Tank Battalion Strength

[Keith Woodland]

I have recently acquired from the Tank Museum the war diaries of the 10th Battalion. I am struck by the fact that the strength is shown as being about 500 other ranks and over 30 officers. It varies from time to time but they never seemed to have more than 30 Tanks at anyone time. This would seem to me to mean that over 200 men didnt crew a Tank. Does anyone know what the establishment of a Battalion was, did a tank have one crew come what may, how many tanks should a Battalion have had and how many fitters, MT drivers they had? alot questions but maybe someone knows a book which lists it all. many thanks in anticipation.

[delta]

The establiishment for a Bn was 36 tanks ( 3 companies of 12)

[Keith Woodland]

The establiishment for a Bn was 36 tanks ( 3 companies of 12)

Thanks for that, the 10th Battalion was never up to strength between June and November 1918 and at times had no tanks at all. Thats according to the war diaries.

[phil@basildon]

The Mk 1 and Mk IV tanks each had an 8 man crew so up to strength a tank battalion would require 288 men just to man the tanks. If you add the likes of mechanics and armourers to that total 530 men seems to be a reasonable figure.

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Keith

In July 1918 a tank battalion had three companies, each of four sections of five tanks. Manpower was 91 officers and 608 men, which would have included a proportion of replacements for casualties, especially among officers.

Ron

[Keith Woodland]

Hello Keith

In July 1918 a tank battalion had three companies, each of four sections of five tanks. Manpower was 91 officers and 608 men, which would have included a proportion of replacements for casualties, especially among officers.

Ron

Ron, thanks for that, the 10th battalion were down on both men and tanks, according to those figures, in the time I am interested in and it perhaps also explains why they saw so little action at that time.