Panzer IV Vs Char B1 Bis: France 1940

Osprey Publishing, Jan 18, 2011 - History - 80 pages

The Battle of France in 1940 involved the first large-scale tank-against-tank battles in history. The massive clashes at Stonne, Hannant, and Gembloux involved hundreds of tanks on both sides, yet have faded from memory due to the enormity of the French defeat. This book examines two of the premier opposing tanks of the Wehrmacht and the French Army, the German PzKpfw IV and the French Char B1 bis. With a complete history of the design, development, and deployment of these armored fighting vehicles, the story of these great battles is brought to life in a highly illustrated format.

Contents

• INTRODUCTION: 4
• CHRONOLOGY: 7
• DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT: 8
• TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: 20
• THE COMBATANTS: 29
• THE STRATEGIC SITUATION: 52
• DUEL AT STONNE: 57
• STATISTICS AND ANALYSIS: 72
• FURTHER READING: 77
• INDEX: 80

About the author

Steven J. Zaloga received his BA in history from Union College and his MA from Columbia University. He has worked as an analyst in the aerospace industry for over two decades, covering missile systems and the international arms trade, and has served with the Institute for Defense Analyses, a federal think-tank. He is the author of numerous books on military technology and military history, with an accent on the US Army in World War II as well as Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Panzer IV Vs Char B1 Bis: France 1940; Volume 33 of Duel (Oxford, England); Duel Series
• Illustrated by: Richard Chasemore
• Contributor: Steven Zaloga
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing, 2011
• ISBN: 1849083789, 9781849083782
• Length: 80 pages
• Subjects: History / Europe / France; History / Military / Weapons; History / Military / World War II