Char B1 - Surviving Vehicles

Surviving Vehicles

Today eleven vehicles survive, one Char B1 and ten Char B1 bis.

The last surviving Char B1 can be seen at the "Association pour la Sauvegarde du Patrimoine Historique et Militaire" (ASPHM), near Strasbourg, in France. It was previously at the Fort de Seclin. It is in a bad condition, with parts like the main gun missing. It was salvaged from a firing range, but will be restored by the owner. Ten Char B1 bis can be seen in various places in Great Britain and in France:

  • A vehicle at the Bovington Tank Museum, England. It was modified for German service as the B2 variant.
  • Three are in the Musée des Blindés in Saumur, France. One, Flandres, is in running condition, while another, Rhône, is on permanent display in the museum. A third, a mine roller tank, is in storage.
  • A vehicle serving as a monument in the town of Stonne, France, where during the Battle of France the B1 tanks of the 3rd Division Cuirassée de Réserve played a key role in delaying the advance of the 10th Panzer Division for two days.
  • Three are owned by the ASPHM, which bought one of them at the same time as the B1, from the Fort de Seclin. This B1 bis is also in a bad condition, with parts, including the main gun, missing. Salvaged from a firing range, it is intended for restoration by the owner. The two others were acquired in 2009 and are very badly damaged. They will most likely be used as "organ donors" in order to restore the B1 and one of the B1 bis. One of the two B1 bis wrecks was identified as being n° 243 Intrépide, which belonged to 8th BCC and was put out of combat on 1 June 1940, at Moreuil.
  • Two are on display at the 501st-503rd Tank Regiment at Mourmelon-le-Grand, France. One of these tanks was previously on display at the ERGMEB, Gien.

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