RichB
Well-known member
While waiting for washes, filters, etc to dry on the Mk. A Whippet, I got the urge to cut and glue fresh plastic. This was the kit that jumped out of the stash and said "Build me!."
The project that would become the Char B1 began formally in 1921. It was conceptualized as a heavy self-propelled gun optimised to break through fortified enemy positions. Its main armament was a 75mm howitzer mounted low in the hull allowing it to fire directly into the vision ports of bunkers. A small machine-gun turret was added to the upper hull to defend against attacking infantry and provide an observation post for the commander. By the 1930's it was recognized that the Char B1 would need to defend itself against counter-attacking armour. As it was too late to redesign the vehicle, the MG turret was replaced by a one-man turret equipped with a 47mm anti-tank gun.
The tortuous development program resulted in a technically complex, expensive (approx. 1.5 million Francs each) and largely obsolescent vehicle by the time the Char B1 production line started in December 1935. By the time production ended in July 1937, 34 vehicles had been built (SN 102 to 135). An improved version, the Char B1 bis, entered production in April 1937. It saw an increase in armour, improved 47mm gun and a more powerful engine. Production remained slow with only 129 vehicles completed by 01 September 1939. By the Fall of France in June 1940, only 369 of the 1144 vehicles ordered had been delivered (SN 201 to 569).
Despite its shortcomings and being pressed into service in a role it was not designed for, it was one of the most heavily armed and armoured tanks of its day proving to be very effective against German armour. On 06 May 1940, a Char B1 bis attacked elements of 8 Pz Regt in the village of Stonne, destroying 2 PzKpfw IV's, 11 PzKpfw III's and 2 anti-tank guns, absorbing 140 hits from return fire, none of which penetrated its armour.
The German Army captured 161 Char B1's and pressed them into service for training and garrison duties. Some were converted to flamethrower tanks and 105mm self-propelled artillery for use in the Balkans and on the Eastern Front. After D-Day, a few were re-captured by individual resistance forces. The Free French Forces equipped a company of the 13th Dragoon Regt with a mix of Char B1's and B2's (German modified) and were in action from October 1944 thru the end of the war.
Cheers,
Rich
The project that would become the Char B1 began formally in 1921. It was conceptualized as a heavy self-propelled gun optimised to break through fortified enemy positions. Its main armament was a 75mm howitzer mounted low in the hull allowing it to fire directly into the vision ports of bunkers. A small machine-gun turret was added to the upper hull to defend against attacking infantry and provide an observation post for the commander. By the 1930's it was recognized that the Char B1 would need to defend itself against counter-attacking armour. As it was too late to redesign the vehicle, the MG turret was replaced by a one-man turret equipped with a 47mm anti-tank gun.
The tortuous development program resulted in a technically complex, expensive (approx. 1.5 million Francs each) and largely obsolescent vehicle by the time the Char B1 production line started in December 1935. By the time production ended in July 1937, 34 vehicles had been built (SN 102 to 135). An improved version, the Char B1 bis, entered production in April 1937. It saw an increase in armour, improved 47mm gun and a more powerful engine. Production remained slow with only 129 vehicles completed by 01 September 1939. By the Fall of France in June 1940, only 369 of the 1144 vehicles ordered had been delivered (SN 201 to 569).
Despite its shortcomings and being pressed into service in a role it was not designed for, it was one of the most heavily armed and armoured tanks of its day proving to be very effective against German armour. On 06 May 1940, a Char B1 bis attacked elements of 8 Pz Regt in the village of Stonne, destroying 2 PzKpfw IV's, 11 PzKpfw III's and 2 anti-tank guns, absorbing 140 hits from return fire, none of which penetrated its armour.
The German Army captured 161 Char B1's and pressed them into service for training and garrison duties. Some were converted to flamethrower tanks and 105mm self-propelled artillery for use in the Balkans and on the Eastern Front. After D-Day, a few were re-captured by individual resistance forces. The Free French Forces equipped a company of the 13th Dragoon Regt with a mix of Char B1's and B2's (German modified) and were in action from October 1944 thru the end of the war.
Cheers,
Rich