british armored division change on the battlefield

8/13/2019 British Armored Division Change on the Battlefield

1/102

CHAPTER 5

CHANGE ON THE BATTLEFIELD

When w ar b eg an a g a i n i n E u r o p e , t h e B r i t i s h A rm y

h a d a s e co nd a rm or ed d i v i s i o n , t h e 7 t h , s t a t i o n e d i n

EgYP t The I t a l i an t h r e a t t o g y p t p r o v i d e d t h e

m o t i v a t i o n f o r t h e B r i t i s h A rm y t o e s t a b l i s h t h i s u n i t i n

t h e l a t e 1930s. T h e s l o w p r o c e s s t o e q u i p t h i s d i v i s i u n

i l l u s t r a t e s t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s w h i c h c o n f r n n t e d t he o t t i c e r s

who t r i e d t o o r g a n i z e a n d p r e p a r e t h e . ar m o r e d f o r c e s f o r

w a r .

T h e u n t s o r i g i n s w e r e t h e m o b i 1 e f o r c e s iwh i Nch

made t h e i r a p p ea ra n c e i n E g yp t d u r i n g t h e e a r l s 133Us .

Many e a r l s t an k p i o n e e r s s e r v e d t o u r s o f d u t y i n E g y p t

a n d c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e d i v i s i o n s e v e n t u a l f o r m . 3 t i o n .

B r i g a d i e r L i n d s a y , a s t h e p r i m a r y s t a f f o f f i c e r on t h e

G en er al S t a f f i n E g yp t f r o m 1929 t o 1932, i n t r o d u c e d t h e

i n i t i a l e x p e r i m e n t s w i t h a r m o r e d v e h i c l e s d u r i n g t r a i n i n g

e x e r c i s es . T h e f o r c e s t a r t e d w i t h t w o a r m o r e d c a r

c o m p a n i e s a n d 16 m ed iu m t a n k s . G e n e r a l B u r n e t t - S t u a r t

became the commander ot: t r o o p s i n E g yp t d u r i n g 1931, a n d

i n 1032 t h e t u t u r e G e n e r a l P i l e t o o k command o f t h e m o b i l e

f o r c e s . He was t h e same member ot t h e RT C who

1 0 8


2/102

mobi

t e n s

s u c h

Were

d e m o n s t r a t e d h i s b r i 1 i a n c e a s an a r m o r e d co mm and er i n t h e

1727-25 e x e r c i s e s . G en er al B u r n e t t - S t u a r t d e s i g n e d

d em an di n g t r a i n i n g e x e r c i s e s , a nd e mp h a s i ze d e x p e r i m e n t s

w h i c h t e s t e d a nd e x p a n d e d t h e c a p a b i l i t i e s o f t h e

commander a s w e l l a s t h e a r m o r e d f o r c e s .

P r i o r t o h i s d e p a r t u r e f r o m E g y p t i n 1934,

B u r n e t t - S t u a r t c o n v i n c e d t h e War O + f i c e t o e s t a b l i s h a

e f o r c e i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t p e r m a n e n t l y . I n c r e a s e d

o n s w i t h t h e I t a l a n s i n t h e r e g i o n made t h e n e ed + o r

a f o r c e a p p a r e n t . The m e c h a n i ze d u n i t % i n t h i s + o r c e

t h e 1 1 t h H u s s a r s ( A r m or e d Cars a n d t h e 6 t h 6 a t t . j r l i o n

R o ya l Tan k C o r ps . I n 1935 when t h e I t a l a n s w e r e a t w a r

w i t h E t h i o p i a , a m ed iu m t a n k c om pa ny a n d 1 i g h t t an k

b a t t a l i o n a r r i v e d f r o m t h e t a n k b r i g a d e i n E ng la nd .L ' l 3

F r o m t h i s n u c l e u s , a m o b i l e d i v i s i o n w a s f o r m e d i n

1938 a f t e r t h e p a t t e r n o f t h e one f o r m e d i n G r e a t B r i t a i n

t h e p r e v i o u s Y e a r . T h e M u n i c h c r i s i s p r e c i p i t a t e d t h i s

a c t o n . M a j o r - G e n e r a l H o b a r t became t h e c om man de r a t t h e

i n s i s t e n c e o f t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r W a r ,

H o r e - B e 1 i s h a , who w a n t e d an i n d i v i d u a l w i t h a r m o r ed

a r r i v e d i n

a h a l f t an k

s t i n g o f a

l i g h t t a n k b a t t a l i o n a n d t h e 1 1 t h H u ss a r s . S i n c e p r i o r i t y

e x p e r i e n c e t o command t h i s d i u i s i o n . C 2 3 H ob ar

S e p t e m b e r 1 9 3 9 , a n d t h e + o r c e h a d o n l y one a n d

b a t t a l i o n s a n d a l i g h t a r m or ed b r i g a d e c o n s

1 0


3/102

f o r t he n e x t y e a r w en t t o e q u i p p i n g t h e B E F, t h e s i t u a t i o n

d i d n o t i m pr o v e s i g n i f i c a n t l y . P ro bl em s f o r t h e new

d i '2 i 5 i o n p 4 r s o n n e 1

s h o r t a g e s , n o a m m u ni t i on f o r 1 i g h t t a n k s , a s w e l l a s

e q ui p me n t s h o r t a g e s . The t a n k t r a c k s n ee d ed r e p l a c e m e n t ,

b u t f ew s p ar e t r a c k s w er e a v a i l a b l e . The d i u i s i o n s u p p o r t

g r o u p d i d n o t h av e i t s i n f a n t r y b a t t a l i o n , a n d H o b a r t

f o r m e d h i s d i u i s i o n h e a d q u a r t e r s f r o m g a r r i s o n t r o o p s . [ 3 1

i n c 1 u d e d ; o u t d a t e d e q u I pme n t ,

Wh i 1 e t h e s e p r o b l e m s . m ay h a u e d i s c o u r a g e d a l e s s

e n e r g e t i c man, t h e r e i s e v e r y i n d i c a t i o n t h a t H o b a r t

a p p l i e d h i m s e l S t o h i s new command w i t h h i ' s u s u a l e n a r g . ~

a nd z e a l . H o b a r t was a l w a y s a d em an di ng t r a i n e r , a nd i n

t h i s c a s e he t a c k l e d h i s new d u t i e s b ~ i t h h e a s s u m p t i a n

t h a t w a r w a s i mm in en t . He c o n c e n t r a t e d h i s t r a i n i n g

e S f o r t s o n d i s p e r s i o n , f l e x i b i l i t y a nd m o b i l i t y . T o

a c c o m p l i s h t h e s e o b j e c t i v e s , h e t a u g h t h i s u n i t s hot,


4/102

. . . h a d t h e C a v a l r y C O s i n a n d l a i d m y c a r d s on t h et a b l e . T h ey a r e s uc h n i c e c ha p s , s o c i . a l l v . T h a t sw h a t m a k e s i t so d i f f i c u l t . B u t t h e y r e so conser wa-t i v e o f t h e i r s p J r s a n d s w o r d s a nd r e g i m e n t a l t r a d i -t i o n e t c . , a nd s3 c e r t a i n t h a t t h e good o l d U mp te e n th

w i l l b e a l l r i g h t on t h e n i g h t , so e a s i l y s a t i s f i e dw i t h an excuE.e i f t h i n g s a r e n t r i g h t , so p r o n e t ob l am e t h e m a c h i n ? o r m a c h i n e r y .

A n d u n l e s s o l e u p s e t s a l l t h e i r p o l o e t c . - f o rw h i c h t h e y h a v e > a i d h e a v i l y - i t s so h a r d t o g e ta n y t h i n g m o r e i n t o th e m o r a n y m o r e w o r k o u t o f th em .3 d a y s a w ee k t h . ? y come i n 6 m i l e s t o G e z i r a h C l u b f o rp o l o . A t 9 pm i t s g e t t i n g d a r k : t h e y a r e s w e a ty a ndt i r e d . b lo t f i t f o r m u c h a n d most o f th em f u l l u p o fs o c i a l s i n C a i r o . Take t h e i r c l o t h e s a n d c h a n g e a tC l u b . D on t r e t l J r n t o A b b a s s i a t i l l 2 am o r 3 am.N o n - p o l o days i t s t e n n i s o r s o m e t h i n g .

a nd t o l e a d g r a d J a l l y , n o t d r i u e . The r e w l t i s I g e td e p r e s s e d by how l i t t l e i z h a p p e n i n g : a n d i m p . a t i e n twi t h m y s e l f .C51

W e l l , w e l l . B u t I am t r y i n g n o t t o be i m p a t i e n t

H o b a r t t o ok h i s p r o f e s s i o n s e r i o u s l y . H i s e n e r g y

w a s t i r e l e s s a n d he i n s p i r e d h i s men w i t h h i s e n t h u s i a s m .

He d em an de d t h a t h i z o + f i c e r s m e e t h i s s t a n d a r d s a nd i n

t h e e n d h i s w i l l w as s t r o n g e r t h an t h e i r s . One y e a r l a t a r

h i s men h a d g r e a t r e s p e c t f o r h i m a s a c om ma nd er a n d g a v e

h i m a w a r m s e n d o f f when he l e f t E g y p t . M a j o r - G e n e r a l

R i c h a r d O Co nno r, who commanded t h e 8 t h D i v i s i o n i n E g y p t

a t t h e t i m e , t o l d H D b a r t t h a t h i s d i v i s i o n w a s t h e b e s t

t r a i n e d d i v i s i o n t h a t h e e v e r saw.C61

H o b a r t d e p a r t e d Eg y p t i n No vemb er 1939 b e c a u s e

G e n e r a l Elai t 1 and-Wi 1 s o n , t h e new co mm an de r o f t r o o p s i n

E g y p t , w i t h t h e a p p a r e n t a p p r o v a l o f h i s s u p e r i o r , G en er al

1 1


5/102


6/102

b u t t h e s e same q u a1 i t i e s c o n t r i b u t e d t o h i s r e 1 i e f .

H o b a r t )was a z e a l o u s r e f o r m e r , a n d t h i s d i d n o t e n d e a r h i m

t o h i s s u p e r i o r s . o r t h e i r s t a f f s . T h i s l a s t p i t f a l l i s

e n de m ic t o a1 1 t r u e r e f o r m e r s .

H o b a r t s i n f l u e n c e o n t h e 7 t h A r m ou re d D i v i s i o n

was s i g n i f i c a n t b ec au se h e s e t t h e t a c t i c a l c o n c e p t s a n d

d o c t r i n e of a r m o r e d w a r f a r e w i t h w h i c h t h e d i v i s i o n f i r s t

e n t e r e d b a t t l e . H i s c o n c e p t s on d i s p e r s i o n a n d m ob i 1 i t y

w e r e p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p o r t a n t be ca us e t h e s e w er e t h e

c o n c e p t s Iwh ich t h e o f f i c e r s i n t h e d i v i s i o n t r i e d t o u se

s a r l r i n t h e w a r . D i s p e r s i o n m e a n t t h a t i n d i v i d u a l u n i t s

t r a v e l e d i n s e p a r a t e c o l um ns a n d r e m a i n e d d i s p e r s e d i u n t i 1

t h e a t t a c k . D i s p e r s i o n w a s an i m p o r t a n t means o f

p r o t e c t i o n f r o m a i r a t t a c k , p a r t i c u l a r l y w i t h n o c o v e r

a v a i l a b l e i n t h e d e s e r t . H i s i d e a o f mobi 1 i t y s t r e s s e d

r a p i d i t y o f c omm an de rs t o a c t , as w e l l a s p h y s i c a l s p ee d.

S pe ed w as an i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f H o b a r t s d o c t r i n e . C S 3

A l t h o u g h H o b a r t s c o n c e p t s a r e u a l i d t a c i c a l

d o c t r i n e i f p r o p e r l y e x e c u t e d , t h e p r o b l e m f o r m o s t

B r i t i s h a r m or ed u n i t s w a s t h a t t h e y w e r e n o t w e l l t r a n ed .

O ve r r e 1 a n c e o n s p e e d f o r p r o t e c t i o n p r o v e d i o o l h a r d y i n

f u t u r e b a t t l e s an d c a u se d many u n i t s t o o u tp a c e t h e

s u p p o r t i n g a r m s . T h e v o f t e n c h a r g e d d i r e c t l y i n t o

a n t i - t a n k g u n s w i t h o u t s u p p o r t . D i s p e r s i o n c .a us ed command

I13


7/102

a nd c o n t r o l p r o b l e m s, a nd t h e y c o u l d n o t a c h i e v e t h e

n e c e s s a r y mass a t t h e p o i n t o f a t t a c K .

A f t e r H o b a r t ' s d e p a r t u r e f r o m E g y p t ,

M a j o r - G e n e r a l M i c h a e l O ' M o o r e C re ag h, a f o r m e r c a v a l r y

o f f i c e r became t h e d i v i s i o n commander, a nd t h e d i v i s i o n

became t h e 7 t h A r mo r ed D i v i s i o n o n F e b r u a r y 16 , 1940.tYl

The o r g a n i z a t i o n c h a r t f o r t h e d i v i s i o n i s f o u n d i n

A p p e n d i x 1 . T h i s d i v i s i o n was n o t a t f u l l s t r e n g t h i n

e i t h e r u n i t s o r e q ui p me n t u n t i l some t i m e i n O c t o b e r . Cl 0 1

T h a n k s t o H o b a r t ' s t r a i n i n g a n d t h e i n s l u x o f new

u n i t s i n t o t h e d i v i s i o n , i t w e n t i n t o b a t t l e b e t t e r

p r e p a r e d t h a n most a r m o r e d d i v i s i o n s i n f u t u r e b a t t l e s .

T h i s c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e i n i t i a l B r i t i s h S I J C C B S S i n t h e

Wes te rn D e s e r t a g a i n s t t h e I t 3 1 a n A r m y.C l 1 1 I t , d e s t r o y e d

t h e I t a l i a n T e n t h Army , and i f B r i t i s h f o r c e s h a d

c o n t i n u e d t h e i r o f f e n s i v e , i t may h a v e e n d e d t h e w a r i n

t h i s t h e a t e r a nd c au s ed an e a r l y c a p i t u l a t i o n o f I t a l y i n

t h e w a r , T h i s was r e m a r k a b l e b e ca us e t h e I t a l i a n f o r c e s

g r o s s l y o ut nu mb er ed t h e B r i t i s h a t t h e s t a r t o f t h e

campa i gn . 121L i e u t e n a n t - G e n e r a l R i c h a r d O 'C on no r c om ma nd ed t h e

Wes te rn D e s e r t F o r c e w h i c h became t h e X I 1 1 C or p s a f t e r t h e

c a m p a i g n b e g a n . C 131 Gen e ra l O .'Connor t o ok command d u r i n g

J une 1940 a n d w a s s u b o r d i n a t e t o L i e u t e na n t - G e ne r a l H en ry

11 4


8/102

M a i t l and-Wi 1 s o n , H e a d q u a r t e r s E r i t i sh T r o o p s i n E gy p t .

T he t h e a t e r c om man der w as G ene r.3 1 S i r A r c h i b a l d Wave1 1 ,

U n de r G e n e r a l O Co nn or s d i r e c t command w e r e a p p r ox i m a t e l y

36,000 t r o o p s . C 141

O p p o s i n g G e n e r a l O C o nn or s f o r c e cuds t h e I t a l . an

T e n t h Army w h i c h c o n s i s t e d o f 1 0 t o 13 d i v i s i o n s a n d

n u m b e r e d a r o u n d 1 5 0 , 0 0 0 . A n a d d i t i o n a l 9 0 0 0 0 w e r e

p r o b a b l y l o c a t e d i n w e s t e r n L i b y a . C l S 1 F o r t u n a t e l y f o r

t h e B r i t i s h , t h e I t a l i a n s n ev e r c o n c e n t r a t e d t h i s f o r c e .

The I t a l i a n s be ga n .a l i m i t e d o 4 l e n s i v e on 13

S ep te mb er a n d t h e y a d v a nc e d a t o t a l o i 60 m i l e s i n t o E gy p t

by t h e e n d o f t h e m on th . A t t h i s p o i n t t h e y 4 t op p e d a nd

gave t h e B r i t i s h t i m e t o b u i l d up a nd p r e p . ar e t h e i r p l a n s

f o r .a c o u n t e r a t t a c k , C 1 6 1

T he B r i t i s h b eg an O p e r a t i o n Compass o n D ec em be r 9

1940 a nd p l a n n e d i t o n l y a s a l i m i t e d a t t a c k a g a i n s t t h e

l e a d i n g e l e m e n t s o f t h e I t a l i a n A r m y . The s u c c e s s o f t h e

o p e r a t i o n e xc ee de d t h e i r g r e a t e s t e x p e c t a t i o n s . OConnor

t o o K a d u a n t a g e o f t h e o p p o r t u n i t y w h i c h t h e I t a l a n s

p r e s e n t e d t o h im . He c o n t i n u e d t h e a t t a c k , a nd a t t h e e n d

o f t e n we ek s, G e ne ra l O C o n n o r . ~ f o r c e s h a d a dv an c ed f i v e

h u n d r e d m i l e s , f o u g h t f u u r m a j o r e ng ag em en ts an d s a p t u r e d

1 3 0 , 11 0 0 p r i s o n e r s , a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4 0 0 t a n k a n d Y J O

a r t i l e r y p i e c e s . The c o s t t o E r i t i s h a n d C om mo nw ea lt h

115


9/102

f o r c e s w a s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 9 0 0 k i l l e d , 1350 wounded a n d 5 0

m i ss n g . t 171

This o p e r a t i u n was t h e f i r s t o p p u r t u n i t y f o r a

B r i t i s h a r m o r e d d i v i s i o n t o f i g h t a s a u n i t , a n d t h e 7 t h

A rmo ur ed D i u i s i o n p l a y e d a ma. jor p a r t i n e ac h b a t t l e . The

d i v i s i o n s s u c ce s s g a v e n u i n d i c a t i o n o a need f o r

d o c t r i n a l c ha ng e. B r i t i s h a r m o r e d f o r c e s a p p e a r e d c .a pa bl e

of c o n d u c t i n g m o b i l e w a r + a r e when p r o p e r l y t r a i n e d .

A c l o s e r looK a t t h e c a mp a i g n f i n d s t h a t

t h e X I 1 1 C or ps a nd s p e c i f i c a l l y t h e 7 t h A rm o ur ed G i u i s i o n

d i d n u t f i g h t a h i g h l y m o b i l e b a t t l e . T h e y f o u g h t a

s e r i e s o f l i m i t e d t a c t i c a l engagemen t s i n w h i c h t h e

I t a l i a n s were i n d e f e n s i v e p o s i t i o n s a nd s u r r e n d e r e d t h e

i n i t i a t i v e t o t h e B r i t i s h . I n t h e f i r s t t h r e e b a t t l e s t h e

I t , a I i a n s w er e i n s t a t i c d e+ en se s a n d a1 l o w e d t h e S r i t i s h

t o make e x t e n s i v e r e c o n n a i s s a n c e o f t h e se p o s i t i o n s .

T h e r e was a t l e a s t a weeK b et we en e ac h b a t t l e , i n d i n one

i n s t a n c e a l m o s t a m o n th . The B r i t i s h u s ed t h i s t i m e t o

d e l i b e r a t e l y p l a n t h e i r n e x t move , a nd f o r m e d s u p p l y d umps

i n f r o n t o f t h e a t t a c k i n g c o l um ns s e v e r a l days p r i o r t o

each a t t a c K . The f i r s t t h r e e a t t a c k s w er e made f r o m

a ss em bl y a r e a s r a t h e r t h a n f r o m t h e m a r ch , a nd p r i o r t o

t h e f i r s t b a t t l e , t h e r e was a c o mp l e te r e h e a r s a l a g a i n s t

a f u l l - s c a l e mocltup of t h e I t a l i a n p o s i t i o n . The l a s t


10/102

i n

b r

b r

conc 1 u s

b a t t 1 e s

no i n d

a g a i n s t

e ng ag em en t w as a m o b i l e o ne , b u t o n l y a + o r c e o f s e v e r a l

u n d e r s t r e n g t h b a t t a l i o n s w h i c h was t he r e ma i nd e r o f 7 t h

Armoured D i v i s i o n a f t e r Y weeks o f f i g h t i n g p a r t i c i p a t e d

t h e o p e r a t i o n . C l S 1

The 7 t h Arm ou re d D i v i s i o n g e n e r a l l y a t t a c k e d a s

gades w i t h l i t t l e o r n o c o o p e r a t i o n b et we en t h e a r mo r ed

g ad es an d t h e s u p p o r t g r o u p . A s i n F r a n c e , t h e a rm o r ed

b r i g a d e s o f t e n l a c k e d a r t i l l e r y s u p p o r t a nd t he employment

of a i r f o r c e s was n o t i n .a c l o s e a i r s up po r t r o l e . t l 7 1

From t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n o + t h e c a m p a i g n , t h e

on i s t h a t t h e i n d i v i d u a l a t t .3 c k s r e s em b le d W1J :

i n t h e i r p l a n n i n g a nd c o n d u c t . T h i s c am paig n gave

c a t i o n o f what th e B r i t i s h c a p a b i 1 i t i e s w e r e

a mo re a c t i v e enemy # w i t h a d o c t r i n e f o r mob

w a r f a r e . The c a p a b i l i t y o f o ne s enemy i s o f c o u r s e

i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r i n t h e a n a l y s i s o f a ny c am pa ig n.

c o n d i t i o n o f t h e I t a l i a n A r m y was a k e y t o B r i t

s u cc e ss . The I t a l i a n A r m y was u n p r e p a r e d f o r Wo r l d War

l e

an

h e

sh

I 1

i n many w ay s. M o st u n i t s w e r e p o o r l y e q u i pp e d a nd

t r a i n e d , and w ere p o o r l y l e d b y o f f i c e r s who d i d n o t

u n d e r s t a n d t h e n a t u r e o f m od er n w a r f a r e . The m o r a l e o f

m os t u n i t s was l o w, a nd t h e r e w e r e i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t m a n y

s o l d i e r s and o f + i c e r s d i d n o t w an t t o f i g h t a war a g a i n s t

t h e B r i t i s h . T h i s p a r t i a l l y a cc ou nt e d f o r t h e mass

11 7


11/102

s u r r e n d e r o f many u n i t s a nd t h e r e w i 1 1 i n g n e s s t o o f f e r

t a c t i c a l i n t e l l i g e n c e t o t h e i r c a p t o r s . C 2 0 1

S t i l l t h e B r i t i s h d e s e r v e c r e d i t f o r m a k i n g t h e

r i g h t d e c i s i o n s , b e i n g t h o r o u g h l y p r e p a r e d t o f i g h t e a c h

b a t t l e , a n d c a p a b l y e x e c u t i n g t h e i r b a t t l e p l a n s .

L t . - G e ne r a l O 'C on no r' s l e a d e r s h i p was a k e y f a c t o r i n

v i c t o r y . He was f l e x i b l e i n h i s emp lo y me n t o f f o r c e s a n d

m a i n t a i n e d t h e i n i t i a t i u e t h r o u g h o u t t h e c am p a i gn . He

d r o v e h i s s o l d i e r s t o v i c t o r y i n t h e l a s t b a t t l e when

e q ui p m en t wa s b r e a k i n g down, s u p p l i e s 1 i m i t e d a n d t h e

sol d i e r s n e a r i n g e x ha u s t i o n ,

The c om ba t c a p ab i i t i e s o f t h e 7 t h A r mo r ed

D i v i s i u n was a l s o a f a c t o r . The n u c l e u s o f t h i s d i v i s i o n

t r a i n e d t o g e t h e r f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s p r i o r t o t h e war a n d

t h i s w a s an adUantagQ o v e r t h e a r m or e d d i u i s i o n t h a t w e n t

t o F r a n ce . A s ec on d a dv an t a ge was i n t h e d i v i s i o n ' s

l e a d e r s h i p . M a n y o f t h e l e a d e r s h a d t r a i n e d w i t h t h e u n i t

f o r m or e t h a n a y e a r , a nd t h e y knew t h e i r s o l d i e r s a nd h a d

a f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e d e s e r t . T h e r e

was c o h e s i o n i n t h e d i v i s i o n and i t h a d s k i l l s i n d e s e r t

f i g h t i n g . Even t h e t wo new t a nk r e g i m e n t s s e n t t o j o i n

t h e d i v i s i u n i n A u g u s t 1 9 4 0 h a d a c o u p l e o f m o n t h s

t r a i n i n g i n t h e d e s e r t b e f o r e g o i n g i n t o b a t t l e .

S ub se qu en t a rm or ed d i v i s i u n s de pl OY Qd i n t o t h e t h e a t e r d i d

113


12/102

n o t have t h i s . A f i n a l f a c t o r w h i c h added t o t h e combat

c a p a b i l i t y o f t h e u n i t was m o r a l e . The d i v i s i o n ' s m o ra l e

w a s h i g h , a n d t h e y w e r e c o n f i d e n t o f v i c t o r y . Th e

d i u i s i o n ' . s a b i l i t y t o keep f i g h t i n g ov e r a t e n week p e r i o d

o f t i m e a t t e s t s t o t h e i r h i g h m or a l e . t 21 3

A l t ho u g h t h e a rm ored d i v i s i o n was s u c c e s s f u l , t h i s

campaign was no t a co mp le t e t e s t o f t h e a rm or ed d i u i s i o n ' s

d o c t r i n e an d o r g a n i z a t i o n . P a r t o f t h e d o c t r i n e Sor a

Br I t i s h a r m o r e d d i v i s i o n w as t o d e s t r o y enemy a r m o r e d

f u r mat i ons S in ce t he I t a l i a n A r m y d i d n o t have a n y

a rm ored d i v i s i o n s i n t h i s c am pa ig n a nd d e p l o r e d i t s armor

i n s m al l t a n k u n i t s s u p p o r t i n g i t s i n f a n t r y f n r m a t i o n s ,

t he d i v i s i o n d i d n o t f i g h t a L arge ar mo re d f o r c e ' du r in g

t h e c m p a i gn.

F i n a l l y , a c om pa ri so n o f t a n k s i n t h e t w o a r m i e s

c l e a r l y f a v o r e d t h e B r i t i s h . The I t a l i a n t a n k s c u e r e n o

m at ch f o r t h e B r i t i s h c r u i s e r o r i n f a n t r y t a n k s . One

v u l n e r a b i l i t y w h i c h s u r f a c e d wa s t h e m e c h a n i c a l

u n r e l i a b i l i t y o f many B r i t i s h t a n k s i n t h e d e s e r t . I n t he

campaign , t h e B r i t i s h l o s t m o r e t a n k s t o b re ak do wn t han t o

e n s m y f i r e . 2 2 1 T h i s u u l n e r a b i l i t y h a d s e r i o u s

imp1 i c a t i o n s f o r t h e f u t u r e .

D u r i n g t h i s c am pa ig n, t h e a r m o re d d i u i n . i o n e n. jo ye d

a du an t a g e s o v e r t h e I t a l i a ns i n 1 QadQrsh i p , wea pons , un i t


13/102

t r a i n i n g , c o h e s i o n a n d m o r a l e . The d i v i s i o n s d o c t r i n e

and o r g a n i z a t i o n w e r e n o t f a c t o r s i n t he b a t t l e . I n

f u t u r e c am pa ig ns many o f t h e s e ad u. an ta ge s t u r n e d i n t o

d i s a d v a n t a g e s w hen c o m p a r e d t o t h e G e r ma ns . From t h i s

base o f combat e x p e r i e n c e , t h e 7 t h A rm nu re d D i v i s i o n c o u l d

h av e d e v e l o p e d i n t o a iuni t c a p a bl e o f m a t c h i n g a German

p a n z er d i v i s i o n . T h i s d i d n o t h a pp e n. B ec au se t h e 7 t h

A r mo ur ed D i v i s i o n n eed ed a c o m p l e t e r e f i t , i t r e t u r n e d t o

E g yp t . The r e f i t p r o c e s s t o ok c o n s i d e r a b l e t i m e bec au se

o f c r i t i c a l s h o r t a g e s i n B r i t i s h t a n ks . I n t h e m ean t i me

t h e n e e d f o r manpower and un i t s i n o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e

M i d d l e E a s t r e s u l t e d i n t h e d i s p e r s a l o f t he d i v i s i o n

b e f o r e i t saw a c t i o n a ga in .C 23 1

A t t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e ca mp ai gn a g a i n s t t h e

I t a l i a n s , t w o e v e n t s o c c u r r e d w h i c h h a d d i s a s t r o u s e f f e c t s

on t h e B r i t i s h i n t h e W e st er n D e s e r t . The f i r s t was t h e

r e q u i r e m e n t t o s en d B r i t i s h f o r c e s t o t h e a i d o f G r e e c e .

T h e s e c o n d w a s t h e a r r i v a l o f G e n e r a l I r w i n Rommel a n d

s u bs eq u en t German f o r c e s i n t o t h e t h e a t e r .

T h e f o r c e s w h i c h w en t t o G r e e c e came f r o m G e n e r a l

Wa v e l l s M i d d l e E a s t Command. G e n er a l M a i t l a n d - W i l s o n

took command o f t h e f o r c e s t h a t w e nt t o Gr ee ce I w hi le

L i e u t e n a n t - G e n e r a l OConnor r e l i n q u i s h e d command o f X I 1 1

C o r p s a n d t o o k o v e r as Commander o f B r i t i s h T r o o p s , E g r p t .


14/102

T he C r r e n a i c a Command r e p l a c e d t h e : < I 1 1 C o r p s

h e a d q u a r t e r s , a n d t h e n e w c o m m a n d e r was L i e u t s n a n t - G e n e r a l

P. Pleame. T h e r e wa.5 n o t r a i n e d s t a f f c o r p s h e a d q u a r t e r s

a nd a s h o r t a g e of co mm un ic a t i o ns eqquipmen t made i t

i m p o s s i b l e t o c o n t r o l m o b i l e f o r c e s u v s r t h e e x t e n d e d

d i s t a n c e s u f t he d e s e r t (241

Lt . -Gene ra l P l eamcs f t o r c e s d i d n o t i n c l u d e a n y

m a jo r u n i t s u s e d i n t h e l a s t c am p a i g n a g a i n s t t h e

I t a l i a n s . The 2 n d A r mo u re d D i v i s i o n r e 1 i e v e d t h e ? t h

A r m o u r e d D i v i s i o n . O r i g i n a l l y f o r m e d i n l a t e 1 9 3 9 i t

a r r i v e d i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t w h i l s t h e ca m p a ig n a g a i n s t t h s

I t a l a n s was i n p r o g r e s s . How ev e r , o n l y p a r t o f t h e

d i v i s i o n was a v a i l a b l e t r o Neame, b e c a u z s o n e , s f i t s

a rm or ed b r i g a d e s an d p a r t n f i t s s u p p o r t g r ou p iwent t n

GreeceC251

Gene ra l Waue l 1 was w a r e o f t h e w e a k n e s s o h i s

f o r c e s d e f e n d i n g i n C y re n a i c a . A c c o r d i n g t o h i s

y moun t a

kel y

he r e c e i v e d

h i s p a n z e r d i v i s i o n i n M a y . P e r s o n a l l y , W a v e l l t h o u g h t

t h a t Rommel m i g h t ne ed u n t i l J une i n o r d e r t o a c c l i m a t e

an d p r e p a r e h i s f o r c e s f o r b a t t l e i n t h e d e s e r t . B y Play

i n t e l l i g e n c e r e p o r t s t h e A x i s p o w e r s c o u l d on

1 i m i t e d a t t a c k t h r o u g h m i d - A p r i I . The m o s t 1

a s s es s m en t s t a t e d t h a t Rommel w o u l d w a i t u n t i

: 1


15/102

W au el l e x p ec t e d s e v e r a l m or e i n f a n t r y d i v i s

a n d N ea me' s d e f e n s e s p r e p a r e d . C 2 6 1

S u r p r i s i n g l y , t h s a s s e s s m e n t was c ose t o t h e

German h i g h command's a p p r a i s a l o f t h e s i t u a t i o n . T h ey

d i d n o t w ant Rommel t o g e t i n t o d i f f i c u l t i e s i n a t h e a t e r

t h a t was c l e a r l y s ec o nd a ry t o t h e u pc om in g B a r b a r o s s a

o p e r a t i o n . Rommel 's m i s s i o n w a s t o r a i s e t h e m o r a l e o f

t h e I t a l a n s an d k ee p t hem i n t h e war.C271

N e i t h e r Wauel 1 n o r t h e German h i g h command knew

Rommel. H e s t a r t e d h i s o f f e n s i u e a t t h e e nd o f M a r c h a n d

c o n t i n u e d as ea c h o p p u r t u n i t r p r e s e n t e d i t s e l f . B y t h e

end of A p r i l 1941, he pu sh e d t h e B r i t i s h b ac k t o t h e

t h e u n i t s h o l d i n g T o b r uk ,

o u s g a i n s made a g a i n s t t h e

gyp t i an

t h e 6 r i t

b o r d e r , a nd e x c e p t f o r

s h l o s t al I t h e i r p r e u

o n s t o a r r i v e

I t a l i a n s . C 2 S l

A g e n e r a l w i t h less d r i v e a nd w i 1 1 i n g n es s t o t a ke

r i s k s t h a n Rommel c o u l d n u t h av e a c h i e v e d t h i s s u c ce s s .

I t w a s a l s o i m p o r t a n t t h a t he d i s o b ey e d h i s o r d e r s a nd

overcame t h e o b j e c t i o n s o f h i s I t a l i an s u p e r i o r s , G e ne ra l

Wa u e l l t o o k a c a l c u l a t e d r i s k i n t h i s p o r t i o n o f h i s

t h e a t e r b e c a u s e h e h a d m a j o r o p e r a t o n s t o c o nd u c t i n

G re ec e a nd E a s t A f r i c a a n d h ad t o p .an a g a i n s t t h r e a t s i n

I r a q a n d S y r i a. C 29 1


16/102

The 2 nd A rm ou r ed D i v i s i o n t y p i f i e d t h e p r o b l e m s

f a c i n g t h e B r i t i s h A r m y i n d e v e l o p i n g t h e f i g h t i n g

c a p a b i 1 i t i e s o f i t s a r m o r e d f o r c e s d u r i n g t h r f i r s t two

y e a r s o f t h e w a r. I n 1P39, t h e 2 nd A r mo ur ed D i v i s i o n

e x i s t e d i n name o n l y . The 1 s t A r m o u r e d D i v i s i o n r e c e i v e d

p r i o r i t y f o r i t s de p l o y m e n t t o F r a n c e . A s d i s c u s s e d i n

t h e l a s t c h a p t e r , t a n k s w e r e n o t a v a i l a b l e t o e q u i p a n y

a rm o re d d i v i s i o n u p t o + u l l s t r e n g t h . Loss o+ t a n k s i n

F r a n c e i n c r e a s ed t h s s h o r t a g e .

O n June 1 1 , 1 P J 0 , W in s t on C h u r c h i l l t o l d

p a r l i a m e n t t h a t t h e r e w e r e o n l y 1 0 0 t a n k s i n G r e a t

B r i t a i n .C B O 1 The o n l y o t h e r t a n k s i n t h e B r i t i s h Army

w e r e i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t whe r e t h e 7 t h Ar mo u re d D i v i s i o n

h ad o n l y f o u r o f i t s r e q u i r e d s . ix t an k r e g i m e n t s .

The f i r s t p r i o r i t y f o r B r i t a i n f r o m June 1 9 4 0

u n t i l l a t e t h a t Ye a r w a s def ens .e a g a i n s t i n v a s i o n .

Sometime d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d t h e 2 n d A rm ou re d D i v i s i o n

s t a r t e d r e c e i v i n g i t s t an ks . The d i v i s i o n a r r i v e d i n

E g yp t d u r i n g e a r l y J a n u a r y , b u t t h e n or ma l d e pl o ym e nt f r o m

E n g l a n d t o t h e M i d d l e E a s t t o ok n e a r l y t h r e e m on th s . The

d i v i s i o n r e c e i v e d o n l y a s h o r t t r a i n i n g p e r i o d p r i o r t o

d e p l mymen t , a n d some o f t h o s e sK i 1 1 s a t r o p h e d d u r i n g t h el o n g d e pl o y m en t p e r i o d . E 3 1 1 I t i s a r e a s o n a b l e a s s u m p t i o n

t h a t c r i t i c a l t a c t i c a l s k i l l s s u c h as c o o r d i n a t i n g a t t a c k s

1 3


17/102

i n s u p p o r t o f or i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h i n f a n t r y , c o m b i n i n g

t h e e f i e c t s o f a1 1 t h e w ea po n s a n d s y s t e m s o f t h e d i v i s i o n

i n a n a t t a c k , a nd t h e us e o f a i r c r a i t i n a c l o s e ' s up p or t

r o l e w e r e n o t m a s t e r e d p r i o r t o l e a u i n g G r e a t B r i t a i n .

T h i s was p a r t i c u l a r l y t r u e b e c a u s e b r a n c h p . a r o c h i a l ism

d u r i n g t h e i n t e r w a r y e a r s p r e u e n t e d most o + f i c e r s f r o m

t h i n k i n g t h r o u g h t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r e m pl o y m e n t o f a

c o mb in ed a r ms d i u i s i o n . C 3 2 1

C e r t a i n l y a u n i t o r g a n i z e d i n s u c h h a s t e c o u l d n o t

m a s t e r t h e se h i g h e r o r d e r s k i 11 . 5 o f c o o r d i n a t i o n ev e n i f a

t r a i n i n g s y s t e m e x i s t e d w h i c h i t d e f i n i t e l r d i d n o t a t

t h i s s t a g e o f t h e w a r . T h e Army was t o o b u s y f o r m i n g a nd

d e p l o y i n g u n i t s t o g i v e t r a i n i n g a h i g h p r i o r i t y .

When t h e 2 n d A rm ou re d D i v i s i o n a r r i v e d i n E g y p t i t

w a s s t i l l i n c o m p l e t e . One o f i t s t a n k b r i g a d e s d i d n u t

h av e t a n k s f o r o n e o f i t s t a n k r e g i m e n t s . T h i s b r i g a d e

r e p l a c e d t h e 7 t h Ar mo ur ed D i v i s i o n i n w e s t e r n C y r e n a i c a

a n d e q u i p p e d i t s t h i r d t a n k r e g i m e n t w i t h c a p t u r e d I t a l a i n

t a n k s . T h e o n l y t r a i n i n g t h i s b r i g a d e r e c e i v e d i n d e s e r t

o p e r a t i o n s w a s t h e e x p e r i e n c e i t g a i n e d on i t s m o u e a c r r j s s

t h e d e s e r t t o t h e b a t t l e a r e a . When Rommel a t t a c k e d , h e

d e f e a t e d e a c h r e g i m e n t i n d i v i d u a l Ir b e c a u s e t h e r l w e r rd i s p e r e d c o n d u c t i n g i n d i v i d u a l u n i t t r a i n i n g . F i n a l l y t h e


18/102

d i v i s i o n commander s t a t e d t h a t h e l o s t one t a nk f o r e u e r y

t e n m i 1 e s b e c a u s e o f m ec ha n i c.31 f a i 1 u r e . C331

T h i s u n i t wa s n o t comba t r e a d y . I t was

i n e x p e r i e n c e d i n d i i s i o n o p e r a t i o n s .and i t s s h o r t h i s t o r y

i m i t e d u n i t c o h e s i o n . S h o r t a g e s h a n d i c a p p e d t h e u n i t ,

a n d mos t o f t h e t a n k s o n ha n d w er e m e c h a n i c a l l y un s ou nd .

F i n a l l y , u po n a r r i v a l i n J a nu a r y , t h e d i v i s i o n #commander

d i e d s u d d e n l y , a n d a commander i n e x p e i e n c e d i n b o t h

a rm or ed a nd d e s e r t w a r f a r e r e p l a c e d h im . On t h e 7 t h o f

A p r i l , d u r i n g t he m i d d l e o f t h i s c a m pa i g n, t h e G erm ans

c a p t u r e d t h e d i v s i o n commander a n d m o s t o f h i s s t a f f .

S e v e r a l d a y s b e f o r e t h i s e v e n t o c c u r r e d , t h e d i v i s i o n 1 ~ 3 . 5

co mba t i n e f f e c t i v e b ec au se i t s ta nk s t r e n g t h was a r o u n d

20.t341

A g a i n t h e B r i t i s h Army d i d n o t r e c e i v e 3 c l e a r

v i s i o n o f i t s d o c t r i n a l d e f i c i e n c i e s . The d ep lo ym en t If

t h i s d i v i s i o n a s a s e p a r a t e a r m or ed b r i g a d e w i t h r o u g n l y

h a l f o f i t s s u p p o r t g r o u p showed a t r u e be1 i e f i n t h e

a b i l i t y o f a r m o r e d f o r c e s , s p e c i f i c a l l y t an k s , t o o p e r a t e

i n d e p e n d en t l y . A c t u a l d i s p o s i t i o n s o f t h e d i v i s i o n s

s u p p o r t group a nd t h e a r mo re d b r i g a d e i n C y r e n a i c a f u r t h e r

d e mo n st r a. te d t h e l a c k o f a c o m b i n e d a r m s c o n c e p t . T he t w o

f o r m a t i o n s w er e u n a b l e t o s u p p o r t e ac h o t h e r t h r o ug h o u t

t h e c a m p a i g n . t351

115


19/102

The a l l a r m o r ed c o n c e p t w h i c h H o b a r t a n d o t h e r s i n

t h e R oy al TanK C o r p s p r e a c h e d a n d p r a c t i c e d p r i o r t o t h e

s t a r t o f t h e w a r was t h e d o c t r i n e w h i c h a rm or ed c om ma nd er s

w e r e a t t e m p t i n g t o e x e c u t e . E ven t h i s + a u l t r d o c t r i n e was

i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h e 2 6 A rm ou re d D i v i s i o n t o e x e c u t e b e ca us e

o f i t s i n e x p e r i e n c e . The c r u i s e r t a n k s w h i c h t h e d i v i s i o n

p o s s e s s e d a t t h i s t i m e f l u r t h e r h a m p e r e d t h e e x e c u t i o n o f

t h i s d o c t r i n e . T h e i r l i m i t e d m o b i l i t y d u e t o m Q C h a n iC a 1

u n r e l i a b i l i t y made r a p i d a n d d eep t h r u s t s i m p o s s i b l e . A s

i n d i c a t e d i n t h e l a s t c h a p t e r , t h e c o m p e t i n g d o c t r i n e

w h i c h p r i o r i t i z e d n f a n t r y t a n k p r o d u c t i o n p r i o r t o t h e

war h ad a s e r i o u s m p a c t on t h e f i g h t i n g i n N o r t h A f r i c a .

When t h i s c a m pa i g n en d e d, t h e command i n E g y p t d i s b a n d e d

t h e 2 n d A r mo u re d D i U i S i o n . A f t e r n e a r l y .3 :ear o f

f i g h t i n g , t h e B r i t i s h A r m y was n o c l o s e r t o d e v e l o p i n g a

v i a b l e a r m o r e d f i g h t i n g f o r c e t h a n i t was a t t h e b e g i n n i n g

o f t h e w a r . T he A r m y l o s t t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e 7 t h

A r m O U r Q d D i v i s i o n b ec a u s e t h e y w e re b a s i c a l l y a new u n i t

when t h e y f o u g h t i n t h e n e x t c a m p ai g n.

I n t h e f o u r m o n t h s t h a t t h e 7 t h A r m ou r ed D i v i s i o n

w a i t e d f o r r e c o n s t i t u t i o n , t h e u n i t s d i d n o t h a v e a n y

t . i n K s . T he t h e a t e r COmmander U s ed t h e s o l d i e r s O f t h e

d i v i s i o n a s r e p l a c e m e n t s , a n d many k e y o f f i c e r s a n d

n on -c om mi ss io ne d o f f i c e r s l e f t f o r O t h e r a s ,s i gn m e n ts .

126


20/102

D i v i s i o n l e a d e r s h i p was s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t . The

d i v i s i o n c om ma nd er , h ow e v e r , r e m a i n e d t h e same. T he t a n k

c r e w s d i d n o t t r a i n w i t h a ny t a n k s for f o u r m o nt h s an d now

one

f i n d

f i ve

b a t t

e g i m e n t r e c e i v e d a new m od el c r u i s e r t a n k . A l l u n i t s

I Y e c e i v e d t h e i r t a n k s b y J u n e 7 , 1P41 a n d h a d u n l y

d ay s t o t r a i n as. a d i v i s i o n b e f o r e e n t e r i n g t h e

e . T h i s l a c k o f t r a i n i n g t i m e was e v e n m o r e c r i t i c a l

b ec a u se th e d i v i s i o n c o n t a i n e d s e v e r a l new u n i t s . I n th e

i n i t i a l c a m p a i g n t h e d i v i s i o n h a d s i x t a n k r e g i m e n t s i n

t w o b r i g a d e s . Now t h e d i v i s i o n h a d f a u r t an k r e g i m e n t s i n

tw o b r i g a d e s a nd two r eg i m e n t ; w er e new t o t h e d i v i s i o n .

The t w o a r mo r ed b r i g a d e s h a d t w o d i f f e r e n t m i s s i o n s

b e c a u s e t h e 4 t h A r m o u r e d B r i g a d s was equ i ppe d l i t h

i n f a n t r y s u p p o r t ( M a t i l d a ) t a n k s w h i I e t h e 7 t h A r m ou r a d

B r i g a d e was e q u i p p e d w i t h c r u i s e r t a n ks . Th e se c ha ng es i n

t h e d i u i s i o n m e a n t a loss o f c o h e s i o n an i m p o r t a n t p a r t at:

combat e f f e c t i v e n e s s w a s l o s t . C 3 6 1

D u r i n g t h e n e x t c am pa ig n , O p e r a t i o n B a t t l e a x e

(15-17 J u n e 19411, t h e d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w ee n t h e t w o

b r i g a d e s ' m i s s i o n s w e r e s i g n i f i c a n t . I n t h e c o n c e p t o f

t h e o p e r a t i o n t h e b r i g a d e w i t h i n f a n t r y t a n k s i n i t i a l l y

was t o s u p p o r t t h e i n . f a n t r r d i v i s i o n , a nd o n c e i t

a c c o m p l i s h e d i t s o b j e c t i v e s , t h e b r i g a d e was t o w or k w i t h

t h e r e s t o f t h e 7 t h A rm ou re d D i v i s i o n . D e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e

127


21/102

enemy a rm o r was t h e a r m u r e d d i v i s i o n ' s m i s s i o n . Th e

c o o r d i n a t i o n o+ i n f a n t r y an d c r u i s e r t a n k s i n t h e same

a t t a c k was new f o r t he a rm or e d d i v i s i o n . The d i f f e r e n t i a l

i n m o b i l i t y made t h i s m i s s i o n d i f f i c u l t . The s p e e d u f t h e

M a t i l d a ta n k was a b o u t t h e same s p e e d a s m a rc h in g i n f a n t r y

w h i l e t h e speed o f t h e c r u i s e r t an k s a v a i l a b l e f o r t h i s

b a t t l e r a ng e d be tw ee n 15 and 30 mph.C373

A n o t h e r p r o b l e m w i t h t he 4 t h Ar mu ur ed S r i g a d e ' s

m i s s i o n was t h e l a c k 0 F t r a i n i n g w i t h t h e i n f a n t r y

d i v i s i u n t h ey w e r e t o s u p p o r t . C 3 8 1 G e n e ra l LJaveI 1

r e co g n iz e d t h a t t h i s A r m y r e q u i r e d m o r e t r a i n i n g t o r e a c h

combat e f f e c t i u e n e s s , b u t h i s h an ds w e r e t i e d because o f

p r e s s u r e s f r u m t he P r im e M i n i s t e r t o b eg i n t he o f f e n s i t t e

a s soon as p o s s i b l e . He d e l a y e d t h e a t t . a c K as lung as he

c o u l d u n de r t h e c i r c u m s ta n c e s . C 3 ? 1

New Corps . l e ade r sh ip was a n o th e r f a c t o r i n

p r e p a r i n g t h i s f o r c e f o r t h e ca mp aig n w h i c h c a us e d Idaue l 1

c o n c e r n . The t h i r d c am pa ig n beg an w i t h L i e u t e n a n t - G e n e r a l

B e r e s f o r d - P e i r s e i n command o f X I 1 1 Corps. Rommel

c a p t u r e d b o t h L t . - G e n e r a l Neame a n d L t . - G e n e r a l O 'C on no r

o u 5n t h e l a s t c a mp a ig n . The loss o f O'Connor was a s e r

b lo w f o r t he B r i t i s h . C 4 0 1

Wi t h t h e p r o b l e m s w h i c h a g a i n p l a g u e d t h e XI1

C o r p s , i t i s h a r d l y s u r p r i s i n g th .a t th e B r i t i s h l o s t t h e

123


22/102

c am pa ig n. W h i l e t h e c am pa ig n l a s t e d o n l y t h r e e d a y s a nd

B r i t i s h f o r c e s c o n s i s t e d o f # on ly two d i u i s i o n s , one

i n f a n t r y a nd one a rm o re d , t h e c o n c l u s i o n s d raw n f r o m t h i s

campaign w e r e e x t r e m e l y i m p o r t a n t f o r f u t u r e B r i t i s h

o p e r a t i o n s ,

B e f o r e i t i s p o s s i b l e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e s e

c o n c l u s i o n s , one m u st u n d e r s t a n d some o f t h e d i f f e r e n c e s

be tween B r i t i sh and German d o c t r i n e . Compar i son o f t h e

two a r mi es ' t an k and a n t i - t a n k s t r e n g t h s a t t h e s t a r t o f

t he campaign b r i n g s t he se d i f f e r e n c e s i n t o f o c u s . I n

t e r m s o f t a n k n u m be rs b o t h a r m ) e s p o s s e s s e d a p p r o x i m . at e l y

200, b u t o n l y h a l f o f t h e German t a n k s h ad g un s a nd t h e

r e s t w e r e l i g h t t a n k s arm ed w i t h ma ch in eg un s. A l l B r i t i s h

t a n k s h a d g un s. The p e n e t r a t i n g power o f t h e B r i t i s h and

German ta nk guns was rough1.y eq ua l .C411 The number of

a n t i - t a n k gun s s t r o n g l y f a u o r e d o f t h e Germans. T h e r h a d

1 5 0 - 1 7 5 a n t i - t a n k guns and t h e I t a l i a n s h ad 81) a n t i - t a n k

g un s. The I t a l i a n gu n5 w er e g e n e r a l l y i n a d e q u a t e . The

German gun s we re 30mm an d 88mm d u a l p u r p o s e

a n t i - ai r c r a f / an t i - t a nk guns . The number o f 8 8 ' s was

a p p r o x i m a t e l y 13. The B r i t i s h h a d a bo ut PO o f t he 2

p o u nd e r a n t i - t a n k g un s. C4 23

The German A r m y d o c t r i n e p l a nn e d t o concen t r a t e

t h e i r a r m or e d f o r c e s a t t he c r i t i c a l t im e and p l a c e .

129


23/102

Becau se t h e y r e c o g n i z e d t h e v u l n e r a b i l i t i e s o f a p u r e t a n k

f o r c e , t h e y o r g a n i z e d a c o m b i n e d arms f o r m a t i u n w h ic h

i n c l u d e d a r t i l l e r y , a n t i - t a n k a n d a n t - a i r c r a f t g u n s ,

i n f a n t r y a n d r e c o n n a i s s a n c e e le me nt s. . T he y d e v e l o p e d

t e c h n i q u e s a n d d r i 1 1 s t o c o o r d i n a t e t h e motuemen t a n d

f u n c t i o n s o f t he se v a r i o u s a r m s w i t h i n t h e f o r m a t i o n . The

German Army r e c o g n i z e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f i n f a n t r y on t h e

b a t t l e f i e l d and t h e u s e o f d e f e n s i v e p o s i t i o n s a s

l i n c h p i n s f o r t h e i r o f f e n s i v e o p e r a t i o n s . I n o r d e r t o d o

t h i s , t h e i n f a n t r y iuni t s n ee de d t h e means t o d e f e a t t a n k s .

A n t i - t an k g un s p r o v i d e d t h s c a p a b i 1 i t y + or t h e i r

i n f a n t r y . The i m po r t a n c e o f t h e a n t i - t a n k g un c o i n c i d e d

w i t h t h e i r c o n c ep t t h a t t h e p u rp o se o f t a n k s on t h e

b a t t l e f i e l d was t o d e s t r o y s o f t - s k i n n e d t a r g e t s s uc h as

h e a d q u a r t e r s a nd s u p p l y c ol um ns , n o t t o d e s t r o y o t h e r

t a nk s . T h i s l e d t hem t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t a n t i - t a n k

g u n s a l s o p r o t e c t e d t h e i r t a n k s f r o m o t h e r t a n k s . T h i s

was t h e r e a s o n f o r t h e l a r g e number o f a n t i - t a n k g un s i n

t h e G e r m a n o r g a n i z a t i o n . C 4 3 3

T he B r i t i s h Army d o c t r i n e b e l i e v e d t h e p u r p o s e o f

t h e t a n k was t o d e s t r o y enemy a rm o r. A rm or ed d i v i s i o n s

a t t e m p t e d t o mass t h e i r t a nk s t r e n g t h t o d e z . t r o y enemy

a rm o r. The o t h e r ar ms i n t h e a rm o re d d i v i s i o n p e r f o r m e d

s u b s i d i a r y r o l e s i n t h i s m i s s i o n . B r i t i s h a r m o r e d

130


24/102

b r i g a d e s u s u a l l ~ o v e d a s p u r e t an k f o r m a t i o n s . The

s u p p o r t g r o u p w h i c h c o n t a i n e d t h e Nother a rm s o + t h e

d i v i s i o n s c r e e n e d a f l a n k o r p r o t e c t e d t h e l i n e s o f

cnmmun i c a t i o n . T h e 1 e a d e r s o f t h e a r m or e d d i u i s i o n s

1 a c k e d t e c h n q u e s t o p r o v d e a d e q u a t e f i r e s u p p o r t +or t h e

a rm or ed b r i g a d e s . T h e B r i t i s h saw t h e a n t i t a n k gun as a

d e f e n s i v e weapon a n d h a d n o t i n t e g r a t e d i t i n t o t h e

a r m o r e d b r i g a d e . C 4 4 1

B r i t i s h i n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n s a l s o r e q u i r e d t a n k s t o

p r o t e c t them f r o m enemy t a n k s . T h i s was t h e r e a s o n f o r

t h e A rmy Tank b r i g a d e e q u i p p e d w i t h i n + m t r y s u p p o r t

t a n ks . A l t h o u g h t h e m a i n p u r p o s e o f t h e i n f a n t r y t a n k wa s

t o h e l p t h e i n f a n t r y t o b r e a k t h r o u g h t h e e n e m y d e f e n s e s ,

i t wa s also a v a i l a b l e t o w a r d o f f enemy t a n k s . clp u n t i 1

t h e E a t t l e a x e o p e r a t i o n , t h e " M a t i I d a " t n n k w a s r e l a t i v e l y

i n v u l n e r a b l e on t h e b a t t l e f i e l d so i t p e r f o r m e d b o t h

r o l e s .

Th e Germ an s r e c o g n i z e d t h e n e e d t o d e v e l o p a

weapon a nd t a c t i c s t o d e f e a t t h e B r i t i s h h e a v y i n f a n t r y

t a n k s p a r t i c u l a r l y a f t e r t h e y e x a m i n e d t h e c a p t u r e d

i n f a n t r y t a n k s i n F r a n c e . I t w a s f o r t h i s r e a s o n t h a t

t h e y a d a p t e d t h e 85mm t o p e r f o r m i t s d u a l r o l e a 5 an

a n t i - ? i r c r a f t a n d a n t i - t a n k g u n . T h i s weapon h a d a

1 3 1


25/102

a d eq ua te s u p p o r t . B o t h

B r i g a d e f o u g h t i n F r a n c e

I t a l .3n.z.. I n t h e s e c am pa

s i g n i f i c a n t i mp ac t on a l l c a m p a i g n s i n t h e d e s e r t s t a r t i n g

w i t h B a t t l e a x e . C 4 5 1

W i t h o u t a ny t r a i n i n g b et we en t h e 4 t h A rm ou re d

B r i g a d e a n d t h e i n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n , t h e a t t a c k on t h e A x i s

d e fe n s e s f a i l e d b ec a u s e o f a l a c k o f c o o r d i n a t i o n . T he

a t t a c k o f t h e i n f a n t r y a n d a r m o r we r e n o t m u t u a l l y

s u p p o r t i n g . W i t h l i t t l e a r t i l l e r y s u p p o r t t o s u pp r e s s t h e

a n t i - t a n k d ef en se s , t h e i n f a n t r y t a n k s w e re d e f e a t e d .

T he re was p o s s i b l y a n o t h e r r e a s o n b e s i d e s l a c k ot' t r a i n i n g

to e x p l a i n why t h e t an k u n i t s e n t e r e d t h e b a t t l e i w i t h o u t

anK r e g i m e n t s i n t h e 4 t h A r mo u re d

a nd one f o u g h t a g a i n s t t h e

gnr: t h e y h a d been r e l . a t i v e l r sa t ' e

f r o m a l l t l n k a nd a n t i - t a n k g un s . The new r o l e f o r t h e

88mm g un b r o u g h t a c ha n ge t o t h e b a t t l e f i e l d . C 4 6 1

Meanwh i 1 e t h e 7 t h f i rm o ur e d B r i gade , equ i p p e d I * I ~ h

c r u i s e r t a n k s , m e t a s i m i l a r f a t e when i t r a n i n t o a g r o u p

o f 88mm a n t i - t a n k g u n s w h i c h Rommel h a d d u g - i n o n k e y

t e r r a i n . L i k e t h e 4 t h A r mo u r ed B r i g a d e , t h e 7 t h d r o v e

i n t o t h e a n t i - t a n k d e f e n s e w i t h o u t a ny s u p p o r t .

gade, Rommel

f 1 ank i n g

c a t i o n . T h i s

f o r c e d t h e B r i t i s h f o r c e s t o w i t h d r a w t o t h e E g y p t i an

A f t e r t he r e p u l s e of t h e a r m o r e d b r

ma ss ed h i s a r m or e d s t r e n g t h a nd a t t e m p t e d a

movement t o c u t t h e B r i t i s h l i n e s o f commun

132


26/102

d i v i s i o n made lwas t h a t

w er e d e s t r o y e d b y enemy

t h a t a n t i - t a n K g un s d e s

a r e s e v e r a l r e a s o n s w hy

t h i s a t t h e t i m e . The f i r s t i s t h a t t h e S8mm

o f 3 0 0 0 y a r d s a t w h i c h , i t c o u l d d e s t r o y a B r

A t t h i s r a n g e i f a c r e w w e r e h i t , i t was d i f C

de t e r m

u s e d a

f l J t u r e

ne wh a t h

t a c t i c wh

b a t t 1 e s .

b o r d e r . The B r i t i s h l o s t 3 1 t a n k 5 w h i l e t h e Germans l o s t

12.t.171

The + i r s t c o n c l u s i o n t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e ar m o re d

he m a j o r i t y o f t h e B r i t i s h t a n k s

t a n k s . L a t e r a n . 3 l y s i . j h a s shown

r o y e d m o s t E r i t i s h t a n k s . T h e r e

t h e E r i t i s h d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d

h a d .3 r a n g e

t i s h t a n k .

c c l t t o

t t h e t a n k . F u r t h e r , t h e Germsn t a n k s

c h t h e y u s e d s u c c e s s f u l l y m . a n y t i m e s i n

T he German t a n k s l u r e d t h e u n i t s # o f t h e

7 t h A r m ou re d B r i g a d e i n t o t h e i r a n t i - t a n k d e f e n s e s . S i n c e

t h e B r i t i s h saw enemy t r n K s i n t h e a r e a , t h e a s s u m p t i o n

was t h a t t h e y d i d t h e damage.C4S1 S i n c e t h e B r i t i s h

be1 i e v e d t h a t t h e p r i m a r r p u r p o s e f o r t h e t a n k was t o k i 1 1

o t h e r t a n k s an d t h e y d i d n o t p e r c e i v e a r o l e f o r t h e

a n t i - t a n k gun s i m i l a r t o t h e Germans , t h e i r a s s u m p t i on w a s

u n d e r s t a n d a b l e .

T he r e s u l t o f t h i s c o n c l u s i o n was t h e c r e a t i o n o f

t he m y th o f t h e o u e rw h e l m i n g s u p e r i o r i t yo f

G e r m a n t a n k s .

Th i s f o r c e d 6 r i t i s h c om ma nd er s t o c o n c e n t r a t e e v e n m or e on

t h e r e l a t i v e t a n k s t r e n g t h o f t h e two a r m i e s , a n d t h e n e ed

I33


27/102

German t a n k s u p e r i o r

B r i t i s h a r m o r ed s o l d

w er e i n c a p a b l e o f d e

f o r a v a i l a b l e r e s e r u e s w i t h w h i c h t o r e c o n s t i t u t e t h e tank'

f o r c e s d u r i n g t h e m i d d l e o f t h e b a t t l a . T h i s b e l i e + i n

t y l e d t o a m o r a l e p r o b l e m among t h e

e r s . T h e y b eg an t o b e1 iei ue t h a t t h e y

e a t i n g German a r m o r e v e n iwhen t h e y

h a d ov e r w h e l m i n g s u p e r i o r i t y .

T he s ec o nd c o n c l u s i o n w as t h a t t h e G ermans c o u l d

now d e f e a t t h e " F l a t i l d a " w h i c h me an t t h a t t h e i n f a n t r y

d i v i s i o n now r e q u i r e d a d d i t i o n a l p r o t e c t i o n i r o m t a n ks .

T h r ee me th od s o f how t h i s c o u l d b e a c c o mp l i s h e d i w er e

c u nc e iu e d . F i r s t t h e a rm or ed f o r m a t i o n c ? u l d s u p p o r t t h e

i n f a n t r y d i r e c t l y . S ec on d t h e a rm or ed f o r m a t i o n c o u l d b e

e mp l oy e d t o d e f e a t t h e e nemy .armor b e f o r e t h e i n f . a n t r : i

l au nc he d i t s a t t a c k . T h i r d t h e ar m o r e d d i v i s i o n c o u l d

c o n + o r m i t s movement t o t h e i n f a n t r y a t t a c k i n o r d e r t o

g u a r d t h e i n f a n t r y f r o m tank' a t t a c k . The f i r s t i d e a

e l i m i n a t e d be ca us e t h e r e w as n o p r o c e d u r e s o r t r a i n i n g

w or ke d o u t w h i c h w o u l d a l l o w an a rm or ed d i v i s i o n t o

s u p p o r t i n f a n t r y u n i t s . Also a r m o r e d d i v i s i o n l e a d e r s d i d

n o t b e l i e u e t h a t t h i s w a s a p r o p e r m i s s i o n f o r a n a r m o r e d

d i u i s i o n . Few saw t h e n ee d t o i n c r e a s e t h e f i r e s u p p o r t

o r a n t i - t a n k gun c a p a b i 1 i t y t o s o l v e t h i s p ro b l em . C471

T hes e l e s s o n s l e a r n e d a f f e c t e d t h e n e x t 8 r i t i s . h

o f f e n s i v e w h i c h was c a l l e d t h e C ru sa de r erati ti on. IiJi t h i n


28/102

t h e c o n c e pt o f t h e o p e r a t i o n t h e d ec i s i on made t h a t

t h e e n e m y a r m o r m u s t b e d e s t r o y e d i n t h e f i r s t p h a s e o +

t h e o p e r a t i o n a n d t h en t h e g a r r i s o n o f T o b r u k was t o bre.ak

o u t t o l i n k up w i t h i n f a n t r y f o r c e s f i g h t i n g t o w a r d t h e

g a r r i s o n . A f t e r t h e l i n k up a n d r e l i e f o f t h e g a r r i s o n ,

p ha se t wo c o n s i s t e d of t h e r e c o n q u e s t C y r e n a i c a . The

m o st i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f t h i s c o n c e p t was c l e a r l y t h e

d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e enemy a r m o r . O r i g i n a l l~ t he p l n

c a l 1 e d f o r t h e c o nc en t r a t on o f t h r e e a r mo r e d t r r i g a d e s

l r nd e r L t . - G s n e r a l N o r r i e , commander oC YX< C o r p s , t u

d e s t r o v enemy a r m o r , b u t t h e p l a n was l a t e r m o d i f i e d t o

d e t a c h t h e 4 t h A r mo u re d B r i g a d e t o p r a t e r - t t h e l e f t + l a n k

o+ X I 1 1 C o r p s . XXX C o r p s Wo ul d a t t a c k o n t h e l e f t a n d

XI11 C or ps w o u l d a t t a c k on t h e c o a s t . T h i s g e n e r a l l ?

c on fo r me d t o t h e l e s s o n s o f B a t t l e a x e . G en er al N o r r i e s

m i s s i o n was t o d e s t r o y enemy a rm o r , b u t .also t o c on fo r m

h i s m ov em en ts o f t h r u s t t o p r o t e c t t h e i n f a n t r y c o r p s

f 1 a n k . 1501

P r i o r t o t h e o p e r a t i o n , t h e c o n t i n u i t y o f

l e a d e r s h i p was a g a i n b r o k e n . G e n er a l C l a ud e A u c h i n le c l c

r e p l a c e d G e ne ra l Wa v e l l w h o w a s r e l i e v e d a f t e r B a t t l e a x e .

I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t G en e ra l A u c h i n l e c k s p e n t

most o f h i s t i m e i n t h e s e r v i c e i n t h e B r i t i s h I n d i a n

A rm y. 15 11 S i n c e a r m o r e d f o r c e s w e re su c h an i m p o r t a n t


29/102

p a r t o f w a r f a r e i n t h e l d e s t e r n D e s e r t , i t w o u l d seem

l o g i c a l t h a t t he S r i t i s h Army w o u l d s e l e c t an o f f i c e r w i t h

some e x p e r i e n c e w i t h a r m o r ed f o r c e s . The r e a s o n t h a t one

was n o t g oe s back: t o t h e i n t e r w a r y e a r s i n w h i c h mo s t ot'

t h e l e . a d e r s o f t h e R o y a l A r m ou r e d C o rp s h a d b ee n s h u n t e d

i n t o o t h e r d u t i e s o r r e t i r e d . G e n e r a l P i l e was t h e o n l y

p o s s i b l e Tank C or ps o f i i c e r w i t h enough s e n i o r i t y f o r t h e

p o s i t i o n , b u t he was s e r v i n g a s t h e Commander o f

A n t i - A i r c r a f t Command w h i c h was s t i l l a p o s i t i o n o f h i g h

p r i Q r i t y .1Ji t h th e ap po i n tmen t NO+ G e n e r a l A u c h i n e ck t o

command, h e s e l e c t e d h i s own commander f o r t h e n e w l y

f o r m e d 8 t h A rm y. I n A u gu s t 1941 , he s e l e c t e d

L i e u t e n a n t - G e n e r a l A l a n C un ni ng ha m who h a d n o p r e v i o u s

a r m o r e d e x p e r i e n c e . O t h e r c h a n g e s s a w t h e r e 1 e f o f

L i e u t e n a n t - G e n e r a l B e r e s f o r d - P e i r s e f r o m S I I I C o r p s a n d

M a j or - G en e ra l C r ea gh f r o m 7 t h A r mo ur e d D i v i s i o n . C S 2 1

A n o t h e r loss w h i c h m a y hav e h u r t t h e d e u e l o p m e n t

o f a rm or ed f o r c e s i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t , w a s t h e d e a t h o f

L t - G e n e r a l Uyuyan Pope and t w o o f h i s p r i n c i p l e s t a f f

o i f i c e r s , B r i g a d i e r s C a u nt e r an d U n w i n , i n a p l a n e c r a s h

on t h e i r way t o t h e M i d d l e E a s t . G e ne ra l P ope who h a d

b ee n t h e R o ya l Ar m o ur e d C o r p s o b s e r v e r o n t h e BEF s t a f f i n

F r a n c e was on h i s w a y t o E gy p t t o command XXX C o r p s w h i c h

136


30/102

c o n t a i n e d t h e a r mo r e d a n d m o b i l e f o r c e s . W he th er h e c o u l d

h av e s o l v e d th e l e a d e r s h i p p r o b l e m s i s n o t kn o w n , b u t a t

l e a s t , i t w o u l d h av e b e e n b e t t e r t h a n w ha t o c c u r r e d a f t e r

h i s d e a t h . T he co mm an de r o f t h e 1 s t A rm ou re d D i v i s i o n who

was on h i s way t o t h e M i d d l e E a s t w i t h h i s d i v i s i o n w a s

e l e v a t e d t u command XXX C o r ps f o r t h e C r us a d er

o p e r a t i o n . C S 3 1 N o t o n l y d i d t h i s d e p r i v e t h e 1 s t A r m o u r e d

D i v i s i o n o f i t s c o m m a n d e r , b u t i t r e q u i r e d a man, u n p r o v e n

as a d i v i s i o n commander i n c om ba t, t o s e r v e a t t h e n e x t

h i g h c r 1 e v e 1 .A s i n t h e o t h e r d e s e r t c am pa ig ns t h e a r m o r e d

f o r c e s w er e u n d e r g o i n g c ha ng es u n t i 1 t h e l a s t m i n u t e an d

t h e t r a i n i n g was a g a i n c u t s h o r t . G e n e r a l Au c h i nl e ck :

be gan r e c e i v i n g p r e s s u r e t o b e g i n an o f f e n s i v e as s o o n a s

p o s s i b l e a l m o s t f r o m t h e d a y h e t o o k command. T h i s p u t

h i m i n a d i le m ma . He k ne w t h a t t h e l a c k o f t r r i n e d u n i t s

was a c a u s e o f d e f e a t i n B a t t l e a x e , a n d he w i s h e d t o . a vo id

t h i s same p r o b l e m . T h i s d i d n o t , h ow ev er , e n d ea r h i m w i t h

t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r who d i d n o t a p p r e c i a t e b e i n g p u t o f f b y

h i s g e n e r a l s . I n t h e e n d A u c h i n l e c k su cc u m b e d t o t h e

p r e s s u r e a n d s e t a d a t e o f a t t a c k f o r N ovem ber 18, 1741

w h i c h was e a r l i e r t h a n h e w is he d. CS 41

The 7 t h A r m o u r e d D i v i s i o n f o r t h i s b a t t l e

c o n s i s t e d o f t h e 7 t h Ar mo u r ed B r i g a d e , t h e 4 t h A rm o u re d

:


31/102

T h i s b r i g a d e was n o t a b l e t o b e g i n i t s d e s e r t

u n t i l O c t ob er 2 5 . Some o f t h e c r e w t r a i n i n g

d r i v i n g , n a v i g a t i o n , g u nn e r y , i n t e r c o m m u n i c a t

r e c o g n i t i o n o f many t y p e s o f v e h i c l e a nd c r ew

f i r s t c o n t i n g e n t

t a n k . I t p r o v e d

gun, b u t i t o n l y

was p o t e n t i a l l y

o f Amer i c a n

t o b e a r e 1

h a d a r a n g e

he s t r o n g e s

E r i g ad e a n d t h e 2 2 n d A r m o u r e d B r i gade wh i c h w as r e a l 1 y

p a r t o f t h e 1 s t A rm ou re d D i v i s i o n , b u t t h e r e m a i n d e r o f

t h e d i v i s o n d i d n o t a r r i v e u n t i l a f t e r t h e b a t t l e s t a r t e d .

The 7 t h A rm ou re d B r i g a d e w as an e x p e r i e n c e d u n i t b y now,

b u t ev e n t h i s u n i t s t i l l h a d a s h o r t a g e o f t a n k s a t t h e

e n d o f O c t o b e r . M e a n w hi l e t h e 2 2 n d A r m ou r e d B r i g a d e

e q u i p p e d w i t h t h e ne we st c r u s e r t a n k , C r u s ad e r , d i d n o t

s t a r t t o d i s e m b a r k i n A l e x a n d r i a u n t i l O c t ob e r 4 . A l l o f

i t s t a n k s r e q u i r e d a m o d i f i c a t i o n w h i c h t o o k t h r e e we e k s .

t r a i n i n g

nc 1 u d e d

on 9

ma i n t s n a n c e .T h i s o f c o u r s e d i d n o t make a u n i t combat r e a d y f o r t h e y

s t i l l r e q u i r e d t o l e a r n movement t e c h n i q u e s i n f o r m a t i o n

a s w e l l a s t h e n e c e s s a r y s k i l l s t o c o o p e r a t e w i t h o t h e r

a rm s . B y t h e t i m e t h e 2 2 nd A r mo ur e d B r i g a d e w e nt i n t o

b a t t l e i t w a s f a r f r o m c o m b a t r e a d r . C S 5 1

The 4 t h A r m o u r e d B r i g a d e was e q u i p p e d w i t h t h e

t a n k s . T h i s was t h e S t u a r t

a b l e t a n k m ou n t ed w i t h a 3 i m m

o f 70 m i l e s . T h i s b r i g a d e

a r m o r e d f o r m a t i o n b e c a u s e i t

h a d e x p e r i e n c e d t a nk u n i t s , a command ing o f f i c e r who h a d


32/102

been i n t h e M i d d l e E a st s i n c e t h e b e g i n n i n g o f th e war and

new t a nk s wh i ch w e r e m e c h a n ic a l l y r e l i a b l e . T h i s u n i t was

i n i t i a l l y h e l d ou.t o f t h e a rm or e d b a t t l e because i t was

r e q u i r e d t o s cr ee n th e l e f t f l a n k o f X I 1 1 C o r p s , an

i n f a n t r y c o r p s . C561

The m a j o r d o c t r i n a l i s s u e was t h e c o n ce p t t h a t t h e

B r i t i s h t a n ks went i n t o b a t t l e t o d e s t r o y enemy t an k s . I t

i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o no t e t h e number o f t a nk s on b o t h s i d e s

d u r i n g t h e b a t t l e . A ga in th e q u a l i t y o f armor on both

s i d e s was r o u g h l y e q u al i f c rew t r a i n i n g i s n o t

c o n s i d e r e d . I n t o t a l t a nk s t h e B r i t i s h w e r e v a s t l y

s u p e r i o r t o t h e G erm ans. T h ey h a d o u e r o v e r 700 tankE.

w h i l e t he Germans an d I t a l i a n s h ad a p p r c x i m a t e l y 3 3 0 . O f

t h e German t o t a l 70 o f t h e t a n k s w e r e 1 i g h t t a n k s a r m e d

o n l y w i t h m ac h in e g u ns a nd 146 o f t he t a nk s be lo n g ed t o

t h e I t a l i a n s . The B r i t i s h t en de d t o i g n o re t h e I t a l i a n

a r m o r , p r o b a b l y b ec au se o f t h e p o o r s h ow i ng t h e I t 3 1 a n s

made i n th e i n i t i a l ca mp aig n. I f t he s e a r e d i s c o u n t e d

t h i s b r i n g s t h e t o t a l c ou nt o f German ta n k s a v a i l a b l e f o r

t h e b a t t l e down t o 175. On t h e B r i t i s h s i d e n o t a l l 700

t a nk s w ou ld p a r t i c i p a t e i n t he g r e a t t an k b a t t l e .

A p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 0 0 t a n k s w e r e i n To br uk g a r r i s o n a nd 130

w ere i n t h e 1 s t A r m y Tank B r ig a d e ( i n f a n t r y s u p p o r t

- M a t i Id a and Va l e n t i n e ) . T h i s s t i l l l e f t t h e B r i t i s h w i t h


33/102

4 7 0 t a n k s i n t he 7 t h A rm ou re d D i v i s i o n . I f t h e 1 7 0 t a n k s

o f t h e 4 t h A rm ou re d B r i g a d e s c r e e n e d t h e X I 1 1 C o r p s , t h e

B r i t i s h c o u l d s t i 1 1 mass 300 t a n k s a g a i n s t German t a n k

f o r m a t i o n . T h i s i s t h e t y p e o f c a l c u l a t i o n t h a t t h e

B r i t i sh t .ank commander s wen t t h r o u g h i n d e t e r m i n i n g

w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e y w e r e r e a d y f o r b a t t l e a g a i n s t t h e

Germans.CS73

The p r o b l e m w i t h t h i s c a l c u l a t i o n was t h a t i t was

i r r e l e v a n t i n a c o u p l e o f ways. F i r s t the German

commanders d i d n o t p l a n t o t a c k l e t h e B r i t i s h a r m o r w i t h

t h e i r t a n k s . I f t h e commande r s w a n t e d t o c c m pa r e w e ap o ns

t h e y s h o u l d h av e c o u n t e d t h e t o t a l number o f a n t i - t . n n k

g u n s t h . a t t h e G er man s h.ad w i t h t h e i r a r m o r e d + o r m a t i o n s a s

w e l l . Th s i s w h a t d e s t r o y e d m os t B r i t i s h t a n k s d u r i n g

B a t t l e a x e A German p a n z e r d i v i s i o n h a d a l m o s t as many

a n t i - t a n k g un s a s i t d i d t r n k s , a nd i f one t a k e s i n t o

a c c o u n t t h e q u . 3 1 i t y o f t h e s e guns t h e p i c t u r e b e g i n s t o

l o o k somewhat e q u a l . A s an e xa mp l e, i n one p o s i t i o n an

88mm g u n k n o c k e d o u t 11 B r i t i s h t a n ks . C S8 1 B o t h t h e SOmm

long b a r r e l and 88mm a n t i - t a n k gun c o u l d d e s t r o y B r i t i s h

t a n k s o u t s i d e t h e e f e c t i u e r a n g e o f B r i t i s h t an k gu n s .

Even t h i s i s n o t t o t a l l y r e l e v a n t b e c a u s e i t

i g n o r e s t h e m o r e l d om ai n o f c o m b a t . T h i s p e r t a i n s t o

t h o s e human + a c t o r s w h i c h i n f l u e n c e t h e combat p o t e n t i a l

140


34/102

b a t t l e . B e s id e s .A1

m a s t e r , t he b r i g a d e

c om ba t po we r e f f e c t

h i g h l y

p r o p e r

weeK's

o f a u n i t . The f a c t o r o f t r a i n i n g h as been d i s c us s e d , b u t

t o f u r t h e r e l a b o r a t e , t h e 2 2n d A rm or ed B r i g a d e was g i v e n

one I N Q Q ~ ~ o t r a i n i n t h e d e s e r t p r i o r t o g o i n g i n t o

t he i n d i v i d u a l c r e w c l t i 11s i t h a d t o

n e e d e d u n i t t r a i n i n g h employ .a1 1 i ts

V Q l Y . AS p r e Vi O U 5 l y d e s c r i b e d ,

B r i t i s h a rm ore d d i v i s i o n s ) w e r e weak i n c o m b in e d a rm s

because of a t r a d i t i o n o f t r a i n i n g .as s i n g l e arms wi t h

s e pa r a t e d o c t r i n e s . T h i s g r e a t l y h an d ic ap pe d t he B r i t i s h

a r m o r e d d i v i s i o n b e ca u se t h e G erm an s F o u g h t a s c o m b i n e d

arms u n i t s , a nd t he German u n i t s i n t h e d e s e r t w e r e 1.ue11

d r i l l e d . I n a d d i t i o n , t h ey h ad c o n s i d e r a b l e combat

e s p e r i e n c e . W i t h t h i s U n d e r s t an d i ng o f t h e t y p e o+ u n i t

t h a t B r i t i s h armor was t r y i n g t o d e f e a t , i t was , a b s o l u t e l : /

t s t o

i t:/ t u

S

t h e 2 2n d A rm o ur ed B r i g a d e c o u l d b e

n t o t h e 7 t h A rm ou red D i v i s i o n i n one

1 t he o t h e r s k i 1 1 s t h e b r i g a d e n ee de d

t o l e a r n f i r s t . T h i s i s why i n a l l t h e c a mp ai gn s i n t h e

d e s e r t up u n t i l t h i s t i m e t h e .aPmoUrQd d i v i s i o n s f o u g h t B s

s e p a r a t e b r i g a d e s .

i m p e r a t i v e t h a t t h e a rm o re d b r i g a d e s m ass t h e i r u n

b r i n g t h e m o st co mbat po we r t o b e a r . T h e i r c a p ab i

do t h i s i n t h i s b a t t l e was e x t r e m e l y l i m i t e d . I t

u n l i l t e l y t h a t

Y i n t e g r a t e d

t i m e , g i v e n a

1 4 1


35/102

The C r u sa d er b a t t l e was m o r e v i o l e n t a nd c o n f u s i n g

t h an a n y o t h e r p r e v i o u s d e s e r t b a t t l e . T h i s p a t t e r n o f

c o n f u s i o n a n d h a r d f i g h t i n g on b o t h s i d e s became t h e n or m

f o r t h i s a n d a l l f u t u r e d e s e r t b a t t l e s . When t h e B r i t i s h

1 au nc hed t h e i r a t t a c k t h e y ac h i e ue d t o t a l s u r p r i s e o u e r

Rommel, a l t h o u g h some o f h i s s t a f t : a n d s u b o r d i n a t e

c ommander s t r i e d t o a l e r t h i m t o t h e a t t a c k a l m o s t

i m m e d i a t e l y . T h e f i r s t day t h e a r m o r e d b r i g a d e s , m ov ed

a b o u t 40 m i l e s a n d s t o p p e d . T he B r i t i s h com ma nd er s

c om ma nd er s w e r e i n a q u a n d r r . ab ou t w h a t t o do b e c a u s e t h e y

p r e d i c a t e d t h e i r n e x t moue on Rommels r e a c t i o n . C S 3 :

T h e n e x t d a y, t h e a r m or ed b r i g a d e s d e c i d e d t o moue

d ee p er i n t o t h e German p o s i t i o n s a n d s e i z e a u i t a l

l o c a t i o n w h i c h w o u l d f o r c e t he German p a n z e r d i v i s i o n s t o

a t t a c k . T h i s i s w ha t G en er a l N o r r i e w a n t e d t o do f r o m t h e

b e g i n n i n g . T h e y d i d t h i s an d a l l t h r e e b r i g ad es . g o t i n t o

b a t t l e t h e n e x t day. The u n f o r t u n a t e p r o b l e m was t h a t , t h e

b r i g a d e s w e r e i n t h r e e s e p a r a t e l o c a t i o n s and c o u l d n o t

s u p p o r t ea ch o t h e r . T he d e ep e r t h e y d r o v e i n t o German

t e r r i t o r y t h e m or e d i s p e r s e d t h e t h r e e b r i gad es became.

The r e l a t i v e c om ba t e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e t h r e e b r i g a d e s was

a p p a r e n t i n t h e t h r e e b a t t l e s . t 6 0 1

T he 2 2 nd A r m o u r e d B r i g a d e w h i c h was the new

b r i g a d e i n t h e t h e a t e r , f o o l i s h l y d r o u e d i r e c t l y i n t o .an

142


36/102

I t a l i a n d e f e n s i v e p o s i t i o n h e l d by an I t a l i a n armor

d i n j i s i o n . One o f t h e r e c o n n a i s s a n c e r e g i m e n t s w a rn e d t h e

b r i g a d e n o t t o a t t a c k t h i s p o s i t i o n , b u t , t h e y f a i l e d t o

h ee d t he w a r n i n g . T h i s b r i g a d e r e c e i v e d a s e v e r e r e p u l s e

a nd s u f f e r e d c o n s i d e r a b l e t a n k losses. Even p r i o r t o t h i s

e ng ag em en t, t h e 2 2 n d a r m o u r e d B r i g a d e h a d l o s t many t a n k s

b e c a u se o f m e c h a n i c a l f a i l u r e , a nd i t s s u p p o r t e c h e l o n

w h i c h k e p t g e t t i n g l o s t d e l a y e d t h e b r i g a d e . Th e

b r e a k d o w n s i n d i c a t e b o t h t h e u n r e l i a b i l i t y o f t h e new

C r u s a d e r t a n k as w e l l a s t h e i n a b i l i t y o f : h e tank: c r e w s

t o p e r f o r m m a i n t en a n c e on t h e i r t anKs .Cd11

The 4 t h Ar mo ur ed B r i g a d e s u f f e r e d t h e most l o s s e

iwhen a p an ze r d i v i s i o n a t t a c k e d i t . T h i s w. 8 5 due t t h e

a n t i - t a n k g un s w h i c h w er e w i t h t h e pa n ze r u n i t . The

Germans b r o k e o f f t h e a t t a c k t o w a r d d us k a nd t h e 4 t h

A rm ou re d B r i g a d e d e c i d e d t o p i ~ r s u e h e a t a c k t he n e x t

d ay . T h i s a t t a c k c o n t i n u e d t h e n e x t d ay an d 22nd A r m c l u r e d

B r i g a d e was o r d e r e d t o s u p p o r t t h e 4 t h Ar mo ur ed B r i g a d e .

T h e 2 2 n d d i d n o t a r r i v e u n t i l l a t e a n d was u n a b l e t o g e t

i n t o t h e a t t a c k t h a t day. T h e t w o c om ma nd e rs made t h e i r

p l a n t o a t t a c k a n d C i g h t t h e d e c i s i v e ar m o r b a t t l e t h e

n e x t d a y. T he G er ma ns w i t h d r e w t h. at n i g h t a n d

c o n c e n t r a t e d a g a i n s t t h e 7 t h Ar mo ur ed B r i g a d e t h e n e x t

d a y. The 4 t h Ar mo ur ed B r i g a d e a t t e m p t e d t o p u r s u e i n t h e

1 4 3


37/102

. m o r n i n g b u t c o u l d n o t c a t c h u p b ec au se o f t h e 70 m i l er a n g e o f t h e S t u a r t t an k. Ce 23

The 7 t h A rm ou re d B r i g a d e , p r o b a b l y t h e m o s t

e x p e r i e n c e d u n i t o f t h e d i v i s i o n , s i e z e d an o b . j e c t i u e

w h i c h t h r e a t e n e d R omm els 1 i n e o f c o m m t u ni c a ti o n s o n t h e

1 7 t h . T h e y c a p t u r e d an a i r f i e l d w i t h t h e . a i r c r a f t s t i l l

on t h e g r o u nd . W i t h t h i s s u c ce s s a t t h e e n d o f t h e d a r ,

t h e y s e t u p a c o m bi n e d a rm s d e f e n s e ~i t h t h e s i ~ p p o r t g r o u p

o f t h e d i v i s i o n . The d i v i s i o n n e e d e d m o r e i n f a n t r y ,

a r t i l e r y a nd a n t i - t a n k s un < b ec au oe t h e r e w e r e t o o f e w

s u p p o r t ar m s i n t h e B r i t i s h a r m o r e d d t i ~ i i o n m l r g a n i z a t i o n .

C o n s eq u e n t l y t h e d e f e n s i v e p o s i t i o n was n o t ve ry s t r o n g .

The d i v i s i o n c a l l e d f o r mo r e i n f a n t r v s ~ ; ~ ? g r t ,b u t i t

n e v e r a r r i v e d . C a 3 1

From t h i s p o i n t t h e b a t t l e lost i t s c n h e r e n c r .

B o t h c om ma n de r s w e r e c o n f u s e d a b o u t w h e r e t h e e ne my t ri .3 ~

a n d w h a t he w as d o i n g . S u b o r d i n a t e c om ma nd er s d i s o b e y e d

o r d i s r e g a r d e d o r d e r s w h i c h a dd ed t o b o t h c o m m a n d e r s .

c o n f u s i o n . C u n n i n g h a m r e c e i v e d o p t o m i s t i c r e p o r t s a b o u t

t h e d e f e a t a n d w i t h d r a w a l o f German a r m o r . He

s u b s e q u e n t 1 y o r d e r e d t h e b re aK ou t o f t h e T ob ru lt g a r r i s o n .

On t h e 7 1 s t , h e r e c e i u e d a r e p o r t t h a t t h e Germ3.n armeor

was w i t h d r a w i n g a n d h e l a u n c h e d t h e i n f . a n t r y a t t a c k w i t h

h i s XI11 C o r p s . C 6 4 1

1 4 4


38/102

T h i s w a s n o t t h e c a s e a nd f o r t h e n e x t t h r e e d a y s

t h e a r m o re d b a t t l e t h a t t h e B r i t i s h h a d b e e n s e e k i n g

o c cu r r e d . A l t h o u g h t h e B r i t i s h f i n a l l y m an a ge d t o ma ss

t h e i r a rm or , t h e y # w e r e u n a b l e t o c o o r d i n a t e t h e i r : t t s c k s .

The B r i t i s h f o u g h t h a r d , b u t f o r % he m o s t p a r t t h e t a n k

b r i g a d e s f o u g h t a l o n e , a n d t h e c o mb in ed a rm s a t t a c K s o f

t h e Germans d e s t r o y e d t h e a r m o r ed b r i g a d e s . A t t h i s

p o i n t , t h e B r t i s h m i g h t ha v e r e t r e a t e d i f R u m m r l h a d

c o n t i n u e d h i s d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e a r mo re d u n i t s . H i s

o . F f e n s i v e s p i r t c au s e d h i m t o t a k e a r i s k a nd t r y f o r

t o t a l v i c t o r y . He h a d lost h e a v i l y u p to t h i s p o i n t a n d

h i s t r o o p s w e re t i r i n g . C 6 5 1

For t h e n e x t t h r e e d a y s , Rommel made a d a r i n g d a sh

t o t h e E g y p t i a n b o r d e r w h i l e t h e XI11 C o r p s c o n t i n u e d t h e

a t t a c k . The S t h A rmy d i d n s t p a n i c a n d t h e o n l y o ne who

a p p a r e n t l y l o s t h i s n e r v e was Cu nni ng ha m. On t h e 2 6 t h o +

N o v e m b e r, G e n e r a l A u c h i n l eclc r e p 1 ac ed Cunn i ngham wi t h

A c t i n g L i e u t e n a n t - G e n e r a l R i t c h i e , h i s d e p u t y c h i e f o f

s t a f f . T h i s w a s t o be a t e m p o r a r y a p p o i n t m e n t u n t i l t h e

e nd o f t h e c a m p a i g n . H i s i n s t r u c t i o n s t o R i t c h i e w e re t o

c o n t i n u e t h e o i f e n s i v e . B y now Rommel w a s u n s u c c e s s f u l

a n d r e t r e a t e d b e c a u s e o f t h e t h r e a t t o h i s 1 i n e s o f

c o m m u n i c a t i o n . D u r i n g t h e p e r i o d w h i l e Rommel made hi..

d r i v e for t h e E g y p t i a n b o r d e r , t h e B r i t i s h a rm o r

145


39/102


40/102

a t t a c k i n t h e P a c i f i c h u r t % h e B r i t i s h s u p p l y s i t u a t i o n

b e c a u s e i t t o o k away B r i t i s h s h i p p i n g .and a i r p o we r. T he

s i t u a t i o n r a p i d l y s t a b i l i z e d a n d t h e i n i t i a t i v e a g a i n

p as se d f r o m t h e B r i t i s h 8 t h Army t o Rommel's " A f r i k a

Kor p s C6 8

Rommel wasted 1 i t t l e t i m e i n c u u n t e r a t t a c k i n g t h e

w i d e l y d i s p e r s e d B r i t i s h f o r c e s . The s i t u a t i o n f o r t h e

S t h Army p a r a l l e l e d t h e s i t u a t i o n o f t h e p r e v i o u s . y e a r .

G e n e r a l A u c h i n l e c k u n d e r e s t i m a t e d t h e t i m e Rommel n e e de d

t o b e g i n h i s o f f e n s i v e . 7 t h A rm ou r sd D i v i s i o n ne e d e d

r e f i t t i n g , su A u c h i n l e c k a c c e p t e d t h e r i s k . H e r e p l a c e d

t h e 7 t h A r m o u r e d D i v i s i o n w i t h a p o o r l y t r a i n e d d i u i s i o n .

T h i s d i v i s i o n was t h e 1 s t A r m o u r e d D i v i s i o n 2n d i t s

c on di t i o n was s i m i l a r t o t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t he 2nd A r m o u r e d

D i v i s i o n when i t r e p l a c e d 7 t h A rm ou re d D i v i s i o n i n 1 94 1 .

The 1 s t A rm ou re d D i v i s i o n was t h e o r i g i n a l " t- lo bi ls

D i v i s i o n ' ' an d s u b s e q u e n t l y t h e f i r s t a r mo re d d i u i s i o n .

A f t e r t h e d i v i s i o n ' s p i ec e me a l co mm it me nt a n d loss o f

e qu ip me nt i n F r a n c e , i t was n o t t o t a l l y r e o r g a n i z e d w i t h

t h e u n i t s t h a t a c c o m p a n i e d i t t o t h e M i d d l e E a s t u n t i l

F e b r u a r y 1 9 41 . I n A p r i l , t h e new c r u i s e r t a n k s w er e ta k e n

f r o m i t s t a n k b a t t a l i o n s a n d s e n t t o t h e M i d d l e E a s t . . B YJ u l y , w hen t h e d i v i s i o n was a g a i n re - e q u i p p e d , t h e t an Cs

w e r e w i t h d r a w n o ne m o r e t i m e t o u n d e r g o m o d

british armored division change on the battlefield

Documents