CHAPTER XXXVI
THE U.S.A. TANK CORPS
On April 2, 1917, the United States of America entered the Great War. Up to this date tanks had not accomplished much. British machines had taken part in the battles of the Somme and Ancre, and the first French ones had made their appearance on the training ground in October 1916.
In June 1917, Lieutenant-Colonel H. Parker was detailed to inquire into the military value of tanks, and in the following month he forwarded his report on this subject to the Operation Section of the Infantry Committee of Colonel C. B. Baker’s Commission.
Lieutenant-Colonel Parker’s report makes good reading; not only is it virile but sound. It was indeed a great pity that it was not more completely acted on. The following is an extract from it:
“1. A hole 30 k. wide punched through the whole German formation deep enough to uncover a line of communication to a flank attack.
“This hole must be wide enough to assure the passage of lighter equipment—the divisional machine-gun companies can follow the tanks because the tanks will make a road for them.
“The wave of machine guns—divisional companies—must turn out to right and left, supported by a second line of tanks, to widen the breach.
“The wave of machine guns must be followed by cavalry—‘hell for leather’—if the hole is once punched through, and this cavalry must strike lines of communication at all hazards. Possibly motor-cycle machine guns may be better adapted to this use than cavalry, but I am a believer in the cavalry. Support it with Jitney-carried infantry and machine guns as quickly as possible.
“2. The problem is that of passing a defile. Nothing more. It is like trying to force a mountain pass, where the sides are occupied by enemy who can fire down into the pass. The ‘pass’ is some 30 k. in length, and we must have something that can drive through. Then turn to the sides and widen the breach. Assail 100 k. to cover assault.
“It is the old ‘flying wedge’ of football, with interference coming through the hole in the line. The ‘tanks’ take the place of the ‘line buckers’ who open the hole; the ‘Divisional Jitney machine guns’ are the ‘interference,’ the ‘cavalry’ will carry the ball as soon as the hole is opened, i.e. ride through and hit the line of communication.
“3. The operation works out this way:
(a) A cloud of fighting avions at high altitude, to clear the air.
(b) A cloud of observation avions at low altitude, just in front of the line of tanks, dropping bombs and using machine guns on the trenches.
(c) Our long-range artillery blocking the German artillery.
(d) Our lighter artillery barraging the front to prevent escape of the Germans in their front lines.
(e) Our mobile machine guns following up the tanks at about 500 yards, covering them with canopy fire, step by step.
(f) Our Divisional Jitney companies of machine guns driving in ‘hell-bent’ after the tanks and widening the breach.
(g) Our cavalry riding through this breach as soon as it is opened for them and swinging out à la Jeb. Stuart around McClellan’s Army. Sacrificed? of course, but winning results worth the sacrifice.
(h) Jitney or truck-transported infantry following as fast as gasoline can carry it to support the success and make our foothold sure.
(i) Truck-transported—or tank-transported—artillery following as fast as possible.
“I believe such a plan will win. Fritz has not the resources to adopt such a plan. We have. We should do it and do it now as far as preparation goes in material. It will take time to get ready.”
(a) A cloud of fighting avions at high altitude, to clear the air.
(b) A cloud of observation avions at low altitude, just in front of the line of tanks, dropping bombs and using machine guns on the trenches.
(c) Our long-range artillery blocking the German artillery.
(d) Our lighter artillery barraging the front to prevent escape of the Germans in their front lines.
(e) Our mobile machine guns following up the tanks at about 500 yards, covering them with canopy fire, step by step.
(f) Our Divisional Jitney companies of machine guns driving in ‘hell-bent’ after the tanks and widening the breach.
(g) Our cavalry riding through this breach as soon as it is opened for them and swinging out à la Jeb. Stuart around McClellan’s Army. Sacrificed? of course, but winning results worth the sacrifice.
(h) Jitney or truck-transported infantry following as fast as gasoline can carry it to support the success and make our foothold sure.
(i) Truck-transported—or tank-transported—artillery following as fast as possible.
Shortly before this report was written, Colonel Rockenbach, the commander designate of the American Tank Corps, landed in France and proceeded with General Pershing to Chaumont, the U.S.A. General Headquarters.
On September 23, 1917, a project for a Tank Corps was approved. The Corps was to consist of 5 heavy and 20 light battalions, together with headquarter units, depots and workshops, while in the United States a training centre comprising 2 heavy and 5 light battalions was to be maintained. In May 1918 the establishment of the Corps was expanded to 15 brigades, each brigade to consist of 1 heavy and 2 light battalions, the former to be armed with the Mark VIII and the latter with the Renault tank.