TNH P-S,
TNH P-S Light Tank5
In 1937 the Czechoslovakian army wanted a replacement for the LT vz 35.5 Two designs were developed by Skoda and CKD (Ceskomoravska Kolben Danek of Prague, after 1940 Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik AG).5 The Skoda was the S-11-a and S-11-b.5 The CKD model was basically an improved LT vz 35 with the transmission and engine from a TNH tank.5
After extensive trials the TNH P-S was selected and on July 1, 1938 it was designated the standard light tank of the Czechoslovakian army.5 It was designated the LT vz 38.5
None had entered service by the time of the German occupation.5
After tests 150 were ordered.4
Design
The hull and turret were riveted with the superstructure bolted in place.5 The driver sat on the right and the MG gunner to the left.5 The drive sprocket was in the front and idler in the rear.4 The coaxial MG could be fired independently of the main armament as it was ball mounted. The fixed cupola had 4 periscopes.
The engine was mounted vertically in the center of the rear compartment.4
The floor under the fuel tanks were secured by small bolts. This was made to blow out the floor if an explosion happened inside the tank to reduce the damage internally.
The drive sprocket was in the front with the idler in the rear.5
A Praga-Wilson pre-selector gearbox simplified the gear changing and drove the front sprocket by a 2-stage epicyclic steering gear. There were 4 large bogie wheels mounted in pairs on each side on longitudinal leaf springs.
Foreign Use
Saw action in Poland, Belgium, France, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Russia. 228 vehicles in the 7th and 8th Panzer Divisions in France. During 1940-41 this vehicle provided 1/4 of the German tank strength. Production ended in April 1942. 1964 were exported to Bulgaria(10)5, Hungary (102)5, Romania (50)5, Slovakia (69)5, Afghanistan, Latvia, Peru, Sweden (built as the Strv.m/41), Switzerland, Yugoslavia, and one to Britain.
German Use:
PzKpfw 38(t)
Specifications for German models listed.
| TNH P-S (S=schwer)4 | TNH | TNHP | TNH-Sv | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver | 42,5 | 3-41 | Commander, gunner, loader/operator, driver4 44 3-41 |
3-41 |
| Physical Characteristics | |||||
| Weight | 21,400 lb 9,725 kg |
9,700 kg2,5 21,385 lb2,5 8.5 tons4 |
8.5 tons1, 9.5 tons3 | 8 tons4, 9 tons1 | 10.5 tons1 |
| Length w/gun | 15' 1", 14' 11" 4.9 m |
4.546 m2, 4.55 m5 14' 11"2,5 |
14' 9.5"1 4.61 m3 |
14' 9.5"4, 15' 3"1 | |
| Length w/o gun | |||||
| Height | 7' 9.25", 7' 7" 2.37 m |
2.31 m5, 2.311 m2 7' 7"2,5 |
2.4 m3 | 6' 9.5"4, 7' 2"1 | |
| Width | 6' 11.75", 7' 2.06 m |
2.13 m5, 2.133 m2 7'2,5 |
6' 8.75"1 2.14 m3 |
6' 9.5"4, 7'1 | |
| Ground clearance | 15.75" 0.4 m |
||||
| Ground contact length | 2.92 m | ||||
| Ground pressure | 8.11 psi 0.57 kg/cm2 |
||||
| Turret ring diameter | 47.5" | ||||
| Armament | |||||
| Main | 37 mm Skoda A7 L/47.8 or 3.7 cm KwK L/45 |
37.2 mm Skoda A72,5 | 37 mm1 37 mm A73 |
37 mm1 37 mm Skoda A-7 L/47.84 |
37 mm1 |
| Secondary | |||||
| MG | 7.92 mm 7165 CZ Type 37 MG, coaxial, hull | 7.92 mm MG, coaxial2 7.92 mm MG, coaxial, hull5 |
2: MGs1 | 2: 7.92 mm MGs1 2: 7.92 mm Besa MG, coaxial, hull4 |
2: 8 mm MGs1 |
| Side arms | |||||
| Quantity | |||||
| Main | 90 | 902,5 | 903 | ||
| Secondary | |||||
| MG | 2,550, 2,700 | 2,5502,5 | |||
| Side arms | |||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Front: 504 Side: 304 10-265 |
Front: 253 Side: 153 251 |
251 Front: 254 Side: 194 Rear: 154 |
||
| Hull Front, Upper | 25@17° | ||||
| Hull Front, Lower | 25@16° |
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| Hull Sides, Upper | 19, 15@0° | ||||
| Hull Sides, Lower | 15@0° | ||||
| Hull Rear | 15@12° & 10@60° | ||||
| Hull Top | 10, 8@90° | ||||
| Hull Bottom | 8@90° | ||||
| Turret Front | 25@10° | ||||
| Turret Sides | 15@10° | ||||
| Turret Rear | 15@10° | ||||
| Turret Top | 10@90° | ||||
| Engine (Make / Model) | Praga EPA | Praga EPA2,5 | Praga1 | Praga1 Praga TNHP OHV4 |
|
| Cylinders | 62, I-65 | I-64 | |||
| Cooling | Water2 | Water4 | |||
| Net HP | 1502,5 | 1263 | 125 @ 2,200 rpm4 | ||
| Transmission | Praga Wilson pre-selector, 5 forward, 1 reverse | 5 forward, 1 reverse.2,5 | |||
| Fuel type | Gasoline2 | ||||
| Octane | |||||
| Capacity | 49 gallons |
||||
| Performance | |||||
| Traverse | 360° | ||||
| Max Speed | 26 mph 42 kph |
42 kph2,5 26 mph2,5 |
26.1 mph1 42 kph3 |
26.1 mph1, 35 mph4 | |
| Cross Country | 9.3 mph 15 kph |
||||
| Road radius | 125, 155 miles 230 km |
200 km2,5 125 miles2,5 |
125 miles4 | ||
| Cross country radius | 165 km | ||||
| Turning Radius | 28.5' 4.5 m |
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| Elevation Limits | +12° to -6° | +12° to -6°2,5 | |||
| Fording depth | 3' 0.9 m |
0.9 m2,5 3'2,5 |
|||
| Trench crossing | 6' 2" | 1.879 m2,5 6' 2"2,5 |
|||
| Vertical Obstacle | 2' 7" | 0.787 m2,5 2' 7"2,5 |
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| Climbin ability | 60%5 | ||||
| Suspension (Type) | rubber tired wheels each side, leaf spring | Rubber tired wheels suspended in pairs on leaf springs.2,5 | Rubber tired, mounted on a cranked stub axle, controlled by semi-elliptic spring4 | ||
| Wheels each side | 4 | 42,5 | 44 | ||
| Return rollers each side | 2 (supported inside of track only) | 22 | 24 | ||
| Track length | |||||
| Tires | |||||
| Track width | 11.5" 293 mm |
||||
| Track centers/tread | 1.78 m | ||||
| Production |
Sources:
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Tanks - Over 250 of the World's Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, Chris Chant, 2004
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