Tanks in Burma Armoured Formations & Units In Burma & N.E. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Tanks in Burma

Armoured Formations & Units In Burma & N.E. India 1942 1945

Burma Study Weekend, York, November 2018 By: Rob PALMER, M.A.

Agenda

• Introduction
• The Context
• 7 Armoured Brigade First Burma Campaign
• The Arakan 1943
• The Battle of the Admin Box
• Kohima, Imphal & Nunshigum
• 1944 45 Campaign including Meiktila
• Conclusions

The Second World War

• When did it commence?
• For U.K. = 3 September 1939
• Only 21 years after end of First World War
• Similar narrative to First World War?
• May 1940 changed everything Fall of France
• Unexpected Even by Germany
• U.K. decided to fight on CHURCHILL
• Role of Empire (Dominions) crucial SMUTS

The Far East

• Japan annexed Korea in 1910
• Japan with U.K. First World War Snubbed?
• At war with China since July 1937
• U.S. Sanctions Oil
• War Inevitable to gain resources oil/rubber
• 6 December Invasion convoy sighted off Malaya
• Invaded Malaya six hours BEFORE Pearl Harbor
• Hong Kong, Philippines, N.E.I., Burma

The State of Things

• India Third of British Army in India
• Indian Army = 21 Cavalry Regiments in 3 Groups
• Only armour with R.T.R. companies
• Role of Indian Army to reinforce Middle East
• No resources for Malaya (Singapore) or Burma
• Hong Kong expendable
• U.K. not able to fight war against THREE enemies
• Bury head in sand hope it will go away

7th Armoured Brigade

• 7th Queens Own Hussars
• 2nd Royal Tank Regiment
• Equipped with Stuart tanks in Egypt
• Sent to Malaya, diverted to Burma
• 21 February 1942 Arrived at Rangoon
• 24 February 1942 Prome to lift seige
• 19 25 April 1942 Under Chinese command
• 31 May 1942 Reached India with 1 tank

Stuart Tank 7th Hussars

7 Armd Bde Route and Actions in Burma

The Arakan 1943

• Advance down Mayu Peninsula
• C Sqn, 146 Regiment, R.A.C. (D.W.R.)
• Captain De COSTA + 2 Troops
• 17 miles walk for Recce
• 11.00 1 February 1943 Attack Commenced
• Initially good, then three tanks crashed into ditch
• Besa fire Rescue Attempt Halted
• Bodies of nine crew discovered in 1945 (York)

The Valentine tank

The Battle of the Admin Box

• Advance by XV Indian Corps
• 25th Dragoons (Lee tanks) as Corps Troops
• Japanese counter-attack surrounds 7 Ind Div
• 5 23 February 1944 Admin Box
• B and C Sqns leaguer at night, attack at day
• Supported infantry
• Tanks so effective, suicide attacks on them

25th Dragoons north of Razabil

Kohima

• 30 March 1944 C Sqn 150th Regt R.A.C. to

Imphal by air tanks by land road cut

• 11 April 1944 Lt. WAIT + 5 Lee tanks up road
• 18 April 1944 149th Regt, R.A.C. to Kohima
• B Sqn Major Ezra RHODES
• 28 April Attempt to get up to D.Cs Bungalow
• 6 May Lee tank slid off ridge down slope
• 13 May Tennis Court Sjt WATERHOUSE

Memorial at Kohima

Imphal & Nunshigum

• 3rd Carabiniers (Lee tanks) Imphal
• 30 March 1944 C Sqn 150th Regt R.A.C. to

Imphal by air tanks by land road cut

• Lots of actions but. Nunshigum
• 13 April B Sqn supporting 1st Bn. 17th Dogras
• Hill over 1,000 feet above plain. Two troops
• Major SANFORD, Lts NEALE & FITZHERBERT, Sqn

Q.M. Sjt BRANSTON, Sjt DOE & Cpl HUBBARD

• Sqn Sjt-Major CRADDOCK led final attack

Nunshigum & Imphal

Looking North to Twin Bumps

The Pimple or Northern Bump

The Highest Tank on Kennedy Peak

Extended Capital - Meiktila

The Masterstroke

• 17 Indian Division & 255 Indian Armoured

Brigade crossed the Irrawaddy River and struck

• ut for the garrison town of Meiktila
• 23 February Armoured Column at Taungtha
• 2 March Airfield captured
• Aggressive defence by armoured columns
• 30 March Japanese defeated To Rangoon!

Sherman Tanks advancing on Meiktila

Which is Faster?

XV Indian Corps - Arakan

• 50 Indian Tank Brigade
• Limited use, Squadrons only
• Ramree Island
• Myebon Peninsula & Kangaw
• Taungup
• Lt. Archie GWATKIN and Lt. John SKINNER

The M3 General Lee

Operating Practices

• Tanks used in small units Squadrons
• Intention to support infantry
• All force (ground + air) battle groups effective
• Role of Forward Tank Officer (F.T.O.)
• Role of the 4th Bombay Grenadiers
• Japanese counter-measures not effective
• Reliant on individual bravery by soldiers
• MESSERVY was proved right

The GWATKIN Brothers

Proud Father & Two Sons

Conclusions

• Armour played a significant role in the

campaigns fought in Burma and N. E. India

• Role is often neglected, not understood
• New techniques developed
• All arms battlegroups
• Role of R.E., I.E.M.E., R.I.A.S.C., I.A.O.C., etc

also overlooked, but without them.?

• There is more to the Second World War than

Dunkirk, D-Day, Arnhem & Bomber Command

www.BritishMilitaryHistory.co.uk Rob Palmer

Thank you!