“B-1” – the French infantry support heavy tank

It was built since 1921 as a heavy infantry escort tank. After long prototype tests, in March 1934 it was accepted into service as B1. Starting in 1935, the tank was produced in five factories: Renault, FCM, Schneider, FAMH and APX. Before production was discontinued in 1940, 403 tanks were produced. Beginning in 1936 the B1 began to be introduced into the armament of individual tank battalions. Each battalion consisted of 3 companies (a total of 34 tanks). In mid-May 1940 all tank battalions were combined into armored tank divisions. At the same time, separate tank companies are formed. B1s were actively used in the battles of the French campaign in May-June 1940. They had a reputation for being invulnerable - no German tanks or anti-tank guns could penetrate their armor. After occupying France, the Germans captured 161 intact B-1bis tanks and assigned them the designation B2 740(f). Some of them, after removing the turrets and armament, were used as evacuation trucks, 16 were converted into 105 mm self-propelled guns, 60 into flamethrower tanks. The Germans used these tanks in France, Holland and in 1943 in battles in the Crimea and the Balkans. B2 was used until the end of the war, the longest on the Western Front in France. 82 machines of this type were recovered from the Germans by the French and used in the battles against the Germans in late 1944 - early 1945.

An uncomplicated, well-detailed, well-designed large model for a modeler of any experience. The model is without interior equipment and although it looks complicated, it is not. Working under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, this model can be assembled by both an advanced beginner and a modeler with little experience, even the chassis in this model does not look like it will "eat up" a lot of time, patience and nerves. But it will be necessary to work.