Warlord Games

Fielded in great numbers by the French army, the Renault R35 was used to support infantry formations as they battled the invading Germans. Designed to replace the antiquated FT-17 tanks, the Renault R35 was a small but well-armoured French infantry support tank. It would also see service with the French, German, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Bulgarian and Yugoslavian armies! The R35 was slow but, as it was largely employed to support infantry, speed wasn't a key consideration, although its two-man crew were usually overworked in the cramped confines. Its armour was impressive for a tank of the early war period – up to 43mm. It had a low velocity 37mm main gun and a machine gun giving it good infantry support capability – the main role this tank was used in. Contains one resin & metal Renault R35 light tank with metal tank crewman, stat cards, damage markers, decal sheet and order dice.

Declaring war on Germany in 1939, the French armed forces were superior to the Germans in tanks and ships but suffered from outdated tactical and strategic doctrine at the highest level. Fighting alongside their British allies, the French army performed a brave rearguard action culminating in the remarkable withdrawal from Europe at Dunkirk. With the British heading back to England, the French forces battled on stubbornly as the Germans closed on Paris… Although much has been written of the German armoured forces and the defeat of the British at Dunkirk in the dark days of 1940, far too little has been written about the gallant stands made by the French army. The French army started World War II as the most powerful army in the world. Well-equipped, with excellent tanks and artillery, the infantry divisions were numerous and confident of fighting off the hated Boche as they had twenty two years before. This was not the same war though, and the French infantrymen found themselves all too often fighting off German armoured units which had outmanoeuvred them as the Blitzkrieg rolled across Europe. It was for the honour of France and their regiments that so many Frenchmen dug in and fought it out against a more technologically and tactically advanced foe. By the time of the cease fire they had killed 27,000 Germans but had suffered appalling losses of nearly 100,000 dead and 250,000 wounded. Many brave Frenchmen went on to fight against the Allies with Vichy France, ensuring admiration and loathing in equal measure, whilst others would return to France with the Allied invasion in 1944 to reclaim their homeland… Contains a 10-man French Army Infantry Section:

• 1 NCO with rifle
• 1 soldier with VB launcher
• 2-man light machine gun team (loader has pistol)
• 6 riflemen