Obsolete Trophies

"Information on Somua and Hotchkiss tanks

On September 9-10th, near grid square 5016-7, the 38th Guards Independent Tank Brigade knocked out and captured 12 enemy tanks. Of them, 4 are Somua and 8 are Hotchkiss type. Of them, 1 Somua and 6 Hotchkiss are still functional.

Preliminary combat and technical characteristics of these tanks have been established:

Somua tank:

• Type: medium
• Mass: 18 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 5160 mm
• Width: 2080 mm
• Height: 2600 mm
• Clearance: 380 mm
• Armour thickness:
• Front: 60 mm
• Side: 50 mm
• Rear: 40 mm
• Turret: 60 mm
• Floor: 25 mm
• Armament:
• Cannon: 1 47 mm
• Machine gun: 1 Châtellerault 7.92 mm
• Optical sight: 1
• Ammunition:
• 84 cannon rounds
• 9 disk magazines
• Engine: gasoline, V-8, Somua AC-4 type.
• Cooling: forced water cooling. Tank fits 80-90 L of coolant.
• Fuel system: forces carburettor.
• Ignition system: magneto.
• Gearbox: gear type with mechanical switching. Five speeds forward, one speed back.
• Suspension: leaf springs with hydraulic shock absorbers.
• Running gear: small pitch track with rear drive sprocket. 9 road wheels, 2 return rollers. Covered by skirt armour. Track links are 355 mm wide.
• Radios: 1
• Crew: 3

Hotchkiss tank

• Type: light
• Weight: 12 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length (with tail): 4220 mm
• Width: 1850 mm
• Height: 2140 mm
• Armour:
• Front: 40 mm
• Sides: 30 mm
• Turret: 40 mm
• Rear: 30 mm
• Floor: 20 mm
• Clearance: -43 mm
• Engine: gasoline, 6 cylinder monobloc, up to 110 hp. Cylinders fire in the following order: 135642.
• Fuel system: Solix carburettor, fuel capacity is up to 180 L.
• Cooling system: forced water cooling, capacity is about 25-30 L.
• Ignition system: Chinchilla carburettor.
• Electric equipment: in series, 12 V, one battery.
• Gearbox: 5 speed forward, one back, mechanical switching.
• Suspension: independent with vertical springs.
• Running gear: small pitch track links, front drive sprocket. 6 road wheels, 2 return rollers. Track links are 265 mm wide.
• Armament:
• 37 mm Hotchkiss gun
• 7.92 mm Châtellerault machine gun
• 1 optical sight
• Ammunition capacity:
• 86 cannon rounds
• 12 machine gun disks of 150 rounds each
• Radio: one receiver
• Crew: 2 men
• Top speed: 35 kph on improved roads.
• Range: up to 150 km

Chief of Staff of the 38th Guards Independent Tank Brigade, Guards Lieutenant Colonel Gerasimenko

Chief of Intelligence, Guards Captain Makarov"

Via Yuri Pasholok