The Somua S-35 was one of the first tanks used to mechanize the French cavalry in the mid-1930s. It was a very advanced vehicle for its time and many of its features were to become standard for future tank designs, such as cast, rather than rivetted armor. A radio was fitted as standard and the tank was supplied with a sufficiently powerful main armament to be still in service in German hands on D-Day in June 1944. Production was slow and there were only around 250 in front line service by the time the Germans invaded in 1940. The major drawback was that the commander was required to operate the gun and the radio as well as his normal duties. Despite this reduced effectiveness, the S-35 was still the best Allied tank in service in 1940.

Pictured here is a 1:43 scale replica of a German Panzerkampfwagen 35-S 739(f) medium tank that was attached to Panzer Regiment 204, 22.Panzer Division, then deployed to Crimea, Russia, during 1942. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Length: 4-1/2-inches
Width: 2-inches

Release Date: October 2017

Historical Account: "Dragon's Fire" - After the fall of France, a number of 35-Ss (297 were captured according to some sources) were taken into service with the Wehrmacht as the Panzerkampfwagen 35-S 739(f). The Germans modified the cupola by cutting its top off and installing a simple hatch. On December 10th, 1940, the first German tank unit equipped with French Beutepanzer was formed: 201.Panzerregiment with 118 tanks; 36 of these were 35-Ss, the rest "38Hs". On February 10th, 1941, 202.Panzerregiment was established; both regiments were united into Panzerbrigade 100. On January 27th, the independent 301.Panzerabteilung was formed with French vehicles; total 35-S organic strength in the Wehrmacht was thus ninety. On March 22nd, this independent battalion replaced the Second Battalion of 201.Panzerregiment, which battalion was renamed Panzer-Abteilung 211 and sent to Finland in June, the only major German unit with 35-Ss that would fight on the Eastern Front; some were deployed by 22.Panzerdivision near Sevastopol in 1942.

In 1943, the 21. and 25.Panzerdivisions used some 35-Ss when reforming after having been largely destroyed. Some vehicles had their superstructure removed and were used for driver-training, while others were used for security duties. Some of these units fought in Normandy in 1944, such as 100. Panzer Ersatz und Ausbildungs-Abteilung and 206.Panzer-Abteilung, while others were used in Yugoslavia for anti-partisan duties (7.SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen", 12.Panzer-Kompanie z.b.V. and I./Panzer-Regiment 202). There were still twelve 35-Ss listed as in German service on December 30th, 1944.

Some of the captured S 35s were delivered to German allies: 32 to Italy in 1941, two to Hungary in 1942 and six to Bulgaria in 1943. They were used by the Italians for training purposes and to equip a reserve unit. The Bulgarian vehicles were after the war used by police units. A vehicle captured by the partisans of Tito was refitted by them with a British 6-pounder gun.