I’m familiar with those large block sized batteries you are describing. I’m not sure about charging specifically those, but I know as a kid in the 70s, we recharged in a regular battery charger all kinds of batteries including alkalyne that were technically not suppose to be recharged. We had a charger for D, C, AA, AAA, and 9 volt batteries. We recharged many a battery numerous times over. I only remember one or two times when a battery buldged out and none of them ever leaked or exploded, but I suppose it could happen at any time.
“I know as a kid in the 70s, we recharged in a regular battery charger all kinds of batteries”
Same here. It was the only way to get any life out of those old dry-cell batteries.