Randomizer
Posts: 1473
Joined: 6/28/2008
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quote:
I do think that while the shock factor of the first use of tanks on 15th Sept 16 was diminished through their limited numbers, that a lot was learned (tactically and technically) through the early deployments of armour. We forget that these 'land ships' were completely new, and there was a massively steep learning curve.
This is huge and refreshing to see in an Internet forum where the oft-repeated canard that the initial use of tanks in 1916 somehow spoiled the surprise lives on despite massive evidence to the contrary. The belief that employing the tanks on the Somme was a mistake is fine example of how WW1 mythology and propaganda is commonly accepted as WW1 fact; the counterfactual statements of the bitter tank-theorist cabal repeated ad nauseum until becoming widely believed as an absolute truth.
Without prior combat experiance would the Tank Corps have developed un-ditching beams, facsines, recovery tanks, radio tanks, spall linings and personal protective gear for the crews? All of these were the direct result of hard won combat experiance, sitting on the tanks until there were hundreds could well have lead to disaster since the element of surprise would have worked both ways. Besides, the French had no intention or inclination to delay the introduction of their tank force into combat so regardless, the cat would have been out of the bag anyway.
On the other hand it's not difficult to conclude that the role of the WW1 tank was entirely over-rated since attrition essentially halved there numbers on a daily basis. During the so-called Hundred Days the four division Canadian Corps seldom had more than five operational tanks in its entire area of responsibility and frequently none at all and yet it acheived significant tactical success without them. The crack Australian Corps also lacked constant armour support and performed superbly. Obviously tanks were not required for tactical success either during trench warfare or when mobility returned to the Western Front during the summer of 1918.
The Great War certainly has potential for recreating interesting tactical situations as it saw the birth of infantry and artillery tactics and techniques many of which are still valid today. Some might recall that the old SSI Wargame Construction Set III, TANKS, had WW1 tactical units and scope included in its scenario editor.
< Message edited by Randomizer -- 6/10/2010 11:37:35 PM >
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WW1 gamers are getting spoiled - 
I think more and more strategy and wargames should be made for the Netbooks moreso than hog desktops that have more power than is usually needed to run 99% of them anyway. I love the Netbook now. It's so light just around 2lbs or 3 and small and easily hideable. 
The Netbook is the perfect portable wargaming machine.
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