tanks in large number were first used by british at the battle of

While the artillery still had a role to play, it was the tank that was to be the primary disruptor of organized resistance. It was, however, important to ensure that the artillery barrage that opened the attack did not undo this advantage by breaking up the landscape into a series of ridges and craters. In general, the terrain already favored the use of tanks this was one of the main reasons for the choice of this section of the line. Determined to make the best possible use of their tanks, they planned meticulously to maximize the impact of three key factors: terrain, mass of force, and surprise. Brigadier Hugh Elles commanded this force, all of which was used at Cambrai, with Fuller as his chief of staff. It had 378 new Mark IV tanks for the main effort and a further 98 older tanks, mostly Mark I and II, that remained suitable for support tasks, including one tank per battalion equipped with a radio for communications purposes. The British “Tank Corps” in late 1917 comprised nine battalions organized under three brigades. The area offered the additional virtue of terrain that was well-suited to tank use. This area had seen little fighting previously, and in fact, the troops stationed there were often units that had fought in other sectors and were brought to Cambrai to rest. With no grander objectives in mind, he selected a stretch of the Hindenburg Line outside of the city of Cambrai as his target. Significantly, Byng began his planning with only two objectives: to see what the tanks could accomplish, and to hurt the enemy. The Battle of Cambrai became the first battle to use tanks in large numbers, operating in concert with each other and being supported by the infantry.Įssentially, the Battle of Cambrai was a recognition of failure in the Battle of Passchendaele, which followed conventional infantry assault tactics on a massive scale. Fuller, General Sir Julian Byng resolved to give the Tank Corps a proper opportunity to demonstrate the power of their weapon. Responding to the suggestions of Colonel J.F.C. They had been designed to break the stalemate of trench warfare, but clearly, they were not being used effectively enough. Tanks had been used in World War I since the Somme in 1916, but for more than a year, they never accomplished more than limited local successes.

Tanks in large number were first used by british at the battle of