Tanks of the Second World War

Thomas Anderson

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781526796585
• eBook ISBN: 9781473859340
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

This comprehensive reference book presents detailed information on both Allied and Axis tanks used during WWII—illustrated with photos throughout.
 
In Tanks of the Second World War, military historian Thomas Anderson lists all the tanks that saw significant combat, covering vehicles used by every country involved in the conflict. Presenting his subject chronologically, Anderson tracks the development of tank design and technology from World War I and the interwar period through the developments and variations that arose during World War II.
 
Detailing each vehicle's technical specifications and uses in battle, this comprehensive survey also provides authentic eyewitness accounts of the tanks and their crews in battle. The text is supported throughout with wartime photographs, many of which have never been published before.

Tanks in Action, the 1930s

In the mid-1930s, the security situation in Europe deteriorated noticeably. The errors in “handicrafting” of the Treaty of Versailles were to be avenged, particularly by Germany. In 1933 the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler took power, as Mussolini had done in Italy a decade before. Hitler’s radical ideology led to an aggressive, expansionist policy. In Europe, the storm clouds began to gather .…

During a pre-war exercise, a column of PzKpfw I Ausf.A seen passing along a country lane. (Anderson)

Spain was also equipped with the French FT-17. In the background is a Spanish domestic development, the Trubia Naval. This was based on the chassis of an agricultural tractor on caterpillar tracks without suspension and mostly given two MGs. Three of the four Trubias built were operated by the Nationalists. (Anderson)

Japan’s War in Manchuria

After their success in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905, the victorious Japanese began to extend their influence on the Chinese mainland. Manchuria, an area rich in raw materials, was important for their ideas of hegemony in the Pacific region, and Japanese forces occupied a number of territories. In 1931 partisans made a dynamite attack on a Japanese Army railway transport, recorded in history as the Mukden Incident. As a result, the Japanese launched a full-scale invasion of Manchuria.

During the fighting around Shanghai, Japanese tanks were deployed in large numbers for the first time. The few available tiny Chinese tanks stood no chance against the Type 89 Chi-Ro with its powerful armament. A fresh conflict flared up in 1939 between Japanese and Soviet forces. The Type 89 and the newer Type 95 tanks facing Soviet T-26’s and BT’s were clearly inferior in armament. The Type 97, also involved, proved more manouevrable but its 57 mm infantry gun was unsuitable for anti-tank warfare.

The Trubia A4 was a different design also armed with two MGs. The armour was 16 mm unhardened steel. These vehicles were only useful in skirmishes with poorly armed troops, and were often used in urban fighting on wheels instead of tracks. (Anderson)

Italy delivered over 150 CV-33 lightly armed MG-carriers to the Nationalists. Though useful against enemy infantry by virtue of manouevrability, a CV-33 was of little value against a T-26. (Anderson)

Italy’s Crusade for Colonies in East Africa

Towards the end of the 19th century, the kingdom of Italy had attempted to become a colonial power. The Ethiopian adventure of 1895/96 had ended in defeat for Italy. Benito Mussolini decided to resume the effort in the 1930s. Africa was already completely sliced up between the colonial powers, and all that was left was Ethiopia in the East. Using a pretext, in 1934 Italy attacked again with a force of more than 200,000 troops. After a bitterly fought war in which Italy used mustard gas, Mussolini declared the King of Italy to be Emperor of Ethiopia and subsequently he annexed Abyssinia.

During the fighting Italy deployed about 500 Type CV-33 midget tanks. The Italian air force and artillery in combination had superiority in materials and quality. The individual small tanks were lured by the natives into pitfalls in the manner of wild hunters and the crews then speared to death.

The Legion Condor of the German Reich delivered a series of PzKpfw I panzers, in the photo is an Ausf.A. German experts trained the Nationalist Spanish crews. This panzer appears to be damaged, following the German custom a flag was planted on the turret. (Anderson)

This small armoured command panzer has the Spanish colours on the superstructure front. The German contingent (panzers, guns, aircraft) was a great help for Franco and also useful for the German military since the new technology could be seen in action and the value of the new tactical principles examined under realistic battlefield conditions. (Anderson).

The Spanish Civil War

Between 1936 and 1939 a bitter civil war raged in Spain between the democratic Republicans and Nationalist rebels led by General Franco. A couple of years before the outbreak of the Second World War, to a certain extent it was a practice on the sidelines for the coming war by representatives of the opposing world political views.

The respective combatants used armoured fighting vehicles in the violent engagements, and all kinds of lorry chassis were converted for the purpose. Spain’s own armour, dating from the 1920’s and consisting in the main of ex-French FT-17’s and a few local developments, was soon supported by supplies of modern tanks from abroad.

From early on, both sides had support from foreign States. The Fascists received weapons and training from the German Reich and Italy. Germany sent PzKpfw I (Ausf.A and B) together with panzer command tanks (and also aircraft, artillery, flak and anti-tank guns). The actual number of panzers is not certain, estimates vary between 90 and 150. Fascist Italy provided Franco with 150 midget Type CV-33’s.

German personnel trained soldiers wherever required without becoming involved themselves in the fighting. This support was ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Acknowledgements
• Copyright
• Contents
• Tank Warfare!
• Genesis: The Armoured Vehicle over the Millenia
• The Inter-war Period
• Tanks in Action, the 1930s
• Prospect: The Long Road to the Main Battle Tank
• Bibliography