Figure 1.-- .

Optimal tank operating environment is flat or rolling ground without natural barriers to slow the tank or to create defensive positions. Flat terraine allows the tank to fully exploit one of its major features--mobility. This explains in part why all the great tank battles of World War II were all fought in Europe, primarily Eastern Europe. There were no important tank battles during the early years of the War before Hitler invaded the Sovoet Union. The early German victims except the Czechs did not have important tank formations. The Czechs, however, chose not to fight after the British and French deserted them. The French did have tanks, but French military doctrine was to divide them up to support infantry divisions rather than combine them into powerful armored divisions like the German Panzers. There were tank battles in the flat treeless environment of North Africa, but the numbers of men and ranks was relatively small. The primary importance of North Aftica is that Rommel essentially taught the British and Americans how to conduct modern mechanized warfare and effectively use their tanks. It was a painful lesson, but it was larned in a combat environmebt that the Germans did not have the strength to win. All the great armored battles were fought in the Bloodlands of Eastern Europe on the great Russian/Ukranian Steppe. The ultimate tank battle was of course fought here--Kursk (July 1943). Here enormous numbers of men and tanks were pitted in remorseless battle on flat terraine. The battles included the best tanks of the War, the Soviet T-34s and KV-1s and the German Panthers. And because of the huge extent of the battlefield and the relatively small size of the oposing air forces, the battles were often primarily tank on tank backed with anti-tank guns. There were of course tanks employed in the West with the D-Day landings. There were not, however, pitched battles between Allied and German tanks. The number of German tanks in the West by 1944 were limited and any attempt to mount massed armored attacks were disrupted by American air power. The Sherman M-4 tank had a number of attributes, especially numbers and mobility, but it was not on a par with the German tanks. American artillery and personal anti-tank weapons also impaired German armored attacks. The Brokage country of Normandy, especially the Hedgerows, prevented the Americans from using their superior number of tanks to break out. The open country of France beyond Normandy provided much better tank ground for armored warfare. And the limitations of the Sherman were made up for by American airpower. Only supply limitations and the Rhine stopped the Allies in 1944. There were no tank battles of any importance in the Pacific. The Chinese did not have tanks and the Japanese tanks were very poor. They could be used effectively against the Chinese, but not effectively against the Allies. The combat environments of Southeastern Asian juggle and Pacific islands were not optimal for tank operations. Tanks were used, but there were no pitched tank battles as was the case in Europe. The only one was on Sapan, but it was miniscule by European standards.

Flat Planes

Optimal tank operating environment is flat or rolling ground without natural barriers to slow the tank or to create defensive positions. Flat terraine allows the tank to fully exploit one of its major features--mobility. This explains in part why all the great tank battles of World War II were all fought in Europe, primarily Eastern Europe. There were no important tank battles during the early years of the War before Hitler invaded the Sovoet Union. The early German victims except the Czechs did not have important tank formations. The Czechs, however, chose not to fight after the British and French deserted them. The French did have tanks, but French military doctrine was to divide them up to support infantry divisions rather than combine them into powerful armored divisions like the German Panzers. All the great armored battles were fought in the Bloodlands of Eastern Europe on the great Russian/Ukranian Steppe. The ultimate tank battle was of course fought here--Kursk (July 1943). Here enormous numbers of men and tanks were pitted in remorseless battle on flat terraine. The battles included the best tanks of the War, the Soviet T-34s and KV-1s and the German Panthers. And because of the huge extent of the battlefield and the relatively small size of the oposing air forces, the battles were often primarily tank on tank backed with anti-tank guns. The open country of France beyond Normandy provided much better tank ground for armored warfare. And the limitations of the Sherman were made up for by American airpower. Only supply limitations and the Rhine stopped the Allies in 1944. There were no tank battles of any importance in the Pacific. The Chinese did not have tanks and the Japanese tanks were very poor. They could be used effectively against the Chinese, but not effectively against the Allies. The flt planes of Manchuria, however, provided the Soviets the opportunity for the Soviets to conduct a massive Blitzkrieg operation.

Deserts

There were tank battles in the flat treeless environment of North Africa, but the numbers of men and ranks was relatively small. The primary importance of North Aftica is that Rommel essentially taught the British and Americans how to conduct modern mechanized warfare and effectively use their tanks. It was a painful lesson, but it was larned in a combat environmebt that the Germans did not have the strength to win.

Coastal Amphibious Areas

Coastal areas became very imprtant in World War, probbly more imprtant than in any ther war in gistory. In Europe the western allies were kicked out of Eurooe by thec erly NZI vicyories. Thus to get back in anphibious operatiins would be needed This even included the invasiin og=f North Africa--Operation Torch. There were of course tanks employed in the West with the D-Day landings. There were not, however, pitched battles between Allied and German tanks on the level of those in the East. The number of German tanks in the West by 1944 were limited and any attempt to mount massed armored attacks were disrupted by American air power. The Sherman M-4 tank had a number of attributes, especially numbers and mobility, but it was not on a par with the German tanks. American artillery and personal anti-tank weapons also impaired German armored attacks. The basic problem was getting shore and establishing a secure lodgement. First superior air power abd second navl artillery. The Allies had unmatched artillery support from battleships, crusiers, abd destoyers tht the Germns ciould not match. And this was before Allies artillery was asjore. The Brokage country of Normandy, especially the Hedgerows, prevented the Americans from using their superior number of tanks to break out.

Arctic

Mountains

Jungles

None of the World War II combatantants planned to fight war in jungle except for the Japanese. The jungle did not seem to have either the all imprtant industry or the resources that the great powers coveted. But as it plyed out, the jungle was the key to the oil that the Japanese most civeted. And thgeir first land campaign was the very successful cdruve down the Malay Peninsula, covered by jungle, to take Singapore. Then there were the jungle campaigns in Burma, New Guinea, Guadakcabnal and the Solomons, culmining in the Marianas and the Ohilippines. The jungle may not ne the worst combat enviriment, but it is made enough. It can be dark with dense foliage endless hiding places. It has been described as a breeding ground for fear. Then there are troopical diseases and unpleasny fauna like poisinis snakes, scopions, leaches as wll as the ecer present insects, especially moisquitos. Heat. humioduty, and mud are constant. The Japnese at first oprioved very good at it. But they were not as at first thought to have an inate capanility for jungle warfare. The idea that jungle warfare favored the Japanese is absurd. The jungle indeed posed unique battlefield conditions such as disease and other medical issues, but this actually favored the Allies. First of all, there is no jungle in Japan. The Japanese did not grow up in jungle conditions any more than Americans. Second, the American soldier was healthier than the Japanese soldier. He was better fed and received much better medical care. That meant he could better deal with the challenges of tropical disease and jungle battlefield conditions. This was a major factor on Guadalcanal. which the Japanese came to call 'death island'. Third, the jungle produces little food. This was not a problem for the Americans who had a robust supply system. It was for the Japanese who had a weak supply chain, were poorly supplied, and whose military adopted the policy of 'self-sufficiency'. The Allied tactic was to cut off and isolate many Japanese garrisons and let the 'whiter on the vine'. The numbers speak for themselves. It has been estimated that some 1 million Japanese soldiers died because of starvation. That number includes deaths related to malnutrition which weakened their immune systems. Most of the deaths due to starvation occurred in the tropical areas of the South Pacific. Now the jungle did have a military advantage once the war went against them and they went on the defensive--concealment. But this was overcome by the vast superiority of Allied firepower. The combat environments of Southeastern Asian juggle and Pacific islands were not optimal for tank operations. Tanks were used, but there were no pitched tank battles as was the case in Europe. The only one was on Sapan, but it was miniscule by European standards.

Created: 7:23 PM 6/19/2024
Last updated: 7:23 PM 6/19/2024