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AMR 35

Description

The AMR 35 (Automitrailleuse de Reconnaissance Renault Modèle 35) was a light tank, developed by Renault as a support vehicle for mechanized infantry. It was designed in 1935, and replaced the previous AMR 33. The main changes from the AMR 33 was replacing the engine and moving it to the rear, and replacing the suspension.

The AMR 35 was a very fast tank, which forced Renault to re-design the suspension. This new suspension was later used on the Renault R35 as well. The AMR 35 was still unreliable, however, because of the stress caused by the high speed. For this reason, the AMR 35 was cancelled in 1938, after 167 vehicles had been build.

A number of variants were build, including:

AMR 35 à mitrailleuse 13,2
Armed with the 13,2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun
ZT 2
Armed with the 25 mm SARF
ZT 3
Tank destroyer version, with a 25 mm SARF mounted in the hull
ZT 4
Tropical version, for colonial use
ADF 1
Platoon-level command version
Renault YS
Staff vehicle
Renault YS 2
Artillery observation vehicle

During the German invasion, most of the AMR 35s were used by the French army, as the cavalry preferred the Hotchkiss H35. Both the 7.5 and 13.2 mm machine guns were insufficient to defeat Germany's tanks and armored cars, and most were eventually lost due to breakdowns. The Germans captured a number of AMR 35s, which were primarily used for policing duties in France.

Technical Details

  ZT ZT à mitrailleuse 13,2 ZT 2
Crew
Crew 2
Physical Characteristics
Weight 6.5 t 7.1 t
Length 3.84 m
Width 1.76 m
Height 1.88 m
Armour
Armour (max) 13 mm
Performance
Speed (max) 55 km/h
Engine
Engine Renault 432 22 CV
Net h.p. 82
Cylinders 4
Displacement 5881 cc
Armament
Primary weapon 7,5 mm Reibel (1) 13.2 mm Hotchkiss Modèle 1930 (1) 25 mm SARF (1)

Further Reading

Sources

  1. VON SENGER UND ETTERLIN, Ferdinand Maria. Kampfpanzer 1916-1966. München : J. F. Lehmanns Verlag, 1966.