View source for Panzer 35(t)

{{Short description|Czechoslovak light tank used by Nazi Germany}}
{{Redirect|35t|the military occupational specialty|35T}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = Panzerkampfwagen 35(t)
| image              = Panzer-35.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = Panzer 35(t) at the [[Military Museum (Belgrade)|Belgrade Military Museum]]
| origin             = [[Czechoslovakia]]
| type               = [[Light tank]]
| is_vehicle         = yes
| service            = 1936–1950s
| used_by            = {{plainlist|
*Czechoslovakia
*[[Nazi Germany]]
*[[Kingdom of Romania]]
*[[Slovak Republic (1939–1945)|Slovak Republic]]
*[[Kingdom of Bulgaria]]
*[[Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)|Kingdom of Hungary]]}}
| wars               = [[World War II]]
| designer           = [[Škoda Works|Škoda]]
| design_date        = 1934–1936
| manufacturer       = Škoda, [[ČKD]]
| unit_cost          = 741,868 or 745,068 [[Czechoslovak koruna]]
| production_date    = 1936–1940
| number             = 434
| variants           = ''T-11'', ''R-2c'', ''[[TACAM R-2]]''
| length             = {{convert|4.90|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| width              = {{convert|2.06|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| height             = {{convert|2.37|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
 <!-- General specifications -->| spec_label         = Panzerkampfwagen 35(t)
| weight             = {{convert|10.5|t|ton|abbr=on}}
| suspension         = [[leaf spring]]
| speed              = {{convert|34|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| vehicle_range      = {{plainlist|
*{{convert|190|km|mi|abbr=on}} (road)
*{{convert|115|km|mi|abbr=on}} (cross-country)}}<ref>Jentz, T. (1996). Panzertruppen: The Complete Guide to the Creation & Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933–1942. Schiffer. page 281.</ref>
| primary_armament   = [[3.7 cm kanon PÚV vz. 34|{{convert|3.7|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} KwK 34(t)]] gun
| secondary_armament = 2 x {{convert|7.92|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} [[ZB-53|MG 37(t)]] [[machine gun]]
| armour              = {{convert|8|-|25|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| engine             = 4-cylinder, water-cooled Škoda T11/0 [[gasoline]]
| crew               = 4 (3 in original design)
| engine_power       = {{convert|120|hp|kW|abbr=on}}
| pw_ratio           = 11 hp/tonne
| transmission       = 6 x 6
| fuel_capacity      = {{convert|153|L|usgal|abbr=on}}
}}

The '''Panzerkampfwagen 35(t)''', commonly shortened to '''Panzer 35(t)''' or abbreviated as '''Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)''', was a [[Czechoslovakia|Czechoslovak]]-designed [[light tank]] used mainly by [[Nazi Germany]] during [[World War II]]. The letter (t) stood for ''tschechisch'' (German for "Czech"). In Czechoslovak service, it had the formal designation '''Lehký tank vzor 35''' (Light Tank Model 35), but was commonly referred to as the '''LT vz. 35''' or '''LT-35'''.

A total of 434 were built; of these, the Germans seized 244 when they [[German occupation of Czechoslovakia|occupied Bohemia-Moravia in March 1939]] and the [[Slovak Republic (1939–1945)|Slovaks]] acquired 52 when they declared independence from Czechoslovakia at the same time. Others were exported to [[Kingdom of Bulgaria|Bulgaria]] and [[Kingdom of Romania|Romania]]. In German service, it saw combat during the early years of World War II, notably the [[invasion of Poland]], the [[Battle of France]] and [[Operation Barbarossa|the invasion of the Soviet Union]] before being retired or sold off in 1942. It was used for the remainder of the war by other countries and as a training tank in Bulgaria into the 1950s.

== Description ==
The ''Panzerkampfwagen 35(t)'' was assembled from a framework of steel "angle iron" beams to which the armour plates were riveted. A {{convert|4|mm|in|abbr=on}} [[Firewall (construction)|firewall]] separated the engine compartment from the crew. It had several mesh-covered openings to allow access to the engine and improve ventilation by drawing air in through the commander's hatch. This had the advantage of rapidly dispersing gun combustion gases when firing,<ref group=nb>This scheme is used by the modern American [[M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle]], although it uses removable panels in lieu of the firewall.</ref> but several disadvantages. The constant draft generated by the engine greatly affected the crew during cold weather, the danger of an engine fire reaching the crew compartment was increased and the engine noise and heat increased crew fatigue.<ref name="Kliment and Francev, p. 60">Kliment and Francev, p. 60</ref>

The driver sat on the right side of the tank using a {{convert|390|×|90|mm|in|adj=on}} observation port protected by {{convert|50|mm|in}} of [[bulletproof glass]] and an armoured shutter {{convert|28|mm|in}} thick. To his right was a vision slit ({{convert|120|×|3|mm|in}}) with a similar thickness of bulletproof glass.<ref>Kliment and Francev, pp. 60–61</ref> The Germans replaced the original three colored lights used by the Czechs to communicate with the driver with an intercom system.<ref>Kliment and Francev, p. 66</ref> The radio operator sat on the left and had his own {{convert|150|×|75|mm|in|adj=on}} observation port with the same protection as the driver's. His radios were mounted on the left wall of the hull. The hull machine gun was between the driver and radio operator in a ball mount capable of 30° of traverse, 25° of elevation and depressing up to 10°. Most of the machine gun's barrel protruded from the mount and was protected by an armoured trough. The mount had a spotting telescope, but open sights could be used if the plug at the top of the ball mount was removed. If necessary, the driver could lock the mount into position and fire it himself using a [[Bowden cable]]. The driver's hatch was exposed to direct fire and could be damaged from the front.<ref name=k61>Kliment and Francev, p. 61</ref>

The turret ring had a diameter of {{convert|1.267|m|in}}. The turret had a flat face in the center of which was mounted the {{convert|3.72|cm|in|adj=on}} main gun. On the right side was another {{convert|7.92|mm|in|adj=on}} machine gun in a ball mount. The commander had four [[Periscope#Armored vehicle periscopes|episcopes]] in his cupola and a monocular mirror, 1.3 × 30° periscope which he could extend, once he had removed its armoured cover in his hatch, to give vision while "buttoned-up".<ref name="k61"/> As the sole occupant of the turret, the commander was responsible for loading, aiming and firing the main gun and the turret machine gun while simultaneously commanding the tank. The Germans added an extra crewman on the right side of the turret to load the main gun and to operate the turret machine gun. Some ammunition had to be removed to accommodate him.<ref name=f67>Kliment and Francev, pp. 66–67</ref>

The {{convert|8.62|L|cuin|adj=on}} Škoda T-11/0 four-cylinder, water-cooled [[engine]] produced {{convert|120|hp|kW}} at 1,800&nbsp;rpm. Two fuel tanks were fitted, the main tank with a capacity of {{convert|124|L|lk=on}} was on the left side of the engine and the {{convert|29|L|adj=on}} auxiliary tank was on the other side. The engine could run on gasoline, an alcohol-gasoline mixture, and "Dynalkohol" (an alcohol-[[benzole]] mixture). It was mounted in the rear along with the six-speed transmission which drove rear-mounted drive sprockets. The suspension was derived from the [[Vickers 6-Ton]] tank; eight small pairs of road wheels on four [[Bogie#Bogie (aircraft)|bogies]] per side, each pair of bogies sprung by a single [[leaf spring]], a front idler wheel, and four track return wheels. An unsprung road wheel was located directly underneath the idler wheel to improve obstacle crossing. The transmission, brakes and steering were mechanically assisted with compressed air, reducing driver fatigue. This last feature proved problematic in the extreme conditions of the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]].<ref>Kliment and Francev, pp. 62–66</ref>

[[File:Pz 35T 001 russian 41.jpg|thumb|Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) of the [[6th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|6th Panzer Division]], Eastern front, 1941]]
The main armament was a Škoda 37mm [[3.7 cm kanon PÚV vz. 34|''ÚV vz. 34'']] (German designation "KwK 34(t)") gun with a pepperpot [[muzzle brake]] and a prominent armoured recoil cylinder above the barrel. Škoda called it the ''A3''. It fired a {{convert|0.815|kg|lb|adj=on|1}} armour-piercing shell at {{convert|690|m/s|ft/s}}. It was credited with penetrating a plate inclined at 30° from the vertical {{convert|37|mm|in}} thick at {{convert|100|m|yd}}, {{convert|31|mm|in}} thick at {{convert|500|m|yd}}, {{convert|26|mm|in}} thick at {{convert|1000|m|yd}}, and {{convert|22|mm|in}} thick at {{convert|1500|m|yd}}.<ref>Chamberlain and Doyle, p. 245</ref> Kliment and Francev quote penetration of a vertical plate {{convert|45|mm|in}} thick at {{convert|500|m|yd}}. The machine gun's ball mount could be coupled to the main gun or used independently. Both weapons could elevate 25° and depress 10°. They both used 2.6× power sights with a 25° field of view.<ref>Kliment and Francev, p. 67</ref> Initially the tank used [[Zbrojovka Brno]] ''[[ZB-53|Tk vz. 35]]'' machine guns, but these were exchanged for [[ZB-53|''ZB vz. 37'']]s during 1938. This was adopted by the Germans as the ''MG 37(t)''.<ref>Kliment and Francev, pp. 57–58</ref>

In German use, 72 rounds of 37&nbsp;mm ammunition were carried. These were stored in 6-round boxes: three on the hull side wall, eight in the turret overhang and one ready box above the gun on the turret roof. For the machine gun, 1,800 rounds of belted 7.92&nbsp;mm ammunition were carried. The machine gun ammunition was in 100 round belts, stored three to a box. In Czech service, the ''LT vz. 35'' carried 78 rounds (24 [[Armor-piercing shot and shell|AP]], 54 [[High explosives|HE]]) and 2,700 rounds of machine gun ammunition, the difference being removed to make room for the fourth crewmember in German service. The German command tank version (''Panzerbefehlswagen'' 35(t)) exchanged some ammunition - exactly how much is not known - for another radio set and a [[gyrocompass]].<ref name=f67/> It could be recognized by the prominent "clothesline" radio antenna mounted on the rear deck.{{Citation needed|date=December 2014}}

===Armour===
The gun mantlet was {{convert|25|mm|in|abbr=on}} thick. The rest of the armour was as follows:<ref name=c>Chamberlain and Doyle, p. 42</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Thickness/slope from the vertical
! Front
! Side
! Rear
! Top/Bottom
|-
! Turret
| {{convert|25|mm|in|abbr=on}}/10°
| {{convert|15|mm|in|abbr=on}}/14°
| {{convert|15|mm|in|abbr=on}}/15°
| {{convert|8|mm|in|abbr=on}}/81–90°
|-
! Superstructure
| {{convert|25|mm|in|abbr=on}}/17°
| {{convert|16|mm|in|abbr=on}}/0°
| {{convert|15|mm|in|abbr=on}}/60°
| {{convert|8|mm|in|abbr=on}}/85–90°
|-
! Hull
| {{convert|25|mm|in|abbr=on}}/30°
| {{convert|16|mm|in|abbr=on}}/0°
| {{convert|19|mm|in|abbr=on}}/0°
| {{convert|8|mm|in|abbr=on}}/90°
|}

== Development ==
The Czechoslovak Army formulated a requirement in the II-a category of light cavalry tanks by the end of 1934. [[ČKD|Českomoravská Kolben-Daněk]] proposed an improved version of its ''P-II'' light tank already in service as the ''[[LT vz. 34]]'', but Škoda offered a new design that used the pneumatic system and engine earlier proved by its unsuccessful ''SU'' or ''S-II'' light tank prototype. One prototype was ordered from each company for delivery during the summer of 1935.<ref>Kliment and Francev, pp. 53–54</ref> Both tanks had the same armament and three-man crew, but ČKD's ''P-II-a'' was much smaller at {{convert|8.5|t|ton}} and had only a maximum {{convert|16|mm|in}} of armour while Škoda's ''S-II-a'' weighed {{convert|10.5|t|ton}} and had {{convert|25|mm|in}} of armour.<ref>Kliment and Francev, pp. 285–286</ref> The army thought that ''P-II-a'' was at the limit of its development while the ''S-II-a'' could be improved as needed.<ref>Kliment and Francev, p. 55</ref>

The first production order for 160 ''LT vz. 35''s, as the S-II-a was designated in Army service, was placed on 30 October 1935 and deliveries began in December 1936. An additional order for 35 was made on 12 May 1936 and a follow-on order placed for 103 more a month later.<ref name=K55>Kliment and Francev, pp. 55–58</ref> The total order for 298 tanks was split equally by [[Škoda Works]] and [[ČKD]] according to their cartel agreement.<ref name="Kliment and Francev, p. 60"/>

Development was rushed and there were many defects in the ''LT vz. 35''s. Many tanks had to be returned to the factories to be repaired. Most of these repairs involved the electrical system, not the complicated pneumatic system.<ref name="K55"/>

===Foreign interest===
In August 1936, Romania placed an order for 126; the bulk of these were delivered from the end of 1938 by Škoda. [[Afghanistan]] ordered ten in 1940; but, these were sold instead to Bulgaria. Total production was 434, including 298 for the Czechoslovak Army, 126 for Romania (under the designation Škoda R-2) and ten for [[Bulgaria]]. The [[Wehrmacht]] used 218 vehicles captured from the Czechoslovak Army in March 1939. Britain's [[Nicholas Straussler|Alvis-Straussler]] negotiated for a production license from September 1938 until March 1939 when the Nazi occupation made an agreement impossible. The Soviets were also interested so Škoda shipped the ''S-II-a'' prototype and one production ''LT vz. 35'' to the proving grounds at [[Kubinka]] for evaluation. The Soviets were interested only in buying the prototype, but Škoda refused to sell unless a license was purchased as well, believing that the Soviets would simply copy the design and build it without paying any royalties.<ref>Kliment and Francev, p. 59</ref>

==Variants==
[[File:TACAM_R-2_tank_destroyer.JPG|thumb|Romanian TACAM R-2 tank destroyer]]
[[File:Romanian_R-2c_tank.jpg|thumb|Modified Romanian R-2c variant with different looking rear of both the turret and the hull]]

===Czechoslovak===
* '''S-IIa''' – Prototype tank built by Skoda for the Czechoslovak Army S-II light tank requirement
* '''Lehký tank vzor 35''' (Light Tank Model 35) – Abbreviated as LT vz.35 or LT-35, production tanks for the Czechoslovak Army

===German===

* '''Panzerkampfwagen 35(t)''' – Czechoslovak Army LT vz.35 tanks inducted into the [[Wehrmacht]] after annexation.
* '''Panzerbefehlswagen 35(t)''' (Pz.Bef.Wg.) – Command tanks with radios.
* '''Artillerie Schlepper 35(t)''' – Artillery tractor conversions of Pz.Kpfw. 35(t), also called Mörser Zugmittel 35(t)

===Romanian===

* '''R-2''' – Designation used by Romania for LT vz. 35 tanks supplied to the Romanian Army before the Second World War.
* '''R-2a''' – Improved R-2 with better engine, radio and improved armor. The Romanians were interested in buying it, but the Germans intervened and did not approve any exports.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ftr-wot.blogspot.de/2013/05/romanian-armor-part-i-pre-ww2.html |title=For the Record: Romanian armor - part I (pre-WW2)<!-- Bot generated title --> |date=29 May 2013 |access-date=6 January 2018 |archive-date=23 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023011245/http://ftr-wot.blogspot.de/2013/05/romanian-armor-part-i-pre-ww2.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A proposal to up-armor the R-2 also existed later in Romania.<ref>http://amnr.defense.ro/app/webroot/fileslib/upload/files/Aparitii_editoriale_pdf/20_Armata_evolutia_armei_tancuri.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119142153/https://amnr.defense.ro/app/webroot/fileslib/upload/files/Aparitii_editoriale_pdf/20_Armata_evolutia_armei_tancuri.pdf |date=19 January 2021 }} p. 263</ref>
* '''R-2c''' – R-2 tank with different rear for both the turret and hull. The ''c'' stands for ''cimentate'' ("cemented"), because this version used cemented armor.<ref>Tanks of Hitler’s Eastern Allies 1941–45, p. 25</ref>
* '''[[TACAM R-2]]''' – Tank destroyer conversions of R-2 tanks, mounting [[76 mm divisional gun M1942 (ZiS-3)|76 mm ZiS-3]] guns.

===Others===

* '''T-11''' – Ten Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) tanks ordered for the Afghan Army in 1940, diverted to Bulgaria. The ''T-11'' was built to an Afghan order placed in 1940 and differed mainly in that it used an improved, longer-barreled [[Skoda 37 mm A7|Škoda ''A7'']] gun (as used on LT vz. 38). Ten were built, but were sold to Bulgaria and delivered in the third quarter of 1940.<ref name=b>{{cite web|url=http://www.achtungpanzer.com/articles/skoda.htm|title=The "Skoda" tank in the Bulgarian Army|last=Parada|first=George|year=2007|access-date=2009-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321073221/http://www.achtungpanzer.com/articles/skoda.htm|archive-date=21 March 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Operational history==
===Czechoslovakia===
The 298 ''LT vz. 35'' tanks were assigned to the armoured regiments belonging to the four ''Mobile (Rychlá) Divisions'' between 1936 and 1939. Each regiment was supposed to detach three-tank platoons to support the infantry divisions and border areas in times of crisis. These platoons were heavily used suppressing the [[Germans in Czechoslovakia (1918–1938)#Final crisis in 1938|protests and violence]] instigated by [[Konrad Henlein]]'s [[Sudeten German Party]] (''Sudetendeutsche Partei'' - SdP) and the ''Sudetendeutsche Freikorps'' (paramilitary groups trained in Germany by [[Schutzstaffel|SS]]-instructors) between May and October 1938.<ref>Kliment and Francev, pp. 56–57</ref>

After the Munich Agreement, two tank battalions were sent to reinforce the ''3rd Mobile Division'' in Slovakia. They were used to repel Hungarian and Polish border-crossers, sometimes up to a battalion in strength. They screened the infantry when they had to evacuate southern Slovakia after the [[First Vienna Award]] on 2 November 1938.<ref>Kliment and Francev, p. 164</ref>

The ''S-II-a'' prototype and one ''LT vz. 35'' tank were returning from testing in the Soviet Union when the fighting began. They detrained in Sevljus and participated in a counterattack at Fančíkovo, but the ''LT vz. 35'' was damaged and captured by the Hungarians. The prototype was forced to retreat into Romania by 17 March, along with most of the other Czech troops in eastern Ruthenia. The Romanians returned the prototype to Škoda six months later.<ref>Kliment and Francev, pp. 164–165</ref>

===Germany===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-769-0236-23, Frankreich, Panzer 35t und Panzer IV.jpg|thumb|Panzer 35(t) in France, 1940]]

In 1939, following the [[German occupation of Czechoslovakia]] in March 1939, 244 vehicles of the Czechoslovak Army were seized by the Germans<ref>Kliment and Francev, p. 165</ref> where they were known as the ''L.T.M.35'' until January 1940.<ref>Jentz, p. 69</ref> In German service, they were used as substitutes for the [[Panzerkampfwagen III]] medium tank. They were assigned to the ''Panzer Battalion (Panzerabteilung) 65'' (39) of the ''[[1st Light Division (Germany)|1st Light (leichte) Division]]'' and the independent ''Panzer-Regiment 11'' (81) where they participated in the [[invasion of Poland]].<ref>Jentz, p. 91</ref> 77 of these were lost during the campaign, mostly due to mechanical breakdowns, but only 7 of these were irreparable.<ref>Jentz, p. 104</ref> From 1940 on, there had not been any spare parts available and tanks had to be completely rebuilt to remain operational.{{Citation needed|date=December 2014}}

The 1st Light Division absorbed the 11th Panzer Regiment and was redesignated as the [[6th Panzer Division]] on 18 October 1939.<ref>{{cite book|last=Schmitz|first=Peter|author2=Thies, Klaus-Jürgen |author3=Wegmann, Günter |author4= Zweng, Christian |title=Die Divisionen 6-10|publisher=Biblio|location=Osnabrück|year=1994|series=Die deutschen Divisionen 1939—1945|volume=Band 2|page=23|isbn=3-7648-2429-8}}</ref> It took 132 ''Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)''s into the [[Battle of France]] where it was assigned to [[XXXXI Panzer Corps (Germany)|XXXXI Corps (mot.)]] for ''Panzergruppe von Kleist''{{'}}s attack through the [[Ardennes]].<ref>Jentz, p. 120</ref> 44 of these had been lost by the end of May. 35 replacements were issued on 3 June in preparation for [[Battle of France#Fall Rot|Fall Rot]], the attack on the remnants of the French Army that began the following day.<ref>Jentz, pp. 134–135</ref> A total of 62 ''Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)''s were either total write-offs or were damaged beyond the ability of the field maintenance workshops to repair during the campaign.<ref>Jentz, p. 141</ref>

[[Image:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-209-0090-29, Russland-Nord, Infanterie und Panzer 35t.jpg|thumb|PzKpfw 35(t) in the USSR]]

For [[Operation Barbarossa|the invasion of the Soviet Union]], 6th Panzer Division had 160 ''Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)''s. to support [[4th Panzer Group]]'s drive on [[Leningrad]].<ref>Jentz, p. 190</ref> By 10 September 1941, the division had only 102 operational ''Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)'', despite having received two replacements from Germany. Eight tanks were repairable, but 47 were total losses.<ref>Jentz, p. 206</ref> By 31 October, only 34 were operational with another 41 requiring repair. On 30 November, all ''Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)''s were reported non-operational.<ref name=j208>Jentz, p. 208</ref> {{Blockquote|The average distance driven is {{convert|12500|km|mi}} for the ''Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)''. The special situation in regard to repair the ''Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)'' is well known. It is indeed deemed necessary to point out that repairs can only be accomplished by cannibalizing other Panzers because there are no longer any spare parts for the ''Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)''. This means that after retrieval of the Panzers that are scattered around the terrain, a maximum of 10 can actually be repaired out of the 41 ''Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)'' reported as needing repair. The ''Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)'' can no longer be rebuilt. All of the components are worn out. To be practical, maybe the armored hulls are still useable.|Commander, 6th Panzer Division|31 October 1941<ref name=j208 />}}

Due to the cessation of production of these tanks, and the absence of spare parts being made, it was decided that the summer campaign of 1941 was to be their last. The fighting in the Soviet Union exposed the vehicle's unsuitability for cold weather operations and general unreliability. This weakness, in addition to their thin armour and inadequate firepower, resulted in the 6th Panzer Division being reequipped with German tanks on its withdrawal from the Soviet Union in April 1942.<ref>{{cite book|last=Paul|first=Wolfgang|title=Brennpunkte: Die Geschichte der 6. Panzerdivision (1. leichte) 1937—1945|publisher=Biblio|location=Osnabrück|year=1993|pages=214–21|isbn=3-7648-1291-5}}</ref> All 26 remaining ''Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)''s still in working condition in 1942 were sold to Romania. Some vehicles had their turrets and hull machine guns removed so that the chassis could serve as a munition carrier or an artillery tractor, the ''Artillerie Schlepper'' and the ''Mörserzugmittel 35(t)''. These had a towing capacity of {{convert|12|t|ton}}.<ref>Kliment and Francev, pp. 68–69</ref>

===Romania===
[[Image:Technika Československé armády.jpg|thumb|left|R-2 tanks in February 1939, before being delivered to Romania by [[Škoda Works]]]]

Romania ordered 126 of the tanks on 14 August 1936 as the ''R-2'' and received the first 15, which had been diverted from the Czech order, in April–May 1937 to display in a parade. They suffered from numerous teething problems and the Romanians put a hold on production until these issues were resolved. The constantly changing Romanian demands did not help the situation, but they refused to accept any vehicles until trials were conducted in Romania. Three R-2s were shipped to Romania on 12 July 1938 for the trials, but Skoda knew which one would be chosen and prepared the vehicle well and it passed all tests. After disassembly and checks of the trial tank were completed, the Romanian commission approved the design on 23 August. In the meantime, the initial batch was returned to Skoda to be upgraded to current standards on 28 July. Shipments to Romania began on 1 September with 27 shipped before the Munich Crisis forced the Czechs to hold all remaining tanks in case they were needed. 5 finished tanks and six almost-finished tanks were appropriated and shipped to Slovakia although they were quickly returned after the [[Munich Agreement]] was signed. The last shipment departed on 22 February 1939.<ref>Kliment and Francev, pp. 124–126</ref>

[[File:Rumuńskie wojska pancerne pod Kiszyniowem (2-1520).jpg|thumb|right|Romanian R-2a tanks near [[Chișinău]] in 1941.]]

The ''R-2''s were assigned to the ''1st Armoured Regiment'' of the ''1st Armoured Division'' where they participated in Operation Barbarossa. The division was withdrawn from combat after the [[Siege of Odessa (1941)|Battle of Odessa]] in 1941. At the start of 1942, 40 tanks were sent to [[Plzeň|Pilsen]] for overhaul while 50 more were repaired in [[Ploiești]].<ref>Steven Zaloga, ''Tanks of Hitler's Eastern Allies'', p. 27</ref> The division returned to the front on 29 August 1942 with 109 ''R-2''s. By the eve of the Soviet [[Operation Uranus|Stalingrad Counter-offensive]] on 19 November the division could only muster 84 serviceable ''R-2''s with as many as 37 unserviceable tanks stationed in the rear.<ref>Axworthy, p. 87–89</ref> The division was on the outer edges of the Stalingrad Pocket, but managed to break through the western wing of the encirclement, although 77 ''R-2''s were lost in the process. Only about a third of these were destroyed by the Soviets, the rest were either abandoned or broke down and could not be recovered. One ''R-2'' arrived from Romania during December as a reinforcement. The ''1st Armored Division'' was ordered home in early January 1943.<ref>Axworthy, pp. 100–101, 108</ref>

Despite the delivery of 26 ''Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)''s during 1942, Romania could only muster 59 ''R-2/Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)''s on 1 April and 30 August 1943, but raised this to 63 by 25 March 1944. There were 44 on hand on 19 July 1944. By this time they were relegated to training duties with the ''1st Training Armoured Division''.<ref>Axworthy, pp. 152–153</ref> A company of ''R-2''s was sent to [[Transnistria (World War II)|Transnistria]] with the ad-hoc ''Cantemir Mixed Tank Group'' on 24 February 1944, but it did not see combat before being withdrawn on 28 March 1944.<ref>Axworthy, p. 162</ref>

A company of ''R-2''s was assigned to the ''Popescu Armoured Detachment'' after [[King Michael's Coup]] and Romanian's defection from the Axis at the end of August 1944. The ''Detachment'' was tasked with preventing the German units stationed around [[Ploiești]] from breaking out to the north and finding refuge in Hungary. They accomplished their task and the ''R-2''s were withdrawn from combat operations until the following year.<ref>Axworthy, p. 192</ref> Romania had concentrated all of its remaining tanks and armoured fighting vehicles in the ''2nd Armoured Regiment'' in early 1945 as the unofficial Soviet arms embargo began to have effect. It had five ''R-2''s on hand in early February 1945 when it was sent to the front, but the Soviets confiscated most of them when it arrived. Both ''R-2''s were serviceable when the regiment entered [[Bratislava]] on 4 April 1945, but these were probably destroyed when the regiment was nearly surrounded in Austria on 10 April because they are no longer listed among the regiment's vehicles afterwards.<ref>Axworthy, pp. 212–213</ref>

Twenty-one tanks were rebuilt as [[TACAM R-2]] tank destroyers with an ex-Soviet 76.2&nbsp;mm gun in 1943–44.<ref>Axworthy, pp. 223-225</ref>

===Slovakia===
The Slovak Army seized 52 ''LT vz. 35'' tanks when they declared their independence from Czechoslovakia in March 1939. They were organized into a battalion that was later incorporated into the ''Armoured Regiment''.<ref>Kliment and Nakládal, pp. 36–37</ref>  They received '''LT-35''' designation in Slovak Army. Three of these tanks participated in the [[Slovak-Hungarian War]] of March 1939.<ref>Kliment and Nakládal, p. 61</ref> One tank company participated in the invasion of Poland, but did not see any fighting.<ref>Kliment and Nakládal, p. 63</ref> The Army upgraded the internal communications system of its tanks with German intercoms in 1941, but it is unknown if they added a fourth crewman as did the Germans. When Slovakia joined the German [[Slovak Republic (1939–1945)#The Slovak Expeditionary Army Group in Russia|invasion of the Soviet Union]] it sent a ''Mobile Group'' that included thirty ''LT vz. 35''s. The ''Mobile Group'' was reinforced and reorganized in early July 1941 as the ''Mobile Brigade'', also known as ''Brigade Pilfousek'' after its commander, and it mustered only twenty-seven tanks despite seven reinforcements because breakdowns had caused ten to be evacuated back to Slovakia. This was due to a conspiracy among the Slovak tankers that the tanks would be needed to overthrow the regime at some point and could not be wasted in combat against the Soviets. This caused a high incidence of crew sabotage to which the officers and maintainers turned a blind eye, which caused the tanks to be withdrawn to Slovakia at the beginning of August 1941.<ref>Kliment and Nakládal, pp. 67–73</ref> On 1 January 1942, the Slovaks had 49 ''LT vz. 35'' on hand because three had been destroyed in the battle for Lipovec earlier in the summer. However, of these 49 only seven were operational as part of the conspiracy to keep the tanks in Slovakia.<ref>Kliment and Nakládal, pp. 39–41</ref> The ''LT vz. 35''s were relegated to the training/reserve role by 1943 when the Germans began to supply more modern tanks to Slovakia. At least eight ''LT vz. 35''s were used by the insurgents during the [[Slovak National Uprising]] in 1944.<ref>Kliment and Nakládal, p. 105</ref>

Slovak insurgents used LT vz. 35 tanks also in its 3 armored trains. Not only turrets, but whole tanks were used, when they placed tank on flat wagon, and then built armored walls around it.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Žiarovský|first=Andrej|title=Povstanie / Nemali tanky, postavili pancierové vlaky|url=https://www.postoj.sk/60302/nemali-tanky-postavili-pancierove-vlaky|access-date=2021-03-18|website=www.postoj.sk|language=sk|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204104836/https://www.postoj.sk/60302/nemali-tanky-postavili-pancierove-vlaky|url-status=live}}</ref> One LT vz. 35 is preserved until today, inside of original armored tank car from [[Armored train Štefánik|Armored Train Štefánik]], which is displayed in the Museum of Slovak National Uprising in [[Banská Bystrica]].

===Bulgaria===
[[File:Mitrovica bg.jpg|thumb|Bulgarian T-11 with A-3 gun<br />in Sofia, December 1944]]
[[Bulgaria]] used 26 tanks, delivered by Germany from used war reserve stock in early 1940, with the normal ''A-3'' gun and 10 new ''T-11'' tanks with the more powerful ''A-7'' gun from the confiscated Afghan order were delivered between August and October 1940. They equipped the 1st and 2nd companies of the Bulgarian armored regiment in June 1941.<ref name="B&B40">{{cite magazine|language=fr|title=Le Blindorama : La genèse de la force blindée bulgare 1935 - 1943|magazine=Batailles & Blindés|issue=40|date=December 2010|publisher=Caraktère|issn=1765-0828|first=Mathieu|last=Boisdron|pages=4–7}}</ref> They were supposedly relegated to training duties once the Germans began to deliver the [[Panzerkampfwagen IV]] medium tanks in 1944, but apparently remained in service into the Fifties.<ref name="b"/> But Kliment and Francev claim that the ''T-11''s participated in the fighting in Yugoslavia and ended the war south of [[Vienna]] as part of the ''1st Tank Brigade''.<ref>Kliment and Francev, pp. 200–201</ref>

===Hungary===
[[File:LT vz. 35 tank at Slovak–Hungarian War.jpg|thumb|right|LT vz. 35 captured in Carpatho-Ukraine by Hungarian army]]

Hungary captured one ''LT vz. 34'' in [[Carpatho-Ukraine]] on 15 March 1939, when it conquered that country, and also a LT vz. 35 in fighting with the Czech demonstration detachment returning from Kubinka in med-March 1939. They were impressed and asked Škoda for a quote to repair them. The Hungarians did not accept the price, but Škoda fixed them for free once the Hungarians had bought a license to build the Škoda T-21 medium tank in August 1940. The tanks were returned to Hungary in March 1941 and were used for training through 1943.<ref name=k138>Kliment and Francev, pp. 97–98</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Weapons of Czechoslovakia interwar period]]

'''Related development'''
* [[LT vz. 34]]
* [[Panzer 38(t)]]

== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|3}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite book|last=Axworthy|first=Mark|author2=Scafes, Cornel |author3=Craciunoiu, Cristian |title=Third Axis, Fourth Ally: Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941-1945|publisher=Arms and Armour|location=London|year=1995|isbn=1-85409-267-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Chamberlain|first=Peter|author2=Doyle, Hilary L.|others=Jentz, Thomas L.|title=Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two: A Complete Illustrated Directory of German Battle Tanks, Armoured Cars, Self-propelled Guns, and Semi-tracked Vehicles, 1933–1945|publisher=Arms and Armour Press|location=London|date=1993|edition=Revised|isbn=1-85409-214-6}}
* {{cite book|title=Panzertruppen: The Complete Guide to the Creation & Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933—1942 |editor=Jentz, Thomas L.|publisher=Schiffer|location=Atglen, Pennsylvania|year=1996|volume=1 |isbn=0-88740-915-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Kliment|first=Charles K.|author2=Francev, Vladimír|title=Czechoslovak Armored Fighting Vehicles |publisher=Schiffer|location=Atglen, Pennsylvania|year=1997|isbn=0-7643-0141-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Kliment|first=Charles K.|author2=Nakládal, Bretislav|title=Germany's First Ally: Armed Forces of the Slovak State 1939—1945|publisher=Schiffer|location=Atglen, Pennsylvania|year=1997|isbn=0-7643-0589-1}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|LT vz. 35}}
{{Commons category|Panzerkampfwagen 35(t)}}
* [http://www.panzerworld.net/pzkpfw35t.html Information about the Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) at Panzerworld]
* [http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pzcz1.htm Panzerkampfwagen 35(t) at Achtung Panzer!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604191916/http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pzcz1.htm |date=4 June 2008 }}
* [http://www.worldwar2.ro/arme/?article=236 R-2 on worldwar2.ro]
* [http://www.fronta.cz/fotogalerie/lt-vz-35-na-nadvori-vhu LT vz. 35 - light tank mod. 35 in original camouflage]
* [http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Modified_Foreign_Vehicles.pdf Captured German vehicles] - A PDF file on the surviving the German vehicles based on captured and modified foreign equipment

{{Interwar tanks|style=wide}}
{{Weapons of Czechoslovakia}}
{{WWIIGermanAFVs}}
{{WWIIRomanianAFVs}}

{{Authority control}}
{{good article}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Panzer 35(T)}}
[[Category:Light tanks of Czechoslovakia]]
[[Category:Cavalry tanks]]
[[Category:Light tanks of the interwar period]]
[[Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 1930s]]
[[Category:World War II light tanks]]