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Czechoslovakia's LT vz 35,
LT vz 35 Light Tank10
LT vz 35 tank at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds:
Nick Francis
In 1934 the Czechoslovakian army asked for prototypes of a medium tank.10 These were field tested in June 1935 and even though many design flaws were discovered 160 were ordered in October 1935.10 It was known as the Skoda 10.5 ton tank Model T-11 or LT-35 (LTM-35) S-IIa.10 The first 5 were delivered but with more testing and finding still many flaws these were returned to the Skoda factory to be fixed.10 Another 138 were ordered and were named the LT vz 35.10
37 mm gun had a muzzle velocity of 2,620 ft/sec.
Design
Used riveted10 and bolted armor. The bow MG was on the left side with it's gunner and the driver on the right.10 The suspension allowed the weight to be distributed evenly to the bogies.
The commander/gunner and loader/radio operator were in the turret.10
The engine and transmission were in the rear of the vehicle.10 The drive sprocket was in the rear and the idler in front which allowed for the fighting compartment to be free of the drive mechanism.8,10 Had compressed-air assisted mechanical steering which later had problems in low temperature conditions.10
Track and bogie life was 4,000 - 8,000 km.8
Czech crews weren't happy with it because early vehicles had many mechanical defects.7 However, these were fixed and the LT vz 35 became very popular.7
Use by other countries
In March 1939, 79 were given to Slovakia, and 218 were taken by the Germans.7
219 were built for the Germans by Skoda.10
Germany terminated production in the summer of 1940.7
Also sold Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Peru, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey.
S-IIb:
One pilot model built. Trials occurred in 1938, but it was unreliable.
S-IIr:
Only developed in prototype. Hungary modified this design and it became the 40 M Turan. It was built from 1941 on.
Hungarian Use:
Turan I:
Was called the R-2 and 126 were ordered in 1935. Had new 3 man turret and 260 hp engine.
German Use:
PzKpfw 35(t):
219 were confiscated from Czechoslovakia in March 1939.3 Used FuG37(t) radio.3 106 were taken over during the annexation and assigned to the 6th Panzer Division.8 The 6th Panzer Division used them in the invasion of France in 1940.10
| LT vz 35 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, loader/radio, driver, hull gunner8 Commander/gunner, loader/radio operator, driver, hull gunner10 41,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 23,300 lb, 23,150 lb, 23,148 lb5,10 10,500 kg5,10, 10,670 kg1 10.5 tons1,2,3,4,7,8, 11.6 tons9 |
| Length w/gun | 14' 7"7, 15' 1.5"8, 16' 0.75", 16' 1"1,4,5,10, 16.5'9 4.45 m7, 4.9 m1,2,3,5,10 |
| Length w/o gun | 14' 7"7 4.45 m7 |
| Height | 7.4'9, 7' 3"1,4,5,7,10, 7' 4.5"8, 7' 8.5" 2.2 m7, 2.209 m5,10, 2.21 m1, 2.35 m3, 2.37 m2 |
| Width | 6.75'9, 6' 11", 7'7, 7' 1"1,5,10, 7' 0.5"4,8 2.06 m2, 2.1 m3, 2.14 m7, 2.159 m5,10, 2.16 m1 |
| Ground clearance | 13.8"9 0.35 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 126"9 3.14 m |
| Ground pressure | 7 psi9, 7.11 psi, 7.6 psi 0.5 (kg/cm2)2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 37 mm1,4,9 37 mm L/402,8 37 mm KwK34(t) L/403 37.2 mm Skoda vz 345,10 37 mm L/40 Skoda Type A3 37.2 mm 37.2 mm Skoda A3 L/407 37.2 mm KwK A3(t) L/407 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2: 7.92 mm MG1,4 2: MGs2 2: 7.92 mm MG37(t)3 7.92 mm ZB vz 35 or 375, coaxial5 2: 7.92 mm vz37 MG, coaxial, hull7 2: 7.92 mm MG(t), coaxial, hull7 2: 7.92 mm Besa MG, coaxial, hull8 2: 7.9 mm MG9 2: 7.92 mm ZB vz 35 or 37 MGs, hull, coaxial10 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 72 Pzgr & Sprgr3, 782, 90 725,7,9,10 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 1,8003,5,7,9,10, 2,550, 2,7002 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Front: 0.99"9 Side: 0.63"9 15-251, 254, 12-358, 15-3510 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 252, 35 25@17°3, 25@76°7 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 25@30°3, 25@40°7 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 162 16@0°3, 16@87°7 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 16@0°3 |
| Hull Rear | 162 16, 15/60°3, 16@30°7 |
| Hull Top | 122 12, 8@85-90°3 |
| Hull Bottom | 82 8@90°3 |
| Turret Front | 252, 35, 1"9 25@10°3, 25@85° Mantlet: 25 round3 |
| Turret Sides | 162, 0.63"9 15@14°3, 15@76°7 |
| Turret Rear | 162 15@15°3, 15@82°7 |
| Turret Top | 82, 16 8@81-90°3, 12@0-5°7 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Skoda T111,2,3,7,9 Skoda4,5,10 OHV Skoda T-118 |
| Cooling | Water5,8,10 |
| Cylinders | 47, 65,9,10 |
| Net HP | 1205,7,9,10 120 @ 1,800 rpm8 |
| Transmission | 6 forward, 1 reverse.2,5,10 Pneumatic. 6 forward, 6 reverse.3 12 speed, pneumatic servo mechanical steering8 |
| Steering | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical System | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel type | Gasoline5,7,10 |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | 30.38 gallons, 34 gallons7 153 liters2,7 Fuel used per 100 km of road travel: 81 liters |
| Fuel consumption - Road | |
| Fuel consumption - Cross country | |
| Power to weigh ratio | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand.3 |
| Max speed | 15 mph9, 21.1 mph4, 25 mph5,7,8,10, 21.7 mph, 22 mph1 34 kph2, 35 kph1,3, 40 kph5,7,10 |
| Cross country speed | 12.5 mph7 20 kph7 |
| Road radius | 118 miles7,9, 120 miles5,8,10 190 km2,3,7, 193 km5,10 |
| Cross country radius | 71 miles9, 71.5 miles7 115 km2 |
| Turning Radius | 23' 4.9 m, 7 m2 |
| Elevation Limits | -10° to +25°3 |
| Fording depth | 31.5"9, 3' 4"5,10 0.8 m2,5,10 |
| Trench crossing | 6' 6"5,10, 6.6'9 1.981 m5,10 |
| Vertical Obstacle | 2' 7"5,10, 31.5"9 0.787 m5,10 |
| Climbing ability | 28.6° (54%) slope9 60%10 |
| Suspension (Type) | Small bogie wheels coupled in pairs and mounted in fours on rocker arms, small guide wheel between front idler and first bogie wheel8 Leaf Spring2,8 Resilient suspension suspended from 2 leaf springs.7 2 sets of double leaf springs on 2 bogies of 2 wheels each9 |
| Wheels each side | 8x22,7, 810 |
| Return rollers each side | 48,9 |
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin9 |
| Length | |
| Width | 1', 13.25"9 320 mm2 |
| Number of links | 1059 |
| Pitch | 4"9 |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 5.4'9 1.66 m |
| Production | 1935- : 298 1935-1938: 4243 Chassis #s: 50001-504243 Skoda 80%, CKD 20%.3 1935- : Skoda9 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- -
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- Tanks - Over 250 of the World's Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, Chris Chant, 2004
