Renault AMR 35

A number of significant modifications to the AMR 33 led to the AMR 35 which, thanks to its bigger engine and improved suspension, was faster and more manoeuvrable than its predecessor despite being slightly larger and heavier. 167 MG-armed AMR 35 were built, all by Renault; approximately half carried the more potent 13.2mm MG (ten others were equipped with a bow-mounted 25mm but these saw little if any action). On 10 May 1940 AMR 35 were being used in the 1st and 4th RDP of the 2nd and 1st DLM respectively, with one squadron of 23 in each in each of the RDP's three battalions. In addition, eight were present in the 1st GRDI of the 5th DIM. The vehicles were grouped in the RDPs as there were continuing concerns with the reliability of the vehicles; they had a bad tendency to shed their tracks and required constant maintenance. In the RDPs the AMRs were used as light tanks rather than reconnaissance vehicles and were generally employed as a screen forward of the RDP's defensive positions. In June of that year several squadrons of AMR 35 were issued to the 14th and 31st RDP of the newly forming 7th DLM.

The mechanical layout of the AMR 35 was similar to that of most French light tanks of the period: a rear-mounted (four cylinder Renault 80hp) with drive to front sprockets. The suspension consisted, each side, of one pair of road wheels and two singles controlled by rubber washers in compression. The two-man crew occupied the centre part of the vehicle, the driver on the left. the turret was also on the left hand side of the hull, the engine being at the right.

The Automitrailleuse de Reconnaissance Renault Modèle 35 Type ZT (AMR 35 or Renault ZT) was a French light tank developed in the inter war period and used in the Second World War. It was not intended to reconnoitre and report as its name suggests but was a light armoured combat vehicle, mostly without a radio and used as a support tank for the mechanised infantry.

The AMR 35 originated from a project in 1933 to improve the earlier AMR 33 by moving the engine from the front to the back. In 1934 also a stronger suspension was fitted and the type was chosen to replace the AMR 33 on the production lines that year. Three orders were made by the French Cavalry of in total two hundred vehicles in five versions, including two machine-gun tanks, two tank destroyer types and a command tank. Later ten were ordered of a radio communication variant, the Renault YS, and over forty were built of a tropical version, the ZT 4.

The production would be much delayed by financial and technical problems, deliveries only starting in 1936. The AMR 35 proved to be an unreliable vehicle. It was one of the fastest tanks of its day, but its very speed overstressed its mechanical parts. In 1937 it was decided not to make any further orders but organisational difficulties slowed final deliveries of some versions until well into 1940; by the time of the battle for France in 1940 in June 1940 the ZT 4 order had even not been finished yet.

During the Battle of France the AMR 35s were part of armoured and motorised divisions, the vast majority being lost during the first weeks of the fighting. During the remainder of the Second World War Germany made use of some captured vehicles.

In the Battle of France 120 AMR 33's and 187 ZT's were available. The AMR 35s were used to equip three squadrons in the 1st and 2nd DLM, 66 tanks in each division; and one squadron of 22 in the 1st Cavalry Light Division, for a total organic strength of 152; each platoon of five typically had two 13.2 mm machine-gun vehicles (AMR35 ZT 2) and three 7.5 mm machine-gun vehicles (AMR35 ZT 1). The GRDI (Groupes de Reconnaissance de Division d'Infanterie) of the five DIM (Divisions d'Infanterie Mécaniques), each had an antitank-platoon with two ZT2's and two ZT3s.

Five AMR 35 were present in the driver school at Saumur; eight were in the general matériel reserve.

Of the ten Renault YSs, four were used by the Cavalry, four by the Infantry and two by the Artillery. The Renault YS 2 prototype, despite not being made of hardened steel, was deployed by the 71e RA, the artillery regiment of 2e DLM.

During the battle the 13.2 mm machine-gun proved to be incapable of defeating even the German armoured cars at normal combat ranges, its bullets being deflected by their sloped armour. However most AMR's were lost due to mechanical trouble. All vehicles assigned on 10 May had been lost by the end of the month.

In June, an ad hoc-unit was created, the 7e DLM and part if this was the 4e RAM (Régiment de Automitrailleuses) that used some AMR 35s taken from the matériel reserve.

Characteristics and Tabulated Data

Engine: Renault 22hp Type 447, 4 cylinder, bore/stroke 120 x 130mm, 5,881cc producing 82hp at 2,200rpm

Gearbox: 4 and reverse

Max speed: 55kph

Sustained speed: 40kph

Consumption: 65l/hr

Range: 200km

Petrol capacity: 130l

All up weight: 6,500kg

Armour: 13mm max

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

Armament (ZT 1): 7.5mm MAC31 mg with 2,250 rounds (15 x 150round drums); spare MG carried for AA use from the turret

Armament (ZT 2): 13.2mm Hotchkiss Model 1930 machinegun with 1,220 rounds (37 magazines each of 20 rounds; remainder in packs); spare MG carried for AA use from the turret

Width between track centres: 1.42m

Width of vehicle: 1.64m

Length: 3.84m

Height: 1.88m

 

AMR 35 in Command Decision ToB

Stand

Class

Move

Def.

Weapons

Ammo

ROF

C

M

L

E

IDF

Year

AMR 35 ZT-1

III

36/16T

2/1S

T: MG

SA

1

6(7)W

12(5)W

xx

xx

AMR 35 ZT-1

III

36/16T

2/1S

T:HMG

SA

1

6(8)W

12(6)W

18(4)W

24(2)W

AP

1

6(7) 1

12(5)0

18(3)W

24(1)W

AMR 35 ZT-2

III

36/16T

2/1S

T:25L72

AP

1

6(7) 3

12(5)2

18(3)1

36(1)0

HE

2

6(5)W

12(4)W

18(3)W

36(2)W

AMR 35 ZT-3

III

36/16T

2/1S

C:25L72

AP

2

6(7) 3

12(5)2

18(3)1

36(1)0

HE

2

6(5)W

12(4)W

18(3)W

36(2)W

C:MG

SA

1

6(7)W

12(5)W

xx

xx

AMR 35 SQUADRONS 10 MAY 1940 

Tank Squadron	I Mechanised Cavalry Battalion	4th Motorised Cavalry Regiment (RDP)	2nd Reconnaissance Brigade	1st Mechanised Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	II Mechanised Cavalry Battalion	4th Motorised Cavalry Regiment (RDP)	2nd Reconnaissance Brigade	1st Mechanised Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	III Mechanised Cavalry Battalion	4th Motorised Cavalry Regiment (RDP)	2nd Reconnaissance Brigade	1st Mechanised Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Mechanised Cavalry Battalion	1st Motorised Cavalry Regiment (RDP)	4th Reconnaissance Brigade	2nd Mechanised Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	II Mechanised Cavalry Battalion	1st Motorised Cavalry Regiment (RDP)	4th Reconnaissance Brigade	2nd Mechanised Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	III Mechanised Cavalry Battalion	1st Motorised Cavalry Regiment (RDP)	4th Reconnaissance Brigade	2nd Mechanised Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Mechanised Battalion	5th Mechanised Regiment (RDP)	11th Mechanised Brigade	1st Cavalry Division (DLC)
Tank Squadron	II Mechanised Battalion	5th Mechanised Regiment (RDP)	11th Mechanised Brigade	1st Cavalry Division (DLC)

Organisation of the Light Tank (AMR) Squadron of the Mechanised Battalions Bataillon de Dragons Portes (BDP) of the Motorised Cavalry Regiment Regiment de Dargons Portes de Division Legere de Cavalerie (RDP) (type DLM) 1940

	Officers	NCOs	Brigadiers	Cavaliers	Liaison Vehicles	Trucks	Lorries	AMR 35 Light Tanks	Supply Chenillette	Trailers	Motorcycles
Squadron Commander	1			1	1
Command Platoon		1
1st Group (Signals/Intelligence)		3	3	16		1		1			9
2nd Group (Supplies and Services)		3	1	8	1	1	2			1
3rd Group (Repair and Recovery)		2	5	19		1	2		1		2
Four Light Tank Platoons, each:	1	2	3	7				5			3
Total	5	17	21	72	2	3	4	21	1	1	23

Example Organisation: 1st Division Legere Mecanique (DLM), 2nd Reconnaissance Brigade, 4th Regiment de dragons portes (RDP)

4th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Dragons Portes)

Headquarters: command, car, staff radio truck, medium supply truck, support stand I Battalion: command, car. Armoured Company: command AMR35, 4 x AMR35. Motor Cycle Company: command Motor Cycle infantry, 2 x Motor Cycle infantry. 2 x Infantry Company: command infantry, infantry, Medium Machine Gun stand, 2 x medium S20 trucks. Weapon Company: 2 x Medium Machine Gun stand, 81mm mortar, crew, 25L72AT, 2 x medium truck, 1 light truck. II Battalion: command, car. Armoured Company: command AMR, 4 x AMR. Motor Cycle Company: command Motor Cycle infantry, 2 x Motor Cycle infantry. 2 x Infantry Company: command infantry, infantry, Medium Machine Gun stand, 2 x medium S20 trucks. Weapon Company: 2 x Medium Machine Gun stand, 81mm mortar, crew, 25L72AT, 2 x medium truck, 1 light truck. III Battalion: command, car. Armoured Company: command AMR, 4 x AMR. Motor Cycle Company: command Motor Cycle infantry, 2 x Motor Cycle infantry. 2 x Infantry Company: command infantry, infantry, Medium Machine Gun stand, 2 x medium S20 trucks. Weapon Company: 2 x Medium Machine Gun stand, 81mm mortar, crew, 25L72AT, 2 x medium truck, 1 light truck.

Colonial DE VINCENS DE CAUSANS

Wargaming Usage and Model Availability

The AMR 35 was concentrated in the 1st and 2nd DLM. An example grouping is shown above for AMR 35s in 1st DLM. 1st DLM advanced as part of the 7th Army towards Breda in The Netherlands, and 2nd DLM advanced as part of the Cavalry Corps into the famous action in the Gembloux gap in Belgium. Any gamers wishing to use the AMR 35 in wargames could look to these two initial actions in the campaign.

AMR 35s are available in 20mm scale from (at least)

Early War Miniatures.
http://earlywarminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=237_243&products_id=1521