Early War Tanks

[RaptorL]

Its been a while since we talked about updating our tank set, and I thought we could start with two early war tanks.
I was thinking putting in the M3 Stuart , and the Panzer III.

M3 Stuart Tank was a U.S. built tank which first saw service with the British in the desserts of North Africa in 1942.

Specifications
Crew 4
Weight 27,000 lbs
Length 14' 7"
Width 8' 4"
Height 8' 2 3/8"
Armor 3/8" - 1.5"
Armament 1 x 37mm, 4 x .30cal
Powerplant See engine chart
Performance 35 mph

Engines
Continental A 7 cylinder radial air cooled gasoline engine Model W670-9A, 250hp.
Guiber-son A 9 cylinder radial air cooled diesel engine model T1020 Series 4, 250hp.
(M3E1) Cumin's Model HBS 600 Diesel, 6 cylinder. The vehicle weighted 27,300 lbs.
(M3E2) Cadillac Twin V8 Cadillac engines supplied power @ 150hp each through twin automatic transmissions. The M3E2 weighed 28,165 lbs.

Panzer III Ausf H

Specifications
Length: 5.53 m
Width: 2.9 m 
Height: 2.5 m 
Weight: 21.5 Tt
Speed: 40 km/h (road)
19 km/h (off-road)
Range: 155 km
Primary armament: 50mm gun
Secondary armament: Two 7.92mm machine guns
Power plant: 197 kW(265 hp) 
Crew: 5 (Commander, gunner, loader,
driver and radio operator)

The Panzer III was used in the campaigns against Poland, France, the Soviet Union and in North Africa. A handful were still in use in Normandy and at Arnhem in 1944.

[waystin2]

+1

[2ace]

Great idea +1

[LLogann]

More gv's is more fun!

 

[Clone155]

Both needed +1

[Ack-Ack]

I'd like to see the other early war tanks that fought in the opening weeks and months of the war during the German's blitzkrieg though Europe.

Char B1

Production 8 April 1937 until June 1940
Weight 28 tonnes
Length 6.37 m
Width 2.46 m
Height 2.79 m
Crew 4

Armor 40 mm
Primary
armament 47 mm SA 34
Secondary
armament 75 mm ABS SA 35 howitzer and 2 x 7.5 mm Reibel machine guns
Engine petrol
272 hp
Power/weight 9.7 hp/tonne
Suspension bogies with a mixture of vertical coil and leaf springs
Operational
range 200 km
Speed 28 km/h (17.4 mph)
21 km/h (13 mph) off-road


FCM 36

Production 1938 - 1939
Weight 12.35 metric tons
Length 4.46 m
Width 2.14 m
Height 2.20 m
Crew 2 (commander, driver)

Armor 40 mm
Primary
armament 37 mm L/21 gun
Secondary
armament 7.5 mm coaxial machine gun
Engine V-4 Berliet diesel
91 hp ( kW)
Power/weight 7.36 hp/ton
Transmission 5 forward, 1 reverse
Suspension vertical coil spring
Ground clearance 0.36 m
Fuel capacity 217 litres
Operational
range 225 km
Speed 24 km/h


Hotchkiss H35

Production September 1936 - June 1940
Weight 11 metric tonnes
Length 4.22 m
Width 1.95 m
Height 2.15 m
Crew two

Armour 40 mm turret, 34 mm hull
Primary
armament 37 mm SA 18 gun
Secondary
armament 7.5 mm Reibel machine gun
Engine six cylinder 3480 cc
78 hp
Power/weight 7.1 hp/t
Suspension horizontal helical springs
Fuel capacity 180 litres
Operational
range 129 km
Speed 28 km/h



Renault R35 (served with both French and Polish units)

Production 1936-1940
Weight 10.6 metric ton
Length 4.02 m
Width 1.87 m
Height 2.13 m
Crew 2

Armour 43 mm
Primary
armament 37 mm L/21 SA18
Secondary
armament 7.5 mm MAC31 Reibel machine gun
Engine Renault V-4
82 hp[1]
Power/weight 8.0 hp/ton
Suspension horizontal rubber cylinder springs
Operational
range 130 km
Speed 20 km/h


Renault R40 (served with both French and Polish units)

Production 1936-1940
Same as the R35 but with the long barreled L/35 37 mm SA38 in the adapted cast APX-R1 turret (with L767 sight) gave it an effective anti-tank capacity: 40 mm at 500 metres.

SOMUA S35

Production 1935 - June 1940
Weight 19.5 t
Length 5.38 m
Width 2.12 m
Height 2.62 m
Crew 3 (driver, radio operator/purveyor, commander/gunner)

Armor 47 mm
Primary
armament 47 mm SA 35 gun
Secondary
armament 7.5 mm Mitrailleuse mle 1931 optionally coaxial
Engine SOMUA V-8 petrol
190 hp (140 kW)
Power/weight 9.7 hp/t
Suspension leaf spring bogies
Fuel capacity 510 litres
Operational
range off-road ~130 km, road ~230 km
Speed 40.7 km/h (off-road: 32.2 km/h)


Cruiser Mk IV

Production December 1938 - 1941
Weight 14.76 Long tons
Length 6 m (240 in)
Width 2.6 m (100 in)
Height 2.5 m (98 in)
Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)

Armour 6 - 30 mm
Primary
armament QF 2-pdr gun
87 rounds
Secondary
armament 0.303" Vickers machine gun
3,750 rounds
Engine Nuffield Liberty V12 gasoline
340 hp (250 kW; 340 PS)
Suspension Christie
Operational
range 90 mi (140 km)
Speed 30 mph (48 km/h) (off road 14 mph (23 km/h))


Matilda I

Production April 1937 to August 1940
Weight 11 Long tons
Length 18 ft 5 in (4.85 m )
Width 8 ft 6 in (2.28 m)
Height 8 ft 3 in( 1.86 m)
Crew 2 (commander/gunner, driver)

Armour 10–60 mm
Primary
armament .303 or .50 inch Vickers machine gun
4,000 rounds
Secondary
armament none
Engine Ford V8 petrol,
70 hp (52 kW)
Power/weight 6.36 hp/ton
Suspension Sprung bogie
Operational
range 80 miles (130 km)
Speed 8 mph (12.87 km/h)
off road: 5.6 mph (9 km/h)


Matilda II

Production 1937–1943
Weight 25 tons
Length 15 ft 11 in (6.0 m)
Width 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m)
Height 8 ft 3 in (2.5 m)
Crew 4 (Driver, gunner, loader, commander)

Armour 78 mm max
Primary
armament 2 pounder (40 mm)
93 armour-piercing rounds
Secondary
armament 7.92 mm Besa machine gun 2,925 rounds
Engine 2 diesel, AEC 6 cylinder engines or 2 diesel Leyland engines
94 Brake horsepower – 95 Brake horsepower
Power/weight 6.55 hp/tonne
Transmission Wilson epicyclic pre-selector gearbox, 6 speeds
Suspension Coil spring
Operational range 160 miles (257 km)
Speed 16 miles per hour (26 km/h) (on road)
9 miles per hour (14 km/h) (off road)
Steering system Rackham clutch



ack-ack

[RaptorL]

Can you tell us their specification, what year they were made, what country made them, and their historical role Ack-Ack?

[Ack-Ack]

Can you tell us their specification, what year they were made, what country made them, and their historical role Ack-Ack?

With the exception of the Matilda and Cruiser tanks, the rest were French tanks.  All of these tank types saw extensive service and action during the early stages of the war, namely during the invasion of Poland, Battle of France and the Battle of Dunkirk.  Both French and Polish units were equipped with the Hotchkiss H35, Renault R35 and Renault R40 tanks.

For the most part, these tank designs were inter-war years of the late 20's and '30s when tank combat doctrine was still in its infancy which is reflected in a lot of the designs of the tanks during these periods.  Tanks like the Char B1 were considered to be just as good, if not better than their German counter parts.


ack-ack

[E25280]

The Panzer III was used in the campaigns against Poland, France, the Soviet Union and in North Africa. A handful were still in use in Normandy and at Arnhem in 1944.

The PzkwIII and IV both served for basically the entire war with different armament as the war progressed.  For example, the III that was used in France was armed with a 37mm gun, and the IV of the time had a short barreled 75mm howitzer. 

The III would be a great add, but earlier versions of the IV may be "easier" and would be just as welcome.

[RaptorL]

Either one works for me, but i would like an early war panzer III to be a close match with the M3 Stuart.

[RaptorL]

With the addition of the Panzer III Ausf H and the M3 Stuart, we will have two tanks that played a historical roll in the battle of North Africa.

[Ack-Ack]

With the addition of the Panzer III Ausf H and the M3 Stuart, we will have two tanks that played a historical roll in the battle of North Africa.

With the addition of the Cruiser Mk IV, Matilda I/II tanks and we'll have 5.


ack-ack

[Cthulhu]

I'm with Ack-Ack, Char B1   It was every bit as good as any early war German iron, but since it was relegated to infanty support, it was usually outnumbered and outflanked by massed german armor.

But the Matilda would be cool too. Definitely need the Panzer III to make it a fair fight though. Sand anyone?

[BigKev03]

I agree an early war tank of some kind is needed.  The T-34/76 is the only tank we can use in early war and it is no fun with just it by itself.  I would prefer the panzer III.  Anyway a new EW tank is needed badly.

[bravoa8]

Its been a while since we talked about updating our tank set, and I thought we could start with two early war tanks.
I was thinking putting in the M3 Stuart , and the Panzer III.

I thought it was called the M5 Stuart?

Still good idea!