Land Weapons

Light Tank (1936)

Škoda

LT vz. 35

LT vz. 35

The LT vz. 35 (or LT-35) was one of the two Czech tank designs that was eventually adopted by the German Army following its invasion and annexation of Czechoslovakia in 1939 (when it was renamed PzKpfw 35(t)). Developed in the mid-1930s, it was the main tank used by the Czech Army before the annexation and was considered a rather advanced design for its day on account of its 37-mm ÚV vz. 34 gun (renamed KwK 34(t) in German service) built by Skoda which at the time of its introduction in 1934 was among the most effective tank guns anywhere. Additionally, the PzKpfw 35(t) had armor protection that reached 35mm maximum. This was provided through a combination of riveted and bolted armor plate. Suspension was provided by four bogies (each with a pair of small road wheels) sprung by a leaf spring. Unfortunately, the LT vz. 35 suffered from constant mechanical breakdowns due to its complexity, notably due to the use of a pneumatic transmission, and this was only corrected later during its service life with the German Army (a loader position was also added by the removal of various rounds of ammunition). In Czech service, the LT vz. 35 was used for defending the country's borders and nearly half the production run ended in German hands. With the Wehrmacht, the PzKpfw 35(t) saw action during the early blitzkrieg campaigns and after Barbarossa, by which time it was clearly obsolete. Other users included Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. Both Bulgaria and Romania had ordered these tanks before the annexation while local production was undertaken in Hungary.

The prototype S-IIa during the summer of 1935 to compete against a rival design from CKD. Deliveries began in December 1936 and entered Czech Army service as the Lehký tank vzor 35 or LT vz. 35. In German service it was known as the Panzer 38(t) (SdKfz 140). There were no variants although improvements to the engine and steering system were undertaken by the Germans. The LT vz. 35 was built locally by Hungary as the 40M Turán I and featured a 40mm gun.

Preceded by:

None

Succeeded by:

None

Datafile

DesignLT vz 35
TypeLight Tank
Year1936
Crew4
Dimensions
Length (w/Gun)4.90 m
Width2.100 m
Height2.350 m
Ground Clearance0 m
Track0 m
Track on Ground0 m
Weight
Combat10,500 kg
Ground Pressure0.50 kg/cm²
SuspensionChristie/Leaf springs
Performance
Speed (Off-Road)35 km/h
Range (Off-Road)190 km (115 km)
AmphibiousNo
Fording0.80 m
Vertical Obstacle0.79 m
Trench1.98 m
Gradient60%
Powerplant
Engine1 x 120-hp
Skoda
T11
FuelGasoline
Power/Weight11.43 hp/t
Armament
Main1 x 37-mm L/40
3.7cm ÚV vz. 34

Rifled Gun
↑ 25° / ↓ -10° / ↔ 360°
SecondaryNone
Ammo37-mm: 72
Armor
TypeSteel
Thickness8 - 25 mm
Max Effective25 - 29 mm RHAe
Hull Upper Front25 mm / 17°
Hull Lower Front25 mm / 30°
Hull Upper Sides16 mm
Hull Lower Sides16 mm
Hull Lower Rear15 mm
Hull Top8 mm / 85°
Hull Bottom8 mm
Turret Mantlet25 mm / Round
Turret Front25 mm / 10°
Turret Sides15 mm / 14°
Turret Rear15 mm / 15°
Turret Top8 mm / 81°
Production
Built424
Total424

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