Tank Char Bl-bis. Specifications. A photo.

The Char Bl-bis is a French medium tank built in the 1930s for trench warfare. Outwardly, it resembled the first tanks, in which long and high tracks provided better traction and helped to overcome ditches and trenches. Development began in 1921, but it was not until March 1934 that it was put into service.

The Char Bl-bis was developed in response to a military request for a heavy tank. It was created taking into account the experience gained during the development of cruiser tanks. He had thicker armor (up to 60 mm) and heavier weapons than most of his contemporary tanks, with the exception of Soviet ones. It was armed with a 75 mm cannon mounted in the hull to support infantry and armored vehicles, while the turret gun was used to destroy enemy tanks.

However, Char Bl-bis also had disadvantages. The horizontal aiming of the main gun was carried out by turning the machine in the right direction using a very complex gyrostatic transmission. The tank commander combined too many responsibilities, which made it difficult for the effectiveness of combat operations. The maximum range was achieved in low gear, at a speed of only 10-11 km / h.

The Char Bl-bis was the second serial modification of the Char B1. Each of the four French armored divisions created by May 1940 had two battalions of 35 of these heavy tanks each. However, they were unable to effectively resist the German tanks, which flanked them and hit their thin sides.

Some surviving Char B1s were converted into PzKpfw Flamm(f) flamethrower tanks and used by the Germans as flamethrower vehicles.

The Char Bl-bis was developed in response to experience gained in World War I, when French tanks often got stuck in trenches and ditches. As a result, the Char Bl-bis had long and tall tracks to provide better traction and help overcome obstacles.

The Char Bl-bis was also equipped with comparatively thick armor and two guns: a 75 mm cannon mounted in the hull to deal with armored vehicles and a 47 mm gun mounted in a turret to support infantry. The horizontal aiming of the main gun was carried out using a complex gyrostatic transmission, which could be effective on the battlefield, but not so well in a more dynamic situation.

Despite its power, Char Bl-bis had some drawbacks. Movement speed was limited by low movement speed at maximum range. In addition, the tank commander performed too many tasks, which worsened the coordination of the crew.

Char Bl-bis was produced in the amount of 34 cars. They were attached to each of the four armored divisions created by France in May 1940. However, they did not last long on the battlefield, as the more maneuverable German tanks could easily outflank them. As a result, most of them were destroyed or captured by the Germans, while a small number were converted into flamethrower tanks.

Technical characteristics of the tank Char Bl-bis