Tim Gosling tells the story of the first massed tank attack on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Cambrai
On November 20, 1917 General Haig launched a massive assault across the German Hindenburg line towards the French town of Cambrai. This town was used by the Germans as a supply depot and its capture would also threaten the rear of the German line located to the north making it a very valuable objective.
Having been a quiet area, the German defences had been established in depth of up to six miles in places making a complete breakthrough a significant challenge. The British High Command had developed new tactics to overcome this. Tanks were to be used in a mass assault to crush the barbed wire allowing the infantry to advance unhindered and by dropping fascines (large bundles of brushwood) into the trenches to allow the tanks to cross them.
Improvements in artillery ranging enabled far greater accuracy from the 1,003 pieces of artillery that would join the battle. Improved infantry tactics had been developed whereby the troops would follow behind the tanks using them as protection to reduce casualties. Time was of great importance, Haig allowed 48 hours for the town of Cambrai to be encircled a…
