Thursday 30 January 2014

Penetrating French Tanks

"Land forces high command
November 11th, 1939

Army Group A: 2000 copies
Army Group B: 2000 copies
Army Group C: 1000 copies
Reserve command: 1000 copies

Tests of a captured French heavy tank showed that, despite 40 mm of sturdy armour, it can be easily penetrated by our anti-tank guns. This is explained by the fact that the upper part of the hull and the turret are made of cast armour, and only the sides of the hull of rolled armour.

Tests indicate that penetration may be achieved:

  1. By shooting at the front and observation slits:
    1. Anti-tank rifle model 1938: 0-100 meters
    2. 20 mm AP shell: 0-100 meters
    3. 37 mm AP shell: 0-700 meters
  2. Side armour (40 mm rolled steel)
    1. Anti-tank rifle model 1938: 0-100 meters
    2. 20 mm AP shell: 0-100 meters
    3. 37 mm AP shell: 0-350 meters
  3. Turret side (45 mm cast steel)
    1. Anti-tank rifle model 1938: 0-100 meters
    2. 20 mm AP shell: 0-100 meters
    3. 37 mm AP shell: 0-350 meters
Fire at the observation slit covers is most effective. They were penetrated and knocked out with a 37 mm gun at 700 meters. 

The enclosed diagram shows the effectiveness of the anti-tank guns of one infantry regiment. The effects of splashing lead from mounted machineguns firing heavy sharp-tipped bullets is described.

Since penetration decreases significantly with distance, choosing your engagement distance correctly is decisive in battle. Opening fire too early leads to a gun's discovery, which decreases its combat value.

By the order of (signature illegible)

Translated by Technician-Intendant 1st grade, Rosumova

Captured in the region of the Vysokoye village, 52 km north of West Livna.
April 23rd, 1942"

By the date (the Germans were in Poland at the time) and assessment of "French heavy tank", Yuri Pasholok estimates that the tank in question is a Renault R-35. However, there is no explanation why a German unit in the USSR in 1942 needs an instruction for fighting an obsolete French tank.

2 comments:

  1. 10.6 ton R-35 is a heavy tank?

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  2. This really makes little sense. The R-35 was a light tank (for infantry support) by as early as 1939 standards. The French heavy tank was the B1 bis, but the construction was riveted, not cast, anywhere except the turret IIRC. I guess a 37mm round could pierce through a slit at 700 meters distance, but I'd say that would be more of a lucky shot, not to be assuredly taken for granted in combat.

    In July 1943 in Sicily most Italian armored units were equipped with R-35s and the famous story of Darby vs. the tank that had broken through (regardless of how that story, and the tank assault, really played out - recently analyzed Italian sources indicate they went a bit differently than the commonly held US version) shows that a 37mm round bounced off the R-35 front armor even when the gun was much closer than 700 meters away. It was a little toy of a tank but relatively well protected against small caliber AT weapons even as late as 1943.

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