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The document extracts reproduced here are from typed, Top Secret originals forming part of the preparations for the Cambrai attack. As far as I am aware they have not been previously published and are currently in the collection of Andy Callan, founder member of Wargames Developments and a talented military historian. They formed part of a presentation made at the South Manchester Area Tactical Society, on the role of the Tank as a war winning weapon, in Autumn 2002.
With the growth of interest in gaming the First World War, I thought this document may be of interest to those who at least try to approximate the tactics of the period rather than make it up as they go along!
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Secret
Training Note.
Tank and Infantry Operation
Without Methodical Artillery preparations
1. Secrecy
This training note is published for general information and instruction. Its contents, however, must be kept secret, as the knowledge of the tactics laid down might prove to be of value to the enemy.
2. Infantry Tank Battle.
Where surprise is essential, occasion may arise when it is advisable to launch an attack at such short notice that is not possible to prepare it methodically by artillery; in this case it may be found feasible to use tanks instead. Under these circumstances, no wire cutting being possible, the Tanks will have to lead the Infantry through the enemy's wire and protect them during the attack.
3. Tank Section Attack Areas (Diagram 1)
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Given the objectives to be attacked, the first thing to do is to divide the series of "Tank Section Attack Areas". These areas should generally include a tactical point, for if these are captured, it should not be difficult to clean up the trenches between them. If the onjective is part of a system of trenches, the area selected should if possible, be free from communication trenches, for if these are deep, and broad the tank may experience serious trouble in crossing them. Thus in Diagram 1 the area A,B,C,D would be more suitable than E,F,G,H, or B,F,G,H, because A,B,C,D, contains fewer communication trenches, that is obstacles to the tank's progress.
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4. Tank Echelons
The Tanks operating against each separate objective should constitute one Tank Echelon. This Echelon should be divided into two waves or lines - the advanced tanks and the main body. The strength of the Advanced tanks will vary, but normally it may be taken at one third of the total tanks employed against any one objective. If possible Tank companies should be kept intact and not split up over two or more objectives.
5. Duty of Advanced Tank
The duty of the Advanced tank is to proceed slightly ahead of the Main Body and threaten the enemy and keep down his fire whilst the Main Body followed by the infantry advance on and cross the enemy's wire and trenches. Once this duty is finished, the Advanced tank will become a reserve to the main body and render it, if required, immediate assistance.
6. Duty of the Tank Main Body
The duty of the Main Tank Body is to place the infantry through the wire and to assist and protect them whilst capturing the objectives.
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7. Area of operations of Tank main Body and Advanced Guard
The Area of Operations of the Main Body is the objective itself, that of the Advanced tank is the ground immediately in front of the objective and, generally speaking, on our side of the trench to be captured.
8. Number of Tanks to Frontages
The proportion of Tanks to be employed on any one front will depend more on the numbers of tactical points this front contains than on its extent. As a rough rule the allotment of Tanks to any one front may be calculated at one every 100 to 200 yards of frontage.
9. Tank Formation of Attack
The Tank Unit of attack will be a section of 3 Tanks which will work together, one acting as the Advanced Tank and two as the Main Body Tanks. If one of the Main Body Tanks break down, the Advanced Tank will replace it and lead the infantry on. The formation of should be one which will permit of tanks in sections of three being launched at definite tactical points, rather than one in line equally distributed along the whole frontage; for the object of the Tanks is to penetrate the objectives at several points, place the infantry through at these points and then protect the infantry as they work down the trenches.
Briefly the object of the Tank is to break the enemy's line and then assist the Infantry to envelop the unbroken portions of it.
10. Allotment of Infantry to Tanks
Normally Infantry will only follow the Main Body. The number allocated to operate with each Tank will depend on the strength of the objective to be attacked and the nature and situation of the obstacles leading up to it. In most cases it will not be advisable to allocate more than one platoon (36 to 40 men) to follow immediately each tank; as the path crushed down through the wire by the two tracks of the tank will only permit of men along them in single file, and any crowding of the points of penetration may result in unnecessary casualties.
This allotment of one platoon per tank does not prevent several other platoons following on behind and making use of the paths created. If the enemy's fire is not heavy, it should generally be feasible to traverse one path by four platoons without undue delay. Hurried crossings must however be avoided, for if the men catch their feet in the crushed wire and pull it up, delay to those in rear will delay.
11. Formation of the Infantry (see Diagram 2)
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In order to facilitate this approach, Infantry should be organised in Section Single Files. These single files can advance either in small Platoon Columns of four single files abreast, or in two of two abreast, or singly. They can also be rapidly formed into line should it be necessary to use their rifles. Whoever is at the head of the file is automatically file leader. This system enables command to be maintained during the approach and is most suitable for working with Tanks, as eventually single files have to be formed to cross the enemy's wire.
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12. Organisation of the Infantry Formation ( See Diagram 3)
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The Infantry for each Trench Objective should be organised in three waves or lines.
1. Trench Cleaners
2. Trench Stops
3. Supports
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Their duties will be as follows: -
1. To operate with the tanks and clear the trenches.
2. To form "stops" in the trenches at various points and improve paths through the wire. To mark these paths by means of flags so that those following may see where the gaps exist. To place ladders in the captured trench, or prepare the parados for rapid exit.
3. To support (1) and (2) and form an Infantry Advanced Guard on the further side of the trench to protect the advance of the next Echelon .
Diagram 3 gives diagramatically the formation suggested for a company of Tanks and two Battalions of Infantry
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13. The Organisation of the Trench Clearing Platoon
The Trench Clearing Platoon should be organised on the lines laid down in S.S.143, the bombers ( 1 section) alone entering the trench, the remaining three sections working with the Tank along the trench in the open.
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14. Forming Up for the Attack (See diagram 3)
Tanks and Infantry will usually have to form up during hours of darkness, consequently if noise and confusion are to be prevented the most complete preparation for their assembly must be undertaken and the falling in and movements must be reduced to a simple drill.
The preparation will consist in marking out the exact places where Tank and Infantry will stand and in taping and preparing routes for the places of assembly (Starting Points) and forward from them.
Diagram 3 shows a method of forming up a Company for the attack: A, B, C, D, are the Advanced Tanks, E,F., G,H., I,J., and K,L. those of the Main Body. Immediately behind these are placed 8 platoon each on a file frontage, that is two sections in single file side by side, and two in similar formation behind them, these 8 platoons form the Trench Cleaners.
At 50 yards behind the Trench Cleaners come 8 more platoons in similar formation, these are the Trench Stops. Behind these, at whatever distance considered necessary, is drawn up the supports in two lines, consisting of 8 platoons each as shown in Diagram 3.
15. Forward Movement
The movement forward will usually take place at dawn, the whole echelon moving off together, the Advanced Tanks slightly ahead. Zero hour must be selected at a time which will permit of the Tank drivers seeing their way.
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16. The Attack (See diagram 4 and 5)
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The Advanced Tanks will cross straight over the enemy's wire and owing (sic) to the left and move along the enemy's trench close to the parapet. they will not cross the trench until the Main Body tanks and the Infantry are over.
The Main Body Tanks will traverse the enemy's trench at the same spot, so as to economise on the use of fascines. One will move down the fire trench and the other proceed forward to the support trench, where if necessary it will cast it's fascine and cross over, then turn and work down the support trench to the left.
Diagram 4. and 5. illustrate the action of two Tanks clearing the trench.
Once a Tank Section Attack Area is cleared, the advanced and main body body tanks should move forward and join those of the next echelon, which will probably by this time have gone through. By so doing each echelon will be reinforced as the battle proceeds. Infantry will not accompany these tanks in this movement.
Once the infantry have been well placed in the enemy's trenches by the Tanks they must depend on themselves to do all minor cleaning up work, as the number of tanks available will seldom permit of tanks remaining with them throughout an entire operation.
Should a Tank break down the infantry must press on themselves; their security will depend on so doing.
17. Rallying
If Tanks have been ordered to rally, so that they may reorganise for further operations, Infantry must release them from their protective duties at the earliest moment, for delay in doing so may cause failure in the plan of attack.
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18. Precautions in Crossing Wire
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Tanks working in threes should cross the wire at the same spot or if this is not feasible, at intervals of not less than 100 yards. The reason for this is that is has been found that if two tanks cross the wire at a less interval, the Second Tank crossing sometimes lessens the wire crushed down by the first and partially closes the gap first made.
Infantry should keep from 25 to 50 paces behind the Tank as it enters the wire, so as not to get entangled in any trailing strands. Crowding round the tank must be guarded against and also hurried progress along the paths made, for otherwise loops of wire may be pulled by the men's feet and the advance of those in rear delayed.
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19. Tank Fascines
Every fighting tank will carry a Tank fascine. This consists of a large bundle of brushwood about 4ft 6in. in diameter. It is used to fill in wide trenches and so enable the Tank to cross them. Whenever a Tank Fascine is used, the tank Commander will have a red and yellow flag thrown out of the Tank, if he is unable to fix it in the ground. All infantry, and especially those of the Trench Stopping Party must be warned to look out for these flags and when they find one, to stick it into the parapet three paces away to the right or left of the Tank Fascine. The flag must not be placed immediately opposite the fascine, otherwise the next tank crossing will either knock it over or have to send a man out to remove it.
20 Training
The training of Infantry and Tanks will be carried out on the above lines, the following points being observed: -
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