French R35 Light Tank Infantry

The Renault R35 was designed to be a successor to the Renault FT-17 Light Tank, with a focus on providing infantry support and breaking through defensive strongpoints. The R35 was well-armored but slow and lacked a good antitank capacity, fitted with a short 37 mm gun. It was intended for use by autonomous tank battalions and individual infantry divisions to assist in offensive operations. The R35 was the most numerous French tank during the German invasion of 1940, with about 1,685 vehicles produced by June 1940. After the defeat of France, the Germans captured many R35 tanks and used them in various roles, either unchanged or modified. The R35's design influenced future French tank development, emphasizing armor protection and short-range gun capabilities over speed and direct long-range engagement.