The Art Of Tank Warfare - Chris Keeling

Counterattack. When the enemy forces are insufficient to penetrate friendly lines or friendly infantry and
antitank forces are weak but tank forces are strong, a counterattack can often be staged to inflict the
maximum amount of damage on the enemy. This can be done by creating a thin defensive line, as with the
mobile defense. The mobile forces are then consolidated on one flank, immediately behind friendly lines.
The area where this formation can be most effective will be dictated by the enemy positions and the terrain
available. Once the enemy has initiated the attack and become bogged down among the friendly defenses,
but before he has successfully broken through the lines, this mobile force should advance around the enemy
flank, striking as deep as possible into his lines. By engaging the enemy lines at an angle to the attacking
forces, this will cause them to be drawn off the front lines to stem the counterattack and will make his lines
of supply and communication vulnerable. If done properly and with enough force, this can cause him to go
on the defensive and recall his attacking forces, or use up his reserves, thus enabling the defenders to push
forward and rout him. Vital objectives behind his lines can be seized and held by this method, forcing the
enemy to fight on two local fronts and dividing his forces. Once he has been contained in the “cauldron,”
artillery and smoke can be used to further damage and demoralize his forces.
Reserves in the defensive. Each of the methods of defense presented include the use of a mobile reserve
force. It is essential to have such a force, particularly on the defensive, to provide some elasticity to the
defense and to maintain the defender’s advantage of being able to rapidly move from one firefight to another.
These reinforcements should never be distributed in small amounts, but used in large formations, so as to
enable them to destroy the enemy quickly and be ready to immediately go to another fight. On the other
hand, all of the reserves should not be committed at once. This would allow the enemy to flank friendly
forces or penetrate unopposed in the location of his choice. If necessary, artillery can be used to temporarily
halt an enemy breakthrough until reserves can be freed up. If reinforcements become available during the
battle, they can be used as a fresh reserve force, allowing the current reserves to make local counterattacks and
reinforce weak positions. When attacking, be wary of the enemy’s defensive reserves and try to engage them
so that they lose their ability to react elsewhere, then attack in force on the opposite flank or through a
weakly held section of the line.
TANK AGAINST TANK
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Unlike the tanks of the last war, modern tanks were designed from the start to fight other tanks. Light tanks
move quickly behind enemy tanks to get at their vulnerable rear armor. Heavy tanks move directly towards
enemy tank forces, counting on their superior armor to protect them. When fighting superior tanks,
armored forces know to advance quickly, taking advantage of all available cover and concealment, in order to
get that close-range shot which is sure to penetrate even heavy armor. When fighting inferior forces, armored
units rapidly engage and destroy enemy tanks, paving the way for the following infantry and supporting
forces to seize objectives. Above all, every tanker must know the weaknesses and strengths of enemy vehicles,
so that he can make a rapid and accurate assessment of the tactical situation as it develops and then utilize it
to his best advantage.