British Tank Crewman 1939-45

Great Britain had introduced the tank to the world during World War I, and maintained its lead in armoured warfare with the ''Experimental Mechanised Force'' during the late 1920s, watched with interest by German advocates of Blitzkrieg. Despite these successes, the Experimental Mechanised Force was disbanded in the 1930s, making Britain relatively unprepared for World War II, both in terms of armoured doctrine and equipment. This fully illustrated new study examines the men who crewed the tanks of Britain''s armoured force during World War II, which was only four battalions large in 1939. It looks at the recruitment and training of the vast numbers of men required, their equipment, appearance and combat experience in every theatre of the war as the British armoured division sought to catch up with the German Panzers.>

List of contents

Introduction /Chronology /Recruitment and Enlistment /Training /Appearance and Equipment /Belief and Belonging /Conditions of Service /Experience of Battle /After the Battle /Collections and Museums/Glossary

About the author

Neil Grant has a degree in archaeology, and has worked for English Heritage and Historic England. He has written several volumes for Osprey Publishing, including Warrior 183: British Tank Crewman 1939¿45. Neil is a Trustee of the Royal Armouries and a committee member of the Ordnance Society. He also runs the social media page for the membership organization of the Tank Museum in Bovington, UK.

Summary

Great Britain had introduced the tank to the world during World War I, and maintained its lead in armoured warfare with the 'Experimental Mechanised Force' during the late 1920s, watched with interest by German advocates of Blitzkrieg. Despite these successes, the Experimental Mechanised Force was disbanded in the 1930s, making Britain relatively unprepared for World War II, both in terms of armoured doctrine and equipment.

This fully illustrated new study examines the men who crewed the tanks of Britain's armoured force during World War II, which was only four battalions large in 1939. It looks at the recruitment and training of the vast numbers of men required, their equipment, appearance and combat experience in every theatre of the war as the British armoured division sought to catch up with the German Panzers.

Product details

• Authors: Neil Grant
• Assisted by: Graham Turner (Illustration), Graham (Illustrator) Turner (Illustration), Nikolai Bogdanovic (Co-editor)
• Publisher: Osprey Publishers
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.12.2017
• EAN: 9781472816962
• ISBN: 978-1-4728-1696-2
• No. of pages: 64
• Dimensions: 184 mm x 248 mm x 7 mm
• Series: Warrior; Warrior
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political administration; 1940 bis 1949 n. Chr., Europäische Geschichte, Militärfahrzeuge, Vereinigtes Königreich, Großbritannien, Geschichte allgemein und Weltgeschichte, Bodentruppen und Kriegsführung, Moderne Kriegsführung, military history, HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century, HISTORY / Military / Vehicles, Warfare & defence, Second World War, HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / General, Weapons & equipment, British; Land forces; weapons; Churchill; Matilda