This my first combined open collaborative thread so If I sound bad I do apologise.
Special thanks go to
@ swamp tiger
@Cryhavoc101
@Lord Wyclif
@Derwit
@Some Bloke
@marathag
@steamboy
@Dorknought (Über A10 picture)
With that let's go forwards
1926 The experimental mechanized force is created to test new and radical techniques and equipment required for armoured warfare using General George Milne plan for a combine arms force and approach in battle, the project was to also to see what would it would take to stop tanks. The first exercise Eastland vs. Westland saw that the whole force was vulnerable to dug in artillery, anti tank guns and air attacks, the lack of proper communication meant inability to have fire support before attacks which lead to one of the west land surrounded and attack by east land forces.
There was one a two year wait period for more armored vehicles to be made in the that time the birch gun was all impressed into royal artillery who were very much intrigued by self propelled guns which meant that guns would be bogged down and the loyd carrier was as the EMF was renamed the armored force and brigade was expanded in 1928–1933. The brigade was pitted against the both mechanized and none mechanized forces using strategies and tactics designed for quasi-independent attacks on an enemy's organisation behind the front line by exploiting an opponent's weakness rather than full frontal attack. Needless to say the exercises also generated a lot protests as none mechanized opposing teams lost. The Battle of Beresford Bridge was the toughest simulated battle, the exercise began at 2:00 AM this left limited time, the force split up into battlions one was to do a diversion using the infantry seizing the canal crossing for the tanks, the other was to do a head on attack. The plan succeeded to an extent on the hand the diversion was forced retire due to the air attacks the other while taking it's objective was potentially cut off. Liddell Hart criticised the exercises as being biased, which was found to be true.
The exercises showed that infantry was needed to gain control of areas, trucks were hopeless in following tanks on rough ground and vulnerable, engineers were needed to clear obstacles. This scale of operations also gave round a radical approach and idea until 1934 a single type that could do both a medium and heavy tank. The changing economy slowed the armed forces development to a degree.
In 1934 idea of a Jack of all trades tank came around, the idea was to cut down on the light, heavy or in this case upcoming cruiser and infantry tank class into one 'universal' tank. Britain's economy was not at its best and wary of military spending it took a lot of lobbying and persuasion to get it. The A7-8 gave way to the A9 cruiser tank, the A10 developed by Sir John Carden was chosen for this, by sheer luck John Carden missed his flight in 1935 which crashed allowing him further the A10, there were numerous changes made to it, one was the change in suspension system that went from modified three-wheel
Horstmann suspension "Slow Motion" type to regular strengthened version seen in on universal carriers, there were two problems and big resistance point, the engine and the gun, the A10 was a more armored A9 without its spare machine guns turrets and the engine was the same which meant it was slow on the battlefield. Kestrel was commissioned to create a more powerful and reliable engine, the second was the cannon there were plans to change the 3 pounder seen in the MK 1 medium to the 2 pounder it had excellent armour piercing capabilities but had a '----- poor' H.E shell which led to biggest resistances point the royal artillery who were very stubborn and proud were not keen on having the tank Corp firing H.E shells even with the birch gun III, thus a compromise was made ease the bruised egos after the massive arguments in the of the royal artillery getting their own specialised vehicles much to the horror of Britain's accountants...
The QF 6-pounder 10 cwt gun was chosen for the new A11 heavy cruiser MK I which arrived into service in late 1937, the royal artillery Corp got the AT-1 assault gun.
The second most bizarre and radical proposal was the A14 troop carrier in mid 1938, it consisted of the Vickers MK VI light tank stretched, with a fully enclosed compartment to carry troops in the rear. There were more suspicions and teeth grinding horror from the treasury at this new project even with slightly higher costs for the A14 as such small amounts were produced in early 1939 much to the disdain from planners and commanders interested in mechanized infantry.
But right there and then Britain's army was the most advanced military in the world and there would a chance to test them was right around the corner.
Special thanks go to
@ swamp tiger
@Cryhavoc101
@Lord Wyclif
@Derwit
@Some Bloke
@marathag
@steamboy
@Dorknought (Über A10 picture)
With that let's go forwards
1926 The experimental mechanized force is created to test new and radical techniques and equipment required for armoured warfare using General George Milne plan for a combine arms force and approach in battle, the project was to also to see what would it would take to stop tanks. The first exercise Eastland vs. Westland saw that the whole force was vulnerable to dug in artillery, anti tank guns and air attacks, the lack of proper communication meant inability to have fire support before attacks which lead to one of the west land surrounded and attack by east land forces.
There was one a two year wait period for more armored vehicles to be made in the that time the birch gun was all impressed into royal artillery who were very much intrigued by self propelled guns which meant that guns would be bogged down and the loyd carrier was as the EMF was renamed the armored force and brigade was expanded in 1928–1933. The brigade was pitted against the both mechanized and none mechanized forces using strategies and tactics designed for quasi-independent attacks on an enemy's organisation behind the front line by exploiting an opponent's weakness rather than full frontal attack. Needless to say the exercises also generated a lot protests as none mechanized opposing teams lost. The Battle of Beresford Bridge was the toughest simulated battle, the exercise began at 2:00 AM this left limited time, the force split up into battlions one was to do a diversion using the infantry seizing the canal crossing for the tanks, the other was to do a head on attack. The plan succeeded to an extent on the hand the diversion was forced retire due to the air attacks the other while taking it's objective was potentially cut off. Liddell Hart criticised the exercises as being biased, which was found to be true.
The exercises showed that infantry was needed to gain control of areas, trucks were hopeless in following tanks on rough ground and vulnerable, engineers were needed to clear obstacles. This scale of operations also gave round a radical approach and idea until 1934 a single type that could do both a medium and heavy tank. The changing economy slowed the armed forces development to a degree.
In 1934 idea of a Jack of all trades tank came around, the idea was to cut down on the light, heavy or in this case upcoming cruiser and infantry tank class into one 'universal' tank. Britain's economy was not at its best and wary of military spending it took a lot of lobbying and persuasion to get it. The A7-8 gave way to the A9 cruiser tank, the A10 developed by Sir John Carden was chosen for this, by sheer luck John Carden missed his flight in 1935 which crashed allowing him further the A10, there were numerous changes made to it, one was the change in suspension system that went from modified three-wheel
Horstmann suspension "Slow Motion" type to regular strengthened version seen in on universal carriers, there were two problems and big resistance point, the engine and the gun, the A10 was a more armored A9 without its spare machine guns turrets and the engine was the same which meant it was slow on the battlefield. Kestrel was commissioned to create a more powerful and reliable engine, the second was the cannon there were plans to change the 3 pounder seen in the MK 1 medium to the 2 pounder it had excellent armour piercing capabilities but had a '----- poor' H.E shell which led to biggest resistances point the royal artillery who were very stubborn and proud were not keen on having the tank Corp firing H.E shells even with the birch gun III, thus a compromise was made ease the bruised egos after the massive arguments in the of the royal artillery getting their own specialised vehicles much to the horror of Britain's accountants...
The QF 6-pounder 10 cwt gun was chosen for the new A11 heavy cruiser MK I which arrived into service in late 1937, the royal artillery Corp got the AT-1 assault gun.
The second most bizarre and radical proposal was the A14 troop carrier in mid 1938, it consisted of the Vickers MK VI light tank stretched, with a fully enclosed compartment to carry troops in the rear. There were more suspicions and teeth grinding horror from the treasury at this new project even with slightly higher costs for the A14 as such small amounts were produced in early 1939 much to the disdain from planners and commanders interested in mechanized infantry.
But right there and then Britain's army was the most advanced military in the world and there would a chance to test them was right around the corner.