Too bad that their technology going down too fast during WW2 that their tanks could not compete with Germans.
Fun fact: B1 was designed to be a main breakthrough tank similar to Mk-1 but the urgent of war forcing the French to mount a turret in order to provide better flexibility. Therefore the turret looks weird and armament is not impressive either.
I'd say that even the Chi-Ha was a better tank than the B1. Why? Because the most important ability of a tank is to actually be there when you need it. It doesn't matter how big your gun is or how thick your armor is if you're not actually participating in the battle. And be B1, with low numbers and low speed, coupled with incompetent French leadership and doctrine, was very bad at being where it was needed. With the Chi-ha, it's cross-country mobility meant that you could at least have a tank when you needed it, albeit not a very good one.
I'd say that even the Chi-Ha was a better tank than the B1. Why? Because the most important ability of a tank is to actually be there when you need it. It doesn't matter how big your gun is or how thick your armor is if you're not actually participating in the battle. And be B1, with low numbers and low speed, coupled with incompetent French leadership and doctrine, was very bad at being where it was needed. With the Chi-ha, it's cross-country mobility meant that you could at least have a tank when you needed it, albeit not a very good one.
Of course, if you fight in small island, it would be easy to get your tank available. But once he's engaged? You get a crappy little thing with low FP and armor. Meanwhile, the B1 can destroy dozen panzer without a scratch.
The main drawback of practically ALL French tanks was their one-man-turret. The poor guy in the turret had to command the tank, load, lay and fire the gun. This made them tactical inferior to the thinner armored German tanks, which had three men in the turret: The commander could concentrate on his job, while the other two handled the gun. The FCM 36 had the additional fault of a weak main gun, not able to penetrate armour.
The main drawback of practically ALL French tanks was their one-man-turret. The poor guy in the turret had to command the tank, load, lay and fire the gun. This made them tactical inferior to the thinner armored German tanks, which had three men in the turret: The commander could concentrate on his job, while the other two handled the gun. The FCM 36 had the additional fault of a weak main gun, not able to penetrate armour.
Not just one-man turret. According to what I see from Chieftain's Hatch videos while he is on Saumur, the vision is not great either.
And the problem with B1 also the fact that it need a specific castor oil to operate reliably, but somehow crews are not properly informed about this so they use any kind of Castor oil which affected B1 reliability.
Not just one-man turret. According to what I see from Chieftain's Hatch videos while he is on Saumur, the vision is not great either.
And the problem with B1 also the fact that it need a specific castor oil to operate reliably, but somehow crews are not properly informed about this so they use any kind of Castor oil which affected B1 reliability.
Don't forget that the french had somewhere between fuck and all radios for their tanks and thus had to rely on easily severed telephone lines, runners and even carrier pigeons. That more than anything probably contributed to most of the fuckups during the French campaign. Well that and the average dude on the ground couldn't call for arty fire support because they deemed only officers worthy of such a task.
The main drawback of practically ALL French tanks was their one-man-turret. The poor guy in the turret had to command the tank, load, lay and fire the gun. This made them tactical inferior to the thinner armored German tanks, which had three men in the turret: The commander could concentrate on his job, while the other two handled the gun. The FCM 36 had the additional fault of a weak main gun, not able to penetrate armour.
Not just one-man turret. According to what I see from Chieftain's Hatch videos while he is on Saumur, the vision is not great either.
And the problem with B1 also the fact that it need a specific castor oil to operate reliably, but somehow crews are not properly informed about this so they use any kind of Castor oil which affected B1 reliability.
I see!Hein?Ah... yes.Oooh!If you'd please.Well...Fabulous!
And with that, this tour is over!....fine, you wanna take a look at the other countries' tanks, then?It's just... French tanks were a little thin on the ground during WWII...At the time of its introduction, it had the highest level of performance compared to other countries' ones!SOMUA S35!
Armed with a 47mm tank cannon, with a speed of 40km/h! Yes, it's supposed to be all-capsAt the beginning of the War, it gave the German tanks a rather hard time!Oho!FCM 36!
Its foresighted design of slanted armour that can deflect shells more easily is most attractive!Ah, about that...Well?
You understand how advanced and superlative French tanks are now, do you not?Char B1 bis!
With a 75mm gun and thick armour, it's a strong-bodied tank! JP Wiki calls it a 'Renault B1-bis'
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