"Air Power at Cambrai, 1917" Topic
4 Posts
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| Kaoschallenged | 20 Mar 2013 8:18 p.m. PST |
"The First World War operation begun outside the northern
French town of Cambrai at dawn on 20 November 1917 has
often been called the world's First Great Tank Battle. Before the day was over, the British assault force of six infantry divisions—led by 320 combat tanks—had created a hole in German defences almost ten kilometres wide and six kilometres deep, with surprisingly few casualties. Success
on this scale had eluded the Allies throughout 1917, including during the grinding Third Ypres offensive just ended. News of Cambrai set church bells ringing in England for the first time in the war, and had one London newspaper proclaiming that General Haig, the British Commander in-
Chief in France, was ‘through the Hindenburg Line'."
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Puster  | 21 Mar 2013 3:33 a.m. PST |
The "great victory" of Cambrai, a battle that ended up with practically no gains and similar losses on both sides. Good article, btw, though a bit more depth on the doctrines used by the air forces would have made it even better. |
| Schogun | 21 Mar 2013 4:55 a.m. PST |
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| Kaoschallenged | 21 Mar 2013 8:50 a.m. PST |
Battle of Cambrai
"The British first employed the combined arms concept at Cambrai in 1917 and permanently changed modern land warfare. Discussion: On 20 November 1917, the British Third Army launched a surprise attack against the German Hindenburg Line, achieving remarkable success. This seemingly impenetrable trench system consisting of bunkers and wire barriers failed to halt the British attack. The effective combined use of aircraft, artillery, infantry, and tanks resulted in a breach some six miles wide. British forces rapidly penetrated more than five miles into German held territory. In past offensives, fifty-one combined British divisions could not achieve such a penetration against the Germans. Conclusion: The British forces displayed an ability to adapt to, and carry out new strategies of combat. The concept of employing dismounted infantry forces with tanks, supported by artillery and aircraft, and a synchronized effort was revolutionary. As early as the following year (1918), future battles would employ this new combined arms concept. It was here, at Cambrai, where military strategists first developed the tactics and strategy for World War II. Today, the doctrine of the u.s. Army encourages these same principles to rapidly destroy the enemy and command the battlefield."
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