User talk:Munkeezulu

Numbers at Cambrai
Hello there. V interested to see your figures for Mk IVs at Cambrai. I've got various figures, but I doubt that any two versions agree. I think it's generally acknowledged that there were 378 fighting Mk IV. The Official History gives a grand total of 476 vehicles, but that includes 7 Gun Carriers, 2 Bridging Tanks, 1 Transport (cable-carrying) Tank, 47 Supply, and 9 Wireless (which seem to have been Mk I or II). The 32 Wire Cutters were definitely Mk IV, but other than that, it doesn't say how many of the non-fighting tanks were. I'd be delighted to learn where you get your numbers from. Regards, Hengistmate (talk) 22:30, 9 March 2012 (UTC)

Hello. The numbers are based on the primary source materials availibe in the National Archives in Kew. The Official History is incorrect mainly because it as it counts the supply tanks twice.

The actual Total is almost certainly just under 432 tanks:

The Train Timetable in PRO WO 95-92 dated 7 November 1917 indicates that 432 tanks (144 per brigade), 5 Gun carriers and one engineering (i.e. crane)gun carrier were to be taken to the Battlefield.

The Preliminary Report on Tank Corps Operations with the third Army 20th Nov to 1st Dec 1917 pg.6, also in PRO WO 95-92 indicates total of 432 tanks were to be used:

324 Fighting 54 Spare 36 Wire pullers 18 Supply 5 Gun Carriers

The engineering tank was obviously overlooked in the breakdown.

Thus each Tank Battalion should have deployed 48 tanks: 36 fighting tanks (12 per company) 6 Spare tanks (2 per company) 6 Supply Tanks (2 per company) The Supply tanks were apparently all MK IV female tanks fitted with top towing gear, on the 20th November four were to be detached from each battalion to operate in three Tank brigade Wire Pulling companies.

I discuss this further on my website:  https://sites.google.com/site/landships/home/narratives/1917/cambrainarratives/total-tank-allocation-at-cambrai-20th-november-1917

I can send you digital photographs of the source material if your interested.

Ah! All becomes clear. You know the admirable Gwyn Evans, don't you? Your site is terrific.

Primary sources on Wikipedia? Tut tut! Don't let the facts get in the way of the sacred principles. Someone who got a book token for Christmas beats a lifelong historian every time. I shan't tell anyone.

I'd be delighted. jamesreeve at dsl.pipex.com

Chin chin.

Hengistmate (talk) 15:44, 10 March 2012 (UTC)