French R39 Light Infantry Tank with FCM turret

The R39 featured a longer and more powerful 37 mm SA 38 gun, which provided better armor penetration than the earlier SA 18. It was equipped with a 7.5 mm MAC 31 machine gun for secondary armament and was powered by a Renault 4-cylinder, 85 hp petrol engine. The tank had a top speed of 20 km/h (12 mph) and a range of 140 km (87 mi). Despite its improvements, the R39 was produced in small numbers, as the French army was more interested in the Renault R 40 version with upgraded suspension. The R39 saw limited action before France’s defeat in 1940, and it is currently on display in the Museum of Armored Vehicles in Saumur. It was a testament to the French military's efforts to modernize its armored forces and adapt to the changing landscape of warfare.