Renault R35

Renault
Industry	Automotive, Military vehicles
Founded	1899
Headquarters	Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Products	Automobiles, tanks, military vehicles

The Renault R35 (also known as Char léger Modèle 1935 R or simply R 35) was a French light infantry tank manufactured starting in 1936 and deployed throughout the Second World War. Originating from a 1933 design concept as an infantry support vehicle, it was assigned to independent tank battalions attached to infantry divisions for offensive missions. The R35 was characterized by relatively thick armor protection but suffered from slow speed and limited anti-armor effectiveness due to its short-barreled 37 mm cannon.

With the onset of war emphasizing anti-tank capabilities, the improved Renault R40 variant was introduced and produced beginning in April 1940, featuring a longer, more potent gun. Although there were intentions to transition production toward faster tank models, the R35/40 remained France’s most widely produced tank during the conflict, with approximately 1,685 units completed by June 1940. This model was also exported to countries such as Poland, Romania, Turkey, and Yugoslavia. Captured examples were later repurposed and modified by German forces and their allies, some converted into specialized tank destroyers.

Development

The 1926 military plan sought to develop a char d'accompagnement, a cost-effective, mass-manufactured light tank intended to replace the World War I-era Renault FT and enable standard infantry divisions to execute combined arms infiltration tactics. Due to limited mechanization within the French army, an affordable solution was essential. By 1930, the concept had been refined with more precise requirements. The initial attempt, the Char D1, failed to meet cost and weight targets. In 1933, Hotchkiss proposed the Hotchkiss H35 as an alternative design. Political factors led to the establishment of Plan 1933, which invited French manufacturers to submit proposals. Fourteen companies responded, including Delaunay-Belleville, resulting in five prototypes from Hotchkiss, Compagnie Général de Construction des Locomotives, APX, FCM, and foremost producer Renault. Concerned about Hotchkiss potentially overshadowing his efforts, Louis Renault accelerated his development process; however, armor thickness increases mandated on 21 June 1934—from 30 mm to 40 mm—could not be incorporated before deadlines. On 20 December 1934, Renault presented the first prototype named Renault ZM to the Commission de Vincennes.

In early 1935, the ZM prototype received enhanced armor plating and a standardized APX turret installed by Atelier de Rueil. Testing proceeded amid escalating international tensions due to German re-armament, prompting urgent modernization of France’s armored forces. Production commenced promptly; on 29 April 1935 an order for 300 units was placed prior to finalizing the design at a hull cost of 190,000 French franc (excluding armament and engine). The export price around 1939 was approximately 1,400,000 francs (~$32,000). The first production model arrived on 4 June 1936 and underwent rigorous testing given its differences from the prototype.

Description

To accelerate development, Renault adapted suspension and running gear components from the cavalry-oriented AMR 35, which featured five road wheels per side with horizontal rubber-cylinder springs akin to those on the AMC 35.

The vehicle’s hull measured 4.02 meters in length and consisted of three bolted cast sections with armor thickness up to 43 mm, weighing roughly 10.6 metric tonnes (9.8 tonnes excluding fuel and ammunition). The bottom section contained independently sprung front wheels, two bogies, and a front drive sprocket. The nose section housed the final drive mechanism and differentials positioned on the right side. Steering utilized a Cletrac differential with five forward gears coupled with brake actuation. The driver sat slightly offset to the left beneath two hatches. Propulsion came from an 85 hp Renault V-4 engine mounted at the rear right side; fuel storage included a self-sealing tank holding 166 liters on the left flank. This configuration enabled a maximum road speed of 20 km/h with an operational range of approximately 130 km. Off-road speeds reached up to 14 km/h with fuel consumption estimated at 212 liters per 100 km. From 1940 onwards, AMX-style tail extensions were added to enhance trench-crossing ability.

The cast APX hexagonal turret featured a domed cupola with vertical vision slits measuring about 30 mm thick and stood at a height of 2.13 meters. Turret rotation was manual via hand crank or by shifting the commander’s weight; often commanders stood due to absence of seating, though some retrofits added fold-down seats on rear hatches for observation purposes. Early versions employed the APX-R turret equipped with an L713 sight and mounted a short-barreled 37 mm L/21 SA18 gun—initially salvaged from converted Renault FT vehicles—and a single 7.5 mm Châtellerault fortress machine gun. This main armament had limited penetration capability—only about 12 mm at a distance of 500 meters. Later production models switched to an APX turret featuring an improved L739 sight paired with a standard Châtellerault 7.5 mm MAC31 Reibel machine gun, due to delays in delivering original weaponry. Turret manufacturing bottlenecks were significant: after producing roughly 380 hulls in 1936, only around thirty-seven turrets were initially installed—limiting output to approximately two hundred completed tanks annually. Ammunition loadout included forty-two armor-piercing rounds and fifty-eight high-explosive shells; spent cartridges from machine guns (totaling approximately 2,400) were ejected through floor chutes.

Initially, radios were absent except within the second battalion of the 507e Régiment de Chars de Combat under command of Charles de Gaulle. The R40 variant later integrated ER 54 radios, enhancing communication capabilities but increasing workload on commanders who also functioned as gunners and loaders.

Renault R40 and Development Projects

By 1937, the initial suspension design had demonstrated significant reliability issues, prompting its replacement during the 1940 production cycle after 1,540 units had been manufactured. The updated AMX suspension system incorporated twelve road wheels supported by six vertical springs. At the same time, the tank was upgraded with a radio system and equipped with a more potent long-barreled L/35 37 mm SA38 gun housed in the modified cast APX-R1 turret, improving its anti-armor performance to penetrate 40 mm at 500 meters. This enhanced version was officially named Char léger modèle 1935 R modifié 1939, commonly referred to as the Renault R40. It was deployed within one battalion of the Polish 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade and two of the last French tank battalions formed prior to World War II.

There were intentions to fit the R40 with a welded turret designed by FCM and to retrofit all existing R35 tanks with the longer SA38 cannon, aiming for a wartime production output of 120 units monthly. Starting January 1940, commanders’ vehicles in light tank units began receiving armament upgrades, although Hotchkiss tanks were prioritized within armored divisions. An exception occurred on 12 February 1940 when turrets from 24 infantry tanks were replaced to free older turret models for export versions of the R35. Concurrently, a rapid manufacturing initiative sought to produce 200,000 armor-piercing rounds monthly for the shorter gun variant due to limited ammunition availability.

Among various R35-based adaptations were fascine carriers—vehicles equipped with frameworks designed for deploying fascines to facilitate crossing trenches.

Operational Use

Designed to succeed the Renault FT as the primary light infantry tank starting in mid-1936, the R35 experienced delays in crew training; consequently, by May 1940, eight battalions still operated older tank models. When hostilities commenced on 1 September 1939, out of 1,070 vehicles produced, 975 had been delivered—765 assigned to French tank battalions and others allocated for training or overseas deployment. From an initial order of 2,300 tanks, at least 1,601 units were completed by June 1940 (with some data gaps), including exports: Poland received 50 units; Turkey obtained 100 across two shipments in early 1940; Romania acquired 41 from an order of 200; and Yugoslavia took delivery of 54. The Yugoslav exports likely fall outside official production totals, indicating overall manufacturing reached roughly 1,685 vehicles.

Deployment in France

On the eve of the German offensive on 10 May 1940, metropolitan France fielded approximately 945 R35 and R40 tanks distributed among 21 battalions, each comprising about 45 vehicles. Of these, around 900 were allocated at the Army level within Groupements de Bataillons de Chars:

VIIe Armée
- GBC 510
  - 9eBCC (R35)
  - 22BCC (R35)
Ie Armée
- GBC 515
  - 13BCC (H35)
  - 35BCC (R35)
- GBC 519
  - 38BCC (H35)
  - 39BCC (R35)
IXe Armée
- GBC 518
  - 6eBCC (R35)
  - 32BCC (R35)
  - 33BCC (FT)
IIe Armée
- GBC 503
  - 3eBCC (R35)
  - 4eBCC (FCM36)
  - 7eBCC (FCM36)
IIIe Armée
- GBC 511
  - 5eBCC (R35)
  - 12BCC (R35)
- GBC513
  - 29BCC (FT)
  - 51BCC (Char2C)
- GBC520
  - 23BCC (R35)
  - 30BCC (FT)
- GBC532
  - 43BCC (R35)
IVe Armée
- GBC502
  - 20BCC (R35)
  - 24BCC (R35)
- GBC504
  - 10BCC (R35)
  - 343 CAC (FT)
  - 344 CAC (FT)
Ve Armée
- GBC501
  - 1rBCC (R35)
  - 2eBCC (R35)
  - 31BCC (FT)
- GBC508
  - 21BCC (R35)
  - 34BCC (R35)
- GBC517
  - 19BCC (Char D2)
VIIIe Armée
- GBC506
  - 16BCC(R35)
  - 36BCC(FT)
  - 17BCC(R35)
  - 18BCC(FT)
Armée des Alpes
- GBC514
  - Bataillon de Chars des Troupes Coloniales (FT)

These formations consisted solely of tank units without integral infantry or artillery support, necessitating coordination with infantry divisions. On May15,135 R35 tanks were assigned to the provisional 4th Division Cuirassée; meanwhile, two newly formed battalions reinforced the 2nd DCR, increasing its organic armored strength to approximately1035 tanks. The Polish10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade’s battalions also received a mix of R35 and R40 tanks, totaling roughly45 vehicles by June. Furthermore, several battalions were reconstituted or augmented with additional R35/R40s, and around300 reserve tanks were distributed among armored divisions. Ultimately, close to800 of the available1440 R35 tanks were operational within armored divisions.

French territories

In Syria, which was under French mandate, two battalions equipped with 45 and 50 R35 tanks respectively were deployed, while Morocco housed a force of 30 tanks. Units stationed in Syria saw combat during the Allied invasion of 1941 and subsequently some elements joined the Free French forces. Meanwhile, North African R35 units took part in the November 1942 Operation Torch landings.

After World War II

Certain R35 tanks continued service after the war within the Gendarmerie, redesignated as "R 39s" following upgrades with SA 38 armaments. These vehicles were gradually retired by 1951, replaced by the Sherman tank.

Germany

The largest number of captured R35s—totaling 843—were utilized by German forces. Of these, 131 were classified as Panzerkampfwagen 35R 731 (f) and primarily assigned to security roles, driver instruction, or deployment on armored trains. Many had their turrets removed and were converted into artillery tractors or ammunition carriers.

Around 174 R35s underwent transformation into tank destroyers armed with a 47 mm gun, designated 4,7 cm PaK(t) auf Panzerkampfwagen 35R(f) ohne Turm. This model was intended to replace the Panzerjäger I. The conversion involved replacing the original turret with an armored superstructure housing a Škoda 47mm anti-tank cannon. Alkett completed these modifications between May and October 1941. Although designed to match the Panzerjäger I’s firepower, their effectiveness was limited by the R35’s slow pace and overloaded chassis. Some participated in Operation Barbarossa, but most served in occupied regions such as the Channel Islands, Netherlands (with Pz.Jg.Abt.657), and France. These vehicles engaged in combat during the Normandy campaign within Schnelle Brigade 30 in 1944 and near Arnhem alongside Pz.Jg.Abt. 657. It is also probable that units like the 346th and 59th Infantry Divisions employed them during Operation Market Garden.

Turrets removed from R35s were repurposed as fixed defensive emplacements known as "Tobruks," enhancing firepower while shielding gunners from small arms fire and shrapnel.

In 1944, fourteen R35 tanks served as driver training vehicles for the 100. Panzer-Ersatz-Bataillon of Germany’s Seventh Army. On D-Day, these tanks formed part of early reserve forces near Sainte-Mère-Église, tasked with countering American airborne landings. They supported a counterattack that briefly disrupted U.S. command posts before being knocked out by bazooka fire.

Poland

Confronted with inadequate domestic production of the Polish 7TP tank amid growing threats, Poland explored foreign options. Interest focused on French SOMUA S35 tanks; however, France declined to supply them. In 1938, Poland acquired between one and three R35 tanks for evaluation, which revealed problems such as engine overheating, stiff suspension systems, and insufficient armament. As an emergency measure in April 1939, Poland placed an order for 100 R35s. The initial batch of approximately 49–50 tanks arrived in July 1939 alongside three Hotchkiss H35 vehicles for testing purposes. These tanks were primarily assigned to the 12th Armoured Battalion based in Łuck.

At the outbreak of the Invasion of Poland, around 45–46 R35s formed the core of the 21st Light Tank Battalion held in reserve for the Commander in Chief, intended to defend the Romanian Bridgehead. Following the Soviet invasion on September 17, this unit was split; by late September, 34 tanks retreated into Romania. Six tanks were integrated into the 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade stationed at Stanisławów (now Ivano-Frankivsk), with three crossing further into Hungary. The remaining four R35s along with three H35s operated within the improvised Dubno Operational Group, engaging in battles at Krasne and Kamionka Strumiłowa before being destroyed. The second shipment of R35s ordered by Poland was redirected by France to Syria before it could be delivered to Polish forces.

Romania

During the late 1930s rearmament phase, the Romania secured a license to manufacture 200 French Renault R35 infantry tanks domestically. By early 1938, production facilities were nearing completion but were subsequently delayed due to France prioritizing its own rearmament needs. Between August and September 1939, Romania received an initial batch of 41 R35 tanks as an interim solution, which became the foundation of its newly established 2nd Armoured Regiment. Later in September, an additional 34 R35s arrived following the internment of the Polish 21st Light Tank Battalion, which had fled into Romanian territory after Germany’s invasion of Poland. This increased Romania’s total to 75 tanks, allowing the regiment to expand into two battalions.

After the Battle of Stalingrad, Romania undertook upgrades to improve the R35’s anti-tank effectiveness. The first modification involved replacing one tank’s original 37 mm gun with a captured Soviet T-26 turret armed with a 45 mm cannon. By early 1943, this setup was widely adopted: the French turret armor was retained, but a turret extension was added to house the Soviet 45 mm gun and its recoil system. This change eliminated space for the coaxial machine gun. Additionally, a Romanian-designed 47 mm Schneider gun was evaluated for this purpose. Tanks modified in this way were redesignated as Vânătorul de care R35 (VDC R35) tank destroyers; by June 1944, thirty units had been upgraded at the Leonida factory in Bucharest using refurbished Soviet guns salvaged from captured T-26 and BT-7 tanks. Gun mountings were manufactured at Concordia Works in Ploiești, while refurbishment took place at the Târgoviște Army Arsenal.

Between 1941 and 1942, Romanian industry produced numerous replacement components such as drive sprockets, shafts, tracks, robust metal-rimmed road wheels, and cylinder heads—significantly increasing local content within hulls, transmissions, and turrets. As of 19 July 1944, Romania maintained a fleet of sixty R35 tanks, approximately half of which had been rearmed with 45 mm guns.

The only extant VDC R35 element is a turret currently held in private ownership in Slovakia.

Italy

The Royal Italian Army acquired a total of 124 R35 tanks, organizing them into two battalions within the 4th Tank Infantry Regiment. These battalions were incorporated into the 131st Tank Infantry Regiment, which was deployed to Sicily in January 1942. The regiment’s CII Tank Battalion R35 operated under XII Army Corps tasked with defending western Sicily, while regimental headquarters and CI Tank Battalion R35 served under XVI Army Corps in eastern Sicily. Several R35 tanks participated in the defense of Gela during the battle, engaging forces including US Rangers. Near Sortino, the 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment encountered an assault by five R35s; four were swiftly disabled, but one managed to breach their lines before being destroyed by a 105 mm self-propelled gun near Floridia.

Hungary

A contingent of Polish forces retreating from advancing German and Soviet troops brought three R35 tanks along with thirty tankettes (TK-3 and TKS models) into Hungary. These vehicles were primarily utilized for training purposes involving tank driving and machine gun operation. By the end of World War II, scarcity of spare parts rendered these vehicles inoperable, with no documented use beyond 1944.

Other forces during the Second World War

Captured R35 tanks were allocated to Germany’s allied nations; for example, approximately forty units were delivered to Bulgaria. During the Syria-Lebanon Campaign, the Australian 2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment utilized four R35 tanks seized from Vichy French forces. Switzerland integrated a dozen R35s that had escaped from France into its military inventory. After Germany's 1941 conquest of Yugoslavia, the Independent State of Croatia obtained several operational R35s that had been used by the 11. Panzerdivision in April.

Syria and Lebanon

The Syrian Army deployed R35 tanks during an unsuccessful assault on the Jewish kibbutz Degania Alef located in the Galilee on 20 May 1948, as part of the Battles of the Kinarot Valley. Defenders at the kibbutz disabled three R35 tanks, compelling the attackers to withdraw. One of these disabled tanks remains near the kibbutz as a monument commemorating the 1947–1949 Palestine conflict. Initially, it was thought to have been destroyed by a 20 mm anti-tank weapon and Molotov cocktails; however, a 1991 investigation by the Israeli Defence Forces established that it was actually disabled by a PIAT projectile.

The Lebanese Army also operated R35 tanks, some of which were retrofitted with British 40 mm Ordnance QF 2-pounder guns, and these saw combat during the 1958 Lebanon crisis.

Literature

Pascal Danjou, 2005, Renault R35/R40, Editions du Barbotin, Ballainvilliers

External links