Hello to all ; something more................
France - Summer 1940.
Tank B1 bis BOURRASQUE.
The tank B1 bis Bourrasque belonged to the 1. / 15. BCC. During the fighting around Moncornet on May 16, 1940, several tanks of the 15. BCC were damaged. Four damaged tanks, regrouped around the Bourrasque that was in good condition. By nightfall, the fuel tanks were almost empty. Therefore two armored were sabotaged: the Martinique and the Aquitaine. The Bourrasque towed the other two Toulon and Tempête.
On the morning of May 17, 1940 at 06:00 hours the French tanks met a truck full of German soldiers. A shot of the 47 mm cannon destroyed the truck and the enemy soldiers were scattered with machine gun fire.
But the Bourrasque ran out of fuel. The other crews transferred the fuel and then the Bourrasque marched south towards Pargny looking for resupply.
Pargny was exceeded and the Bourrasque met the Armored Brigade Nedwig (1. Pz) coming towards the Oise. The French tank opened fire on the column of the Kradsch. Btl 1 marching towards Mortiers. In Mortiers reacted a battalion of the PR 1 which opened up with cannons against the Bourrasque until it succumbed due to lack of fuel and several impacts of 37 mm and some of 75 mm.
At 11:15 hours, without ammunition, the crew surrendered and was captured by the Germans. The tank Commander was the Lieutenant Sauret.
Sources:
http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index ... &Itemid=66
http://reibert.info/forum/showthread.php?t=27784
Cheers. Raúl M
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