Flying Tanks? Tank Deployment by Air

Airborne Forces and the Quest for Flying Tanks

The Role of Airborne Forces in WWII

• Airborne forces emerged during World War II, aiming to disrupt enemy operations by dropping troops behind enemy lines.

• Initial successes included the German seizure of key objectives, such as the Belgian fortress of Eben-Emael using gliders.

Challenges Faced by Airborne Troops

• Despite early victories, airborne units faced significant challenges against regular troops and armored vehicles, leading to high casualty rates.

• Operations like the 1941 invasion of Crete highlighted that lightly armed paratroopers struggled against well-equipped ground forces.

Need for Heavy Equipment

• To enhance effectiveness, airborne troops required heavy equipment such as anti-tank guns and tanks.

• The challenge was to create a transportable tank that could be delivered via air; existing designs were inadequate.

Historical Attempts at Flying Tanks

• Previous concepts for flying tanks existed but failed due to design limitations and lack of suitable aircraft.

• Various nations experimented with gliders capable of carrying light military equipment but not heavier tanks.

Development of the Hammer Car Glider

• General Aircraft Limited was tasked with creating a glider specifically designed to carry a light tank.

• The G49 Hammer Car was developed; it featured an open-top design initially but evolved into a more practical model.

Specifications and Functionality of the Hammer Car

• The Hammer Car had a wingspan comparable to larger bombers but was designed for steep approaches to evade anti-aircraft fire.

• Tank crews would travel inside their tanks during descent; innovative mechanisms allowed for quick unloading upon landing.

Production and Operational Use

• A total of 344 Hammer Cars were built between 1943 and 1946, primarily used in British airborne operations.

Tanks and Air Mobility: The Tetrarch and M22 Locust

Overview of the Tetrarch Tank

• The Tetrarch tank, weighing over 7 tons, was designed for air mobility and featured a reasonable gun for its time, the two-pounder, alongside 16 mm riveted armor.

• An example of the Tetrarch had a 3-inch howitzer instead of the standard two-pounder, enhancing its close support capabilities for infantry.

• The unique steering mechanism involved warping tracks via hydraulic struts attached to road wheels; however, it faced overheating issues in desert conditions.

• Deployed during Operation Tonga in Normandy (1944), despite being a 1941 design, it encountered significant operational challenges upon arrival.

• Several Tetrarch tanks were damaged or lost during deployment due to accidents involving gliders and parachute entanglements.

Operational Challenges in Normandy

• Only two Tetrarch tanks managed to move off successfully; one was destroyed by a Stug while another hit an anti-tank mine.

• The presence of Tetrarch tanks inadvertently deterred German armored units from attacking British beaches during the invasion.

• Ultimately withdrawn from Normandy in September due to their limited effectiveness and obsolescence compared to other vehicles available at that time.

Transition to M22 Locust Tank

• For Operation Varsity, the British Army opted for the M22 Locust tank as a replacement for the outdated Tetrarch.

• Similar in weight (7.4 tons), with a three-man crew and top speed of 64 km/h; however, its armament—a 37 mm gun—was less effective than expected.

• Designed for air portability but lacked suitable gliders; plans included slinging under C-54 Skymasters with turret removal complicating tactical deployment.

Deployment Issues with M22 Locust

• Despite being built at Britain's request (230 out of 830 produced), only eight saw combat use during Operation Varsity in March 1945 after replacing Tetrarch tanks.

• During deployment via glider, several incidents occurred including crashes caused by shifting tanks or landing mishaps leading to further losses among deployed units.

Conclusion on Air-Landed Tanks

• Both operations involving air-landed tanks (Tetrarch and M22 Locust) resulted in limited success due to various operational challenges faced during deployment.

• The light tanks' ineffectiveness led to discussions about better resource allocation towards heavier equipment rather than light tank transport via gliders.

Air Mobility and Tank Deployment in Combat

The Construction of a Base in the Dien Bien Phu Valley

• A large base was constructed in the Dien Bien Phu Valley, supported by air supply lines and an airstrip built by the Japanese during WWII.

• 10,800 men, along with artillery and 10 M24 Chaffee light tanks, were air-freighted into Dien Bien Phu. The Chaffee replaced the outdated Stewart light tank.

Performance of the M24 Chaffee Tanks

• Despite lacking armor protection, the Chaffees excelled in mobility and firepower with their 75mm M6 gun.

• During a two-month siege, these tanks fired 15,000 rounds and played a crucial role in repelling Vietnamese attacks.

Evolution of Airborne Operations Post-WWII

• The failure at Dien Bien Phu marked a turning point for airborne operations; it was one of the first instances where air-deployed tanks proved effective.

• In November 1965, U.S. forces employed air cavalry instead of paratroops to hold positions against significant odds.

Advancements in Aircraft Technology

• New aircraft like the C130 could transport light tanks either by landing or air-dropping them on primitive strips.

• Helicopters such as CH47 Chinook began carrying light armored fighting vehicles (AFVs), enhancing battlefield mobility.

Introduction of Lightweight Armored Vehicles

• The M551 Sheridan was designed for air mobility; it weighed just over 15 tons and had versatile armament options.

• In November 1989, Sheridans were used effectively during the U.S. invasion of Panama; this remains notable as the only combat airdrop of tanks by parachute.

Design Considerations for Air Portability

• British CVRT range vehicles were specifically designed for air portability; they performed well across various conflicts including Afghanistan and Iraq.

• Main battle tanks (MBTs), while dominant on land, face challenges regarding transport due to their weight exceeding 60 tons.

Challenges in Modern Airlift Capabilities

• The British Army struggled to deploy Challenger MBTs due to limited airlift capabilities during operations in Helmand.

• Recent advancements include C17 Globemaster aircraft capable of transporting heavy vehicles but require major airports for landing.

Conclusion: Ongoing Challenges with Air Transporting Tanks

• Moving tanks by air remains complex; historical methods evolved from gliders to modern heavy-lift aircraft without fully resolving tactical limitations.

Airborne Armor Usage: A Brief Overview

Limited Real-Time Application of Air Dropped Armor

• The discussion highlights that the practical application of air dropped armor in real-time scenarios has been minimal, indicating a gap between theoretical capabilities and actual battlefield use.

• The speaker notes an incomplete survey of various military vehicles, specifically mentioning the West German Visel and different wheel platforms available for airborne operations.

• There is a reference to significant airdrop exercises conducted by the former Soviet Army, suggesting that while such exercises exist, their effectiveness in combat remains questionable.