Bataille B1, B1-bis, B1-ter Medium Tanks

Some sources have called these Heavy tanks which would probably be a better classification for them, but I'll leave them listed as Medium tanks for now.

In 1921 General J.E. Estienne (pioneer of French tank arm)⁹ of the Section Technique des Chars de Combat initiated requirements for a 15 ton tank with a 75 mm or 47 mm in the hull. Schneider-Renault, FAMH, and FCM submitted 3 prototypes. In 1926 the Section Technique decided to take the suspension from the FCM and the mechanical features from the Schneider-Renault. The ARL (Artelier de Construction de Rueil) supervised the design and the first Char B was finished in 1929. Early prototypes were developed over the years and in April 1935, 40 Char B1s were delivered (another source says only 35).

The prototype that was completed in 1929 had a crew of four, armor 25 mm thick, and four MGs (3: hull, 1: turret).⁷ By 1935 it had increased to 28 tons with 40 mm armor.⁷

The 7.5 mm Chatellerault MG was on the right of the hull, and could be aimed by the driver or the commander.

The commander had to aim, load, and fire the turret guns as well as command the tank.⁷ The loader has to pass ammunition to the commander and load the 75 mm gun in the hull.⁷ The radio operator was near the turret.⁷ The emergency exits for the crew were a door in the right side of the hull, hatch over the driver, hatch in the right rear of the turret, hatch in the floor, and a hatch in the roof of the engine compartment.

The hull had two parts which were separated by a fireproof bulkhead.⁷ The rear held the engine, and the front the crew.⁷

The driver sat in the left front, drove the tank, and fired the 75 mm gun and MG in the hull.⁷ There was a Luchard air compressor that blew the smoke and fumes from the gun out the barrel in a similar fashion to naval gun turrets.⁷ The whole tank had to be turned to move the 75 mm gun into firing line.^7,9

There was a Naeder⁹ hydrostatic system for steering, when combined with a double differential unit, allowed for very precise turning that was necessary for aiming the gun.⁷

The suspension was based on the Holt tractor.⁷ On each side there were three assemblies with four bogies mounted in pairs.⁷ There were three independently mounted bogies in the front and one in the rear.⁷ The idler wheel in front was spring mounted as well.⁷

There was a compressed air and electric starting system for the engine.

In March 1935, the Germans re-occupied the Rhineland.⁷ This caused the French to start to re-arm.⁷ 40 Char B1s were ordered in April 1935 with 60 mm of armor.⁷ These became the Char B1 bis.⁷

Were nicknamed Kolosse by the Germans when the encountered them.

Bataille B1:

Aberdeen Tank Museum

Production started in 1935.

Had self-sealing fuel tanks, grouped lubrication, electric starter, and a floor escape hatch. Complex to build. First French tank to have electric powered traverse. It was steered through a double differential combined with the Naeder (a hydrostatic unit). The driver used the Naeder steering system to line up the gun as it couldn't move left or right. It ran on a Holt suspension which was covered by skirting. The suspension was leaf and coil springs on vertical articulations. The tracks were driven by the rear sprocket and could be adjusted from the inside. Had APX 1 turret.⁷

The 37 mm fire a 1.1 lb HE shell at a muzzle velocity of 1,273'/sec.⁸

Bataille B1-bis:

Produced from 1937 by Renault, FAMH, Saint-Chamond, and Schneider. In 1939 AMX joined production.

Had revised turret (APX4)⁷, more powerful engine, and extra fuel capacity. The fuel tanks were designed by ARL or FCM. Required a great deal of maintenance and many broke down on the way to the front. Initially had a 250 hp engine, but was later replaced by an aircraft engine. The hull was cast sections bolted together.⁷ The coaxial turret MG had a separate traverse of 10° left and right.

Was used in 4 French armored divisions (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th DCRs). Each division had 2 battalions of B1s and 2 battalions of light tanks. There were also 57 B1-bis distributed to independent companies.

Bataille B1-ter:

Prototype was built in 1937. However production was focused on the B1-bis. Added a mechanic to the crew.

A few were produced with Renault engines. It had a shorter BDR transmission gear which made for more room in the fighting compartment. The upper track went under steel tunnels and the side armor was sloped.

The 75 mm gun was given a limited traverse.⁷

German use:

Some were converted to 105 mm self propelled guns. Most were used for training.

PzKpfw B-2 740(f):

Issued to Panzer units in France from 1941 on. Used in Jersey and Guernsey. Were issued in 1943 to the 14th and 21st Panzer divisions when they were being reformed. Only a few saw duty outside of France. Four were used by the 223rd Panzerkompanie in Russia, and 7 were used by the SS Prinz Eugen division in the Balkans.

PzKpfw B1 (f) Fahrschulewagen:

The turret was removed and replaced by a machine gun. It was used as a driver training vehicle.

Flammwagen auf Panzerkampfwagen B-2(f)

10.5cm leFH18/3 (Sf) auf Geschützwagen B-2(f)

	Bataille B1	Bataille B1-bis	Bataille B1-ter
Crew	Commander, driver/gunner, loader, radio operator 44,7,8,9	Commander, driver/gunner, loader, radio operator7 41,2,3,4,5,7,9	Commander, driver/gunner, loader, radio operator, mechanic7 54,7
Physical Characteristics
Weight	66,100 lb, 67,200 lb 30,480 kg9, 30,545 kg 25 tons7, 28 tons7, 30 tons4,9, 33 tons8	69,500 lb, 70,548 lb 31,500 kg1, 32,500 kg9 31 tons1, 31.5 tons5,6, 32 tons2,3,4,7,9	79,400 lb 36 tons4
Length w/gun	20' 8"8, 20' 9", 20.92'4, 20' 11"9 6.37 m9	20.94'4, 20' 10.7"1, 20' 10.8"5, 20' 11", 21' 4", 21' 5"7,9, 21' 9" 6.37 m1,5,6, 6.5 m2, 6.52 m3,9, 6.6 m	20' 9.75", 20.8'4
Length w/o gun
Height	7' 1", 9'8, 9' 2", 9.2'4, 9' 3"9 2.8 m, 2.82 m9	9' 2"7,9, 9' 5", 9.17'4, 9' 1.8"1,5 2 m1, 2.79 m5,6,9, 2.8 m2, 2.88 m3	9' 4.5", 9.5'4
Width	8' 2"8,9, 8' 2.5", 8' 11", 8.17'4 2.49 m9, 2.5 m	8' 2"9, 8' 2.4"1,5 , 8' 2.5", 8' 3"7, 8.19'4, 2.5 m1,2,5,6,9, 2.52 m3	8' 11.5", 8.94'4
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	19"8	1' 6.5" 0.45 m2
Ground contact length
Ground pressure		12 psi 0.85 (kg/cm2)2
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	37 mm8 47 mm4,5,7,9	47 mm L/32, (L/34?) Sa35 47 mm1,4,7,9 47 mm SA356 47 mm L/322 47 mm L/343	47 mm Sa35 47 mm4
Secondary	75 mm Sa35 75 mm4,5,9 75 mm Howitzer8	75 mm L/17 Sa35 75 mm1,4,9 75 mm L/172,3	75 mm Sa35 75 mm4
MG	2: 7.5 mm MG, hull, coaxial4,9 2: 7.5 mm M31 MG, hull, coaxial8	2: MG2 7.5 mm MG3 2: 7.5 mm MG, hull, coaxial4,9 MG, coaxial6	2: 7.5 mm MG, hull, coaxial.4
Side arms
Quantity
Main	55, 778	502,3 (AP and HE)	80
Secondary	508, 75	742,3 (HE)	100
MG	5,100	5,1002	5,100
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	14, 404,7,9 14 - 405	Front: 606 Side: 606 14 - 655 601,4,9	20, 704, 75
Hull Front, Upper	2.25"@0°8	40-602 60@20°3
Hull Front, Lower		40-60 60@45°3
Hull Sides, Upper	0.75"@0°8	552 60@0°3
Hull Sides, Lower		55 60@0°3
Hull Rear	0.75"@0°8	552 55@43°3 & 55@0°3
Hull Top		14-272 25@80°3 & 25@90°3
Hull Bottom		222 20@90°3
Turret Front	2.35"@0°8	552 56@0°3 Mantlet: 56 round3
Turret Sides		452 46@22.5°3
Turret Rear		452 46@22.5°3
Turret Top		282 30@70.5°3 & 30@90°3
Engine (Make / Model)	Renault4,7,9	Renault1,2,3,4,5,9	2: Renault Renault4
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water4,8	Water2,4	Water4
Cylinders	64,7,8,9	61,2,3,4,5,9	64
Capacity
Net HP	1804,7,9, 2708	1804, 250, 3075 3001,2,3,6,7,9 @ 1,900 rpm2,3	3104, 350
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)		5 forward, 1 reverse.2,3
Steering	Naeder double differential8
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline4,8,9	Gasoline1,2,4,5,9	Diesel4
Octane
Quantity		106 gallons 400 liters2
Road consumption
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°8	47 mm: 360°, hand.3 75 mm: 0°3	360° 75 mm: 5° each way
Max speed	17 mph8, 17.2 mph4, 17.4 mph9, 17.5 mph 27.5 kph, 28 kph9	17.2 mph4, 17.4 mph1,5,9, 17.5 mph 28 kph1,2,3,5,6,9, 28.2 kph	16.5 mph4, 17.4 mph
Cross country speed	10 mph	9.9 mph	9.9 mph
Road radius	93 miles9, 112 miles, 150 miles8 150 km9	112 miles5, 93.2 miles, 111.8 miles1,9 150 km3, 180 km1,5,9, 140 km2	156 miles
Cross country radius		100 km2
Turning radius		46' 14 m2
Elevation limits		47 mm: -18° to +18°3 75 mm: -15° to +25°3,6
Fording depth	4' 10"8	4' 10" 0.72 m2
Trench crossing	9'8 2.74 m	9'5 2.74 m5
Vertical obstacle	3' 10"8	3' 1"5 0.93 m5
Climbing ability	20° slope8
Suspension (Type)	Articulating vertical coil springs8	Vertical mounted coil springs7 Coil Springs2
Wheels each side	168	16	16
Return rollers each side
Tracks (Type)
Length
Width		1' 7" 500 mm2
Diameter
Number of links
Pitch	9.5"8
Tire tread
Track centers/tread
Production	1934- : 40, 357 1936: Renault-Satory8	1937-1940: 3657, 380 Renault3 3659	1940: 57

Sources:

1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
2. Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
3. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
4. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
5. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
6. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
7. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
8. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
9. The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006

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