The Renault R35 forms the majority of France’s armoured units, but it’s a flawed design. While intended to be a light, two-man tank it’s slow, although well-armoured. Like many French tanks, it has a One-Man Turret which reduces its combat abilities. Some tanks were rearmed with a 37mm SA38 L/33 gun in May/June 1940 and classified as the Renault R39. As these were restricted to company and platoon commanders, they made no appreciable difference to the performance of the R35 platoon.
The majority of R35 tanks platoons were not fitted with radios. The 507th Regiment de Chars de Combat of the 4th DCR was the only unit to have radios.
