in Char B1 bis battalions , and three in each combat squadron of the cavalry DLMs.

VBCP Lorraine 38 Armoured Personnel Carrier

In the armoured personnel carrier version of the Chenillette Lorraine the only modification of the standard vehicle was the construction of raised armoured walls designed to offer protection against small arms fire to troops in a sitting position. The front plate carried a small observation port that could also be used as a firing port for a rifle or light machine gun. The compartment was not armoured overhead and was normally covered with a canvas tilt. the PC version of the trailer was similarly armoured up to the same height. The vehicle was known as the Lorraine 38L infantry carrier (voiture blindee de chasseurs portes VBCP). A total of 240 were ordered in September 1939 and a few more than 140 had been delivered by the time of the amistice.

Deployment

The 38Ls were deployed in 5th BCP of 1st DCR and the 17th BCP of 2nd DCR.

 

Renault UE Chenillette

The requirement for the chenillette stemmed back to the lessons of World War I. In 1922, the French army was reviewing its experience of trench warfare, and concluded that it would be useful to field a vehicle to supply troops in forward trench lines. This had been a difficult and dangerous process in World War I, and a tracked armoured vehicle seemed to offer a solution, since it could traverse shell-pocked terrain and deliver supplies under enemy fire. A requirement emerged in 1930 and prototypes were submitted from Renault, Citroen and Latil. After tests, the army selected the Renault "tracteur blinde de ravitaillement d'infanerie type UE" along with accompanying UK tracked trailer. An original order of 60 tractors was ordered in October 1931. The design was quite simple to minimise costs, with an armoured hull protecting two crewmen and a stowage box at the rear. The box was automated so that the crew could drive the tractor to the edge of a trench and remotely dump the contents into the trench without leaving the comparative safety of the vehicle.

Power came from a Renault 10CV 38hp engine fitted in the centre of the vehicle between the two crewmen. Maximum armour was 9mm, enough to resist machine gun fire and shell splinters from field artillery. The UE had a maximum range of about 100km at a top speed of 30kph. Some thought was given to arming the tractor with a machine gun but this was firmly resisted by the infantry branch despite the example of the British Bren carrier. There were concerns that the UE would be used as a combat vehicle and be distracted from its primary role of resupply.

After the first order of 60 UE 1931R was delivered a second order for 916 followed. These were manufactured from late 1934 to early 1937. The latter vehicles had a variety of improvements including a plate for the triangular towing sign and an extended left side tool bin; the armoured domes for the crewmen were also standardised in this series and they were retrofitted to earlier vehicles. The third order of 220 vehicles made between July and October 1936 featured lengthened mudguards. A final fourth order of 1,400 vehicles was ordered in 1936 that had the original twin Restor headlights replaced by a single Guicherd armoured night driving light. Due to the size of the fourth order it was split between Renault, AMX, Fouga and Berliet, with some minor differences in detail. In total some 2,596 UE tractors were built including UE and UE2 prototypes, as well as tractors exported to China a nd Romania.

Further Development. In 1935 the French Army began to consider further infantry mechanisation and put out a requirement for a successor to the UE tractor. Some fine designs were considered and the army proceeded to order designs from Renault, Lorraine and Berliet. Of these, only the Renault infantry tractors was significant, and this was simply a modernised version of the UE called the Chenillette 1937R UE2. This introduced a semiautomatic four-speed clutch and transmission. It could be distinguished from the early production orders by small details such as the use of 'U' towing hooks in place of the 'pig-tail' hooks on the earlier tractors. About 2,300 UE2 were ordered from three manufacturers through to June 1940, including AMX, Berliet and Fouga. A total of about 4,900 UE and UE2 tractors were completed by June 1940 of the 6,200 ordered, and perhaps as many as 5,300 were eventually completed, some being finished after the armistice. Only about 3,300 reached the troops, however, and there were 1,278 in various depots at the time of the armistice. Romania signed a contract in 1937 to manufacture 300 UE tractors under license at the Malaxa plant in Bucharest . Production did not begin until 1939, however, and due to the shortage of parts from France only about 113 were completed, plus 13 more that were received from France for a total of 126.

Renault UE Characteristics for Command Decision

The Renault UE does not appear in Command Decision charts. I would rate it as follows:

Renault UE 10 May 1940

The Renault UE was the most widely distributed armoured vehicle in the French Army in 1940. The Renault UE and UE2 tractors were used in both line infantry regiments and motorised infantry regiments. Each infantry regiment had a supply company and a vehicle company, each with six tractors for a total of 12. The motorised regiments added a support company with two UE tractors in each battalion for a total of 18 tractors per regiment. Each infantry division also had a divisional antitank company equipped with UE tractors were used in other types of units for other tasks including towing fuel trailers, mortars and other specialised equipment.

Wargame Usage and Model Availability

In wargames the vehicle can be used in almost every conceivable scenario. Perhaps the only place you won't find it is with the cavalry and tank forces. Otherwise, it is widely used, particularly as a 25mm tow.

The model is available in 1:72 from at least:

S Models in plastic https://www.scalemates.com/kits/600200-s-model-china-ps720140-ue-chenillette

Early War Miniatures in metal http://earlywarminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=237_245&products_id=1551

 

Laffly W15 TCC

Derived from the W15T, this vehicle was characterized by the same general 6×6 configuration, with a pair of rollers at the front and another in the middle, between the two axles. Neither was suspended and were meant only to provide additional ground pressure when crossing trenches or high obstacles. After an idea of general tank inspector Keller, rather than tow the 47 mm (1.85 in) antitank gun, the latter was carried directly in the cargo bay, facing the rear of the vehicle. Such a conversion was ordered for trials early in 1940 by the general staff, with the intention of providing mobile antitank capability to motorized divisions. TCC meant “Tracteur Chasseur de Chars”, tank hunter tractor. The original prototype was entirely armoured but was rejected, apparently because its silhouette was higher than the wheeled gun. The series vehicles were mostly identical, except for the fact that the cabin and the 47 mm (1.85 in) SA mle 1937 gun were not fully enclosed anymore. The gun had -13°/+13° elevation and 60° traverse. Production vehicles only retained the lower part of the armour and a new shield for the gun. The armour plate was taken from scrapped FTs. After successful trials at Vincennes and in the camp of Mailly, the conversion was only approved on May 17. Between May 24 and June 17, 62 TCCs were delivered of the 100 ordered.

The W15 TCC were the first vehicles of this kind and proved very efficient in service with the Batteries Antichar Automotrices (BACA) n°51 to 61 of the 11th RA and the 305e RA2 10th battery. Despite their numerous kills, they could do little to reverse the situation and, by the end of June, all had been lost in action or abandoned.

Characteristics and Tabulated Data W15 TCC

Engine: Hotchkiss 680 2.3 liter, 4 cyl. petrol, 65 HP

Max speed: 48/34 km/h

Range: 300km

Petrol capacity: 120l

All up weight: 4,960kg

Armour: 12-15mm

Crew: 4 driver, commander, gunner, loader

Armament: Main: a 47mm SA37 L/53 AT gun (-13/+13° elevation and 60° traverse towards rear, 30 shells)

Secondary: FM 24/29 7.5 mm (0.29 in) machine-gun (1000 rounds)

Width of vehicle: 1.9m

Length: 4.5m

Height: 1.8m

W15 TCC Characteristics for Command Decision

W15 TCC Batteries 10 May 1940

No batteries existed on 10 May 1940. All were formed during the campaign on the dates shown.

Organisation of a W15 TCC Battery

Example Organisation for Command Decision of a Self Propelled Anti Tank Battery (Batterie de Chasseurs de Chars)

1 command stand

1 ammo truck

1 car

1 W15 TCC

1 25mm AA stand

1 crew

1 W15 light truck

Wargame Usage and Model Availability

The W15 TCC was only used in the second part of the campaign in France and only in scattered detachments. Despite this the batteries managed to rack up a considerable number of kills. Here is an example of one such battle:

On 6th June, the 54e BACA is deployed to block the Abbeville road. The 1st Laffly W15 TCC commanded by adjudant Marchal spots about 50 German tanks. He destroys 3 German heavy tanks (Panzer IVs probably) and then retreats, attracting the German tanks towards the 2nd and 3rd ambushed Laffly W15 TCC tank destroyers. The 3 French self-propelled AT guns open fire resulting in 6 German tanks burning and 4 other ones knocked out. The German crews of these 4 tanks bail out and begin to sneak towards the French vehicles. The French crews defend themselves with their SMGs. About 10 German soldiers are hit and the others are forced to retreat, surprised by the resistance. According to their usual tactic, the Germans avoid the area where French troops are resisting. They move back to start a renewed attack on a different axis.

According to the testimony of battalion commander Decoux, leading the 7e Régiment de Dragons, also operating in this area, 18 German tanks have been knocked out by the 54e BACA during these combats. Sous-lieutenant Brussaux on its side could personally witness only 9 burning and 4 knocked out German tanks.

The model is available from at least:

ACE in plastic: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/941792-ace-72537-french-tank-hunter-6x6-w15t-cc

Early War Miniatures in metal: http://earlywarminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=237_247&products_id=1611

Alby also made one in resin; good luck finding that!

 

Renault R40

In the late thirties there had been several projects to improve the Renault R35 light infantry tank. One of these was directed to the improvement of the horizontal rubber spring suspension system that, apart from being less reliable than originally hoped for, caused an uncomfortable ride, high track and tread wear and an unfavourable weight distribution.

Apart from Lorraine, whose proposal based on Lorraine 37L suspension was rejected as too heavy and complicated to refit, both the AMX factory and the Renault design bureau developed from 1937 several solutions to this problem. Renault proposed a type with doubled wheels on the original bogies, a second type with vertical coil springs and a third type lengthened with a sixth road wheel. However, after tests from 19 May until 26 December 1938, an AMX design using six vertical coil springs covered with 8 mm armour plating with twelve road wheels per side, was on 16 February 1939 selected. The type resembled the suspension of the earlier Char D1 and Char D2. The variant was named the Char léger modèle 1935 R modifié 1939. At first it was literally envisaged as a modification, also to be retrofitted to existing vehicles, but the emergency caused by the outbreak of war in September led to a change in policy: the new suspension would only be implemented on the R 35 production run, from the 1501st vehicle onwards, to take place in February 1940. In late 1939 it was considered to retrofit the existing vehicles with the cheaper Renault vertical coil suspension after all, as it could be fitted by field workshops and thus pose less of a burden to the French industry.

The change however was delayed and went only in effect in May 1940 from the 1541st vehicle onwards. It coincided with a number of other improvements such as a longer and thus much more powerful SA38 Long 35 37 mm gun in the adapted cast APX-R1 turret, giving the type a good antitank capacity, and a tail to facilitate climbing. The number of rounds carried decreased from 102 to 90. A fundamental advance in tactical effectiveness compared to the R 35 was that the R 40s were equipped with a radio set, which had not been standard for any French light tank until then.

In May about sixty R40s were manufactured out of a total R 35/40 production that month of 91. It is uncertain how many R 40s were produced before production was halted in June 1940; certainly 130 and probably 145 hulls were manufactured, but likely these did not all have their turret fitted. It had been intended to keep production levels at 120 per month for the duration of the war and introduce the lighter welded FCM turret in the second half of 1940. In May 1940 the R 35 had the largest production of any Allied (or indeed Western) tank but it was planned to having it surpassed by that of the much faster "H 39", reflecting the emphasis on the formation of new armoured divisions, for which the slow R 40 was less than ideal; the "new" suspension was really rather old-fashioned and could not be combined with a high speed, as earlier experience with the Char D3 and Renault VO projects had shown. Nevertheless, apart from donations to allies and units already formed in June, another 800 vehicles were needed to replace the Renault FTs of eight existing battalions and raise eight new battalions to bring their number to the planned final total of fifty light tank BCCs (Bataillions de Chars de Combat), forty of these equipped with Renault tanks.

As the new vehicles looked quite different from the original R 35, they were very generally, also in army documentation, called the "R 40"; however, this was never their official type designation; officially these were still Renault R35s and their production was subsumed under the R 35 run in the statistics; their serial numbers are continuous with the older R 35 run.

Two new tank battalions, originally intended and trained to be equipped with Hotchkiss tanks to form the half-brigade of the new 4e DCR (fourth armoured division of the Infantry), the 40e Bataillion de Chars de Combat and the 48e BCC, were during the campaign of 1940 from 19 May as an emergency measure partly equipped with the R 40 (30 and 29 respectively) and attached to the 2e DCR. This reflects the large matériel reserve of Renault tanks. Some R 40s perhaps replaced losses in the older battalions. One of the two tank battalions of the Polish 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade being formed in France was also partly equipped with first 24 R 40s, which were then on 31 May given to 25 BCC, after which the Polish battalion received another 28 R 40s, the last thirteen on 19 June.

Characteristics and Tabulated Data Renault R40

Engine: Renault 447, 4 cylinder, bore/stroke 120 x 130mm, 5,878cc producing 85hp at 2,200rpm

Gearbox: 4 and reverse

Max speed: 20kph

Range: 130km

Petrol capacity: 166l

All up weight: 11,600kg

Armour: 40mm max

Turret Front : 40mm/5° and 28° + gun mantlet

Turret Sides : 40mm/28°

Turret Rear : 40mm/30° (rear hatch is 40mm thick)

Turret Top : 25mm/90°

Copula : 40mm/round

Hull Front, Upper : 43mm/37° (driver’s hatch is 40mm/23°)

Hull Front, Lower : 40mm/round

Hull Sides, Upper : 40mm/10°

Hull Sides, Lower : 40mm/0°

Hull Rear : 32mm/24°

Hull Top : 25mm/90°

Hull Bottom : 10mm/90°

Crew: 2 commander/gunner in turret, driver/mechanic in hull

Armament: Turret. coaxial SA 37mm gun Model 1938 with 90 rounds and 7.5mm MAC 31 machine gun with 3,000 rounds

Width of vehicle: 2.01m

Length: 4.30m

Height: 2.15m

Renault R40 Characteristics for Command Decision

Renault R40 Companies 10 May 1940

Nil, however three French battalions and at least one Polish battalion were partially equipped with the R40 during the course of the campaign.

Organisation of the Tank Company Type 1935 Compagnie de Chars de Combat (Type 1935) December 1939

The table below shows the standard table of organisation for a Type 1935 tank company. Exactly how the R40s were allocated to companies is not known given that the battalions included R35s. It is possible that the R40s were used as section and platoon commander vehicles, given that they had the longer SA 38 gun and this allocation was the practice in other companies where the SA 18 and SA 38 guns served on tanks alongside each other. Alternatively, given the numbers, the R40s may have equipped two companies in the 40th and the 48th, and the R35s equipped the other company.

Example Renault R40 Organisation for Command Decision

Wargame Usage and Model availability

The R40 only saw action in the second part of the campaign, during Fall Rot, the German offensive starting 5 June 1940. The R40 was serving in the 40th and 48th Tank Battalions with the rebuilt 2nd Armoured Division positioned in reserve just north of Paris. The 2nd Armoured Division saw some action on 16 June when it was surrounded north of the Foret d'Orleans and had to fight its way out.

As for the Poles, on June 6, the Polish 10th Mechanised Brigade had one of its tank battalion, two strong motorized cavalry squadrons, one anti-tank battery and one anti-aircraft battery. The Brigade was attached to the French Fourth Army near Reims and ordered to cover its left flank. However, the Brigade unit was much too weak to hold back full German armoured divisions successfully. Polish soldiers managed to cover only one retreating French infantry division by attacking German forces in Champaubert-Montgivroux. Later, the Brigade had to withdraw along with French troops and joined the French XXIII Corps. On June 16 the brigade successfully attacked by night the town of Montbard over the Burgundy Canal.

The R40 is available in 20mm from at least:

Blitzkrieg Miniatures: http://www.blitzkriegminiatures.com/html%20pages/1-72%20scale%20tanks/French%20tanks%20final%2072.html

OstModels: http://www.mondo72.com/Review-Ostmodels-R40.html

Milicast; http://www.milicast.com/shop/product.php?productid=1031&cat=69&bestseller=Y

Early War Miniatures: http://earlywarminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=237_243&products_id=1527

 

FCM 1936

Built by the Forges de la Mediterranne (FCM) in conjunction with Automobiles M Berliet (which produced the engine, the FCM began production in 1936 to help increase the number of tanks equipping French infantry support units. As such it was in the broad specification as the more widely used Renault R35 but the FCM 36 had some unusual features for French tanks of its time and some of these were in advance of developments elsewhere.

Of fairly conventional general layout, the FCM 36 had the engine at the rear, driving rear sprockets, but it was uncommon in that the engine was a diesel. This engine gave the FCM 36 a range of 225km, much greater than most contemporary tanks in the French Army.

The armour protection was to the 40mm standard required of French infantry support tanks of this period, but another unusual feature for the time was that both hull and turret used welded construction of angled plates. The angles of most plates were well thought out and the flat surfaces were able to offer the same sort of protection as the rounded cast armour used in the Renault R35 for example.

The Rhineland crisis of 26 May 1936 solicited a hasty order for 100 vehicles of the Char léger Modèle 1936 FCM for 450,000 FF a piece. The production vehicles were equipped with a 37mm gun, in this case the same SA18 as on the Renault R35 and Hotchkiss H35. The Hotchkiss H35 and Renault R35 would also be taken into production; as these competing types were a lot cheaper they would constitute the bulk of the French light infantry tanks produced. The reason to coproduce the more expensive FCM 36 as a third type was its development potential: the FCM 36 was seen as the most advanced French tank and it was thought that it could serve as a test bed for further improvements. This also meant there was no hurry to start series production. The production facilities only began to be prepared from December 1936 and actual manufacture was delayed for a year to first test a newer design with a stronger engine and a lighter track. Only when this didn't render the expected results, the original type was produced with the first delivery on 2 May 1938. During 1938 and 1939 several modifications were tested on vehicle number 30,057 including a new track, clutch and engine, but none of these would be applied on the existing vehicles.

On 12 May 1938 and 3 February 1939 two additional orders were made of a hundred each. However, when the last tank, series number 30,100, of the original order was delivered on 13 March 1939, FCM suddenly announced that it would permanently cease production unless the price was raised to at least 900,000 FF, apparently the true cost of production. Also FCM indicated that given its increased demanded production quota of the Char B1, there simply would be no capacity to manufacture any FCM 36s before September 1940. In view of these circumstances Inspector-General Jacomet allowed the production of the hull to be discontinued. The FCM turret however had already been planned to become the standard for all light tanks, as the old standard APX R in the beginning suffered from serious production delays; when these eased an earlier proposal to have it replaced after number 1350 was postponed; but it was still considered to cease production after number 2000 as the APX R was heavier (1,552 to 1,287 kg) and yet inferior in protection to the FCM turret because of constant quality problems with its cast steel that was either too soft or too brittle. However, this issue was complicated by the planned introduction of the longer 37 mm gun as tests showed that the welds of the FCM type had to be reinforced to prevent them from cracking by the stronger recoil; as a result the existing vehicles would not be fitted with the new gun. In the end only 100 FCM 36s were produced, equipping the 4th and 7th Tank Battalions.

Characteristics and Tabulated Data FCM 36

Engine: Berliet Diesel (Ricardo licence), 4 cylinder, bore/stroke 130 x 160mm, 8,495cc producing 91hp

Gearbox: 4 and reverse

Max speed: 24kph

Range: 225km

Petrol capacity: 217l

All up weight: 12,350kg

Crew: 2 commander/gunner in turret, driver/mechanic in hull

Armament: Turret. coaxial SA 37mm gun Model 1918 with 102 rounds and 7.5mm MAC 31 machine gun with 3,000 rounds

Width of vehicle: 2.14m

Length: 4.46m

Height: 2.20m

FCM 36 Characteristics for Command Decision

FCM 36 Companies 10 May 1940

Organisation of the Tank Company Type 1935 Compagnie de Chars de Combat (Type 1935) December 1939

Example FCM 36 Organisation for Command Decision

Wargame Usage and Model availability

With only 100 built, and equipping only two tank battalions, this is another fairly rare tank in France in 1940. What makes things interesting, and of value to wargamers, is that the two battalions were involved in the counter-attacks against Guderian's bridgehead at Sedan and later in the initial actions at Stonne. Neither actions went particularly well for the French but there can be no denying the courage of the French tankers.

I suspect because the vehicle hull was later used as the basis for some German self-propelled guns, the vehicle is available from several manufacturers in 20mm:

Early War Miniatures: http://earlywarminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=237_243&products_id=1525

Wespe Models: http://www.wespemodels.ro/fcm_36_wes_72023?search=fcm

Modeltrans: http://smallscalemania.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/fcm-36-modelltrans-172.html

Reviresco: http://www.exclusiveone.com/p/d/615582850

 

Renault R35

The diminutive Renault R35 was one of the most numerous tanks in May 1940 and was one of the most common encountered by the German Army. Spread across the independent tank battalions, however, it was rarely concentrated enough to make a lasting difference. It was very much an infantry support tank designed to fight infantry and suppress machine guns. Thus it had excellent armour and carried 2,400 rounds of machine gun ammunition, but its 37mm cannon could only penetrate 12mm of armour at 500m and the tank's maximum speed was 20kph.

The development plan of 1926 foresaw the introduction of a char d'accompagnement, a cheap mass-produced light tank to replace the Renault FT of World War I vintage. The first tank to be developed to fulfil its requirements, the Char D1, proved to be neither cheap nor particularly light. In 1933, Hotchkiss offered an alternative solution, a tank that would later become the Hotchkiss H35. For political reasons this Hotchkiss proposal was turned into the Plan 1933 and the whole of French industry was in August 1933 invited to propose possible designs. Fourteen companies responded and five submitted a prototype: Hotchkiss itself with the H35, the Compagnie Général de Construction des Locomotives, APX, FCM and France's prime tank producer: Renault. Fearing that his rival Hotchkiss might well replace him as such, Louis Renault hurried to finish a vehicle; construction was soon in such an advanced stage that when changes in the specification were issued on 21 June 1934, to increase armour thickness from 30 to 40 mm, they could not be implemented. Nevertheless, on 20 December 1934 Renault was the first to deliver a prototype, with the project name of Renault ZM, to the Commission de Vincennes.

In the spring of 1935 this vehicle was refitted with heavier armour and a standard APX turret, attached by the Atelier de Rueil between 18 and 25 April. The prototype was still being tested when international tensions increased due to German re-armament. This prompted an urgent demand for swifter modernisation of the French tank fleet and orders were given for the ZM to be put into production immediately. On 29 April 1935 an order for 300 was made, even before the final model was finished, at a price of 190,000 French franc per hull (unarmed, without the engine and turret. The first series production vehicle was delivered on 4 June 1936 and had to be extensively tested again before acceptance as it was substantially different from the prototype.

R35 Description. To save development time, Renault based the suspension and running gear on that of the AMR 35 that he had already designed for the cavalry. The R35 had five wheels at each side, fitted with horizontal leaf springs, like the AMC 35.

The hull, with a length of 4.02 m, consisted of three cast modules, with a maximum thickness of 43 millimetres, that were bolted together. Total weight was 10.6 metric tonnes (9.8 tonnes without fuel and ammunition). The bottom module carried on each side an independently sprung front wheel, two bogies and the driving sprocket at the extreme front. The final drive and differentials were housed at the right in the nose module. It was steered through a Cletrac differential with five gears and by engaging the brakes. The driver was seated somewhat to the left and had two hatches. The Renault V-4 85 hp engine was on the right in the short rear hull with the self sealing 166 litre fuel tank at its left. The engine produced a road speed of 20 kph and the fuel capacity gave a range of 130 km. Cross-country speed did not exceed 14 kph and the fuel consumption totaled 212 litre/100 km. From 1940 onward the tanks were fitted with AMX tails to help in trench crossing.

The cast APX hexagonal turret had a 30 mm thick domed rotatable cupola with vertical vision slits (the highest point of the turret being 2.13 m) and the turret had to be either hand cranked or moved about by the weight of the commander, the only member of the crew in the turret. There was sometimes unofficially a seat installed for him but he most often stood. The rear of the turret had a hatch that hinged down that could be used as a seat to improve observation. The earliest vehicles were fitted with the APX-R turret (with the L713 sight) mounting the short Puteaux 37 mm L/21 SA18 gun (the first batches were removed from FT 17 gun tanks which were then rebuilt as utility vehicles) and the 7.5 mm Châtellerault fortress machine gun. The cannon had a very poor armour penetration: only 12 mm at 500 metres. Afterwards the APX turret with the same cannon but the improved L739 sight and the standard Châtellerault 7.5 mm MAC31 Reibel machine gun was used because of delivery delays of the original turret. There were also so many delays in the production of the turrets that after the first 380 hulls had been produced in 1936 and only 37 could be fitted with a turret, production was slowed down to 200 annually. The 7.5 mm machine gun's spent cartridges (from a total of 2,400) went down a chute through a hole in the floor. The tank carried 42 armour piercing and 58 high explosive rounds for the 37mm gun.

The R 35 at first had no radio, except for the second battalion of the 507e Régiment de Chars de Combat (of Charles de Gaulle), but the R 40 (see below) had the ER 54 installed. However, this added to the already heavy task load of the commander, who also acted as gunner and loader.

The R35 was intended to replace the Renault FT as standard light infantry tank from the summer of 1936, but even by May 1940 not enough conscripts had been retrained and so eight battalions of the older tank had to be kept operational. On 1 September 1939, at the outbreak of war, 975 vehicles had been delivered out of 1070 produced; 765 were fielded by tank battalions in France, 49 used for drive training, 33 were in depot and 45 present in the colonies. Of a total order for 2,300 at least 1,601 had been produced by 1 June 1940 — the numbers for that month are lacking — of which 245 had been exported: to Poland (50), Turkey (100; two batches of fifty each in February and March 1940), Romania (41 from an order for 200), and Yugoslavia (54). It is likely that the tanks exported to Yugoslavia (in April 1940) are not included under the 1,601 total and that overall production was 1,685; serial numbers known to be actually used indicate a production of at least 1670 vehicles.

The vast majority of R35s were fielded with the SA18 37mm cannon. When the improved SA 38 canon became available in the second half of 1939 some R35s were fitted with the new gun, giving improved anti-armour penetration. Some sources call this tank the R39 but this does not seem to be official French nomenclature. Some sources state that later production batches of the R35 were fitted with this gun, and they were used by platoon leaders; given that priority for the SA38 was to refit the cavalry's H35s and H39s, and the R40 also required the new gun, it is probable that very few R35's received the new guns beyond prototypes and that the 'later production batches' may refer to the R40..

The R40 had completely different suspension and is discussed in a separate post.

Characteristics and Tabulated Data Renault R35

Engine: Renault 447, 4 cylinder, bore/stroke 120 x 130mm, 5,878cc producing 85hp at 2,200rpm

Gearbox: 4 and reverse

Max speed: 20kph

Range: 130km

Petrol capacity: 166l

All up weight: 11,000kg

Armour: 40mm max

Turret Front : 40mm/5° and 28° + gun mantlet

Turret Sides : 40mm/28°

Turret Rear : 40mm/30° (rear hatch is 40mm thick)

Turret Top : 25mm/90°

Copula : 40mm/round

Hull Front, Upper : 43mm/37° (driver’s hatch is 40mm/23°)

Hull Front, Lower : 40mm/round

Hull Sides, Upper : 40mm/10°

Hull Sides, Lower : 40mm/0°

Hull Rear : 32mm/24°

Hull Top : 25mm/90°

Hull Bottom : 10mm/90°

Crew: 2 commander/gunner in turret, driver/mechanic in hull

Armament: Turret. coaxial SA 37mm gun Model 1918 with 100 rounds and 7.5mm MAC 31 machine gun with 2,400 rounds

Width of vehicle: 1.85m

Length: 4.02m

Height: 2.13m

Renault R35 Characteristics for Command Decision

Organisation of the Tank Company Type 1935 Compagnie de Chars de Combat (Type 1935) December 1939

Example Renault R35 Organisation for Command Decision: 35th Tank Battalion, 1st Army (supporting the Moroccan Division in the Ernage counter attack 15 May 1940)

515th Tank Regiment

13th Tank Battalion (BCC): Headquarters: command H35, ammunition Lorraine, 2 x fuel Lorraine, medium truck, support stand.

3 x Company: command H35, 2 x H35



35th Tank Battalion (BCC): Headquarters: command R35, ammunition Lorraine, 2 x fuel Lorraine, medium truck, support stand.

3 x Company: command R35, 2 x R35

Wargame Usage and Model availability

If you are looking to buy only one tank, buy this one. The Renault R35 is the most numerous tank in France 40 and the most widely distributed. In platoon or company lots it is perfect for skirmish games in support of infantry, and it also made some battalion attacks such as the counter-attack at Ernage 15 May, and as part of de Gaulle's counter attacks at Montcornet and Abbeville. It fought from the start of the campaign to the end.

There is a wide availability of models in 20mm from at least:

Early War Miniatures

http://earlywarminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1526

RPM

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/138288-rpm-72212-renault-r35-wczesny

S Models

http://www.wartimeminiatures.com.au/ourshop/prod_3942248-SModel-172-R35-Light-Tank-Early-Version.html

Milicast

http://www.milicast.com/shop/product.php?productid=1030&cat=69&bestseller=Y