Year | 1935 (B-1) 1937 (B-1 Bis) |
Vehicle Type | Heavy Tank |
Origin & Designer | France/Renault, Schneider, FMC & St Chamond |
Numbers Produced | 34 (Char B1) 369 (Char B1 bis) |
Crew | 4 (Commander/Gunner, Radio Operator, Loader & Gunner/Driver) |
Main Armament | B-1: 1 x 47mm L/30 SA-34 & 1 x 75mm L/17 SA-35 Guns (Turret & Hull) B-1 Bis: 1 x 47mm L/32 SA-35 & 1 x 75mm L/17 SA-35 Guns (Turret & Hull)
|
Main Armament | [@sponson_traverse] |
Elevation | -18° to +18° (47mm) -15° to +25° (75mm)
|
Turret Traverse | 360° (Powered) |
Gun Traverse | 1° Left & Right (75mm) |
Gun Mount | [@gun_mounts] |
Maximum Range | [@maximum_range] |
Armour Penetration | [@armour_penetration] |
Gun Sight | L.671 (47mm) 2 x L.710 (75mm) |
Secondary Armament | 2 x 7.5mm MAC Modèle 1931 Machine Guns (Coaxial & Bow) |
Smoke Discharger | [@smoke_discharger] |
Ammunition Carried | B-1: 80 x 75mm & 50 x 47mm + 4.800 x 7.5mm B-1 Bis: 74 x 75mm & 72 x 47mm + 5.250 x 7.5mm
|
Height | 2.79m |
Width | 2.50m |
Length | 6.35m |
Combat Weight | B1: 30.545 kg B1 Bis: 31.500 kg
|
Ground Clearance | 0.48m |
Fording Depth | 0.72m |
Trench Crossing | 2.75m |
Obstacle Clearance | 1.18m |
Climbing Ability | 26° |
Radio | ER-53 |
Armour | B-1: Gun Mantlet: 60mm Hull Front: 60mm Hull Sides: 55mm Hull Rear: 55mm Hull Top: 14mm Hull Bottom: 20mm Gun Mantlet: 55mm Turret Front: 56mm Turret Sides: 56mm Turret Rear: 56mm Turret Top: 30mm : B-1 Bis: Gun Mantlet: 60mm Hull Front: 60mm Hull Sides: 55mm Hull Rear: 55mm Hull Top: 14mm Hull Bottom: 20mm Gun Mantlet: 55mm Turret Front: 56mm Turret Sides: 56mm Turret Rear: 56mm Turret Top: 30mm
|
Engine | Renault 6-Cyl (Petrol) |
Transmission | 5 Forward & 1 Reverse |
Maximum Road Range | 140 km |
Maximum Cross Country Range | 100 km |
Maximum Water Range | [@maximum_water_range] |
Maximum Road Speed | 28 kph |
Maximum Cross Country Speed | 15 kph |
Maximum Water Speed | [@maximum_water_speed] |
Variants | [@variants] |
Notes | Char B1 formed the backbone of Frances armoured might, used as a breakthrough tank. Not many B1s were made before the improved Char B1 bis was introduced, this was a modernisation with a new turret and better gun. Both models were strong enough to absorb punishment and was almost impervious to fire from German anti-tank gun and tanks, its main threat came from Stuka attacks and heavy artillery and many simply ran out of fuel. |