Doctrine and use of Light Tanks in WWII

Nope. But I do have a place in my heart for the Dodge series .

 

Im not too up on the British Recce units. Ill have to see what I can find about them. I was hoping some one more knowledgeable would chime in LOL.

 

Looking at this source it doesn't list any Light tanks in it's British Reconnaissance Squadron, June 1944 TO&E.
British Reconnaissance Squadron . Which British Reece units used Light tanks if any?

 

So it looks like recon was a very small part of some Light tank work at least for the US. I would still like to find out what the doctrine was for thier use by the British for non reece use. Was it similar to the US?

 

JCF,it looks like cromwells were the mainstay for british armd recce regts in armd divs,although honeys or stuart light tanks were used and chaffies too iirc,but getting back to the armd recce regts,does anyone know how effective they were?.does anyone have a TOE for armd recce regts,cheers.

 

Im searching around with no luck so far . Ill keep trying.

 

More on German recon. But no light tanks here either.

"Suggested Reorganization of the Rifle Company of a German Armored Reconnaissance Battalion" from Tactical and Technical Trends

A report based on a captured German document in North Africa which details a German unit's suggestions for the reorganization of the rifle company of a German panzer reconnaissance battalion, from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 24, May 6, 1943.

[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

SUGGESTED REORGANIZATION OF THE RIFLE COMPANY OF A GERMAN ARMORED RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION​

The following is an extract from a document prepared by a rifle company of a German armored reconnaissance battalion. While the reconnaissance battalion is no longer included in the German armored division, its functions having been taken over by a division motorcycle battalion, this document is felt to be of interest in that it shows how the principle of decentralization, visible throughout the entire German army, is given emphasis. Furthermore, German tactical groupings organized along lines essentially similar to both the units discussed below may well be encountered. The document has reference to operations in North Africa against the British during the early summer of 1942. The extract therefrom follows:
* * *
a. Present Organization, Equipment, and Functions
(1) Organization and Equipment
The organization and equipment of the company consists of:
Three light platoons, each with seven armored half-track personnel carriers, and one 37-mm antitank gun on an armored half-track.
One heavy platoon with nine armored half-track personnel carriers, and two armored half-tracks with heavy mortars.
In all there are 37 half-tracks, of which 32 are armed with machine guns.
(2) Missions and Operations
The company, as such, was fought as a unit. It performed combat tasks and security missions. Reconnaissance missions were not assigned the company. However, individual platoons, reinforced with armored cars, antitank guns, and a captured 25-pounder (British 3.45-in field artillery piece), were used for reconnaissance in force.
The following types of operations were performed by the company:
Attack against hostile forward positions and counterreconnaissance screens;
Breaking through hostile motorized elements to eliminate flank threat;
Attack on enemy positions;
Blocking hostile attempts at penetration;
Defense against attacks by enemy armored vehicles; Counterattacks.
b. Suggested Reorganization
(1) Changes in Organization
It is suggested that the number of half-tracks in the three light platoons and the heavy platoon remain the same, but that the weapons be as follows:
Light platoons--each to have two (instead of one) 37-mm antitank guns on half-tracks;
Heavy platoon--four half-tracks with 75-mm guns, two with heavy mortars, and four with 28/20*-mm, or French 25-mm,** antitank guns.
(2) Advantages to be Gained
The offensive power of the company would be considerably increased by the incorporation of the additional weapons. Machine guns and 37-mm antitank guns remain indispensable for ranges below 2,000 yards. With the 75-mm gun, fire superiority can be quickly obtained at longer ranges, especially in attacks on the move; at short ranges they constitute a superior weapon against enemy positions, dug-in antitank guns, etc. The antitank section with four guns should supplement the 37-mm antitank guns, which are not effective against armored targets at long ranges. The existing heavy platoon organization with its two heavy mortars and six machine guns is not sufficient for the tasks of the platoon in Africa. Even support from the artillery battery, which is usually available, is not sufficient. As the platoon which must support the company attack, provide the main weight of fire and establish fire superiority, the heavy platoon must be more generously equipped with heavy weapons. For the most part, it is this platoon, which has to deal with enemy self-propelled guns, armored cars, tanks, and dug-in antitank guns. The 75-mm gun, the mounting of which on half-track personnel carriers has been successfully tried out, is the weapon needed. Against enemy tanks the company requires a reliable antitank weapon. The 28/20-mm antitank gun or the French 25-mm gun mounted on a half-track is suitable. The above reorganization of the heavy platoon is required in the African Theater. On its own initiative the company has already created a heavy platoon with two 75-mm infantry guns and four 25-mm antitank guns mounted on personnel carriers. *Choked bore--tapering from 28 mm to 20 mm.
**This is a dual-purpose AA/AT gun.

Lone Sentry: Suggested Reorganization of the Rifle Company of a German Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (WWII Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 24, May 6, 1943)

 

LOL I just realized that all so far have been related to the European Theater. Does anyone have any information on the use of lights tanks in the Pacific and CBI Theaters?

 

thankyou jcf,very imformative indeed,cheers.

 

My pleasure . Still searching LOL.

 

"Suggested Reorganization of the Rifle Company of a German Armored Reconnaissance Battalion" from Tactical and Technical Trends

A report based on a captured German document in North Africa which details a German unit's suggestions for the reorganization of the rifle company of a German panzer reconnaissance battalion, from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 24, May 6, 1943.

[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

SUGGESTED REORGANIZATION OF THE RIFLE COMPANY OF A GERMAN ARMORED RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION​

The following is an extract from a document prepared by a rifle company of a German armored reconnaissance battalion. While the reconnaissance battalion is no longer included in the German armored division, its functions having been taken over by a division motorcycle battalion, this document is felt to be of interest in that it shows how the principle of decentralization, visible throughout the entire German army, is given emphasis. Furthermore, German tactical groupings organized along lines essentially similar to both the units discussed below may well be encountered. The document has reference to operations in North Africa against the British during the early summer of 1942. The extract therefrom follows:
* * *
a. Present Organization, Equipment, and Functions
(1) Organization and Equipment
The organization and equipment of the company consists of:
Three light platoons, each with seven armored half-track personnel carriers, and one 37-mm antitank gun on an armored half-track.
One heavy platoon with nine armored half-track personnel carriers, and two armored half-tracks with heavy mortars.
In all there are 37 half-tracks, of which 32 are armed with machine guns.
(2) Missions and Operations
The company, as such, was fought as a unit. It performed combat tasks and security missions. Reconnaissance missions were not assigned the company. However, individual platoons, reinforced with armored cars, antitank guns, and a captured 25-pounder (British 3.45-in field artillery piece), were used for reconnaissance in force.
The following types of operations were performed by the company:
Attack against hostile forward positions and counterreconnaissance screens;
Breaking through hostile motorized elements to eliminate flank threat;
Attack on enemy positions;
Blocking hostile attempts at penetration;
Defense against attacks by enemy armored vehicles; Counterattacks.
b. Suggested Reorganization
(1) Changes in Organization
It is suggested that the number of half-tracks in the three light platoons and the heavy platoon remain the same, but that the weapons be as follows:
Light platoons--each to have two (instead of one) 37-mm antitank guns on half-tracks;
Heavy platoon--four half-tracks with 75-mm guns, two with heavy mortars, and four with 28/20*-mm, or French 25-mm,** antitank guns.
(2) Advantages to be Gained
The offensive power of the company would be considerably increased by the incorporation of the additional weapons. Machine guns and 37-mm antitank guns remain indispensable for ranges below 2,000 yards. With the 75-mm gun, fire superiority can be quickly obtained at longer ranges, especially in attacks on the move; at short ranges they constitute a superior weapon against enemy positions, dug-in antitank guns, etc. The antitank section with four guns should supplement the 37-mm antitank guns, which are not effective against armored targets at long ranges. The existing heavy platoon organization with its two heavy mortars and six machine guns is not sufficient for the tasks of the platoon in Africa. Even support from the artillery battery, which is usually available, is not sufficient. As the platoon which must support the company attack, provide the main weight of fire and establish fire superiority, the heavy platoon must be more generously equipped with heavy weapons. For the most part, it is this platoon, which has to deal with enemy self-propelled guns, armored cars, tanks, and dug-in antitank guns. The 75-mm gun, the mounting of which on half-track personnel carriers has been successfully tried out, is the weapon needed. Against enemy tanks the company requires a reliable antitank weapon. The 28/20-mm antitank gun or the French 25-mm gun mounted on a half-track is suitable. The above reorganization of the heavy platoon is required in the African Theater. On its own initiative the company has already created a heavy platoon with two 75-mm infantry guns and four 25-mm antitank guns mounted on personnel carriers. *Choked bore--tapering from 28 mm to 20 mm.
**This is a dual-purpose AA/AT gun.

Lone Sentry: Suggested Reorganization of the Rifle Company of a German Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (WWII Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 24, May 6, 1943)

 

I did find this British recon unit that operated light tanks .

"6th Airborne Armored Reconnaissance Regiment: Regimental Headquarters, a light tank Squadron, reconnaissance Squadron, support Squadron and engineer, signal and medical detachments. The tank Squadron had a Headquarters troop and five tank troops. The reconnaissance Squadron had a Headquarters and four Scout troops. The support Squadron had a 4.2 inch mortar troop and two Vickers machine-gun troops. A section of one officer and 15 men, the harbour party, were trained to parachute in ahead of the reconnaissance Regiment and secure the landing area."

 

M22 Locust


" A small number of Locusts were received by the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment in late 1943, but mechanical problems led to the tanks being withdrawn in favour of the Tetrarchs the regiment had previously used.
In October 1944, however, the remaining Tetrarchs of the regiment were replaced by Locusts, and eight of the tanks were used during Operation Varsity in March 1945. The tanks did not perform well in action; several were damaged during the landing process and one was knocked out by a German self-propelled gun. Only two Locusts were able to reach their planned rendezvous point and go into action, occupying a piece of high ground along with an infantry company; the tanks were forced to withdraw from the position after a few hours, however, as they attracted artillery fire that caused the infantry company significant casualties. The Locust never saw active service with the British Army again, and was classified as obsolete in 1946. "

M22 Locust - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

http://www.armouredacorn.com/Refs-%20Thumbprints%20&%20Images/Orbats/Canadian/WW2/Arm%27d%20Recce%20Reg%27t-%2744%20(WE%20unk).pdf

Accords with information in Joslen's Orders of Battle.

Cheers

BW

 

J C,

See http://www.armouredacorn.com/Refs-%20Thumbprints%20&%20Images/Orbats/Canadian/WW2/Arm%27d%20Recce%20Reg%27t-%2744%20(WE%20unk).pdf

as well as

http://www.armouredacorn.com/Refs-%20Thumbprints%20&%20Images/Orbats/Canadian/WW2/Arm%27d%20Reg%27t-Jan%2744%20(II-151-3).pdf

These are 1944 examples. The site has Commonwealth organizations for other periods of the war as well.

Cheers

BW

 

J C,

I think German use of light tanks for recon got rarer as the war went on. However, here is a KStN for a German reconnaissance unit that used Pz IIL's:

Notetat

Cheers

BW

 

They (M3 tanks) were provided to Nationalist China. I've read they were used more or less as MBT's in combat with Mao's troops. Lend lease provided 536 of them to China. From S. Zaloga's M3 and M5 Stuart Light Tank 1940-45, pp. 42-43:

Cheers

BW

 

thankyou very much BW,cheers.

 

I was more wondering about the Doctrine and uses that they were used for them during the war. Especially by the US Army and Marines.

 

I understand IIRC that the M4 wasn't used by the Marines in the Pacific until later in the war. So the M3/M5 was the standard tank in use.