Figure 1.--The British built and effectively used tanks in World War I. In fact along with the American infantry, the British tamks were a primary reason for the Allied success in cracking the Sigfriend Line on the Western Front wide open and forcing the Germans to ask for an armistice ending the War. Budget contraints severly limited production during the inter-War years. The British were the only country to enter World War II with a fully mechanized army. This 1937 photograph was taken before the War. We think this is the Light, Mk II tank. A reader confirms that this is the Vickers-Armstrong Light Mk II tank. It was the forerunner of the Cruiser MK 1 used by the BEF in France and Belgium (May 1940). While not very impressive, the early German tanks were not much better. What both the British and French lacked was well conceived tank tactics.
The British built and effectively used tanks in World War I. In fact along with the American infantry, the British tamks were a primary reason for the Allied success in cracking the Sigfriend Line on the Western Front wide open and forcing the Germans to ask for an armistice ending the War. Budget contraints severly limited production during the inter-War years. This 1937 photograph taken before the Warshows the Vickers-Armstrong Light Mk II tank (figure 1). It was the forerunner of the Cruiser MK 1 used by the BEF in France and Belgium (May 1940). While not very impressive, the early German tanks were not much better. The British were the only country to enter World War II with a fully mechanized army. Surprisingly the Brfitish did not have an effective tank at the onset of the War, but the German tanks were not much better. What both the Bristish and French lacked was well conceived tank tactics. And neither fully appreciated the importance of anti-tank guns. Surprisingly, the British failed to develop a superior tank that could be deployed in significant numbers during the war. Given the effectiveness of British weapons development, and the importance of the tank, this is rather surprising. The British developed several different tanks and extensive variants of the basic types. They also relied on American tanks because the United States had a much larger industrial capacity. Not only did the British not come up with an effective tank, but they failed to grasp for about 3 years what the Germans had at the beginning of the War--and understanding of effective tank tactics. This did not occur until nearly 2 years of fighting in the Western Desert. Rommel essentially taught the British modern tank tactics, as he did the Amerians who proved to be faster learners. This was possible because unlike France, the Germans never deployed sufficent forces to defeat the British in the Western Desert. While huge quantities of American material flowed to the British. The British did not have the industrial capacity to build tanks in the numbers needed. Much of the British industrial capacity was focused on the air war. Thus the 8th Army in the Western Desert relied heavily on the American M-3 Grants and then the M-4 Sherman. British tank forces were notable for the variety of prototypes and types produced in relatively small numbers. British tank production was far below German production levels abs standards. The British made the decision early in the War to focus on aircraft. The British tanks included the Maltida, Churchill, and Crusader. Most observers believe that the 52-ton Centurion was the best British tank of the War. It was conceived as the answer to the German Panthers and Tigers. The design proved so sucessful that some of its various upgrades were still in service in armies during the 1990s. The Comet Cruiser tank was the most powerful main battle tank developed by the British. It reached British forces relatively late in the War. And by this time not only had tank tactics been worked out, but the the entry of the United States in the War and the attrition experienced by the Germans on the Eastern Front and the development of close air support meant that the British tanks faced a more supportive battlefield situation than they had at the beginning of the War. The Cruiser reached British forces before American tankers got the M-26 Pershing.
Tank history despite Leonardo's drawings began in World War I. The British built and effectively used tanks in World War I. The tank was developed as the sollution to the trenches that snaked across northern France and the small area of Belgium left in Belgian hands. After the invading German Army was stopped at the Marne, flanking efforts spread out the battlefield. And both armies because of the lethality of World War I weapons began to dig. The result was two trench systems streaching from Switzerland to the Channel. Both sides, especially the Allies tested them and sustained massive casualties in doing so. It was the Allies that were most motivated to attack because the Germans had occupied so much Allied territory and the Russians were hard-pressed in the East. The result was disaster--most priominently on the Somme (1916). Machine gun fired mowed down advancing infantry. The answer was the tank. It could shield advncing infantry, knicked down barbed wire, and move heavy machine guns, even small small artillery pieces forward. The British tank effort was strongly promoted by Winston Churchill. Along with the American infantry, the British tanks were a primary reason for the Allied success in cracking the Sigfriend Line on the Western Front wide open and forcing the Germans to ask for an armistice ending the War. As a result of World War I, the tank was viewed as a specialized infantry-support weapon for piercing fortified lines. The inability of the infantry to keep up with the tanks helped to cemebnt thiscbasic view. The thinking of many within the Royal Tank Corps envisioned a much more important for tanks and mechanized organizations. The leading figure in British mechanized warfare was Colonel J.F.C. Fuller. He was the father of tank doctrine. He used German infiltration tactics as part of his planning for Plan 1919, his vision for a large-scale armoured offensive to end World War I in 1919. Of course it never occurred because the Germans asked for an armistic (November 1918). The British worked extensively on tank design during the inter-War era, focusing primrily on light tanks. The British incorporate the Christie suspension system in their tanks begining in the mid-30s. Budget contraints severly limited production during the inter-War years. While the inter-War British tanks were not very impressive, the early German tanks were not much better. The British commanders did not give as much attention to tank tactics as the German did. And there was virtully no consideration to closely coordinating ground opeerations with aeril support--the esence of Blitzkrieg. Nor did they develop an effective anti-tank gun. It would be German tactical doctrine rather than superior or more numerous tanks that would doom the BEF in France. The British were the only country to enter World War II with a fully mechanized army. With the advent of World War II, major improvements had been realized in tank designs. Unlike World War I, the Allies now faced a erman that had given great attention to mechanized warfare. The tanks deployed by the British in France like the German and French tanks were far more effective combat weapons and all-terrain vehicles in a way that the World War I tanks were not. The Allied combat diotrine, boith the British and French, was to use the tanks as an infantry support weapon as had been the case in World War II. As the infantry would be attacking on foot, high speed was not a requirement. This was even more true of the French who were intent on remaining behind the protection of the Maginot Line. Surprisingly the British did not have an effective tank at the onset of the War, but the German tanks were not much better. What both the Bristish and French lacked was well conceived tank tactics. And neither fully appreciated the importance of anti-tank guns. Surprisingly, the British failed to develop a superior tank that could be deployed in significant numbers during the war. Given the effectiveness of British weapons development, and the importance of the tank, this is rather surprising. The British after Dunkirk began rebuilding their tank force. They never, hiwever, came up with a tank equal to the improved tanks produced by the Germans. It was not due to lack of effort. Many designs were produced. Most can not be classified as failures. They for the most part, however, did not match the German tanks.
A factor here was the War Cabinet's decvision to focus British industry on the strategic bombing campaign. Instead of matching German production, the British turned to American Lend Lease. The British equipped much of their Army and supporting Commonwealth divisions with American tanks, especially the M-4 Sherman. The Sherman also did not march the German tanks, but were highly manueravle, fast, anbd availble in numbers. With artillery and air support it proved effective in North Africa, France, the Bulge, and the invasion of Germany.
The British developed several different tanks and extensive variants of the basic types. They also relied on American tanks because the United States had a much larger industrial capacity. Not only did the British not come up with an effective tank, but they failed to grasp for about 3 years what the Germans had at the beginning of the War--and understanding of effective tank tactics. While huge quantities of American material flowed to the British. The British did not have the industrial capacity to build tanks in the numbers needed. Much of the British industrial capacity was focused on the air war. Thus the 8th Army in the Western Desert relied heavily on the American M-3 Grants and then the M-4 Sherman. British tank forces were notable for the variety of prototypes and types produced in relatively small numbers. The British tanks included the Maltida, Churchill, and Crusader. Most observers believe that the 52-ton Centurion was the best British tank of the War. It was conceived as the answer to the German Panthers and Tigers. The design proved so sucessful that some of its various upgrades were still in service in armies during the 1990s. The Comet Cruiser tank was the most powerful main battle tank developed by the British. It reached British forces relatively late in the War. And by this time not only had tank tactics been worked out, but the the entry of the United States in the War and the attrition experienced by the Germans on the Eastern Front and the development of close air support meant that the British tanks faced a more supportive battlefield situation than they had at the beginning of the War. The Cruiser reached British forces before American tankers got the M-26 Pershing.
Armored Cars
Carriers
The carrier was a destinctive tracked vehicle developed by the British and used by the British and Commonwalth units throughout World War II. The official nme was Universal Carrier, but more commonly called a Bren Gun Carrier for the light machine gun with which early vrsions were equipped. These carriers were done in many different varitions nd versions. It was an infabtry support vehicle. The Bren Gun was only one of the weapons with which the carriers were equipped. Some had anti-tank weapons. As the carriers were so lightly armored, it was nor an assault weapon, but more used to bring up weaons like machin guns and mortars as well as supplies to infantry units. It could also tow small artillery pieces. There was nothing like it in the American Army. Sgerman tanks were produced innsuch quantity that they fufilled some of the functions of a British carrier as well as had an asault capability and a heavy wapon. A good example is a universal carrier without a front weapon photographed in the southern Nethetland during Septmber 1944. .
Industrial Production
British tank production was far below German production levels and standards. The British made the decision early in the War to focus on aircraft.
Captured German Tanks
The British began capturing German tanks in the western Desery=t during 1941. We are unsure to what extent British weapons expetrs studies these tanks are made use of the German technology. Perhaps readers will know something about this. Britain shared its high technology with the British, but the American Shermans that appeared in the battlefield in 1942 had serious errors which could have been avoilded by studying the German tanks.
Tank Tactics
This did not occur until nearly 2 years of fighting in the Western Desert. Rommel essentially taught the British modern tank tactics, as he did the Amerians who proved to be faster learners. This was possible because unlike France, the Germans never deployed sufficent forces to defeat the British in the Western Desert.
Anti-Tank Guns
One tactic the Germans used early in the war was the use of nti-tank guns in armored clashes. Anbd they had a perfectweapon availavle, the 88-mm cannon, initially conceived as an anti-aircraft. Evcen ast the end if the War the German 88 was the suprene anti-tabk weapon.
