Hotchkiss H35 in Poland

[Iamandi]

On different internet sources i found about 3 Hotchkiss H35 french tanks were in Poland at the momment when the Germany attaked. Those 3 tanks was tested for an eventual contract. What type of contract? License production? Also i read about some good prototypes of polish tanks - TP10 and TP14 much better than Hotchkiss H35... Polish liked Hotchkiss H35??? Was a positive opinion after those tests? They were used in fights against the invaders? What was happened with them? Captured/destroyed by enemy?
Anyone knows more aobut this subject?

Thanks,

Iama

[miro]

I´ve got two books written by Pascal Danjou about French tanks Renault R35 and Hotchkiss H35 (Trackstory series No. 4 and No.6). There are few informations regarding Your question.
Poland was trying to buy French tanks in the second half of 1930s. They were interested either in Somua or Hotchkiss tank. They ended up with Renault R35s... In April 1939 Poland accepted to buy 100 R35s, later the order rises to 300 tanks. In July 1939 first 50 Renaults were delivered together with 3 Hotchkiss tanks. Those three H35s were bought for trials and I think, that before the war, they ended up in evaluation center. Renaults were sent to combat units.
When Wehrmacht and later Red Army invaded Poland, some 12-13 Renaults were destroyed in fights, 34 managed to retreat to Romania. The 3 or 4 remaining Renaults were integrated into and independent company together with 3 H35s. This unit was commanded by Lieutenant J. Jakubowicz. It fought against both German and Soviet troops, for example around Krasno on 19 September. All its tanks were lost in battles. That´s all for Hotchkiss in Poland.

Regarding the Polish prototypes, there were 2 or 3 pieces of 9TP tank based on 7TP (Vickers) design. These were meant as interim solution untill better vehicles will be available. 9TP had new engine and new transmission and better armor as 7TP. At the beginning of war, they were in AFV research institute (Biuro Badan Broni Pancernej). They were probably used against German troops and lost in battle.

Another prototype was 10TP based on Christie´s suspension and it was simillar to Soviet BT tanks. Trials were conducted in May 1939 and Polish Army was not satisfied. Some parts were probably used to build better version 14TP and the rest of the 10TP prototype was destroyed before advancing German troops arrived. Protoype of 14TP was also unfinished and scraped in factory before Germans came.

This post has been edited by miro on May 23, 2007 11:22 am