Tanks as the Most Useful Weapons for WWII - Essay Example

Title Name Course Date University Tanks are tracked armored fighting vehicle for front-line combat and combines operational mobility, defense capabilities and tactical offensive. Its large-calibre main gun provides it with firepower on a rotating turret with secondary machine guns. Its all-terrain mobility and heavy armor protect it and the crew making it possible to perform most of primary tasks done by armored troops in a battlefield.1 Tanks developed in response to the stalements brought about by trench warfare in WW I. The advancements and improvements greatly led to major victories in WW II for both Allied and Axis particularly in Europe, Soviet Union and North Africa. The first prototype was named tank as it resembled steel water tank. Tanks were invented in Great British in 1915 and WW I, as a vehicle capable of climbing 1.5 m parapet, 6 km/h (4 mph), would cross a 2.4 m (8 feet) wide gap, machine gun armed and light artillery pieces. France developed them later from 1917. Mark I’s for instance had rhomboid shape, 26 feet length, caterpillar tracks to navigate obstacles particularly wide trenches. Self propelled gun and an armored personnel carrier were later introduced in Mark V. They gradually improved during inter-war period with Soviet Union launching the air attack/ mass tank T-34 and underwent rapid changes to play its important role in WW II. However, the early Germany tanks were technologically inferior in firepower and armor to those of their opponents.2 Tanks became an immediate solution to trench warfare which created defense lines and reinforcing the natural boundaries for defense. Elaborate dugout systems and trenches systems ensured protection from assault creating an area called ‘no man’s land’ between the opposing forces. Tanks would then help to break enemy lines as the trenches were narrow but deep enough to hide the soldiers and tank designers took account of them in making their length. However, welded steel stars and wider trenches reduced tanks bridging-over but developed longer tanks would bridge trenches by themselves. The effectiveness of tanks in war eradicated trench warfare. This was specifically so in Battle of Kursk and Battle of Stalingrad where the Red Forces tactically used trenches to resist the advance of Nazi’s toward Moscow. The tanks were longer enough to cross the trenches allowing German’s forces to continue with the battle. In late 1930s, tactical employment of German tanks led them to dominate all rivals at the beginning of WW II with tanks like blitzkrieg with concentration of artillery and air power. The massive invasion of Soviet Union- Operation Barbarossa by Nazis with blitzkrieg attack gave them control of Finland, Poland and Romania. They further advanced 200 miles toward Moscow destroying 4,000 aircrafts with much defeated of Red Army troops.3German doctrine had stressed to use combined-arms like air support and mobile infantry which was successful in Fall Gelb execution. They moved the tactic to lighting warfare where German equipped the tanks with radios to provide unmatched control and command allowing them to locate their tanks and crew even in vast North African deserts. The radio technology mounted on tanks greatly replaced the old communication systems like massagers, flags and signal flares used in WW I. This was in contrast with French tanks whereby 80% lacked radio as their war tactics was low-paced with planned movements and deliberate conformance. Consequently, their tanks experienced poor commanding and control that immensely contribute to final outcome, defeating France.4 North African Campaign was also an important tanks battleground with its flat, desolate terrain and relatively few obstacles. However, British use of lighter tanks compared to German’s led to massive destruction of German Afrika Korps tanks, leading to their defeat by British Eighth Army in North Africa. Germany tanks advanced and improved during WW II which is attributed as significant productions. Most tanks were fitted with radios to improve the command and control. The two-way radio nearly became universal with most tanks adapted to wide range military jobs. Some of the tasks carried out using tanks were engineering and mine clearance. Other specialized models including flame-thrower, recovery tanks which towed the disabled ones and command tanks fitted with dummy turrets and radios were used. Heavier tanks were introduced as WW II proceeded with 1939’s weighing around 20 tons compared to 1945 30 to 45 tones. This was in response to carry maximum armor (60 mm thick) and guns (range 75-85 mm) which were thicker than their predecessors. 5As France’s tanks did not have radios, the Germans forces had major victories over them. Even though other countries produced significant numbers of tanks, German tanks are the best known.6 This is due to constant manner in which they were produced and improved to respond the war needs. Panzer I was the first-built German tank not for the purposes of combat but as training vehicle which familiarized the tank crews with the modern Germany’s battle concepts and prepared German forces for an upcoming war effort. The tanks nevertheless, were used for combat during Spanish Civil War in 1936, early WW II and elsewhere. Though it was less fitted with weapon and had armor shortcomings, it provided information to German military of tank warfare. Panzer II were produced in wait of medium tanks and was used alongside with Panzer I when German forces attacked Poland and France. Panzer III were produced during inter-war periods and was intended to be core German armor force. Originally it was designed in order to fight opponent’s tanks, though later replaced by IV and V to increase the firepower and the number of crew; it was German most produced armored fighting vehicle by 1941 with its self-propelled gun with chassis variant. Consideration for Panzer IV came when its 37 mm and its later 50 mm guns failed to keep pace with Soviet’s KV and T-34 tanks. Panzer IV, the German workhorse was used in combat for all theatres. The tank remained in reduction in the entire war. It used to fire high-explosive shells with 75 mm dual-purpose gun. Though it was originally intended as a support tank it dominated in the second half of WW II. In 1942 Panzer IV was rearmed with longer 75 mm which defeated most Soviet’s tanks. Panzer IVs were most used tanks in the last half of WW II.7 The Rommel’s campaign in North Africa in deserts and wasteland terrain suited mechanized operations of radio fitted Panzers. Rommel was successful due to mastery of tanks warfare. As there were few landmarks guide forces was significant and this advantaged German forces against the British’s. Panther was later developed by Nazi Germany to counter Russian T-34 and replace Panzer III and IV. Five members composed its crew, the driver, gunner, commander, loader and radio operator. Its front glacis plate increased from 2.4 to 3.1in and turret plate from 80mm-100mm. Its deployment started in mid-1943 but never replaced the latter while working alongside heavier Tiger tanks to the end of war. It excellently combined firepower, protection and mobility with 45 tones, 75 mm gun shell, five crew members and with sloped armor for protection. It was considered one of the best of German tanks in the war and also used as benchmark for late and post war tank design for other nations. Its key design including transmission, final drive and armor improved its production rates to address Germany’s shortages in the war. Its features including better frontal armor, sloping angle better gun penetration made it lighter and faster, able to handle the rough terrain better than Tigers. It was used in Eastern Front, Western Front in France, Ardennes Offensive and other combat. However, stronger US Sherman tanks and crew strongly opposed Panther-equipped Germans in Battle of Arracourt in 1944. This is because they were light and easily followed infantry to confined places as they were fast and lighter. Late in the war, Aug 1944 German deployed Tiger I which was mechanically reliable and in both grounds and air combat. However it had high full consumption, used labor intensive materials and its production methods were expensive. Track failures, complication of transport vulnerable to immobilization specifically in muddy, ice and snow places. In late 1944, Tiger II was designed which was more formidable, had thick armor and sloped armor of Tiger I and Panther respectively. It was protected of 100-180 mm armor in front. This was after Soviet Union invasion, that Tiger II heavy tanks with thick armor and formidable firepower were used. Tiger II were the most powerful and largest tanks by German forces in the war period. It had firepower and armor to withstand and knock any Allied tank. German tank with tactical innovation perhaps was the most amazing success. Most of them outclassed Allied armor, had more casualties due to German soldiers impressive training and excellent tactics.8 Joseph Stalin initiated the scorched earth policy which gave Allies victories in Finland and Norway when German forces retreated. In 1944, German undertook the scorched earth policy and destroyed building that sheltered the Allies forces interposing a belt ‘scorched earth’ between them and the allies. Tanks were undeniably the most useful weapons for WW II by the way they responded to the war efforts from 1939 to 1945. They responded to the need for heavier firepower, complemented infantry, operational in tracts, protective capacities, infantry support and attack through their major developments and improvements. The use of different classes of tanks by the allies and axis in major war zones impacted on the outcome. The light and medium tanks promoted the allies to win in North Africa due to speed and low consumption of fuel. Germany’s heavy tanks were very important for protection, heavy armory and increased crew making it possible for one tank to fight against many tanks and increased protection. Tanks were continuously modified and improved to perform a variety of roles. The armored vehicles for both sides implemented various anti-tank weaponry and those non-combat roles were very vital for crew protection, navigational as well as tanks safety. The use of tanks in different ways was key target to the opposing front which was common with both allies and axis. Germans held advantage in Eastern Europe and Soviet Union early in the war due to blitzkrieg tactics and immense power, while allied tanks won by use of smaller and lighter tanks, sheer tenacity and a combined industrial might that enabled tanks supply. Bibliography Boyne, Walter J. Clash of Wings: World War II in the Air. Simon & Schuster, 2012. Hamilton, John. World War II: Weapons. ABDO & Daughters, 2011. McCarthy, Peter, and Mike Syron. Panzerkrieg: The Rise and Fall of Hitler's Tank Divisions. Basic Books, 2003. Morison, Samuel Eliot. History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Vol. 11: The Invasion of France and Germany, 1944-1945. Vol. 11. University of Illinois Press, 2002. Overton, R. E. (2007). God Isn't Here: A Young Man's Entry Into World War II, and His Participation in the Battle for Iwo Jima. Amer Legacy Historical Press. Walters, M. J. Maintaining Tank and Infantry Integration Training. Marine Corps Command and Staff Coll Quantico Va, 2005. Wang, Z-Y., and Y-J. Tan. "A solution to dynamic weapon-target assignment in the tank warfare." Journal of National University of Defense Technology(China) 25, no. 6 (2003): 56-61. Read More