Culp Posted 5 June , 2023 Share Posted 5 June , 2023 This may be a stupid question. I'm reading a lot about tanks at the moment. I'm reading about fascines and cribs carried to help them cross German trenches. The question occurred to me When going into battle, how did the tanks cross friendly lines before getting to the German ones? I can't find anything in the books Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradleyShoebottom Posted 6 June , 2023 Share Posted 6 June , 2023 They would take roads (although not plank roads) and they were notorious for damaging telephone wires and light railway tracks. These references come from the Canadian Engineers files of the National Archives of Canada. I am doing my Phd on the subject of the Canadian Engineers so I will have a section on damage done to roads and railways by friendly forces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Open Bolt Posted 6 June , 2023 Share Posted 6 June , 2023 In preparation for an attack, sections of your own trenches were filled in so that tanks could cross them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Culp Posted 6 June , 2023 Author Share Posted 6 June , 2023 Thanks for the replies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenbecker Posted 10 June , 2023 Share Posted 10 June , 2023 Mate, from what I read, Tanks were moved to there assembly area on roads, until having to go to a FUP. The paths were marked, so they were pre prep to move cross country I had not heard of filling in trenches, but when you think about it, it does sound logical. The again there are a lot of filling to do, as there was more then one line of freindly trenches to cross. There was always a guide to lead the way as a column of Tanks is noisy and a big target Interesting reading is the Aussie battles at Hamel and Amiens, where Monash had many ways to hide the move by Tanks. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMeech Posted 11 June , 2023 Share Posted 11 June , 2023 On 05/06/2023 at 22:33, Culp said: This may be a stupid question. I'm reading a lot about tanks at the moment. I'm reading about fascines and cribs carried to help them cross German trenches. The question occurred to me When going into battle, how did the tanks cross friendly lines before getting to the German ones? I can't find anything in the books Thanks Hi Information on this appears in documents from Swinton's February 1916 document onwards. S.S. 214 'Tanks and their Employment in Co-operation with Other Arms' of August 1918 has the following: Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Open Bolt Posted 12 June , 2023 Share Posted 12 June , 2023 Here is the prep in October 1916 for Beaumont Hamel (WO/95/2883_3) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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