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Char B1-bis

charB1.jpg (18225 bytes)

charb1prof.jpg (27301 bytes)

 

GENERAL DATA
Formal Designation Char de Manoevure B1-bis
Production Quantity about 400* Production Period 1937 - 1940**
Type Heavy Tank Crew 4
Length hull/overall (m) 6.30 Width (m) 2.48
Height (m) 2.74 Combat Weight (kg) 31500

*Figure includes Char B1 types in service.

**Char B1, the original production version, began production in 1935.

FIREPOWER
Primary Armament 75mm SA32 L/17 (bow) Ammunition Carried 77
47mm SA35 L/34 (turret) 50
Traverse (degrees) 75mm: none Elevation (degrees) -15° to +25°
47mm: Electric (360°) -18° to +18°
Traverse speed (360°) n.a. Rate of Fire n.a.
n.a.
Secondary Armament 2 x 7.5mm M31 MG (bow, coaxial) Ammunition Carried n.a.

 

MOBILITY CHARACTERISTICS
Engine Make & Model Renault Speed on/off road 27/n.a. km/h
Type & Displacement Gas, In6, 14.4 litres Ground Pressure n.a.
Horsepower 250@1900 Ground Clearance (m) 0.48
Power/Weight Ratio 7.9 hp/t Turning Radius (m) n.a.
Gearbox 5 forward, 1 reverse Gradient (degrees) 26°
Range on/off road (km) 135/100 Vertical Obstacle (m) 0.93
Mileage (litres/100km) n.a. Fording (m) 1.47
Fuel Capacity (litres) n.a. Trench Crossing (m) 2.74

 

ARMOR PROTECTION
Armor (mm@degrees) Front Side Rear Top/Bottom
Hull 60@45° 60@0° 55@43° 20@90°
Superstructure 60@20° 60@0° 55@0° 25@80° & 90°
Turret 56@0° 46@22° 46@22° 30@72° & 90°
Mantlet 56@round - - -

At its' time, the Char B1 was a monster. It weighed 32 tons and became the main battle tank of the French army. Built in 1932, it could successfully fight each opposing tank. The German army learned that very fast. Almost no weapon could pierce the armor of the B1. Only the lone legender 8.8 cm FlaK (88 mm) and dive bombers could fight the B1 at all. The French could not manufacture more than 400 of these tanks in the next 10 years because they were made manually in the French factories. The B1 was armed with a 47 mm cannon in the tower and a 75 mm howitzer in the trunk. Its' firepower was also never concentrated, as with other French tanks, but only used individually.

Source: Panzerlexicon
           Armored War! WW2 Allied AFV Data

 

 

 

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Copyright 1999 Mike DelPrete
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