Difference between revisions of "H.39"

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(11Feb2019 Update - Updated pen stats)
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The '''{{specs|name}}''' (Hotchkiss light tank 1938 model H) is a reserve French light tank {{Battle-rating|1}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. The H.39 features a potent gun, an improved armour thickness from its predecessor while keeping the same engine, which makes it, even fully upgraded, a ''very slow-paced'' tank.
+
The '''{{specs|name}}''' (Hotchkiss light tank model 1935 modified 1939) is a reserve French light tank {{Battle-rating|1}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]], and replaced the [[H.35]] as one of France's two reserve vehicles in [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]]. Compared to its predecessor, the H.39 features a serviceable gun, thicker armour, and a significantly more powerful engine, which makes it, when fully upgraded, surprisingly speedy on flat ground for low level French tanks.
  
As a rank 1 French tank, this vehicle is quite reluctant to its likes: under-powered engine and gun with a decent armour at distances. This is a close support tank that is best used in urban maps, following its teammates and waiting for a good shot opportunity.
+
Nevertheless, this vehicle's gun and mobility are below average compared its peers from other nations. While it is mobile in a straight line, it maneuvers slowly and its narrow tracks slow it down substantially cross-country. The H.39 should be played as a close support tank, best utilized in urban maps and following its teammates while waiting for a good shot opportunity.
  
With a rather constant 50 mm effective thickness from all sides, this tank can certainly take a good beating if spotted at distances (500+ m). Avoid facing heavy guns and you should survive long-range engagements. From closer, you are vulnerable...but you actually need to close in with your foes in order to have a chance (see "Firepower"). With only 2 crewmen, any penetrating shot could be your last.  
+
With a rather constant 45-50 mm effective thickness from all sides, this tank can be a hard nut to crack if spotted at a good distance (500+ m), and can take a good beating up close if care is taken to properly angle and avoid tanks with especially potent guns. However, its armour should not be relied upon; most reserve tank guns are capable of penetrating its raw armour thickness and have faster reloads, so hard cover should be utilized generously. With only 2 crewmen, any penetrating shot could be your last.  
  
While not having the best mobility, this tank surely can carry its user wherever it wants, provided there is not too steep hills and/or soft ground: this tank's narrow tracks and low power ratio makes for a poor cross-country capability (for a tracked vehicle).
+
The 37 mm SA38 has significantly better penetration and post-penetration damage than its predecessor, but has a longer reload rate than its peers. Know your enemies' insides well, target their gunners first or immobilize them by shooting at the engine, and take care to make every shot count. Avoid exchanging shots at long distances as your gun's penetration values decrease heavily.
 
 
The new 37 mm is a better gun than its predecessor in every possible way. Not only does this shoots actual AP shells (more shrapnel on penetrating shots) but it also got 50% more penetration while keeping the same (long) reload rate. Know your enemy's inside well, target its gunner first or immobilize it by shooting at the engine. Take your time while aiming as every shot is important. Remember your opponents mainly have twice your firing rate ''and'' more penetration. Avoid long range engagements as your gun's penetration values decrease heavily.
 
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
 
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
 
'''Armour type:'''
 
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
* Cast homogeneous armour
 
* Cast homogeneous armour
 +
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
|-
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|}
 
|}
 
'''Notes:'''
 
'''Notes:'''
 +
 
* Suspension wheels, bogies, and tracks are all 15 mm thick.
 
* Suspension wheels, bogies, and tracks are all 15 mm thick.
* Turret ring is 5 mm thick.
+
* Turret ring is 35 mm thick with a 5 mm protective collar.
 +
* Trench-crossing tail at the hull rear is 5 mm thick.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
!colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
+
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Weight (tons)
 
! Weight (tons)
!colspan="1" | Add-on Armor<br>weight (tons)
+
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armor<br>weight (tons)
!colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
+
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
 
|-
 
|-
|rowspan="2" | 12.1 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 41 (AB)  
+
| rowspan="2" | 12.1 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 41 (AB)  
 
|-
 
|-
 
|36 (RB/SB)
 
|36 (RB/SB)
 
|-
 
|-
!colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
+
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
 
|-
 
|-
!colspan="1" | Mode
+
! colspan="1" | Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
!Upgraded
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|120
 
|120
 
|-
 
|-
!colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
+
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 
|-
 
|-
!colspan="1" | Mode
+
! colspan="1" | Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
!Upgraded
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== Usage in the battles ==
 
== Usage in the battles ==
 
<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''-->
 
<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''-->
Use the same tactics as with other French rank 1 vehicles: follow the pack and take a few shots whenever the opportunity shows. Use your decent mobility to assist short flanking manoeuvres (i.e.:in urban maps) and fire at your foe's weak sides.
+
Use the same tactics as with other French rank 1 vehicles; follow the pack and take shots whenever the opportunity shows. Use your decent mobility to assist in flanking manoeuvres (i.e. in urban maps) and put shots into your enemies' weak sides. Find hard cover that can't be shot through, angle strongly, and poke in and out between your shots, as your reload can't match that of your opponents.
  
'''Hull down'''
+
On maps with hilly terrain, stick with your teammates near the capture point, go hull-down, and wait for anything to fall in your sights. Try to immobilize your target on your first shot. Get back into cover between reloads and pop out a few meters away from your last spot.
 
 
In hilly terrain, stick with your teammates near the capture point and wait for anything to fall in your sights. Make sure to immobilize the target on your first shot. As your reload time is quite slow and half of your crew resides in the exposed turret, get back into cover for the reload time and pop out a few meters away from your last spot.
 
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
<!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''-->
 
<!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''-->
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
* Tiny profile
+
 
* Tiny tank
+
* Tiny tank with tiny profile
* Has MAC 31 coaxial MG
 
* Better engine than its predecessor
 
 
* -13° of gun depression
 
* -13° of gun depression
* Has LOCK, which makes stop-and-shoot tactics easier and faster.
+
* Has LOCK, which makes stop-and-shoot tactics easier and faster
 +
* MAC 31 is an excellent coaxial MG
 +
* Thick all-around armour that can be very strongly angled
 +
* Moderately powerful engine that can keep it at its 41 km/h top speed on flat ground
 
* Decent reverse speed of -7 km/h
 
* Decent reverse speed of -7 km/h
* Can be very strongly angled due to thick side armour (up to ~60 mm LOS thickness)
+
* Arguably the best French rank 1 tank
* ''Arguably'' the best French rank 1 vehicle.
+
 
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
* Only one choice of ammunition.
+
 
* That one choice has no explosive filler
+
* Only 2 crew members
* Only two crew members, one knocked out means tank destroyed.
+
* Only one choice of ammunition, which has no explosive filler
* Long reload time
+
* Sub-par penetration
* Narrow tracks means poor ground flotation.
+
* Long reload
* Poor penetration
+
* Driver's hatch is almost completely vertical
 +
* Narrow tracks means poor ground flotation
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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== Read also ==
 
== Read also ==
 
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
 
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
 +
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 +
 
''ETC.''
 
''ETC.''
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 +
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  
 
{{France light tanks}}
 
{{France light tanks}}

Revision as of 01:38, 13 February 2019

Rank 7 USA
F-5C Pack
H.39
fr_hotchkiss_h39.png
H.39
AB RB SB
1.0 1.0 1.0
Class:
Research:Free
Purchase:Free
Show in game

Description

GarageImage H.39.jpg


The Char léger modèle 1935 H modifié 39 (Hotchkiss light tank model 1935 modified 1939) is a reserve French light tank with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.75 "La Résistance", and replaced the H.35 as one of France's two reserve vehicles in Update 1.85 "Supersonic". Compared to its predecessor, the H.39 features a serviceable gun, thicker armour, and a significantly more powerful engine, which makes it, when fully upgraded, surprisingly speedy on flat ground for low level French tanks.

Nevertheless, this vehicle's gun and mobility are below average compared its peers from other nations. While it is mobile in a straight line, it maneuvers slowly and its narrow tracks slow it down substantially cross-country. The H.39 should be played as a close support tank, best utilized in urban maps and following its teammates while waiting for a good shot opportunity.

With a rather constant 45-50 mm effective thickness from all sides, this tank can be a hard nut to crack if spotted at a good distance (500+ m), and can take a good beating up close if care is taken to properly angle and avoid tanks with especially potent guns. However, its armour should not be relied upon; most reserve tank guns are capable of penetrating its raw armour thickness and have faster reloads, so hard cover should be utilized generously. With only 2 crewmen, any penetrating shot could be your last.

The 37 mm SA38 has significantly better penetration and post-penetration damage than its predecessor, but has a longer reload rate than its peers. Know your enemies' insides well, target their gunners first or immobilize them by shooting at the engine, and take care to make every shot count. Avoid exchanging shots at long distances as your gun's penetration values decrease heavily.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armour type:

  • Cast homogeneous armour
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 40 mm (8-87°) Front plate
22 mm (75-85°), 40 mm (31°) Front glacis
40 mm (30°) Lower glacis
40 mm (1-33°)
40 mm (1-2°)
40 mm (24-30°) Top
40 mm (9-32°) Bottom
22 mm
Turret 45 + 25 mm (5°) Turret front
45 mm (28-30°) Left side
25 mm (10-19°) Gun mantlet
40 mm (1-27°) 40 mm (8-63°) 25 mm
Armour Sides Roof
Cupola 40 mm 40 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels, bogies, and tracks are all 15 mm thick.
  • Turret ring is 35 mm thick with a 5 mm protective collar.
  • Trench-crossing tail at the hull rear is 5 mm thick.

Mobility

Mobility characteristic
Weight (tons) Add-on Armor
weight (tons)
Max speed (km/h)
12.1 N/A 41 (AB)
36 (RB/SB)
Engine power (horsepower)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 130 160
Realistic/Simulator 106 120
Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 10.74 13.22
Realistic/Simulator 8.76 9.92

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: SA38 L/33 (37 mm)
37 mm SA38 L/33
Capacity Vertical
guidance
Horizontal
guidance
Stabilizer
76 -13°/+20° ±180° Vertical
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade 14.95 20.69 _.__ _.__ 29.55
Realistic 9.34 10.99 _.__ _.__ 15.7
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
5.2 _.__ _.__ 4.0
Ammunition
Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration in mm @ 0° Angle of Attack
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
Mle1938 APC 48 45 32 21 14 9
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
in m/s
Projectile
Mass in kg
Fuse delay

in m:

Fuse sensitivity

in mm:

Explosive Mass in g
(TNT equivalent):
Normalization At 30°
from horizontal:
Ricochet:
0% 50% 100%
Mle1938 APC 705 0.7 N/A N/A N/A ° 48° 63° 71°
Ammo racks
Ammo racks of the H.39.
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
76 75 (+1) 10 (+66) (+75) Yes

Machine guns

Main article: MAC 31 (7.5 mm)
7.5 mm MAC 31
Coaxial mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute)
Vertical
guidance
Horizontal
guidance
2,400 (150) 1,350 N/A N/A

Usage in the battles

Use the same tactics as with other French rank 1 vehicles; follow the pack and take shots whenever the opportunity shows. Use your decent mobility to assist in flanking manoeuvres (i.e. in urban maps) and put shots into your enemies' weak sides. Find hard cover that can't be shot through, angle strongly, and poke in and out between your shots, as your reload can't match that of your opponents.

On maps with hilly terrain, stick with your teammates near the capture point, go hull-down, and wait for anything to fall in your sights. Try to immobilize your target on your first shot. Get back into cover between reloads and pop out a few meters away from your last spot.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Tiny tank with tiny profile
  • -13° of gun depression
  • Has LOCK, which makes stop-and-shoot tactics easier and faster
  • MAC 31 is an excellent coaxial MG
  • Thick all-around armour that can be very strongly angled
  • Moderately powerful engine that can keep it at its 41 km/h top speed on flat ground
  • Decent reverse speed of -7 km/h
  • Arguably the best French rank 1 tank

Cons:

  • Only 2 crew members
  • Only one choice of ammunition, which has no explosive filler
  • Sub-par penetration
  • Long reload
  • Driver's hatch is almost completely vertical
  • Narrow tracks means poor ground flotation

History

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

Read also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

ETC.

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


France light tanks
AMC.34/35  AMC.34 YR · AMC.35 (ACG.1)
H.35/39  H.35 · H.39 · H.39 "Cambronne"
AMX-13  AMX-13 (FL11) · AMX-13-M24 · AMX-13 · AMX-13 (SS.11) · AMX-13-90 · AMX-13 (HOT)
Wheeled  AML-90 · AMX-10RC · Vextra 105
AMD.35  AMD.35 · AMD.35 (SA35)
E.B.R.  E.B.R. (1951) · E.B.R. (1954) · E.B.R. (1963)
Other  FCM.36 · R.35 (SA38) · Char 25t · MARS 15 · VBCI-2 (MCT30)
Austria  SK-105A2
Great Britain  ▄Crusader Mk.II
Netherlands  CV 9035NL
USA  LVT-4/40 · ▄M3A3 Stuart