Hotchkiss Modèle 1935, H-39 Light Tanks:
Hull was cast sections bolted together. 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 turret was produced by AMX and was identical to the R-35s and R-40s. 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.
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.
The SA 18 had velocity of 1,273 fps. Some had a 37 mm Sa 38 L/33 longer barreled gun installed (velocity 2,300 fps). Carried 100 rounds of 37 mm. Armor was increased to 40 mm. Had a raised rear decking.
First used in Norway.
Used by Free French forces in the Mediterranean.
German Use:
Added radios. 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)
| Hotchkiss H-39 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver 21,2,3,5 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 11.9 tons1,5, 12 tons2, 12.1 tons3,4 12,000 kg, 12,100 kg1,5 |
| Length w/gun | 13' 10"1,3,5 4.22 m1,2,3,4, 4.23 m5 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 7' 0.6"1,3, 7' 1"5 2.14 m2, 2.15 m1,3,4, 2.16 m5 |
| Width | 6' 4.75"1, 6.48 m3 1.85 m2, 1.95 m1,3,4, 1.96 m5, 2.14 m |
| 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 37 mm L/212 or L/332 37 mm3,5 37 mm SA184 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 7.5 mm MG1,5 7.5 mm MG 31 7.5 mm MG, coaxial4 MG2 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 58, 1002 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2,4002 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Front: 404 Side: 404 401,5 |
| 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 19381,5 Hotchkiss2,3 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water2 |
| Cylinders | 62,3,5 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 1203,4,5 120@ 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) | Gasoline2,5 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 55 gallons 210 liters2 |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand |
| Max speed | 22.3 mph3, 22.7 mph1,5 36 kph3,4, 36.5 kph1,2,5 |
| Cross country speed | 10.6 mph |
| Road radius | 74.5 miles3, 93.2 miles1,5, 120 km3, 150 km1,2,5 |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning radius | 27' 8.25 m2 |
| Elevation limits | |
| Fording depth | 2' 10"3 0.85 m2,3 |
| Trench crossing | 5' 11"3 1.8 m3 |
| Vertical obstacle | 1' 8"3 0.5 m3 |
| 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 |
| Diamter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | |
| Production | Feb. 1939-: 1,000+3 |
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
- 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
- The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
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