"Information on Somua and Hotchkiss tanks
On September 9-10th, near grid square 5016-7, the 38th Guards Independent Tank Brigade knocked out and captured 12 enemy tanks. Of them, 4 are Somua and 8 are Hotchkiss type. Of them, 1 Somua and 6 Hotchkiss are still functional.
Preliminary combat and technical characteristics of these tanks have been established:
Somua tank:
- Type: medium
- Mass: 18 tons
- Dimensions:
- Length: 5160 mm
- Width: 2080 mm
- Height: 2600 mm
- Clearance: 380 mm
- Armour thickness:
- Front: 60 mm
- Side: 50 mm
- Rear: 40 mm
- Turret: 60 mm
- Floor: 25 mm
- Armament:
- Cannon: 1 47 mm
- Machine gun: 1 Châtellerault 7.92 mm
- Optical sight: 1
- Ammunition:
- 84 cannon rounds
- 9 disk magazines
- Engine: gasoline, V-8, Somua AC-4 type.
- Cooling: forced water cooling. Tank fits 80-90 L of coolant.
- Fuel system: forces carburettor.
- Ignition system: magneto.
- Gearbox: gear type with mechanical switching. Five speeds forward, one speed back.
- Suspension: leaf springs with hydraulic shock absorbers.
- Running gear: small pitch track with rear drive sprocket. 9 road wheels, 2 return rollers. Covered by skirt armour. Track links are 355 mm wide.
- Radios: 1
- Crew: 3
Hotchkiss tank
- Type: light
- Weight: 12 tons
- Dimensions:
- Length (with tail): 4220 mm
- Width: 1850 mm
- Height: 2140 mm
- Armour:
- Front: 40 mm
- Sides: 30 mm
- Turret: 40 mm
- Rear: 30 mm
- Floor: 20 mm
- Clearance: -43 mm
- Engine: gasoline, 6 cylinder monobloc, up to 110 hp. Cylinders fire in the following order: 135642.
- Fuel system: Solix carburettor, fuel capacity is up to 180 L.
- Cooling system: forced water cooling, capacity is about 25-30 L.
- Ignition system: Chinchilla carburettor.
- Electric equipment: in series, 12 V, one battery.
- Gearbox: 5 speed forward, one back, mechanical switching.
- Suspension: independent with vertical springs.
- Running gear: small pitch track links, front drive sprocket. 6 road wheels, 2 return rollers. Track links are 265 mm wide.
- Armament:
- 37 mm Hotchkiss gun
- 7.92 mm Châtellerault machine gun
- 1 optical sight
- Ammunition capacity:
- 86 cannon rounds
- 12 machine gun disks of 150 rounds each
- Radio: one receiver
- Crew: 2 men
- Top speed: 35 kph on improved roads.
- Range: up to 150 km
Chief of Staff of the 38th Guards Independent Tank Brigade, Guards Lieutenant Colonel Gerasimenko
Chief of Intelligence, Guards Captain Makarov"