301 US Tank Battalion 8 October 1918

The 2^nd Battle of Cambrai. 8^th October 1918

301^st US Battalion with 59^th Brigade, 30^th Division, II American Corp, 4^th British Army

301st US battalion had 20 tanks in action on 8^th October 1918.

Presumably some of the following which were in action on 29^th September and probably rallied undamaged:

A Company

958?, “ Watts

9389, “ Taylor

9397, “ Colburn

9892, “ Dean

9004, “ Webb

9593, “ Hart

9890, “Gutkowistu

9891

B Company

9592, Lt Elingwood

9117, Sgt Killingen

9352, “ MacDonald

9047, “ Hamdraught

9429, “ Jones

C Company

9279, Lt Willard

9390, “ Shanks

9396, “ Latham

9111, “ Budd

9017, “ Brown

9043, “ Dinsmore

9088, “ Logan

9376, “ Vernon

9027, “ Holmes

2Lt Paul S Haimburgh commanded a male tank on this date^{(S88.p49) (S98.p3)}

Notes:

The tanks listed above are those that survived the 29^th September action undamaged, some ditched or broke down on the 29^th and may not have been recovered. Some, unidentified, tanks had not attacked on the 29^th and thus probably attacked on the 8^th.

9891 was photographed ditched by a railway line after the battle and was thus presumably in action on this date.

The WWvets site claims 23 tanks were available for action, no reserve.

Orders

The 59^th Brigade, 30^th US Division was to advance supported by 20 MK V tanks from the US 301^st Tank Battalion and 16 whippets. ^(OH)

Lying up place behind Joncourt.^(H6)

Both companies to operate in the left of the attack in the direction of Premont. ^(H6)

“B” Company with 118^th US Regiment on the right. ^(H6)

“C” Company with 117^th US Regiment, objective the far side of Premont. ^(H6)

Account of Operations

The Americans moved forward overcoming all resistance, except at Brancourt where heavy MG fire was encountered the first objective [ Red line ] was taken by 8am. Brancourt was held by many MGs which were subdued by the 301^st tanks the village being taken by 11am. ^(OH)

“Visibility was perfect, with the light breeze taking the battle smoke over the Germans. They were bombed from the air, and received heavy shelling from the Germans, but eleven tanks reached their objective, four received direct hits and were destroyed; five had mechanical trouble; and three didn't make it past the jump off point. Relatively speaking, this battle was a success, with the objective being met by 1415 that afternoon”. Quoted verbatim from WWvets site^(WWvets)

The attack was a success, though losses were heavy and included ten American tanks and three whippets. The infantry captured 30 guns and 1500 prisoners. ^(OH)

An account was written by 2Lt Haimburgh which describes his tank in action with is female partner, 2Lt Haimburgh's tank rallied. ^(s88.p49)

Summary

Total Tanks: 20

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out:

Rallied: 10

Aftermath

9891 was photographed ditched by a railway line:

IWM Q 7111: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205238960

IWM Q 7113: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205238961