There were 8 British tank Battalions at the Battle of Cambrai Nov 1917. They were given letters of the alphabet. A Battalion, B Battalion etc..
Was there a standard number of tanks issued to each battalion or did it vary? Obviously the amount of tanks that were combat ready differed because of losses and mechanical breakdowns.
What was a battalion structure? What were groups of tanks in battalions called, company, squadron, troop, patrol? How many tanks were in each group?
Outline
1916
6 x 25 tank companies. 25 crews
- 4 x 6 tank sections and 1 spare tank
1917 and Early 1918
3 Tank brigades
- 2 or 3 Tank battalions, 60 crews each
- 3 companies of 12 fighting tanks and 2 supply tanks.
- 3 x 4 fighting tank sections, 1 x 2 supply tank section.
OR at Cambrai and mostly thereafter
- 4 x 3 fighting tank sections, 1 x 2 supply tank section.
1918 - August to October
5 (later 6) Tank brigades, 3rd Brigade is light
Heavy Brigades
- 3 x 36 Tank battalions, 60 crews each
- 3 companies of 12 fighting tanks and usually 2 spare tanks
- 4 x 3 fighting tank sections.
-1 x supply company – 24 supply tanks
- 4 x 6 supply tank sections.
3rd Light Brigade (only 3rd and 6th Battalions light, 9th battalion still heavy)
- 2 x 48 Light Tank battalions, 1 x 36 Heavy tank battalion, 60 crews each
- Light tank battalions
- 3 companies of 16 fighting tanks.
- 4 x 4 fighting tank sections
-1 x supply company – 24 supply tanks
- 4 x 6 supply tank sections
Willem