Talk:Char B1

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I noticed the 75mm gun tube has two very small flat areas about 10cm back from the muzzle, one on each side (i.e. at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock). Does anyone know the purpose of these flat spots? All I can think of is that it may be a means to secure a canvas muzzle cover? DMorpheus 18:34, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Good question! The answer is a bit complicated. IIRC, the prototypes and the first B1 production tanks didn't have this feature. Then, to ease tube removal, preventing that clamps would shift when pressure was exerted on them, notches were cut in the sides of the gun. This wasn't a problem as the gun tube had deliberately been made very thick to enable it to withstand AP-impacts (which again was the reason handling of the tube proved to be problematic at first). On that occasion the original very long leather covers were replaced by shortened ones with a leather strap that could just fit into the notches. However, crews apparently simply didn't use them this way: on many pictures it can be seen that the cover edge doesn't quite extend as far back; the circular wear of the paint is also always a bit in front of the notches. We may presume the crews soon learned that attaching the cover too tightly made it very bothersome to remove afterwards.--MWAK 06:43, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Thank you so much - this is such an interesting tank. Now I have another question or two I hope you can answer ;).

1. There are no handles on any of the crew hatches. How were they opened? By any chance is the nub-like object above the tank commander's hatch a pushbutton hatch release mechanism? How was the driver's hatch opened?

2. I have also noticed a few variations in the turrets (all B-1bis by the way). Were they all made at the same foundry?

3. Some of the surviving B-1s have clamps for stowage on the fenders, on the sloped portion roughly on each side of the turret. Do you know what was supposed to be stowed there? Additional tools? Spare track?

4. Were the fenders armored or are they mild sheet steel? They look thick enough that they might be armor.

Thanks DMorpheus 18:16, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, it certainly is a fascinating vehicle, which I always feel I don't nearly know enough about. Luckily for me http://www.chars-francais.net/archives/renault_b1-bis.htm answers most of your questions, even giving a list of variable features ;o):

1. The usual entrance was by means of the side door. However the turret hatch could be opened from the outside. The hatch didn't hinge outwards but inwards when you pushed at the top, the lower end sliding out so the commander could sit on the flat outside of the armour, something he was no doubt deeply grateful about ;o). This picture shows the end result of this process for the APX1CE: http://www.chars-francais.net/images/archives/somua_s35/s35-saumur28.jpg . The mechanism is shown from the inside here: http://www.chars-francais.net/images/archives/b1_bis/b1bis_saumur24.jpg The nub you refer to, seen here: http://www.chars-francais.net/images/archives/b1_bis/b1bis_saumur45.jpg , was not present on all variaties of the APX4. It was an attachment point for the reserve machine gun to be mounted on, so it could be used as an AA-weapon. The commander had to lay flat on his shoulders to operate it in high elevation, of course hugely impractical. The turret hatches themselves also came in two varieties: with or without indentation at the top. The driver's hatch too could be opened from the outside as the back edge could easily be gripped because the entire assemblage protuded, see: http://www.chars-francais.net/images/archives/b1_bis/b1bis_saumur38.jpg .
2. AFAIK several subcontractors were used by the Atelier de Puteaux. You can discern the particular manufacturer as often the company name was marked on the casting; but apparently some companies saw no use for this — and of course a foundry could use its own subcontractors.
3. The Chars-français site has a little picture of it, showing that chandelles de levage were attached, or jacks, a great many of which were needed for the Char B1.
4. The fenders came in several types; none of these were seen as part of the armour package. However the steel used would no doubt be rather hard, to prevent the fenders from quickly disintegrating by small arms fire. But I don't have any exact data to contribute.

I hope this makes things a bit more clear. You certainly are a good observer!--MWAK 07:21, 10 June 2006 (UTC)