11 Battalion. 23 October 1918

Battle of the Selle. 23^rd October 1918

11^th Tank Battalion, with 33^rd and 21^st Divisions, V Corp, 3^rd Army ^(OH)

11^th Tank Battalion was with 3^rd Tank Brigade ^(H11)

11^th Battalion had 6 fighting tanks in action on 23^rd October 1918 ^(H11)

Composite Company – Maj. Wilson

6 tanks

Notes

The battalion had Mark V* tanks ^(H11)

Orders

3 tanks on the left with 21^st Division, 3 on the right with 33^rd Division. To follow the infantry until daylight, then attack any targets pointed out by the infantry and also engage anticipated targets. The villages of Forrest, Rechmont, Calntaux, Orviller and Vendegies were to be cleared as was the wood near Vendegies. ^(H11)

Account of Operations

The tanks arrived in time and attacked at Zero. ^(H11)

33^rd Division’s tanks: one was hit and knocked out before reaching the front line, a second caught fire due to a faulty fuel pipe, the third made it to the 2^nd Objective silencing a number of MGs it then broke down at the Slaughter house (F26a). ^(H11)

The 21^st Division’s tanks were more successful. One reached the second objective in E12 central destroying several MG nests and firing 90 rounds of 6 Pdr at visible targets. It patrolled in front of the infantry then accidentally reversed into a 35 foot deep gravel pit; the crew escaped uninjured and joined the infantry. The second tank did great execution to the enemy in and around Orvillers then threw a track. The third tank, commanded by a new officer got lost in the dark and joined the 33^rd Division with whom it advanced and reached the second objective the same time as the infantry. The tanks then returned to re fill and was ordered to rally by the Company commander. ^(H11)

The 62^nd Brigade advanced on the third objective at 10:30am without tank support ^(OH)

Summary

Total Tanks: 6

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down: 4

Hit and Knocked out: 1

Rallied: 1

Note

Broke down includes the tanks which caught fire.

Aftermath

This was 11^th Tank battalions’ last action.

The Battalion, with 3 fit tanks, was withdrawn into army reserve on 28^th October.

Sources

H11 – 11^th Tank Battalion’s War History, PRO WO 95 / 100.

OH – Official History. 1918. Volume V. Pg.362 to Pg.364

Selle - 17 to 25 October 1918