301 US Tank Battalion 29 Sept 1918

Battle of the St Quentin Canal. 29^th September 1918

301^st US Battalion with 53^rd Brigade, 27^th Division AEF, AEF Corp, 4^th Army

301st US battalion had 40 tanks in action on 29th September 1918.

A Company

9591, Lt Hobbs

9893, “ Mitchel

958?, “ Watts

9524, “ Jones

9389, “ Taylor

9603, “ Adams

9683, “ Frost

9891, “ Moury

9608, “ Hillsey

9397, “ Colburn

9892, “ Dean

9004, “ Webb

9593, “ Hart

9890, “Gutkowistu

9894, “ H. Taylor

B Company

9592, Lt Elingwood

9117, Sgt Killingen

9605, Lt Forret

9888, “ Kohr

9601, “ Kusener

9594, “ Goss

9895, “ Lester

9352, “ MacDonald

9047, “ Hamdraught

9429, “ Jones

C Company

9279, Lt Willard

9136, “ O’Kane

9390, “ Shanks

9060, “ Parks

9396, “ Latham

9111, “ Budd

9017, “ Brown

9043, “ Dinsmore

9435, “ Mc Kay

9265, c, Lt Dunning, crew 13

9191, “ Little

9334, “ Potter

9088, “ Logan

9376, “ Vernon

9027, “ Holmes

Wireless tank

Plus 8 supply tanks from 4TS Company,

Notes

The wireless tank was attached from 4^th tank battalion ^(W4a)

According to the narrative:

A company MkV*: 9 male, 2 female, 4 composite.

B company MkV*: 7 male, 2 female, MkV: 3 male, 1 female, 3 composite.

C company MkV, 7 male, 9 composite.

All Mk V tanks carried cribs.

As two of “A” company’s the tanks listed above are Mk V and 2 of “C” company’s are MkV* the Companies presumably swapped some tanks.

9389 is given the serial number 8389 on the battlegraph, this is presumably an error. Tank 9389 was one of the five that fought with C Company, 14^th Battalion on 4^th November, possibly being one of the eight transferred from 301^st battalion on 31^st November 1918:

The Battalion HQ also had a Renault tank but it broke a track prior to the action and was not used.

On the battlegraph 9893 is listed twice: with Lt Mitchel and Lt Gutkowistu. Lt Gutkowistu's tank was the only MKV* lost in the minefield and thus is possibly the tank numbered 9890 in this photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/937607770/in/set-72157601074583035/

9265's - Sergeant, Carl E Rosebnhagen, wrote an account of this action in which he indicates he was with Lt Dunning and crew 13 of C Company in a composite tank (S98.p3ff)

Orders

7 tanks were kept in Corps reserve, six from “B” Company and one from “C” company. this may include 9015 which was photographed post war in the USA marked as being with the battalion: .http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/936746987/in/set-72157601074581465/ This tank had previously seen action with 8th Battalion at Amiens

The battalion was to attack in the sector: le Catelet – Bony

“A” company with 107^th Infantry, first phase, one section of tanks per infantry battalion.

“C” company with 105^th Infantry, first phase, one section of tanks per infantry battalion.

“B” company with 108^th Infantry, second phase, two sections of tanks.

Tactics were based on the British tactics. Tanks following close to the creeping barrage. As US sections had five tanks, rather than the four in British sections, one tank was kept in reserve behind the other four.

9265 of C Company was to advance to Le Catelet (W98.p6)

Account of operations

On 27^th September a preliminary operation was conducted by the 106^th US Regiment, supported by 4^th tank battalion, in order to push the Germans back to the intended start line for the 29^th September attack. Whilst the Americans reached their final objectives they failed to adequately mop up as they advanced, this left a disputed zone between the 27^th September Front line and the 29^th September start line which was occupied by isolated groups of American and German troops. This necessitated the September 29^th September attack starting from the 27^th September start line with the intention of reaching the 29^th September start line at Zero where the advancing troops would join with the pre arranged creping barrage. The presence of American troops in the disputed zone meant that the initial advance could not be preceded by a creeping barrage.

4^th Tank Battalion allocated tanks to accompany the infantry during the advance through the disputed Zone, 301^st Battalion’s tanks were ordered to avoid engaging the enemy until they had passed the intended 29^th September start line. .

All tanks, except those which broke down, crossed the start line at Zero; 107^th Regiment started their attack late at 5am and thus were not in contact with their tanks and also failed to be in contact with the formations advancing on either flank.

Until 8am the wind blew the mist and smoke across the enemy lines. Then the wind died down and the entire battlefield was covered by mist until 10:50am, tanks thus lost contact with the infantry and lost direction. Several tanks ran into sunken roads or trenches in the mist and became ditched. Some were dug out but several remained on the field.

All the tanks were subjected to heavy bombardment and fire from AP rifles and AP ammunition, some of which penetrated the tanks and injured the crews. An enemy battery was located in Rich??? ???Y [very unclear], two tanks were hit by British 6pdr shells fired from the direction of Gillemont Farm

Two tanks were destroyed by British mines these had been laid in March 1918, the location of this minefield was misrepresented on the maps. In The Tank Corp (1919) Major Clough Williams Ellis ^(s13.p252) claims at least ten tanks were destroyed in this minefield, both the report on operations and the attached battlegraph indicate only two tanks were lost to mines.

Only one tank used its crib, to cross the Escault river at le Catelet; the Hindenburg line didn’t prove to an obstacle to heavy tanks.

The Wireless tank followed behind “A” and “C” Companies and proved useful.

The attack failed. 30^th Division reached the Green line. 27^th Division reached Macuincourt trench (a2c.2.3. Wiancourt), Bony (A15a.central) and (A27b.9.9)

Sght Rosenburg indicates dummy tanks were used in this action to draw enemy AT gun fire so the guns would give away their positions. The dummies were made of wood and Papier-mache with a donkey inside to move them. (S98.p6). This is the only account the author has read indicating dummy tanks were used during attacks, though they are known to have been used behind the lines for training and to to fool the Germans into thinking tanks were present.

A Company

9894 was hit just before it reached the start point it successfully rallied.

9524 and 9890 [or 9893 see discussion above] were both destroyed by mines on the British Front line

9397, 9892 and 9389 all broke down after crossing the British Front Line, all were repaired and rallied.

9591 and 9893 were both hit and knocked out between the British Front Line and Starting point; 9893 was set afire.

958? Became ditched In a Trench between the start point and the German front line, the tank was unditched and rallied.

9683 and 9891 both ditched in Trenches just before reaching the Hindenburg Line

9603 was hit and destroyed on the Hindenburg Line

9608 was hit after crossing the Hindenburg Line but rallied.

9004 and 9593 both almost reached Cont tunnel before rallying.

B company

9047 and 9429 both broke down just after crossing British Front Line; 9117 broke down prior to crossing the Hindenburg Line and 9592 broke down after crossing the Hindenburg Line; all four tanks rallied.

Five tanks were hit: 9888 was hit in front of Hindenburg Line but rallied.

9601, 9895, 9352 and 9594 were all hit in no mans land between starting point and Hindenburg Line, only 9594 rallied, the other three tanks being knocked out.

9601 was set afire and four crewmen were killed, the other four were wounded but were recued by the OIC who re entered the burning tank (BOH.p213)

9605 reached the Hindenburg Line and rallied.

C Company

Three tanks failed to reach the start point; 9017 ditched on the Road just before reaching start Line, but successfully rallied; 9396 ditched in a Trench just before reaching start Line; and 9060 was Hit and abandoned just before reaching the start Line, the crew were shell shocked.

The other twelve tanks all started on time but nine didn’t get very far got very far: 9027 retuned almost immediately; 9136 was Hit and Knocked out just after crossing the Start line; 9390 ditched in a Trench just after crossing the Start line; 9111 broke down just after crossing British Front Line, but managed to return; 9279 broke down in no mans land between British Front line and Start Line it also returned; 9043 ditched in Trench in no mans land between starting point and Hindenburg Line; 9435 was hit and KO in no mans land between starting point and Hindenburg Line; 9334 was Hit and Knocked out in no mans land between starting point and Hindenburg Line; 9088 reached no mans land between the start point and Hindenburg Line but ditched in a Road just after re-crossing starting point whilst returning.

The other three tanks fared better:

9191 successfully crossed the Hindenburg Line but was Hit and Knocked out just after re-crossing the start line whilst returning (W22US);

9376 ditched in a trench in No mans Land just prior to reaching the Hindenburg Line. W22US);

9265 started at Zero with the infantry then silenced an enemy MG next, suffering two wounded crewmen whilst doing so, the tank continued to advance in very poor viability caused by the thick fog and smokescreen. The US infantry kept running across in front of the tank which prevented it form using its guns in support of them. It reached an antitank ditch where its crib failed to deploy, nevertheless the tank managed to negotiate it despite being attacked by German infantry. The tank reached the outskirts of Le Catelet and stopped to get its bearings as the light improved, no allied infantry were visible. the tank was assaulted by German infantry who climbed on the tank and had to be shaken off before they were dealt with. 9265 now attempted to retire to the SW, reversing the NE discretion it had advanced. The crib came loose and fell in a stream, the tank followed the stream until it was hit in the right rear and had its engine damaged. The tank carried on but was hit thrice more and set afire, the OIC and three crewmen escaped. The crew sought cover and watched the tank burn, the crew were now behind the German front line, two crewmen were captured whilst attempting to withdraw to the allied line. (S98.p6ff) 9265 was was hit and knocked out on the far side of Conot Tunnel whilst returning (W22US). This was the only tank to reach its objective, a point north of La Catelet (BOH.p213)

Summary

Total Tanks: 40

Failed to Start: 4

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down: 16

Hit and Knocked out: 16

Rallied: 4

Notes

Ditched / Broke down includes 1 tank which ditched and 9 tanks which broke down all ten of which returned to the rally point.

Hit and knocked out includes 4 tanks which were hit but rallied.

Rallied total is 17 tanks, including the 14 mentioned above but excluding the 4 tanks which failed to start.

Only 2 tanks hit mines according to the battlegraph, not ten as stated by A Williams Ellis (s13.p252) and JFC Fuller (s72.p271f)

Aftermath

9891 photographed whilst ditched with men of the 20th Manchester’s resting alongside: X47.p231, http://www.flickr.com/photos/osborne_villas/2327945092/in/set-72157604100876739/

9603 photographed with five other tanks, apparently all KO: http://landships.activeboard.com/t57198348/us-301st-tank-bn-knocked-out-tanks-on-hindenburg-line-photo/

9683 was recovered on the 1st October (BOH.p214)

2Lts Kusener, 9601, Frost, 9683 and Dunning, 9265 were al awarded Military Crosses for this action (BOH p213f)

The Battalion was next in action on 8th October 1918. Only 23 tanks were fit. ^(WWvets)

^{9591 was recovered and shipped to the united States, as of 2011 it is the only known surviving MkV* tank residing in the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor in Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA. http://www.landships.info/landships/tank_articles.html#}

Eight tanks were transferred to C Company, 14^th Battalion on 31^st October, five fought on 4^th November 1918: 9043, 9047, 9060, 9117, 9389.

Sources

W22US - 2nd Tank Brigade American EF. Report on operations September 27th to 0ctober 5th 1918. Battlegraph, Appendix F - PRO WO 95 / 94

W4a - 4th Tank Battalion War Diary and Appendixes. - PRO WO 95-110

4th Tank Battalion. Order No.24 undated but probably 28th September 1918.

S13 - The Tank Corp (1919) Major Clough Williams Ellis

S72 - Tanks in the Great War (1919) JFC Fuller

S98 - War Stories of the tankers (2008) Michael Green (kindle edition)

WWvets - A (brief) account of the action can be foud here: http://www.wwvets.com/WW1_Tanks.asp

9524 may be the tank in this photo of a mined tank: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/936742683/in/set-72157601074581465/

Lt Gutkowistu's tank may be the tank in this photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/937607770/in/set-72157601074583035/

OH - Official History, 1918. Vol 5. Pg.106

Previous history of tanks:

9591 – No record

9893 – No record

958?

9524 – No record

8389 – probably 9389, 4^th Battalion, disabled 9^th August and Salvage on the 12^th.

9603 – No record

9683 – No record

9891 – No record

9608 – Tank received at Central Workshops with deficiencies between 6th and 19th Sept 1918

9397 – N11, “Natal”, in action on 8^th August

9892 – No record

9004 – B4, Attacked on 8^th August

9593 – No record

9893 – No record

9894 – No record

9592 – No record

9117 – No record

9605 – No record

9888 – No record

9601 – No record

9594 – No record

9895 – No record

9352 – N8, “Neptune”, in action on 8^th August

9047 – H1, KO on 8^th August

9429 – N2, “Newmarket”, in action on 8^th August

9279 – No record

9136 - 8^th Battalion, B Company, Engine seized and unable to entrain on 29 August

9390 – J41, in action 30^th August

9060 - 4^th Battalion, disabled 9^th August and Salvage on the 12^th.

9396 – J22, In action, track hit 23 Aug

9111 - 4^th Battalion, disabled 9^th August and Salvage on the 12^th.

9017 – 2^nd battalion, B Company, KO on 8^th August.

9043 – No record

9435 – J18, In action 23^rd Aug

9265 – J41, with crew 13 in action 9^th Aug

9191 – J38, in action 25^th August

9334 – J7, in action 30^th August

9088 – No record

9376 – J19, in action 23^rd August

9027 – J41, in action 8^th August

St Quentin Canal - 29 September to 2 October (4th Army)

301 US Tank Battalion