15 Battalion A2 Group 8 August 1918

The Tanks at Amiens 8^th August 1918

15^th Battalion, Group A2 with 12^th Australian Brigade, 4^th and 5^th Australian Division, Aus Corp, 3^rd Army

Group A2 – Major Allen DC

Section Commander Captain Robertson DCM

????, O14, "Oukaparinga", 2Lt Kerfoot,

9847, O20, "Overland", Lt Hancock JP,

9846, O12, "Octopus", 2Lt Knight GW,

Section Commander Captain Shaur

9824, O19, "Omagh", 2Lt Frisby ES,

9825, O16, "Optimist", 2Lt Burrell BF,

9535, O18, "Omnivorous", 2Lt Carr EH,

Section Commander Captain Hutton

9851, O30, "Omar-Ama", 2Lt Herrington,

9848, O29, "Obadiae", 2Lt Roberts AL,

9547, O28, "Orpheus", 2Lt Brown (or Burn) M,

Supply tanks

2 supply tanks were allocated to 48^th infantry battalion.

Notes

9547’s WD number may be incorrect.

Tank Names and Crew numbers from Battalion War Diary.

Other information from Battlegraph in Brigade War Diary

Orders

To operate ahead of 48^th AIF Battalion and exploit from the Red to the Blue Lines. Thereupon to unload MG teams.

Passengers:

4 officers and 56 other ranks from 48^th Battalion with 16 Lewis guns. ^(W12bAus)

5 Officers and 70 Other ranks from 12^th Australian MG Company with 10 Vickers Guns ^(W12bAus)

The MKV* were also to carry either 12,000 rounds SAA (4 tanks) or 30 boxes of grenades (5 tanks) ^(W12bAus)

Start time was 4.20am

Account of Operations

All nine tanks started on time. 9828 broke down ^(w25bg) and ditched in Q28d it had two Vickers guns aboard, the crews advanced on foot and were on the Blue Line at the same time as the infantry ^(W12MGAus) the tank rallied ^{(w25bg) (w25bg)}. 9851 broke down before the first objective, was repaired and continued before breaking down again before reaching the second objective and then rallying. The remaining seven tanks reached the red line where 9824 was hit, it turned back to rally, it’s passengers possible being those collected later by 9825. 9851 also broke down (for the second time) at this point, it too turned back to rally. ^{(W15a) (w25bg)} According to the Australians 3 tanks were knocked out about R28a, 15^th Battalions account only mentions 9824 and 9851 being disabled just prior to reaching the Red line. ^{(W15a) (w25bg)} it is possible the other tank was a MKV.

Six tanks made it to the Blue Line, "Oukaparinga", 9846, 9847, 9535, 9825 and 9547 ^{(w25bg) (w25bg)}. Only three of these tanks led the infantry to the blue line, the two (unidentified) tanks on the right deposited their passengers and assisted the assault before rallying. In the centre 9547 was gave valuable help with the 6pdrs until it caught fire, its passengers de bussed and brought their Vickers guns into action ^{(W12bAus) (W48aus) (W12MGAus)} ; the passengers and crew had to fight their way back to British lines. The tanks OIC survived and went out in the night to recover guns from the tank. ^(W15a) Four tanks of the five allocated deposited their Vickers guns at the blue line. ^(W12MGAus) 9825 went to the blue Line twice, having collected some Machine Gunners who’s tank had been hit near the red line (presumably 9824), 9825 went back to the third objective and successfully unloaded these Machine gunners there. ^(W15a) If the 48^th AIF Battalions account is correct then the other three tanks must have followed the infantry to the blue line, possibly without their crews who may have de bussed, 9535 had broken down on the Green line and thus was presumably late at the red line.

All the tanks except 9547 rallied. ^(w15a)

The MkV* tanks were very helpful when they worked, but too, large, slow and unreliable. ^(W12bAus)

Both supply tanks were destroyed on the 7^th August. ^(W12bAus)

Summary

Total Tanks: 9

Failed to Start: 0

Engaged enemy: 7

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out: 1

Rallied: 8

2 of the Rallied tanks had broken down and failed to reach their objectives. One of the rallied tanks had been hit.

From Brigade report of operations

In action: 36

Reached objective: 28

Received Direct hits: 4

KO by Land mines: 0

Mechanical trouble: 3

Rallied: 28

Fit for action on 9^th: 17

Aftermath

9846, 9847, 9851 and 9825 were in action on 9^th August. ^(W15a)

Sources

Tank Names and Crew numbers from Battalion War Diary.

Other information from Battlegraph in Brigade War Diary

W15a - 15th Battalion War Diary Appendices, relevant reports and battlegraphs – PRO WO 95-103

W48Aus - War Diary of 48th Australian battalion, available online

Amiens