Inside the Chieftain's Hatch: Renault R35

The R35 was Renault's entry into the "Replace the FT" race, alongside Hotchkiss and FCM, and is the first in the early-war series of videos I'll be doing.

[PMGF]

The French are usually at the forefront of military innovation. Like the Lebel, with it's 8 round, smokeless powder charge & the FT with it's small size & rotating turret. However they tend to stand by these early developments while others observe and refine them, that's the disadvantage of innovating & adopting the earliest generations of weaponry, that everybody learns from your mistakes.

[collinfreese]

I am getting the idea that the Chieftain hates this tank.

[AmatureAstronomer]

American usage of the R-35.

In the "The United States Army in World War II" series (the official history of the American army), volume "Operation Torch", an American rifle squad was tasked with investigating the French Foreign Legion barracks in Safi, Morocco. They come across an R-35 driving down the road. They had no bazooka, but they did have some rifle grenades. They fired one, which hit the front right quarter, penetrated and spauling killed the driver. The tank lurched to the left and hit a tree, which threw the commander forward and he broke his neck hitting the edge of the turret.

The squad discussed what to do for a minute and decided to take the tank. They removed the bodies of the two dead Frenchmen. Then while one rifleman figured out how to drive it, another figured out how to load and fire the cannon and machine gun. The rest of the squad followed behind.

When they arrived at the French Foreign Legion barracks, they saw two unmanned 25mm anti-tank guns outside and a stucco building with all the legionaries inside. One of the American troops spoke French and threatened to shell the building, if the French did not surrender. The garrison surrendered. The captured R-35 and rifle squad then marched all 125 French prisoners down to the beach.

[jcdf]

Many people were of smaller physical proportions back then. Those that were shorter and thinner were often selected to drive the tanks.

[TheScorpionStrike]

Slow, poorly armed, and cramped for its crew it may be, but by tank standards it's cute. Granted, 'cute' is not an adjective that one would consider desirable on most military equipment. An enjoyable tour all the same.

[ThroneOfBhaal]

People get a sick pleasure out of watching you get in and out of tiny tiny spaces.

That should be a compilation unto itself.

'Chieftain, the in and out of it.'

...

[TotalRookie_LV]

"A physical contact" to communicate with the driver? Let me guess, in a noisy tank that would be a kick with a boot.

[katfrog]

This is madness. "I have no words, " is articulate.

[Antigonus.]

The plugs for the vision slits remind me of the Peril Sensitive Sunglasses in Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy: When peril is detected, blind yourself so that you don't get scared.

[lombank]

Just what we need a overpowered tier 2 getting love

[robbrown]

With the cannon muzzle right over the drivers hatch the muzzle blast must have been terrific!

[jaaksootak]

I love this thing at tier 2 in wot! I feast on the tears of all tanks that have autocannons and gift you cool-headed medals.

[MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

rear view mirror, seriously, well, at least I can add a high-quality reference to my jokes nöw.

[VladiSSius]

German Tank : Normal Difficulty.
Russian Tank : Hard Difficulty.
French Tank : Dark Souls.

[BELCAN]

When an Irishman "has no words" you know it's bad .

[yujinakamura]

Feels like traveling the world with Chieftain, it's just great!

[SilentRazoruk]

Thanks Mr. Moran and all camera helpers, elves, nymphs and their families etc, for covering this poor vehicle; that had poorer feeling crews no doubt.
I wonder if it is likely that apart from the armour and possible radio, they still preferred the FT's, being posted to a Char 1 B, or being demoted to 'The Line'?

[darcycross]

Nice to see you back. I like seeing the early war tanks.

[MFKR]

Amazing to see the company that Renault has become. They've come a long way. Easily my favorite Highway-Tractor manufacturer. The Renault Magnum and T-series are both pretty great.

[cjmj]

Glad to see you're wearing the proper footwear!