A strategic landmark in the costly slogging match that was trench warfare came at Cambrai when British forces first used them 'en-masse' and in a coordinated attack with infantry, artillery and (not so successfully) cavalry. So successful was the appearance of about 400 of these brutes that a huge hole 5 miles wide and 6 miles deep was achieved in the first two phases of the attack. It seemed like the big breakthrough might happen- only for a combination of stout German resistance, a lack of vision from the British General Staff (step up Sir Haig again) and a savage counter attack from the Germans to put the forces back where they started from. So it ended up being a case of the same old one step forward one step back progress on the Western Front. Briefly here is what happened.
This is a Mark IV tank using it's ditching beam to help cross an obstacle. It was 400 or so of these that were built up around Havrincourt in the weeks leading up to the offensive. The infantry were rotated out of the line to train with them. At 0620 hours on Tuesday Nov 20, 1917 there was short bombardment and then the tanks set off at the same time as the infantry.
This is taken from Flesquieres - which at this point is the German front line! The advance came across the countryside in front of this hedge.
This panorama is taken from the same spot with Ribecourt to the left and Havrincourt to the right. Despite desperate German resistance (there are reports of one lone gunner remaining at this post and dispatching anything between 6 and 15 of the type of tanks pictured above) the tanks broke through and great progress was made by the supporting West Riding Div (62nd). The 51st Highland Div was unfortunately stopped in its tracks. The breakthrough could not be exploited - the cavalry were too far back in Albert (trust me that is too far back - its well over 25km back to them) and there were no strategic reserves (all involved at Passchendale which I will post on over the weekend). Good old Haig decided to push on anyway and the attacks eventually stalled near Bourlon Wood, which dominates the approach to Cambraii a few miles ahead.
The Germans counter-attacked at the Allies withdrew. The famous Hindenburg line had almost been breached.
Here is more on the remarkable tank - which came into being thanks to another of Winston Churchills famous brief memos. The one that led to the vast Mulberry artificial harbour at Arromanches in Normandy is a master-class in brevity.
Only about 7 Mark IV tanks are known to survive. The first ones were made in Lincoln - a little know fact you pick up in the world of consulting...when a project takes you there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Heavy_Tanks_of_World_War_I
and more on the Battle of Cambrai
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cambrai_(1917)
Warfare is a fascinating subject. Despite the dubious morality of using violence to achieve personal or political aims. It remains that conflict has been used to do just that throughout recorded history.
ReplyDeleteYour article is very well done, a good read.