Great Britain. Army. Royal Tank Corps; Tanks (Military science)
“The Whippets’ rôle should be to push on amongst the retreating
enemy and prevent him from reorganising, engage reinforcements
coming up, eventually enabling the infantry to make a further
advance, capture prisoners, guns, etc.
“... They must move forward in close touch with the heavy Tanks so
as to be near enough up to go though when required. If kept back
with the cavalry the speed of the Whippet is not sufficient to
enable the machine to be in the forward position at the required
moment, and its offensive power will be seriously diminished.”
But it was not for us that the battle of August 8 had its chief lessons.
The German High Command waxed eloquent with indignant exhortation, and
demanded passionately that the experiences of the German Army should be
utilised, and that such things as had occurred on the 8th should never
happen again.
On August 11 General Ludendorff issued a secret Order:
“Troops allowed themselves to be surprised by a mass attack of
Tanks, and lost all cohesion when the Tanks suddenly appeared
behind them, having broken through under cover of a mist, natural
and artificial. The defensive organisation, both of the first
line and in the rear, was insufficient to permit of a systematic
defence.... As a weapon against Tanks, the prepared defence of the
ground must play a larger part than ever, and the aversion of the
men to the pick and shovel must be overcome at all hazards....
Especially there must be defences against Tanks. It was absolutely
inadmissible that the Tanks, having penetrated into our advance
line without meeting with obstacles or anything, should be able
to push on along the roads or beside them for miles.... The
principle that a body of troops even when surrounded must defend
their ground, unless otherwise ordered, to the last man and the
last cartridge, seems to have fallen into oblivion ... a large
proportion of our ranks fight unskilfully against Tanks. A Tank is
an easy prey for artillery of all calibres....”
An account follows of measures for the proper disposition of artillery
against Tanks, and the rest of the Order is occupied with directions
to the infantry concerning the question at what range the anti-Tank
rifle and gun are most effective. The consideration of these points is
long and exhaustive. Ludendorff further hopes much from “the active and
inventive genius of the lower ranks of the non-commissioned officers
to arrange Tank traps, and demands that every encouragement should be
shown to those who show any inventive talent.”
These were but peddling remedies. When, as at Amiens, the understanding
between infantry and Tanks is almost perfect, and when the magnificent
_élan_ of an assault by Australians and Canadians is supported by the
weight of 400 Tanks, not even the troops of what was the best-trained
Army in the world can stand the concerted shock of their attack.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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