LT vz.35 - "The best of the best"

DrunkenLamp · July 31, 2026, 10:35pm

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LT vz.35

History

The LT vz. 35 is known as one of if not the best light tanks of the interwar-era right behind another Czech masterpiece, the LT vz.38.

In 1935, Czechoslovakia set up a competition between Škoda and ČKD to develop replacement for the LT vz.34, Škoda introduced the Škoda Š-IIa their competitor introduced the Praga P-II-a. The Praga P-II-a was based directly off of LT vz.34 but it was heavily modernized, with additional armor and other modifications. Even though this modernization was great and saw similar performance to the Škoda’s design, it did not saw introduction into the Czechoslovak Armed Forces due to the aging platform of the LT vz.34 and no future modernization potential. By some sources Škoda supposedly manipulated these trials but that is unverified.

Praga P-II-a

Škoda Š-II-a

Note that the radio seems to be present in the turret

Production of LT vz.35 began in 1936, with both Škoda and ČKD producing these tanks. The tank tank used rivitted armor layout similar to the LT vz. 34 but it was upgraded to 25mm at front and 16mm at sides. Big upgrade was in the propulsion system, with the tank being able to go at the same speeds forward as in reverse. The arnament was made up of 2 ZB vz.35 machine guns, one in the turret and one in the hull and 3,7 cm kanón vz.34 ÚV. The machine guns were later replaced in 1938 to ZB vz.37, which were closely similar to the previous ones but with much higher quality of production and better gas regulation system. Issues with the production of ZB vz.37 lead to many tanks not mounting them.

The LT vz.35 was the backbone of Czechoslovak Army in 1938, with the tank serving until the start of German occupation of Czechoslovakia. In 1945 after the fall of Germany, Czechoslovakia sought to recover, capture and evaluate majority of the vehicles on Czech lands, among these were 13 LT vz.35 tanks, most of which were heavily damaged to the point of no return. One of these tanks was gifted to USA, later returning to Czechia in 2008 where it is present at VTÚ Lešany.

Export/Foreign use

Romania
Czechoslovak export variant to Romania known as R-2 saw some modifications made to the tank, such as the tank being equipped with various amount of cage antennas and also being turned into tank destroyer in Romanian service. The primary difference between the Czech and Romanian variant was the rivitted back of the turret and flat armor layout on the back of the transmission cover. Sometimes the original LT vz. 35 chassis and R-2 turret were mismatched.
Romania also recieved Pz.35(t), main difference being the upgraded munition and radio stations.

LT vz.35 - R-2 differences

Poland
In 1938, Czechoslovakia was moving R-2 tanks over Poland to Romania, while this was happening Polish Press Agency got to see these tanks upclose and Polish interest in these tanks rose.
Poland tried to purchase Czechoslovak LT vz.35 tanks, with the Polish delegation arriving in Pilsen on 9th of March 1939, this purchase was cancelled due to occupation of Czechoslovakia on 15th of March 1939. Poland also shown interest in Š-II-c, later known as Škoda T-21.

A̶f̶g̶h̶a̶n̶i̶s̶t̶a̶n̶ - Bulgaria
The T-11 also known as Škoda Š-II-aA was Czechoslovak export tank designeted for Afganistan. Due to German occupation of Czechoslovakia the purchase was cancelled and relocated for export to Bulgaria, the tank designation changed to Škoda Š-II-aB.
Primary differences between the LT vz.35 and T-11 were the gun, going from the original 3,7 cm kanón vz.34 ÚV to Škoda A7, alongside this the sight had to be moved lower compared with the gun change.
Bulgaria also recieved Pz.35(t) from Germany, alongside it’s upgrades
Bulgaria used these tanks till the late 50s.

LT vz.35 - T-11 differences

Hungary
In 1939 a small conflict occured between Slovak State and Hungary, with this war being reffered to as the Slovak-Hungarian war or in Czech as Malá válka (Small war). During this conflict two damaged LT vz.35 tanks were captured by Hungarian forces, later sent to Hungary for inspection. Around the year of 1939 to 1940 Hungary sought to repair these tanks, after Škoda sold license to Hungary for the Škoda T-21 these two tanks were repaired in Škoda for free. In 1941 the LT vz.35s went trough testing in Hungary.
There are no major differences between the Czechoslovak and Hungarian LT vz.35, besides the muzzle break missing on one of these tanks.
In Hungary these tanks recieved T-35 designation.

Czech LT vz.35 - Hungarian T-35

Slovak State
After the break up and invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1939, Slovak State became independent and took over 52 LT vz.35 tanks, these tanks were exactly the same as the Czechoslovak ones. Only differences are in the name, Slovak State renamed these to “Lahký tank vzor 35” (Light tank type 35) and later to LT-35 (Lahký tank 35) to shorten the naming scheme. In 1942 single Slovak LT-35 was rearmed with Škoda A7 gun, only surviving images of it are mounted on armored train. This armored cart survives to this day in Slovakia.

LT-35 Škoda A7

Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia used a lot of Czechoslovak equipment such as the T-32 tank destroyer, ZB vz.26 machine gun and many more weapons. Yugoslavia saw more interest in Czechoslovak equipment and in 1937 ordered prototype to be built, this being the Škoda T-12, designated by Škoda as Škoda Š-IIa-J. This tank was heavily modified Škoda Š-II-aR prototype, which itself is export variant for Romania (Romanian R-2), this tank was modified to mount new turret with new arnament. The engine and transmission have been modified alongside it. The tank had 47mm Škoda A9J (J standing for Yugoslavia) cannon. This prototype was trialed by Yugoslavia in 1939 and was rejected. This tank was also showcased to Hungarian delegation, which saw no interest in this tank.

Škoda T-12

United States of America
In around 1944-1945, US forces managed to capture at least 1 Pz.35(t) tank. This tank was sent over to Aberdeen Proving Grounds where an ammunition carrier variant of Pz.35(t). Pz.35(t).It is unknown when it was returned back into the normal light tank variant. Renovation was finished in 1947.Once the renovations were finished, the tank was trialed however its engine unfortunately exploded from stress.
In early 2000s, the tank saw giant renovation program, being returned to it’s original nation, with it being present at VTU Lešany.
The American designation for this tank is long, this being:
Tank T35 3.7cm gun, Czech.

T35

Soviet Union
The LT vz.35 No. 13.903 alongside LT vz.35 No.13.620 were sent to USSR for testing in late 1938, with the 13.903 tank being the primary testing vehicle, 13.620 being used as reserve vehicle incase 13.903 broke down. These tanks saw successful trials in USSR besides the gunnery trials, where Czech engineers did not know how to operate the machine guns. When these tanks were returning in early 1939, they saw combat against Hungarian units, where No.13.903 was captured and later repaired for Hungarian forces.
Later the USSR was inspired by the LT vz.35 suspension system and copied it over to T-26M light tank.
USSR also captured multiple Pz.35 (t) tanks, one of which was trialed at Kubinka.

Suspension system on T-26M

Germany
After the occupation of Czechoslovakia, Germany immidietly captured majority of Czechoslovak equipment present in Bohemia and Moravia, meanwhile most of the equipment kept in Slovakia stayed in Slovakia. Germany is the biggest user of these tanks, modifying them to have additional boxes, different radio and few heavy modifications such as ammonution carriers and more.

Characteristics

Armament

3,7 cm kanón vz.34 ÚV / Škoda A3
- -10° degrees of depresion, +25° degrees of elevation
- Firerate: 10-11 rounds/minute
- Munition
  - 3,7 cm ostrý pancéřový granát vz. 34 - APC
    - Penetration:
    - Velocity: 675m/s
    - Weight: 850g
      
      Explosive filler: 13g
  - 3,7 cm ostrý nárazový granát vz. 34 - HE
    - Velocity: 675m/s
    - Weight: 850g
      
      Explosive filler: Unspecified
  - Ammunition count: 78
7,92mm ZB vz.35 (Upgraded in 1938 to ZB vz.37)
- Ammunition count 2700 (900 AP)