[烛光生存狂]-法国B1重型坦克片段

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盟军坦克王牌

2.http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=79218&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=90

http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=6001

B1坦克编制

The Renault B1bis "Sousse"(苏斯) (B1bis n°283, 1/28e BCC) destroyed 7 German tanks (3 with the 47mm SA35 turret gun and 4 with the 75mm SA35 hull gun) on May 15 during the battle of Flavion (in Belgium). The tank is knocked out during this same day.

Crew of the Renault B1bis "Sousse":

- Commander: Sous-lieutenant Louis Latapie

- Driver: Sergent Fiat

- Assistant Driver: Chasseur Robert

- Radio operator: Chasseur Vallet

On May 16, the Renault B1bis "Eure"(厄尔) (Lieutenant Bilotte) pushed in the town of Stonne. He attacked a German column of Pz.Rgt.8 and destroyed 2 PzIV, 11 PzIII and 2 3.7cm PaKs. The first shots destroyed simultaneously the first (with the 47mm turret gun) and the last tank (with the 75mm hull gun) of the column. The first German tanks were at less then 50m range. The armor of the B1bis is scattered with 140 impacts, none of the projectiles penetrated the armor. One can see here a kind of small 'Villers Bocage'. It is nonetheless possible that several of these 13 German tanks were wrecks of tanks knocked already on May 15.One can see here a kind of small 'Villers Bocage' and after that action Bilotte was nicknamed 'the butcher of Stonne' by his comrades.The Renault B1bis "Eure" will be scuttled in June 13.

Still on 16th May, around 17h00, the B1bis " Riquewihr " from Lieutenant Doumecq attacked towards Stonne and encountered a German infantry column, which fired at the tank with infantry weapons including anti-tank rifles, without effect. The B1bis crushed some German troops and pushed into a small village defended by the Schützen Regiment 64. When the soldiers saw the bloody tracks of the tank they fled in panic.

On the evening of 17th May in the bridgehead of Hauteville-Neuvilette, the 6.PzD had pulled a French heavy tank attack back. One of the 3.7cm Pak36 (Leutenant Neckenauer) had hit a French tank 25 times. Only at the 26th shot the track was hit enough to immobilize the tank but none of the other shells damaged the B1bis tank.

On 17th May in Crécy (North of Laon), report from the 1.PzD (BA-MA, RH 27-1/170, p.29) : "One B1bis tank crushed the defenses and took the direction of Mortiers, advancing along the 1st KRAD-Schützen battalion. The Pz.Rgt.1 was totally surprised and couldn't at first react. The B1bis tank advanced through Mortiers. Then the (German) tanks fired numerous shells on the rear of the B1bis. The B1bis stopped and the crew surrendered. The B1bis was scattered with impacts of 3.7cm and a few 7.5cm but NONE of the shells penetrated the armor.

The battle on the Aisne River(埃纳河)lasted from May 17 to June 11. The 14e DI illustrated itself by resisting to all the German attacks and it even took some 800 German POWs around Rethel(雷泰尔). general De Lattre de Tassigny,(future commander of the 1st French Army in 1943)requisitioned 3 replacement B1bis tanks from the 8e BCC ("Villers-Bretonneux", "Téméraire(鲁莽)" and "Lunéville"(吕内维尔)) under the command of Sous-lieutenant Robert to defend the bridges in Rethel. After 5 days of combats (May 17-21, 1940) the area was still under French control and these 3 B1bis tanks had destroyed 20 tanks (including 5 Panzer IV), 9 armored cars, 12 motorcycles / side-cars, 10 cars and 16 trucks. It is nonetheless to mention that several of these victories are probably to share with AT guns from the French infantry. I don't know of the victories are shared between the B1bis tanks.

On May 17, the Renault B1bis "Mistral" and "Tunisie" from 3/15e BCC (3rd company of the 15th tank battalion - 2e DCr) attacked the German troops at Landrecies(朗德勒西镇), south of the Mormal Forest. Advancing between two columns of armored cars, few light tanks (Panzer I and Panzer II) and probably armored personnal carriers (Sd.Kfz.251) they slaughtered around 50 German vehicles of all kinds in 20 minutes.

1940年5月17日，隶属第2后备装甲师（DCR）15坦克营3连的两辆B1bis坦克：“米斯特拉尔”(Mistral)和“突尼西亚”(Tunisie)进攻了位于朗德勒西镇Mormal森林南面的德军部队。他们袭击了在此地附近公路上的两队由装甲汽车，少量1号和2号轻型坦克(可能还包括有Sd.Kfz.251半履带运兵车)所组成的车队。据粗略统计，在不到20分钟的时间里，这两辆法军坦克就击毁了50辆德军车辆。

The testimony of Sous-lieutenant Gaudet, commander of the B1bis "Tunisie" enables to tell the story from the French side. Initially 2 B1bis tanks were to attack but shortly before one of them experienced a mechanical breakdown. During there movement towards Landrecies they stayed camouflaged and immobile during about 45 minutes since the Luftwaffe was strongly bombing the towns around.

以下的叙述主要来自于“突尼西亚”坦克的指挥官高迪特少尉。在开始进攻之前，坦克出了一点小故障，但是，很快就被修好了。在向朗德勒西进军的过程中，因为德国空军对这个地区进行了猛烈的空袭。他们在树丛中隐蔽了大约45分钟。

The "Tunisie" (Sous-lieutenant Gaudet) and the "Mistral" (Lieutenant Pompier) stop at the entry of Landrecies, at the crossing of the roads to Ors(奥尔) and Avesnes-Le Cateau(阿韦讷勒卡托). A French convoy is completely abandoned beside the road. It is 12h00 and Landrecies seems unoccupied.

“突尼西亚”（高迪特少尉）和“米斯米切尔”在朗德勒西的入口停住了，在到奥尔（Ors）和阿韦讷勒卡托（Avesnes-Le Cateau）的入口。法国人的重装备被遗弃在路边。在中午12时左右，他们就撤出了这个小镇。

The "Mistral" moves on among the French abandoned vehicles and is followed by the "Tunisie". Several streets and squares are crossed without noticing something interesting. Suddenly the "Mistral" stops and opens fire with its 47mm turret gun and its 75mm hull gun. The "Tunisie" moves to the left but the intense smoke prevents him to see what is happening in front of the French tanks. The "Mistral" goes on, fires several times and moves towards the center of Landrecies. The "Tunisie" is following 100m behind. Suddenly, sous-lieutenant Gaudet discovers what was targeted: many German armored cars and light tanks parked on both sides of the street and very close to each others. The "Mistral" turns in an adjacent road 150m in front of the "Tunisie". At the end of the road, on the church square, several German armored cars are burning after the action of the "Mistral". The "Tunisie" starts to fire meticulously and systematically on each German AFV in the street. The "Tunisie" moves two times all along the eastern part of Landrecies, firing on each spotted target.

“米斯米切尔”沿着被遗弃的法军车队前进，“突尼西亚”跟在它的后面。他们经过了几个街区和广场，但是，没有发现任何德军目标。突然，在前面的“米斯米切尔”开始用它的两门火炮进行射击。“突尼西亚”移动到了左边，但是由于开炮后的浓烟，车长不能看到前面到底发生了什么。“米斯米切尔”在开火之后继续前进，在开了机炮之后，朝着小镇的中心驶去。“突尼西亚”在它后面大约100米处。突然，高迪特少尉发现了目标：道路两旁停的漫漫的德军的装甲车和轻型坦克。“米斯米切尔”转到了“突尼西亚”前方150米处的一个毗邻的道路上。在“米斯米切尔”开火之后，在路尽头的教堂广场上，有几辆德军装甲车已经开始起火燃烧。“突尼西亚”开始逐个的干掉停在路边的德军装甲车辆。“突尼西亚”沿着城镇东边的公路行驶了两个来回，向每一辆坦克开火。

The "Tunisie" has lost visual contact with the "Mistral" of the company commander and avoids to cross the bridge on the canal in Landrecies, assuming that the core and heavy elements of the German Panzerdivision are deployed in the western part of Landrecies. Nonetheless, two 3.7cm PaKs are defending the bridge. They fire on the French B1bis without effect and are quickly destroyed.

“突尼西亚”在稍后与连指挥官所在的坦克“米斯米切尔”失去了视线联系，因为后者认为穿过朗德勒西地区的运河大桥是很危险的，因为德军可能在这里部署了重兵防御。但是实际上，德军仅仅有两门37mm反坦克火炮在这里防守。他们向法军坦克的射击完全<

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特别提示：本帖子在 2008-3-3 10:20:18 由用户 admin 编辑过

^_^，这个战例我也译过，在05年第11期的《军事历史》上。

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那个一挑七的战例确实不错哦

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特别提示：本帖子在 2008-3-6 16:55:18 由用户 admin 编辑过

^_^，05年写的一篇文章，见笑了！

被缚的巨兽——法国B1 bis重型坦克

一，设计和研发

一战结束之后，法国陆军除了保留一部分英国制造的Mk V型坦克以外，唯一大量装备的坦克就只剩下雷诺FT-17轻型坦克了。1920年7月，在被称为“法国装甲兵之父”的埃司丁将军（Gen.Estienne）的提议下，设计人员提出了一种十分大胆的设想，欲将新型坦克定位成多用途坦克。这种坦克将替代原来所有的坦克和自行火炮，包括安装机枪的轻型坦克、安装加农炮的重型突破坦克以及安装榴弹炮的自行火炮。它安装无线电通讯设备和搜索用探照灯，能够轻易地越过障碍，完成各项任务。

1921年1月，法国陆军总参谋部委任Buat将军领导一个委员会负责法国陆军未来坦克的开发工作。该委员会坚定不移地贯彻了法国陆军对于坦克只是步兵支援武器的指导方针，结合一战中的经验和教训，决定只开发两种坦克：1）重型坦克（法语char de rupture），用于突破敌人防线；2）战斗坦克（法语char de battaille），用于多用途作战需要。其中，新型的“战斗坦克”将替代法军现役的雷诺FT-17轻型坦克。后来，正是在其基础上发展出了著名的Char B1系列坦克。最初，Char B1战斗坦克的设计要求是：全重13吨，最大装甲厚度25毫米，车体部分固定安装一门用于支援步兵作战的75毫米火炮，活动炮塔安装两挺机枪。

经过与各公司的协调之后，法国陆军终于在1926年1月17日同雷诺公司签署了制造3辆Char B1原型车的合同。但在同年，法国陆军最高指挥部重新评估了未来法国陆军步兵作战对支援坦克的需求。根据陆军最高指挥部重新评估后的结果，战斗坦克（char de battaille）的要求被改为能够抵御所有的步兵武器，平均行驶速度达到每小时15小时，车体部分固定安装一门75毫米火炮，旋转炮塔安装2挺机枪。

陆军最高指挥部这种毫无依据的干涉致使1926年刚刚定购的3辆Char B1原型车生产工作被迫中止并重新接受评估。这样，直到1929年1月第一辆原型车才刚刚完工。1930年5月，第一辆原型车终于完成并被送交位于博格斯（Bourges）的法国陆军测试部队，成为了新的Char B型。这种坦克的全重已经达到了25吨，车组乘员为4人，最大装甲厚度为25mm。坦克的发动机选用了雷诺公司生产的6缸发动机，最大功率为180马力，平均行驶速度为28千米/小时，而最大行驶速度则达到了45千米/小时。坦克的储油量为800公升，其最大行程约为12个小时。坦克的武器包括：一门固定在车体上的75mm短管火炮，车体前部的两挺航向机枪和旋转炮塔上的两挺机枪。

到1931年10月为止，总共有3辆原型车交付给法国陆军，它们被先后送到位于Mourmelon镇附近的射击和机动性测试场接受进一步测试。在结束了Char B1原型车的各项测试工作后，法国陆军对“中型坦克”方案提出了进一步改进的要求。希望改善其机动性，提高行驶速度和越野能力，并加强装甲防护，增设无线电通讯设备和车内联络装置。军方决定加厚B1坦克的装甲（平均厚度至40mm）；另外，旋转炮塔上的两挺机枪应更换为1门47mm火炮。

在1935年，面临着纳粹德国不断的扩军压力，法军方急需将这种坦克立即投入批量生产并装备部队。但是在同时，有关这种坦克的发动机的改进工作仍然在进行中。最终，这辆坦克安装了更厚的装甲（60mm），并且在炮塔上安装了47mm的火炮。因此在1936年生产的第一批B1重型坦克仅仅有短管炮，在B1改进型（被命名为B1 bis，1938年开始批量生产）。但是这种坦克的产量一直是很低的，

针对这些要求，Char B1原型车进行了再度改进，改进后的原型车于1935年完成。现在，这种坦克的最大装甲厚度增至40毫米，重量达到28吨。但就在同年，面临纳粹德国不断的扩军压力，根据法国陆军最高指挥部的紧急命令，几家厂商要尽快制造出40辆最大装甲厚度达到60毫米的Char B坦克，它们就是最终的Char B1 bis重型坦克。

为了达到法国军方的要求，Char B1坦克进一步的改进围绕着明显增加的装甲防护展开，由于时间紧迫，未待所有改进工作完成就已经生产出35辆。它们采用了装甲厚度为40毫米的APX 1型铸造炮塔，安装有1门SA 34型47毫米短管加农炮以及1挺并列机枪。这些最初生产型仍被称作Char B1型。

全部改进工作完成后的型号才是我们熟悉的Char B1 bis型，重量为32吨，拥有4名车组乘员，安装一台雷诺公司制造的发动机，最大功率300马力。炮塔使用装甲防护更加良好的APX 4型，安装有一门SA 35 L34型47毫米高速加农炮，能够发射颇具威力的穿甲弹。

在法国战役中，Char B1/B1 bis重型坦克装备了法军的4个后备装甲师（法文缩写为DCR）。每个师都有2个营，理论上每个营都装备有34辆B1或者B1bis型坦克（1辆指挥坦克，3个坦克连共30辆坦克和3辆备用坦克）还有两个营共装备有45辆轻型坦克（1辆指挥坦克，3个连的共39辆坦克和5辆预备坦克）。B1bis坦克还装备了法军的4个独立坦克连（第347连，348连，349连和352连,法语缩写为”CACC”）。在法国投降之前，法国共生产了403辆B型坦克。其中，B1型坦克34辆（1935年12月到1937年7月），B1bis型坦克369辆（1937年7月到1940年6月）。

二，详解B系列坦克

Char B1重型坦克可能是二战初期世界上最先进的坦克，它采用了许多当时的新技术，比如Naeder静压转向系统，电起动机，自封式油箱，油嘴组润滑等等。而且，它的火力和防护性能也优于德国当时的各型坦克；但是由于作战思想的限制，这种坦克的行驶速度较慢，而且其通讯设备较德军坦克有较大的差距；另外，B1系列坦克的生产工艺非常复杂，到1940年法国投降为止，B1/B1bis重型坦克仅仅生产了403辆，因此无法对战局起到决定性的作用。

注：自封油箱：在油箱破损时可以自行封闭细小破口、阻止燃油外漏的油箱，通常是夹层橡胶材质的软式结构

电起动机：用于起动主发动机的一个短时工作的小电动机。基本上和汽车用的一样

Char B1 bis重型坦克采取了隔舱化设计，坦克的车体内部分为两部分，由一个防火隔板隔开。坦克乘员（车长/炮手，驾驶员/炮手，主炮装填手和机电员）都在前部隔舱内，而引擎、油箱和传动装置则位于后部隔舱；采用隔舱化的设计，大大提高了坦克乘员的生存能力。

B1bis重型坦克的车体装甲为焊接或者铆接的轧制均质装甲，其正面装甲为60mm，侧面装甲也达到了55mm；炮塔是整体铸造的，其最大装甲厚度也达到了57mm。驾驶舱位于车体前左部，前部的驾驶舱是突出的，从图中可以发现，驾驶舱的突出部分也是整体铸造的，它与车体的其它部分采用铆接的方式连接。车体平均厚度为60mm的装甲来说，这是一个防护的弱点，但是这个位置几乎是不可能被击中的。通常，驾驶员可以通过安装在驾驶位置的一个范围为180度的潜望镜来观察，但是通常车体的一个水平的可调节的狭缝来观察目标（狭缝宽度的可调范围为12mm－100mm）。75mm车体火炮位于驾驶员右侧，因为驾驶员还兼任主炮炮手，因此观瞄设备和火炮高低机都位于驾驶员位置。

据法国官方记录记载，在指挥坦克上还有一名多余的乘员，理论上是第二机电员（但通常他的工作是协助车长操作47mm火炮），因此在通常的B1坦克中有5名乘员。事实上，在每个B1bis车组中往往还有两名工程师（理论上他们不参与实际战斗，但是在实际作战中，机械师往往也协助炮塔中的车长作战）。因此坦克中通常有5个人。

（图）驾驶室的前视图，注意上面的水平狭缝是驾驶员潜望镜；而下面的两个垂直的狭缝与车体火炮瞄具相对应。车体驾驶室部分是整体铸造的，它与车体的其他部分是铆接的。尽管这种结构是一个弱点，但实际上驾驶室被击中的概率是很小的。

（图）驾驶室内部结构：注意其离合，档位和刹车都是成对的，分别控制左右两侧的履带；方向盘上方的圆柱型物体应该是75mm火炮瞄具。

装弹手位于驾驶员的右面，车体火炮的后侧。他的主要任务就是为75mm火炮装弹；另外，他还要负责车体的航向机枪（位于75mm火炮右侧）；存放在炮塔内的47mm炮弹用完的时候，他还要负责为车长传递炮弹。装弹手的位置很不舒服，尤其是在地面起伏较大的地区行驶时。

因为B1bis坦克的驾驶员充当75mm车体火炮的炮手，所以在设计时，将火炮瞄准镜安装在前潜望镜（驾驶员位置）之下。这种瞄准镜的型号是L.710，它实际上就是一个双目棱镜，其放大倍数为3.5倍。L.710型瞄准镜还兼有火炮测距仪的功能：其视界为11.15度，瞄准镜内表尺分划可以满足1600米内精确射击的需要。在进行火炮瞄准时，这个瞄准镜的两个目镜就分别与驾驶室的两个垂直的观察狭缝所对齐。从车体前部看，这两道狭缝位于驾驶员的主观察窗的正下方。车体火炮有一个精确的回转方位指示仪，由压缩机驱动。当坦克发动机的电启动器失效的时候，这种压缩空气系统（法国人称为VIET系统）还可以作为备用手段启动。

车体火炮的仰角为+25度至-15度，Naeder差动控制系统提供了精确的瞄准。另外，在75mm火炮上还采用了一种Luchard压缩空气系统，它可以在火炮射击完毕之后，自动将榴弹炮中的残余火药气体排出车体。

驾驶员通过一个电气连接来进行火炮和航向机枪的射击。航向机枪位于车体火炮的后面。同样，在需要时，车长也可以使用同样的电气连接进行超越射击（对于航向机枪）。

(图)为车长设计的座椅和凳子，从上图我们可以看出，人机工程学并不是B1坦克的设计者们所主要关注的问题。

（图）驾驶室和SA35 L/17 75mm火炮近照。

机电员的位置在炮塔下方，驾驶员的后面。他主要负责电报的发送和接收；由于战斗室布局的原因，在战斗中，他既无法协助车长进行47mm火炮的装弹，也无法协助75mm的装填手。

通常，B1坦克的车长是一名军官，这样，在各种复杂的条件下，他可以确保本车能够进行比较积极和独立的作战行动；他是唯一在炮塔中的坦克乘员，他需要负责47mm的炮塔火炮，包括瞄准，射击和装弹在内的所有工作，一般来说都有车长独自完成。这可能会对作战时的指挥造成一定的影响。不过一般来说，B1坦克乘员都得到了比较好的训练，因此，这其实并不是一种关键性的问题。

（图）炮塔下部<

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非常的不错啊，现在对法国人的东西是越来越有兴趣了。最近准备找点东西来好好看看

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特别提示：本帖子在 2009-1-11 21:26:11 由用户 412886049 编辑过

The fate of the B1bis n°257 "Bourrasque" from 1st company, 2nd platoon of the 15e BCC.

B1bis n°257 "Bourrasque" crew :

Commander : lieutenant Paul Sauret

Driver : sergent Seguin

Driver assistant / loader : caporal Gentner

Radio / loader : chasseur Mogrédien

This report is a direct testimony of the crew of the B1bis "Bourrasque" from the 1/15e BCC and from Lieutenant Devos, the intelligence officer of the battalion. It can be found in the following book focused on the 15e BCC : "CHARS B AU COMBAT - Hommes et matériels du 15e BCC " by Stéphane Bonnaud and François Vauvillier.

On 16th May evening the 1/15e and 2/15e BCC B1bis tank crews are exhausted after heavy fights and a 160km movement. The crews haven't slept for grossly 2 days and they have spent during the past day 16 hours in the tanks including 6 hours for combat. Without supply they have very few fuel left and several slower damaged tanks are separated from the battalion during the night between the 16th and the 17th May 1940.

The B1bis "Martinique"(马提尼克)(lieutenant Vaucheret) has engine problems and meets the B1bis "Tempête" (lieutenant Perré) which is immoblized next to Sains-Richaumont (see map) at about 20.30 PM. The Tempête has only its 3rd gear still working and is immobilized on a climbing road. The B1bis "Martinique" despite its engine problems will tow the B1bis "Tempête".

Further on the road, in La Hérie (see map), they meet the B1bis "Aquitaine"(阿基坦)(sous-lieutenant Picard) whose Naeder hydraulic system is out of use (the tank therefore cannot turn anymore) and the B1bis "Toulon"(土伦)(aspirant Rollier) on which the engine has issues and the brakes don't work anymore. With these tanks there is also the B1bis "Bourrasque" (lieutenant Sauret) which is totally operational and protects the damaged tanks.

Completely isolated in the night, without news about the battalion's main position and the German troops being on the move, the 5 tank commanders decide with an aching to scuttle the B1bis "Martinique" and "Aquitaine" in order to try to save the 3 other tanks. The B1bis "Martinique" and "Aquitaine" explode between 0.00 PM and 0.30 PM (17th May 1940).

One passing French truck embarks sous-lieutenant Picard and the rest of the crew of the B1bis "Aquitaine", they will manage to join elements of the battalion in Homblières (6km east of Saint-Quentin(圣康德), see map).

The B1bis Bourrasque tows the B1bis "Toulon" and "Tempête" where Lieutenant Vaucheret and his men took place (crew of the B1bis "Martinique"). They take the direction of the south, thinking it would be the best choice to avoid the German troops.

On 17th May 1940, at 03.00 AM (01.00 AM according to lieutenant Perré), they meet a column of 10 German tanks coming from the south. The Germans don't see them or don't react. According to lieutenant Sauret this event happened next to the Murcy farm, 500m north of Montceau-le-Neuf (see map).

At about 06.00 AM the French B1bis tanks convoy meets a German truck coming this time from the north. Caporal Gentner (an Alsatian), threatens them with his pistol and orders them to stop but they don't acknowledge. A 47mm shell destroys the trucks whose passengers flee in the fields. In the wrecked truck the French tankers take a few maps and several rifles with ammunitions but they find nothing that could clearly tell them the situation of the current French or German positions.

The French convoy contiues but 1km north-west of Pargny-les-Bois (see map) the B1bis "Bourrasque" has not enough fuel to continue. Decision is taken to give all the remaining fuel in the 3 tanks (30 liters) to the B1bis "Bourrasque" which is the single one totally operational. The tank will have the task to find fuel and to return towing the 2 damaged tanks.

Before leaving, the B1bis "Bourrasque" destroys a German liaison car and a side-car met on the road. The lieutenant Sauret takes with him lieutenant Vaucheret (normally commander of the Martinique), sergent Seguin, sergent Courberand (normally driver of the Martinique) and caporal-chef Gentner. The crew is therefore composed of 5 men instead of 4 (personnal note : the soldier Mogrédien has been left behind, perhaps they took the most experienced men only, including member of one other tank).

They cross Pargny-les-Bois and Crécy without issue. In Crécy they go to the east, on the road towards Dercy. On the road they meet German tanks and troops from the 1.PzD (Nedtwig group). At full speed and all weapons firing they force the way through the Germans (destroying, they think, a German armored car) . They are under the fire of the German tanks and Seguin the driver is during a moment blinded by the German fire ; he leaves the road but Courberand corrects the heading and the B1bis continues to move down the road.

Further on the road, the B1bis "Bourrasque" crushes a few side-cars and destroys several trucks and 2 armored cars (this would be the K1 convoy according to the KTB of the 1.PzD).

Arriving in Mortiers (see map) the engine stops, there is no fuel anymore, the tank is immobilized.

Many shells are hitting the tank from various directions. The driving post is hit and one splinter / shrapnel hurts Gentner at the jaw. The B1bis "Bourrasque" fires all its ammunitions (the 75mm SA35 hull gun is useless since the tank is immobilized) against the now surrounding German troops and tanks.

Without ammunition, in an immobilized tank and with German troops around the tank shouting to the French to surrender the crew has no escape possibility. All the hatches are blocked by hits except the top rear hatch on the rear, next to the engine compartment. The crew surrenders and exits through this hatch … They are now POWs on 17th May 1940 at 11.15 AM.

The PK (Propaganda Kompanien) have filmed this event and took later many photos of the tank even after having moved and inspected it.

Aspirant Rollier and lieutenant Perré are waiting all the day long near Pargny-les-Bois (see map) at their combat posts in the two damaged B1bis "Toulon" and "Tempête" the return of the B1bis "Bourrasque". Each time a German vehicle appears they open fire on it. From a German trucks convoy they destroy the two first ones, the other fled.

On 17th May at 6.30 PM the officers decid to let the NCOs and men leave the position. They take MGs from the tanks with them as well as the previously captured German rifles. Perré and Rollier are alone, each one in the turret of a B1bis, Perré guarding the north and Rollier the south of the road.

At 7.00 PM a German ammo truck is destroyed, the explosions will last during half an hour.

At 8.00 PM a German light tank is destroyed on the road by Perré. Rollier on its side destroys 2 tanks and a car.

At 9.00 PM it is clear that lieutenant Sauret will never come back again. The French officers try to put fire to their tanks and abandon them. They try to join the French lines, walking during the night.

On 18th May 1940 morning, exhausted, they stop in a wood at 1500m of Nouvion-le-Comte (see map). They observe many German troops on the road (from the 10.PzD).

At night they continue their progression and reach the Oise river were the bridges have been blown. They cross the river by swimming in front of Travecy and reach Vendeuil (see map). One habitant of the town give them some food and tell them were they can find French troops.

They are transferred to Ferté-sous-Jouarre to the HQ (east of Paris) to make their report and two days later they join their battalion, the 15e BCC, in the Compiègne forest north east of Paris.

Finally, these 5 B1bis of the 15e BCC had been lost.

During the 17th May 1940, the B1bis "Bourrasque" destroyed (according to French reports) :

• several trucks (number not known)

• 1 car

• several side-cars (number not known)

• 2-3 armored cars

"Toulon" and "Tempête" blocking the ro

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Composition of a B1bis battalion 1940

by David Lehmann

A French BCC (= Bataillon de Chars de Combat) equipped with B1bis heavy tanks in 1940 is grossly composed of :

One HQ company :

1x Renault YS armored command car

3x VL = voiture de liaison = liaison car (Peugeot 402, Simca 5, Citroën 11BL, Renault Primaquatre ...)

1x VLTT Radio (Citroën-Kégresse P19 radio halftrack)

2x Radio light trucks

2x Light/medium trucks

3x Motorcycles (René Gillet G1, Gnôme Rhône XA, Terrot VATT ...)

1x Motorcycle with side-car

1x Kitchen/food truck

Three combat companies each with :

HQ platoon :

1x VL = voiture de liaison = liaison car (Peugeot 402, Simca 5, Citroën 11BL, Renault Primaquatre ...)

1x VLTT = voiture de liaison tout terrain = liaison halftrack = Citroën-Kégresse P19 halftrack

1x Radio light truck

1x Light/medium truck

2x Motorcycles

Three tank platoons :

1x company leader B1bis (with a radio)

1st platoon :

3x B1bis (with a radio for the platoon leader)

1x Motorcycle with side-car

1x Light/medium truck

2nd platoon :

3x B1bis (with a radio for the platoon leader)

1x Motorcycle with side-car

1x Light/medium truck

3rd platoon :

3x B1bis (with a radio for the platoon leader)

1x Motorcycle with side-car

1x Light/medium truck

One "section d'échelon" (= supply platoon) :

6x Lorraine 37L TRC (= tracteur de ravitaillement de char = tank supply tractor) carrying ammo in the skip and 565l fuel + oil reserves in the trailer tank

1x Fuel tank truck

1x Ammo truck

1x Radio light truck

1x Light/medium truck

1x Kitchen/food truck

2x Motorcycles

6x Motorcycles with side-car

(possibly 1x VL more)

One "compagnie d'échelon" (= supply/repair company) :

1st platoon : services

3x Light/medium trucks

1x Ambulance truck

1x Kitchen/food truck

1x Fuel tank truck

3x Motorcycles with side-car

2nd platoon : repair/engineer

2x VLTT = voiture de liaison tout terrain = liaison halftrack = Citroën-Kégresse P19 halftrack

3x Light/medium truck

2x Motorcycles

3x Somua MCL5 tow trucks

3x 30t trailer (tank transporter)

9x Heavy trucks (Panhard, Renault, Rochet-Schneider)

3rd platoon : replacements

3x Replacement B1bis

2x Radio light truck

4th platoon : supplying/refuelling

1x VL

2x Motorcycles

5x Light/medium trucks

9x Heavy trucks (Panhard, Renault, Rochet-Schneider)

3x Heavy trucks carrying 50l fuel barrels

Total:

1x Renault YS armored command car

7-10x VL = voiture de liaison = liaison car (Peugeot 402, Simca 5, Citroën 11BL, Renault Primaquatre ...)

5x VLTT = voiture de liaison tout terrain = liaison halftrack = Citroën-Kégresse P19 halftrack

1x VLTT Radio (Citroën-Kégresse P19 radio halftrack)

1x Ambulance truck

10x Radio light trucks

28x Light/medium trucks

18x Heavy trucks (Panhard, Renault, Rochet-Schneider)

4x Fuel tank trucks

3x Heavy trucks carrying 50l fuel barrels

3x Ammo trucks

5x Kitchen/food/supply trucks

18x Lorraine 37L TRC (= tracteur de ravitaillement de char = tank supply tractor)

3x Somua MCL5 tow trucks

3x 30t trailer (tank transporter)

22x Motorcycles for liaison tasks (René Gillet G1, Gnôme Rhône XA, Terrot VATT)

22x Motorcycles with side-car

33x B1bis tanks (3 companies of 10 tanks + 1 replacement tank)

Until 1935/1937 most of the tank carriers were simply trucks with an embarkation ramp allowing the truck to carry the tank. This solution had been adopted in the 20's for strategic movements.

For the new light tanks (R35, FCM36, H35, H39 ...) special lifting-carrier trucks (camions "leveurs-porteurs") were also developed : Berliet GPE2 (1 produced), Berliet GPE3 (2 produced), Berliet GPE4 (32 produced) and Willeme DW12A truck (5 produced).

The theoretical strength was at first 3 lifting-carrier trucks for a battalion of 45 light tanks and later only 1 lifting-carrier truck complemented by 2 simple tank carrier trucks with no special device except a winch and an embarkation / disembarkation ramp. Of these tank carriers, 430 Bernard trucks had been ordered for example, but only 73 were delivered. 300 White-Ruxtall 922 US tank carriers had also been ordered but only one vehicle could be delivered.

Medium (D2, Somua S-35 ...) or heavy (B1 and B1bis) tanks needed a dedicated trailer towed by a tractor (Somua MCL5, Somua MCL6, Laffly S35T, Laffly S45T or Latil M4T). There were two types of trailers : 20t and 30t. These trailers were produced by Titan, Coder, Lagache & Glazmann ... Theoretically there should be one trailer for a company of 10 Renault B1bis and two trailers for a squadron of 20 Somua S-35 cavalry tanks. Only sixty 20t trailers and forty 30t trailers had been delivered to the French army.

30t trailer characteristics :

- Weight : 10.5t

- Carry capacity : 30t

- Length : 9.15m

- Width : 2.68m

- Height : 0.83m.

From 1935 the typical tow truck was the Somua MCL5, but this vehicle reached its limits with the B series heavy tanks because of its only 90 hp engine. Therefore the Laffly S45T had been developed but only 12 vehicles were delivered, explaining that the Somua MCL5 was sometimes replaced by the Laffly S35T.

Laffly S45T characteristics :

- Weight : 8.2 t

- Length : 5.7 m

- Width : 2.25m

- Engine : 6232cc - 110 hp

- Maximum speed : 36 km/h

Laffly S35T characteristics :

- Weight : 8.05 t

- Length : 5.5 m

- Width : 2.35m

- Engine : 6232cc - 100 hp

- Maximum speed : 40 km/h

The Laffly S35 had been originally developed to tow the 155mm GPF, 155mm GPFT and 220mm C Mle1916 heavy mortar. Only 225 Laffly S35 had been delivered, 170 of them in the towing version with a winch. That means that the Somua MCL5 was still widely in use and that in the artillery units the heavy pieces were still mostly towed by vehicles like the Latil TARH2. All these wreckers should have been replaced by the huge Latil M4TX (8x8, 140 hp) but this one only reached the prototype level in 1940. The Latil M4TX could easily tow 100t, that is to say it could easily tow a B1bis tank with blocked or destroyed tracks.

About the fuel issue, each heavy tank company had the fuel required for "4 days" of operations without being supplied by units higher than the battalion level.

"1 day" in the tanks of the company themselves (10x 400l for the 10 B1bis tanks)

"1 day" thanks to the Lorraine 37L TRC of the company (6x565l = 3390l)

"1 day" thanks to the fuel tank truck of the company (3600l)

"1 day" for each combat company thanks to the 50l fuel barrels provided by the battalion's supply company

Various fuel trucks where used by the French army for the strategic transport of fuel :

Unic SU55 (5000 l) : 23

Panhard K125 (5000 l) : 4

Berliet VDCN (5000 l) : 80

Renault AGR (5000 l) : 16

Renault AGK (5000 l) : 340

Berliet GDR7 (5000 l) : 400

Matford F917-WS (5000 l) : 150

Willeme (18000 l) : 0-50

Renault AIB1 (9500 l) : ?

Also a few White 920 (8000 l and 18000 l), Mack EXBX (18000l) and several Chevrolet conversions.

+ civilian requisitioned trucks. The French Air force used also other trucks.

For the cross-country/tactical supply on the battlefield other vehicles were used :

Lorraine 37L TRC as mentioned (565 l fuel + ammunitions + oil + water) : 482

The Lorraine 37L TRC was very liked because of its armor + good cross country capacity, he could supply the first line troops.

Renault 36R tractor with a 450 l trailer : 26

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