Posted on Dec 3, 2018
Tank Battle in Happy Valley: 1st Armored Division in the Run for Tunis
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Often it does seem as we forget the wars we are in - and try to jump back and train for this war yet again and again.
"The French responded the next day by ordering a column to advance north toward the airfield from the Foreign Legion post at Sidi-bel-Abbes. This force was mechanized and included a number of Renault R35 tanks. Aerial reconnaissance spotted the column as it wound its way north, continuing despite attacks from Allied aircraft. The 1/1 was ordered to intercept the Vichy force, so Colonel Waters deployed his tanks south down the road the enemy column traveled.
The two columns met and engaged near the town of St. Lucien, about seven miles southeast of the airfield. Tuck’s B Company, again in the lead, was deployed with two platoons in front and the third about 500 yards behind, supported by some T30 half-tracks carrying 75mm pack howitzers. The French force had time to take up defensive positions atop a small hill. A sharp but one-sided tank battle ensued, in which the French tankers were badly defeated.
Tuck laid down a base of fire with one platoon while the other two assaulted the Vichy position from the right. The French rounds bounced off the M3s while the American rounds penetrated. At the cost of only one American wounded and one tank damaged, B Company knocked out 14 R35s, many of them set afire. Tuck belatedly realized that, if the French tanks had been equipped with effective cannon, his company would have taken heavy casualties; he resolved to fight more wisely in the future."
"The French responded the next day by ordering a column to advance north toward the airfield from the Foreign Legion post at Sidi-bel-Abbes. This force was mechanized and included a number of Renault R35 tanks. Aerial reconnaissance spotted the column as it wound its way north, continuing despite attacks from Allied aircraft. The 1/1 was ordered to intercept the Vichy force, so Colonel Waters deployed his tanks south down the road the enemy column traveled.
The two columns met and engaged near the town of St. Lucien, about seven miles southeast of the airfield. Tuck’s B Company, again in the lead, was deployed with two platoons in front and the third about 500 yards behind, supported by some T30 half-tracks carrying 75mm pack howitzers. The French force had time to take up defensive positions atop a small hill. A sharp but one-sided tank battle ensued, in which the French tankers were badly defeated.
Tuck laid down a base of fire with one platoon while the other two assaulted the Vichy position from the right. The French rounds bounced off the M3s while the American rounds penetrated. At the cost of only one American wounded and one tank damaged, B Company knocked out 14 R35s, many of them set afire. Tuck belatedly realized that, if the French tanks had been equipped with effective cannon, his company would have taken heavy casualties; he resolved to fight more wisely in the future."
Tank Battle in Happy Valley: 1st Armored Division in the Run for Tunis
Posted from warfarehistorynetwork.com
WWII World War Two
Military History
Armor
Posted >1 y ago
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You have to have the right equipment for the fight, otherwise you start out at a severe disadvantage.
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LTC Eric Udouj
We came in ready to fight 1939.... and learned the hard way about the cost of being out gunned and over matched..... and that we had to relearn logistics!
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LTC Ken Bowers
Thanks for this small piece of history! In this case I don't think the American were out-gunned, but rather position poor. The Vichy got to the high ground first, but the Americans could maneuver. The M3 tank was well armed with a 75mm sponson gun in the hull and a turret mounted 37mm gun. In the heat of battle or Training, and especially in a meeting engagement it is natural to engage the enemy and develop the situation with caution thrown to the wind! Fortunately, the Vichy R35 mounted a 37mm main-gun not able to penetrate the M3 armor. Many factors influence a tank battle terrain being one. Of course firepower and maneuverability count for much, but the quality of violent execution is key, but difficult to measure. In this battle Tuck and B company executed violently, but by his own admission after the battle Tuck resolved to fight wiser.
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LTC Eric Udouj
LTC Ken Bowers - It was the over confidence that was created from beating the Vichy French B team that lead to the problems in those first fights with the Germans and Italians. The Stuarts 37mm was able to knock out the Italian tanks in their first encounter.... but not the Germans PZ IIIs and IVs. Really enjoyed the article in how it progressed the story in this.. and how things came about.
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LTC Ken Bowers
LTC Eric Udouj- I wrote my comment without reading the entire article. Thanks for posting the excellent account of American actions in N. Africa. My error was thinking the M3s were Lee tanks not Stuarts. Even after reading the entire account I stand by my initial comments. The Tankers of 1st BN 1st Armor executed aggressively and violently! On a side note I served in A troop and HHT 1/1 CAV in 1st AD in the early and mid-80's. 1/1 cavalry is the most Battle decorated unit in the US Army. I was aware of my squadron's actions in Vietnam, but not the WWII actions. Thanks again for sharing!
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I had an Uncle who landed in North Africa as a Tank Commander in the 1st AD. He said when they shot a German Tank the shells just bounced off. They had to get behind them and shoot them in the engine compartment. Our Tanks ran on gas and exploded when hit! He was wounded at Kasserine Pass. He said they had one column going in and four coming out! German Tanks much better than ours!
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LTC Eric Udouj
37mm cannon was a great thing in 1930s - but by 1939...it was going to bounce off most tanks. But the Stuart was a great recon tank later on.... The exception to the rule was in 1941-2 in the Philippines vs the Japanese -- where it was on par.
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