[C19fan]

The French and British had more and better tanks than the Germans. But they were fighting the last war deploying tanks in the infantry support role.

[knighthawk]

The French managed to get one counter-attack going with their tanks. They would have hit the Germans hard because both the German tanks and anti-tank guns were too light to stop the French tanks. But the combined-weapons tactics of the Germans were far superior and the German Stuka’s stopped the counter-attacks without them reaching the German armor.

[DCBryan1]

I always loved the 1940 French campaign....and the Polish campaign. Char 1B were captured by the Germans and put to good use because all 37mm/47mm, most 50mm, could NOT penetrate the front or sides.

[DCBryan1]

[DCBryan1]

Germans took the Char’s and turned them into heavy flamethrower tanks...50 or so IIRC. None remain of Flammwagen auf Panzerkampfwagen B-2(f), the Russians melted them. There MIGHT be one in Moscow, though. Bovington has one I know. I think there are only a dozen French B1/bis left.

[WKUHilltopper]

The “fairy tale” was that, early on, the Germans had great and indestructible tanks. They didn’t. It was their tactics that made them great. They were “crap” compared one-on-one to British and French tanks. It wasn’t until the Germans came up with the Panther and Tiger could they be considered “great” (assuming they wouldn’t break down).

[skyman]

Interesting. I didn’t know this.

[TTFlyer]

German advantage in armored warfare 1940:

Radio communications and tank commanders in protective hatches. French tanks operated independently and were virtually blind using only periscopes and few radios.

The Brit’s Matilda was a good tank for its day but the Krauts defeated them at Arras when Guderian’s men discovered the 88mm Flak Gun made a superior anti-tank weapon. One shot one kill = some 90 dead Matildas.

[ZOOKER]

Clicked the link and read it, got the impression that it was impenetrable and its firepower was superior.

It was also slow, myopic, and very thirsty fuel-wise. German Stukas took out their supply lines - more tanks ran out of gas, broke down and were abandoned than were lost in actual battle.

They fought valiantly but without support they were soon useless. German Armies went around them and marched on to Paris, kind of like a (slightly) mobile version of the Maginot Line.

[butlerweave]

Try them all on “World Of Tanks” ,LOL

[snippy_about_it]

FR Treadhead ping, and it just happens to be Tuesday! Link to ancient Char B thread, pics gone but text survives...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/1300918/posts?page=1

[Skooz]

bfl