Ask for French CharB1 tank fighting cases

[David Lehmann]

Hello,

The first B1bis is the "Craonne" (n°391) from the 3/46e BCC. The tank is commanded by sous-lieutenant Michel.
The tank is lost on 17th May 1940 during the battle of Montcornet. It has a mechanical breakdown in front of Chivres but is not damaged by the enmy. The tank is disarmed (the breeches are probably removed) and abandoned.

The second tank is hard to identify. I cannot give a definite answer, but from the position on the road and the surrounding landscape it could eventually be the B1bis "Martinique" (n°207) from the 2/15e BCC. The tank is commanded by lieutenant Vaucheret and was scuttled by the crew on 16th May 1940 at La Hérie Vieilleville (internal explosion).

The third B1bis is the "Indochine" (n° 205) from the 3/15e BCC. The tank is commanded by sous-lieutenant André Raiffaud.
It is lost on 17th May 1940. It was fired at by French AT guns and immobilized by 8 projectiles destroying the gearbox and a track.
The same tank can be seen refueling with a Lorraine 37L TRC on a previous photo shown here by Patrice.

Regards,

David

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little more...............

B1 bis in France 1940!.

Due to its immunity against the German anti-tank guns and its mechanical problems, many were captured intact (or almost).....

Sources: SUPER FOTO 2. WK Beutepanzer. eBay Auction
org. Foto: Wehrmacht Frankeich schwerer Panzer Char B1 Tank. eBay Auction.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little more...............

B1 bis in France 1940!.

Sources: Historicalmedia2011. http://www.ebay.com/bhp/panzer-photo. eBay Auction.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little complement here..................

U/K, anyone has an idea?.................................
image035.jpg

It seems the Nº 455 "CAMBRONNE"..............................
http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index ... iew&id=175

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little complement here..................

Regarding the disabled B1 bis Nº 455 "CAMBRONNE".

On May 17, 1940 at 04:15 hours the 4. DCr (Colonel De Gaulle) carried out a localized attack on Montcornet, after a small local successes, the attack was finally stopped in the afternoon. After the action, and while trying to return to Chivres, the B1 bis Nº 455 CAMBRONNE bogged down in the marshes of Gisy and got lost.

crew:

Chief: Lieutenant Forrer
Driver: Sergent-chef Georges Commeilhnes
Radio: Chasseur Paul Paris
Assistant driver: Louis Moncharmant

Source: http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index ... &Itemid=66

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - Feliz Ano Novo - Gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!!.

[stoxm73]

There were the first French tanks to have electric powered traverse. It was steered through a double differential combined with the Naeder (a hydrostatic unit). Differential steering allowed both tracks to go in opposite directions and therefore the B1bis could rotate on the spot (without moving forward) unlike German tanks.

Hi David,

Do you know any further information about Naeder system?

[DocHawkeye]

So does anyone have an idea or a list of examples of how most B1's were lost? I personally suspect that many were simply immobilized from powerplant/drivetrain problems, lack of fuel, battle damage, and then subsequently abandoned or destroyed by their own crews. I'm interested to see particularly if the Germans frequently made use of guns from local artillery batteries in direct fire to destroy them.

[Kelvin]

I am curious that function of French cuirassee Division are something like heavy cavalry division of Napoleon' s army. Napoleon always kept 2-3 heavy cavalry divisions as reseve for final breakthrough. In the battle of Wagram of 1809, he had three heavy cavalry divisions for that purpose. Those divisions subunits also called cuirassee regiment.Char B tanks had heavy armour and heavy armament, superior 47mm antitank guns and 75 mm howitzer for breakthrough. Perhap French DLM was something like her Dragoon divisions, more flexible divisions, breakthrough, tank to tank fighting, attack enemy in the rear and pursuit battle because of her speed and related strong fire power. Did French adopted two types of armoured divisions are related to Napoloen army concept ?

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little more...............

B1-bis 433 Massena - France 1940.

Assigned to the 348th CACC (Compagnie Autonome de Chars de Combat) on May 20, 1940. Tank Chief: Adjudant-chef CAFFENIE. The company was formed on May 18, 1940 in Guyancourt. Took part in the Battle of Abbeville on June 4, 1940.

Sources: http://www.chars-francais.net/2015/inde ... 33-massena
https://picclick.de/Foto-2WK-Frankreich ... id=1&pid=1

Cheers. Raúl M .