Topic: Tanks of WW II Part three: Somua S 35

[Chris SI]

Powerful French AFV

In 1934 the French formed their first Light Mechanized Division {Division Legere Mechamque: DLM). Though lacking in balance and over-indebted to the days of horsed cavalry, the DLM marked a positive move towards equipping the French Army with mobile armoured divisions. At full strength, the 160 tanks of a DLM's two armoured regiments spearheaded a force that also featured two squadrons of armoured cars and two of motor cycles, a rifle brigade, an artillery regiment and an engineer battalion. The Somua S35, the last new type of tank built in France before the collapse of 1940, appeared in 1936. It was designed to take over as the main tank in the DLMs, and to add punch where this had been lacking.

With 55 mm of turret armour and a 47-mm main gun plus a coaxial machine-gun, the Somua was solidly built and well armed for its period. Its cramped one-man turret was a legacy of the Chars Bl bis and D2, from which it was derived, and was an undoubted disadvantage. And at 9 ft, the Somua offered the highest profile -and therefore the most prominent target -of any French tank of the day. An unusual feature was the 'clam-shell' cast hull, whose upper and lower parts were bolted together. This method of construction had the further disadvantage that the hull could be split in two by a projectile striking home anywhere along the line of the horizontal join. Somuas were prominent in the Battle of France in May-June 1940. Mechanically reliable, they outgunned and were better protected than their German counterparts, but were fatally handicapped by the narrow turret which denied the gunner and the commander the simultaneous view of targets so essential in armoured warfare.

When the crunch came, therefore, the inherent powers of the Somua were inadequate against the superior doctrine and fighting skills of the German armoured divisions.

Specifications:

Length: 17ft 8ins
Width:7ft 1 in
Height: 19 ft
Weight: 20 tons
Max speed: 25 mph
Armament: one 47-mm gun one MG
Armour: 55-20 mm
Crew: three

[Just plain old Punisher]

If you want to drive this tank, play world war II online at www.wwiionline.com

[Chris SI]

I used it in board wargames many years ago, called Crescendo of Doom, and Panzer leader 1940.

[Just plain old Punisher]

In WWIIonline its a great all around vehicle. Good off-road performance with more armour and a larger gun than the Panzer III's w/ 37mm AT weapons. More often than not, the 37mm shells would bounce of the S-35's armour.