3^rd Tank Brigade’s Tank allocation at Cambrai

The exact number of tanks allocated to 3^rd Tank Brigade is a little unclear.

Fighting tanks

C battalion – 36 tanks ^(W3)

F battalion – 36 tanks ^(H6)

I battalion – 36 tanks ^(W23)

Spare tanks

C battalion – 6 tanks ^(W3)

F battalion – 6 tanks ^(W23e)

I battalion – 5 tanks ^(W23)

Total Fighting tanks

C battalion – 42 tanks ^(W3)

F battalion – 42 tanks ^(H6)

I battalion – 41 tanks ^(W23)

Supply tanks

C battalion – 2 tanks ^(W3)

F battalion – 2 tanks ^(W23e)

I battalion – 2 tanks ^(W23e)

Wire pulling tanks

C battalion – 4 tanks ^(W3)

F battalion – 4 tanks ^(W23e)

I battalion – 4 tanks ^(W23e)

Total Brigade allocation (possible)

C battalion – 48 tanks ^(W3)

F battalion – 48 tanks ^(H6)

I battalion – 47 tanks ⁽⁾

Total - 143 tanks

Note:

The Timetable for tanks prior to Cambrai lists 48 tanks with each Battalion, this presumably included the 4 Wire pullers and 2 Suplly tanks, leaving 6 spare tanks per battalion. ^(W23e)

"I" Battalion's Battlegraph lists 43 tanks, including two Wire Pullers (IW3 and IW4). 36 tanks are listed as going into action on the 20^th, the other five are simply listed, the Author has assumed they were spare tanks but they may include the 2 supply tanks, thus “I” Battalion may have only deployed 45 tanks.

Sources

W3 – War Diary of 3^rd Tank Battalion. Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

Movement order No. 2

W23 – Brigade War Diary appendixes, Battlegraphs for Cambrai PRO WO 95/104

W23e – Train timetable prior to Cambrai PRO WO 95/104

H6 – War history of “F” / 6^th Tank battalion, (Published 1919)

1st Tank Brigade. Tank allocation at Cambrai

2nd Tank Brigade. Tank allocation at Cambrai

Cambrai Narratives