France's Hotchkiss Modèle 1935, H-39; Char de Cavalerie 38H light tank

Photos

Design

The H-39 was an improved H-35, with a more powerful engine along with other modifications.³ The H-39 had a raised squared rear deck which differentiated it from the H-35.³

The turret was produced by AMX and was identical to the R-35s and R-40s.

The engine was on the left in the rear and the gas tank on the right. An external fuel tank could be used as well as a skid tail to increase cross country performance.

Construction

Hull was cast sections bolted together.

Crew

The driver was in front a little to the right of center. He had a split hatch cover which one side opened upwards and the other opened forwards. There was an escape hatch in the floor.

The commander had a rear door on the turret that could be folded down horizontal to form a seat. He also had a cupola that could be traversed.

Armament

The 37 mm SA-38 L/35 was installed starting in April 1940.⁴ Some H-39s were updated when the SA-38 was available.⁴

The SA 18 had velocity of 1,273 fps. Some had a 37 mm Sa 38 L/33 longer barrel gun installed (velocity 2,300 fps). The H-39 carried 100 rounds of 37 mm ammunition.

Production

• H-39: 1,000+³, ~1,000⁶
  • Production: February 1939 - ?³

Usage

First used in Norway.

Used by Free French forces in the Mediterranean.⁶

German Use

The H-39 became the PzKpfw 39-H 735(f).³

The Germans added radios to the H-39s that they captured. Some were converted to self-propelled artillery with 75 mm antitank guns or 105 mm howitzers.

7.5cm PaK40(Sf) auf Geshützwagen 39H(f), 10.5cm leFH18(SF) auf Geshützwagen 39H(f)

Specifications

	Hotchkiss H-39
Crew	Commander, driver 21,2,3,4,5,6
Physical Characteristics
Weight	26,620 lb6 11.9 tons1,4,5, 12 tons2, 12.1 tons3 12,100 kg1,5,6
Length	13' 10"1,3,4,5,6 4.22 m1,2,3,6, 4.23 m4,5
Height	7' 0.6"1,3,6, 7' 1"4,5 2.14 m2, 2.15 m1,3,6, 2.16 m4,5
Width	6' 4.75"1, 6.48 m3, 6' 4.8"6, 6' 5"4 1.85 m2, 1.95 m1,3,6, 1.96 m4,5
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	1' 2" 0.37 m2
Ground contact length
Ground pressure	12.8 psi 0.9 (kg/cm2)2
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	37 mm Sa38 L/33 37 mm1,6 37 mm L/212 or L/332 37 mm3,5 1: 37 mm SA-38 L/354
Secondary
MG	7.5 mm MG1,5 7.5 mm MG 31 MG2
MG - coaxial	1: 7.5 mm MG4,6
Side arms
Quantity
Main	58, 1002
Secondary
MG	2,4002
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	401,5,6
Hull Front, Upper	22-34@7° & round 22-342
Hull Front, Lower	29-34@30°
Hull Sides, Upper	34@20° 342
Hull Sides, Lower	34@0°
Hull Rear	34@25° and 22@30° 222
Hull Top	22@88° & 90° 222
Hull Bottom	12@90° 122
Turret Front	45@0° & 25° mantlet: 25@round 452
Turret Sides	40@30° 402
Turret Rear	40@30° 402
Turret Top	302, 12@90°
Engine (Make / Model)	Hotchkiss 19381,4,5, Hotchkiss2,3,6
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water2
Cylinders	62,4,5,6
Capacity
Net HP	1203,4,5,6, 120@ 2,800 rpm2
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	4 forward, 1 reverse, 5 forward2, 1 reverse2
Steering
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline2,4,5,6
Octane
Quantity	55 gallons 210 liters2
Road consumption
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°, hand
Speed - Road	22.3 mph3,6, 22.7 mph1,4,5 36 kph3,6, 36.5 kph1,2,4,5
Speed - Cross Country	10.6 mph
Range - Road	74.5 miles3,6, 93 miles4, 93.2 miles1,5 120 km3,6, 150 km1,2,4,5
Range - Cross Country
Turning radius	27' 8.25 m2
Elevation limits
Fording depth	2' 10"3,6 0.85 m2,3,6
Trench crossing	5' 11"3,6 1.8 m3,6
Vertical obstacle	1' 8"3,6 0.5 m3,6
Climbing ability
Suspension (Type)	bell cranks Coil Springs2
Wheels each side	6 wheels mounted in pairs on bogies 62
Return rollers each side	2
Tracks (Type)
Length	6
Width	11" 270 mm2
Diameter
Number of links
Pitch
Tire tread
Track centers/tread