First To Fight Kits 1/72 French Renault R40 Tank With SA18 Gun # 111

The Renault R40 was a French light infantry tank developed as an improved version of the earlier Renault R35, primarily used during the early stages of World War II.

The R40 retained much of the R35's overall design, including its small, compact frame and thick armor, but introduced several key upgrades to address the shortcomings of its predecessor.

The R40 featured a more advanced suspension system, which improved its mobility over rough terrain, a critical improvement given the tank’s role in supporting infantry.

The suspension upgrade included AMX-style horizontal coil springs, which provided better stability and off-road performance.

The R40 was equipped with the SA18 gun, a 37mm short-barreled low-velocity cannon, mounted in the APX-R turret.

Originally designed for the earlier R35, the SA18 gun was intended for close support roles, with an effective range against armored targets being quite limited.

It was most effective against lightly armored vehicles and fortified positions, but it struggled against more heavily armored enemy tanks, which became a significant drawback as the war progressed and the German tanks evolved.

In terms of armor, the R40 maintained the thick cast armor typical of French tanks at the time, with up to 45mm of protection on the front, which made it relatively well-protected against small arms fire and shrapnel.

However, this protection came at the cost of speed, as the tank’s maximum speed was around 20 km/h (12 mph), making it one of the slower tanks on the battlefield.

While the R40 saw limited production due to the rapid German invasion of France in 1940, it served with distinction in the French army's armored divisions, often being deployed in a defensive role.

Despite its limitations, the Renault R40 was a testament to the French efforts to modernize their armored forces, though it was quickly outmatched by more advanced German panzers.