Somua S35

The SOMUA S35 was a French Cavalry tank of the Second World War. Built from 1936 until 1940 to equip the armoured divisions of the Cavalry, it was for its time a relatively agile medium-weight tank, superior in armour and armament to both its French and foreign competitors, such as the contemporary versions of the German Panzerkampfwagen III. It was constructed from well-sloped, mainly cast, armour sections, that, however, made it expensive to produce and time-consuming to maintain.

During the German invasion the SOMUA S35 proved itself to be a tactically effective type, but this was negated by the French command's strategic mistakes in deploying the Cavalry armoured divisions.

Four tanks of the AC4 pre-series of the S35 entered service in January 1936 with the 4e Cuirassiers. At the end of 1937 the SA 35 gun became available and deliveries of the main production series could begin. By mid 1938 a hundred had been produced, 270 on 1 September 1939 and 246 delivered. On this date 191 served with the troops, 51 were in depot and four had been sent back to the factory for overhaul. After the outbreak of war a fourth order of 200 was made, bringing the ordered total to 700. Later it was decided that from the 451st vehicle onwards the tanks would be of the improved S 40 type. Production in fact totalled 430 by June 1940, including the prototype and the preseries.

Of these about 288 were in front-line service at the beginning of the battle, with the three armoured cavalry divisions, the Divisions Légères Mécaniques or Mechanised Light Divisions ("light" here meaning "mobile"). Each of these had an organic strength of eight squadrons with ten S35s; each squadron however had a matériel reserve of two tanks and regimental and brigade commanders in practice had personal tanks too, resulting in a total of 88 vehicles per division. Furthermore 31 were present in the general matériel reserve, 49 in factory stocks and 26 were being processed for acceptance. These vehicles were later issued to several ad hoc units, such as the 4th DCR which received 39, part of 3e Cuirassiers, the 4th DLM (10), and some Corps-francs Motorisés (about 25). Also the destroyed 1st, 2nd and 3rd DLM were reconstituted with a small number of tanks, the first two divisions received ten S 35s, the third twenty; S 35s further served with the 7e Cuirassiers (25) and a platoon of three was present in the 3e RAM of the 3e DLC.

In May 1940 the DLMs were tasked with the difficult manoevre of carrying out a quick advance into the Low Countries, followed by a holding action to allow the infantry divisions following behind to dig themselves in. The 2nd and 3rd DLM were concentrated in the Gembloux Gap, where there were no natural obstacles to impede a German advance. They had to spread out somewhat to hold that sector against incursions by the German 3rd and 4th Panzer Divisions. This was necessitated by the local tactical situation and did not reflect some fundamental difference in doctrine between the use of the DLMs and the panzers. Both types of units were very similar in equipment, training and organisation, as the German armoured divisions too were primarily intended for strategic exploitation, while the breakthrough phase was preferably left to the infantry. The resulting tank battle from 13 to 15 May, the Battle of Hannut, was—with about 1700 AFVs participating—the largest until that day and is still one of the largest of all time. The S 35s gave a good account of themselves, proving to be indeed superior to the German tanks in direct combat, but they were rather hesitantly deployed as the French High Command mistakenly supposed the gap was the German main effort and tried to preserve their best tanks to block subsequent attacks by the rest of the Panzerwaffe.

When it transpired the attack was really a feint and the forces in the north were in danger of being cut off by the German advance south of Namur, the 1st DLM that had very quickly moved 200 kilometres to the north to help the Dutch, was hurriedly rushed south again. The resulting disorder and breakdown of most of its S 35s rendered this unit, the most powerful of all Allied divisions, impotent; it was defeated by the German 5th Panzerdivision on 17 May.

Characteristics and Tabulated Data

Engine: Renault 24hp, 8 cylinder, bore/stroke 75 x 120mm, 4,241cc producing 85hp at 2,800rpm

Gearbox: 4 and reverse

Max speed: 41kph

Sustained speed: 45kph

Range: 230km

Petrol capacity: 410l

All up weight: 19500kg

Armour: 40mm max

Crew: 3 commander/gunner in turret, driver and radio operator/assistant loader in hull

Armament: 47mm SA35 with 118 rounds; 7.5mm machine gun

Width of vehicle: 2.12m

Length: 5.1m

Height: 2.6m

S35 in Command Decision

S 35

IV

18/10T

6/4S

T:47L34

HE

1

6(4)W

12(3)W

18(2)W

24(1)W

AP

1

6(7) 5

12(5)3

18(3)2

24(1)1

T:MG

SA

1

6(7)W

12(5)W

xx

xx

S35 Tank Squadrons 10 May 1940

Tank Squadron	I Cavalry Squadron Group	4th Armoured Regiment (Cuirassiers)	1st Combat Brigade	1st Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Cavalry Squadron Group	4th Armoured Regiment (Cuirassiers)	1st Combat Brigade	1st Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Cavalry Squadron Group	4th Armoured Regiment (Cuirassiers)	1st Combat Brigade	1st Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Cavalry Squadron Group	18th Armoured Regiment (Dragon)	1st Combat Brigade	1st Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Cavalry Squadron Group	18th Armoured Regiment (Dragon)	1st Combat Brigade	1st Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Cavalry Squadron Group	18th Armoured Regiment (Dragon)	1st Combat Brigade	1st Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Cavalry Squadron Group	13th Armoured Regiment (Dragon)	3rd Combat Brigade	2nd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Cavalry Squadron Group	13th Armoured Regiment (Dragon)	3rd Combat Brigade	2nd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Cavalry Squadron Group	13th Armoured Regiment (Dragon)	3rd Combat Brigade	2nd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Cavalry Squadron Group	29th Armoured Regiment (Dragon)	3rd Combat Brigade	2nd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Cavalry Squadron Group	29th Armoured Regiment (Dragon)	3rd Combat Brigade	2nd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Cavalry Squadron Group	29th Armoured Regiment (Dragon)	3rd Combat Brigade	2nd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Tank Squadron Group	1st Armoured Regiment (Cuirassiers)	5th Combat Brigade	3rd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Tank Squadron Group	1st Armoured Regiment (Cuirassiers)	5th Combat Brigade	3rd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Tank Squadron Group	1st Armoured Regiment (Cuirassiers)	5th Combat Brigade	3rd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Tank Squadron Group	2nd Armoured Regiment (Cuirassiers)	5th Combat Brigade	3rd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Tank Squadron Group	2nd Armoured Regiment (Cuirassiers)	5th Combat Brigade	3rd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Tank Squadron Group	2nd Armoured Regiment (Cuirassiers)	5th Combat Brigade	3rd Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)
Tank Squadron	I Tank Squadron Group	3rd Armoured Regiment (Cuirassiers)	8th Armoured Demi-Brigade	4th Armoured Division (DCR)
Tank Squadron	I Tank Squadron Group	3rd Armoured Regiment (Cuirassiers)	8th Armoured Demi-Brigade	4th Armoured Division (DCR)
Tank Squadron	I Tank Squadron Group	3rd Armoured Regiment (Cuirassiers)	8th Armoured Demi-Brigade	4th Armoured Division (DCR)

Example S35 organisation: , Tank Squadron, 4th and 18th Armoured Regiments, 1st Combat Brigade, 1st Armoured Cavalry Division (DLM)

1st Combat Brigade	Command H35, staff radio truck, medium supply truck w’field kitchen trailer, medium baggage truck, support stand	Colonel DE BRAUER
4th Armoured Regiment (Cuirassiers)	Headquarters: Command H35, medium supply truck w/field kitchen trailer, medium baggage truck, support stand Tank Squadron: command H35. 3 x Company: command H35, 2 x H35 Tank Squadron: command S35. 3 x Company: command S35, S35 11th anti tank gun Battery: Command, car, 3 x crew, 2 x 25mm anti tank gun, 47mm anti tank gun, 3 x light truck	Lieutenant Colonel POUPEL
18th Armoured Regiment (Dragons)	Headquarters: Command H35, medium supply truck w/field kitchen trailer, medium baggage truck, support stand Tank Squadron: command H35. 3 x Company: command H35, 2 x H35 Tank Squadron: command S35. 3 x Company: command S35, S35	Lieutenant Colonel PINON

Example S35 organisation: 3rd Armoured Battalion, 8th Armoured Demi-Brigade, 4th Armoured Division (DCR)

3rd Armoured Battalion (Cuirassiers)

Headquarters: Command S35, 3 x Company: Command S35, S35

Wargaming Usage and Model Availability

The S35 was deployed in the three DLMs that advanced into Holland (1 DLM) and Belgium (2 and 3 DLM) so are useful for the initial clashes. Remnants were also used in the French contribution to the counter stroke at Arras.

S35 are available in 1;72nd from (at least):

Plastic: Heller http://www.heller.fr/en/maquettes/scale-military-vehicles-model-classic/60-somua-3279510798753.html

Resin: Ostmodels http://www.mondo72.com/Review-Ostmodels-Somua.html

Metal and Resin: Early War Miniatures http://earlywarminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1530