Lessons Learned From 20th Century Tank Warfare

This study is an historical analysis of lessons learned concerning tank mobility, firepower, protection, command and control, and overall design during the major tank warfighting experience of the 20th Century. The aim of this study was to make a determination concerning the existence or non-existence of a common thread of lessons learned during individual and small unit (company size or smaller) tank fighting. The major tank warfare experiences examined were World War I, World War II, and the Arab-Israeli 1967 and 1973 Wars. The lessons learned were gleaned from sources written by soldiers, engineers, and historians who had either participated in or studied the particular tank warfare experience. Lessons are grouped into five areas; mobility, firepower, protection, command and control, and overall design. This study concludes that a common thread of lessons learned concerning individual and small unit (company size or smaller) tank fighting. The major tank warfare experiences examined were World War I, World War II, and the Arab-Israeli 1967 and 1973 Wars. The lessons learned were gleaned from sources written by soldiers, engineers, and historians who had either participated in or studied the particular tank warfare experience. Lessons are grouped into five areas; mobility, firepower, protection, command and control, and overall design. This study concludes that a common thread of lessons learned concerning individual and small unit tank fighting does exist throughout the major warfighting experiences of the 20th century.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.