1/2/2024 0 Comments Ww2 tank battles north africaWhile the latter provided thirteen M3 light tanks, which arrived in September 1941 (and 400 in total until mid-1942), the delivery of 140 Matilda IIs only started in July 1942. Australian forces in Africa and the Middle EastĪ commission was raised to investigate deliveries from Great Britain and the USA. The first were only armed with a machine-gun, while the last were obsolete. By 1940, although there was a sizable infantry force, the armor available was scarce, counting only the ten Mark VIs and four Mark IIs previously delivered. An all-volunteer force to serve overseas was therefore raised, known as the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF), as well as the 2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion, composed of elements of the 1st Light Horse (Machine Gun). Situation in 1939Īfter the start of the war in 1939, the government saw itself capped by limitations of the Defence Act (1903), which imposed only local militias, which could not leave the territory. It became the 1st Armoured Regiment, entirely re-equipped with Matilda tanks. In the meantime, the 1st Royal New South Wales Lancers were fully motorized. In 1939, ten Light Tank Mark VIa were obtained from Great Britain and completed the units. The 1st Tank Section was disbanded and replaced by the 1st Light Tank Company (Randwick, New South Wales) and the 2nd Light Tank Company (Caulfield, Victoria) in 1937. However, the great depression of 1930 stopped all development on the matter, whereas a regular tank cadre at least maintained some basic instruction. The first was based in New South Wales as a part-time militia unit. By 1927, two independent tank sections were raised with four Vickers Medium Mark II tanks provided by the UK. After WWI, the idea of integrating mechanized elements in traditional cavalry units was constantly on the minds of military men. Australian troops were indeed committed in action with British tanks, working on close cooperation tactics, notably at the Battle of Hamel (June 1918) and Amiens (August 1918). The roots of the Australian armored service can be traced back to the latter part of the First World War.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |