Last updated on February 17th, 2019 at 09:54 pm
The Hotchkiss H-35 light tank was designed in 1933 and was originally meant to be a light tank for the French cavalry. However, when it entered service in 1936, it was also put into use as an infantry support tank.
About 400 Hotchkiss H-35 light tanks were produced. One fourth of these were assigned to the infantry and the rest were given to the cavalry.
The H-35 had thick cast armor in its turret and hull, which gave it a defensive advantage.
However, it was slow and its weaponry was relatively weak, so it did not fare well against the Germans.
It had just one short-barreled 1.46 in (37mm) main gun and one machine gun.
When the Germans captured H-35s, they removed their turrets and used the tanks as “schleppers” – vehicles for carrying weapons and munitions. They used the turrets in static defense lines.
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Hotchkiss H-35 |
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| Active: | 1936 |
| Crew: | 2 |
| Weight: | 10.43 tons (10,600kg) |
| Length: | 13ft 10in (4.22m) |
| Height: | 8ft 7in (2.62m) |
| Width: | 6ft 5in (1.96m) |
| Weapons: | Main – 1.46in (37mm) gun, Secondary – 0.295 inch (7.5mm) machinegun |
| Armor | Maximum – 1.57in (40mm) |
| Engine: | Hotchkiss 1935 6-cylinder gasoline, 75hp |
| Speed: | 17mph (27.4kph) |
| Range: | 93.2 miles (150 km) |