Czechoslovakia's LT vz 35 medium tank, light tank

Photos

LT vz 35 tank at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds: Nick Francis	LT vz 35 and LT vz 40 with the Fast Corps in the Ukraine in 1941:
LT vz 35 medium tank:

Design

In October 1934⁵ / 1934 the Czechoslovakian army asked for prototypes of a medium tank.⁶

The suspension allowed the weight to be distributed evenly to the bogies.

The commander/gunner and loader/radio operator were in the turret.^5,6 The bow machine gunner was on the left and the driver on the right.⁵

Czech crews weren't happy with it because early vehicles had many mechanical defects.⁷ However, these were fixed and the LT vz 35 became very popular.⁷

Construction

Used riveted and bolted armor.^5,6

Propulsion

The engine and transmission were in the rear of the vehicle.⁶ The drive sprocket was in the rear and the idler in front which allowed for the fighting compartment to be free of the drive mechanism.^6,8 Had compressed-air assisted mechanical steering which later had problems in low temperature conditions.⁶

Track and bogie life was 4,000 - 8,000 km.⁸

Main Armament

37 mm gun had a muzzle velocity of 2,620 ft/sec. The bow MG was on the left side with it's gunner and the driver on the right.⁶

Prototype

Two prototypes were ordered and were designated the S-11-a or Model T-11.^5,6 These were field tested in June 1935 and even though many design flaws were discovered 160 were ordered in October 1935.^5,6 The first 5 were delivered but with more testing and finding still many flaws these were returned to the Skoda factory to be fixed.⁶ Another 138 were ordered and were named the LT vz 35.^5,6

Production

• Chassis #s: 50001-50424³
• Manufacturer: Skoda⁹ 80%³, CKD 20%³
• Production: 1935 - ?⁹
  • 1935 - ?: 298
  • 1935 - 1938: 424³

Variants

• S-11-a / T-11: Prototype.⁵
• LT vz 35:
• S-IIb: One pilot model built. Trials occurred in 1938, but it was unreliable.
• S-IIr: Only developed in prototype. Hungary modified this design and it became the 40 M Turan. It was built from 1941 on.
• Hungarian Use:
  • Turan I: Was called the R-2 and 126 were ordered in 1935. Had new 3 man turret and 260 hp engine.
• German Use:
  • PzKpfw 35(t): 219 were confiscated from Czechoslovakia in March 1939.³ Used FuG37(t) radio.³

Usage

In March 1939, 79 were given to Slovakia, and 218 were taken by the Germans.⁷
219 were built for the Germans by Skoda.^5,6

Germany terminated production in the summer of 1940.⁷

Also sold Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Peru, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey.⁵

Invasion of France

The 6th Division was equipped with 106 the PzKpfw 35(t).^5,6,8

Specifications

	LT vz 35
Crew	Commander, loader/radio, driver, hull gunner8 Commander/gunner, loader/radio operator, driver, hull gunner6 41,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Physical Characteristics
Weight	23,300 lb, 23,150 lb, 23,148 lb5,6 10,500 kg5,6, 10,670 kg1 10.5 tons1,2,3,4,7,8, 11.6 tons9
Length w/gun	14' 7"7, 15' 1.5"8, 16' 0.75", 16' 1"1,4,5,6, 16.5'9 4.45 m7, 4.9 m1,2,3,5,6
Length w/o gun	14' 7"7 4.45 m7
Height	7.4'9, 7' 3"1,4,5,6,7, 7' 4.5"8, 7' 8.5" 2.2 m7, 2.209 m5,6, 2.21 m1, 2.35 m3, 2.37 m2
Width	6.75'9, 6' 11", 7'7, 7' 1"1,5,6, 7' 0.5"4,8 2.06 m2, 2.1 m3, 2.14 m7, 2.159 m5,6, 2.16 m1
Ground clearance	13.8"9 0.35 m2
Ground contact length	126"9 3.14 m
Ground pressure	7 psi9, 7.11 psi, 7.6 psi 0.5 (kg/cm2)2
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	37 mm1,4,9 37 mm L/402,8 37 mm KwK34(t) L/403 37.2 mm Skoda vz 345,6 37 mm L/40 Skoda Type A3 37.2 mm 37.2 mm Skoda A3 L/407 37.2 mm KwK A3(t) L/407
Secondary
MG	2: 7.92 mm MG1,4 2: MGs2 2: 7.92 mm MG37(t)3 2: 7.9 mm MG9
MG - coaxial	7.92 mm MG(t)7 7.92 mm Besa MG8 7.92 mm vz37 MG7 7.92 mm ZB vz 355,6
OR	7.92 mm ZB vz 375,6
MG - hull	7.92 mm MG(t)7 7.92 mm Besa MG8 7.92 mm vz37 MG7 7.92 mm ZB vz 356
OR	7.92 mm ZB vz 376
Side arms
Quantity
Main	72 Pzgr & Sprgr3, 782, 90 725,6,7,9
Secondary
MG	1,8003,5,6,7,9, 2,550, 2,7002
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	Front: 0.99"9 Side: 0.63"9 15-251, 254, 12-358, 15-356
Hull Front, Upper	252, 35 25@17°3, 25@76°7
Hull Front, Lower	25@30°3, 25@40°7
Hull Sides, Upper	162 16@0°3, 16@87°7
Hull Sides, Lower	16@0°3
Hull Rear	162 16, 15/60°3, 16@30°7
Hull Top	122 12, 8@85-90°3
Hull Bottom	82 8@90°3
Turret Front	252, 35, 1"9 25@10°3, 25@85° Mantlet: 25 round3
Turret Sides	162, 0.63"9 15@14°3, 15@76°7
Turret Rear	162 15@15°3, 15@82°7
Turret Top	82, 16 8@81-90°3, 12@0-5°7
Engine (Make / Model)	Skoda T111,2,3,7,9 Skoda4,5,6 OHV Skoda T-118
Cooling	Water5,6,8
Cylinders	47, 65,6,9
Net HP	1205,6,7,9 120 @ 1,800 rpm8
Transmission	6 forward, 1 reverse.2,5,6 Pneumatic. 6 forward, 6 reverse.3 12 speed, pneumatic servo mechanical steering8
Steering
Starter
Electrical System
Ignition
Fuel type	Gasoline5,6,7
Octane
Capacity	30.38 gallons, 34 gallons7 153 liters2,7 Fuel used per 100 km of road travel: 81 liters
Fuel consumption - Road
Fuel consumption - Cross country
Power to weigh ratio
Performance
Traverse	360°, hand.3
Speed - Road	15 mph9, 21.1 mph4, 25 mph5,6,7,8, 21.7 mph, 22 mph1 34 kph2, 35 kph1,3, 40 kph5,6,7
Speed - Cross Country	12.5 mph7 20 kph7
Range - Road	118 miles7,9, 120 miles5,8,6 190 km2,3,7, 193 km5,6
Range - Cross Country	71 miles9, 71.5 miles7 115 km2
Turning Radius	23' 4.9 m, 7 m2
Elevation Limits	-10° to +25°3
Fording depth	31.5"9, 3' 4"5,6 0.8 m2,5,6
Trench crossing	6' 6"5,6, 6.6'9 1.981 m5,6
Vertical Obstacle	2' 7"5,6, 31.5"9 0.787 m5,6
Climbing ability	28.6° (54%) slope9 60%6
Suspension (Type)	Small bogie wheels coupled in pairs and mounted in fours on rocker arms, small guide wheel between front idler and first bogie wheel8 Leaf Spring2,8 Resilient suspension suspended from 2 leaf springs.7 2 sets of double leaf springs on 2 bogies of 2 wheels each9
Wheels each side	8x22,7, 86
Return rollers each side	48,9
Tracks (Type)	Dry pin9
Length
Width	1', 13.25"9 320 mm2
Number of links	1059
Pitch	4"9
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	5.4'9 1.66 m