Armored Force: The Rapid Development of a Uniquely American Force - Stagnation During the Interwar Years, Birth, Lessons Learned in North Africa, Other Tank Forces in Western Europe, World War II

This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. Although initially delayed by neglect of the tank forces during the interwar period, the United States successfully developed a uniquely American armored force to lead the Allied advance across Western Europe.

In the years following World War I, the United States' effort to develop an armored force was hampered by budgetary constraints and a lack of unified doctrine for tank employment. As armored forces assumed a dominant role in several European armies, the tank was alternately viewed in the United States as a supporting arm to the infantry and the horse cavalry. At the outbreak of World War II, the U.S. Army was stunned to see how armored forces had led the German blitzkrieg over the Allied forces. The War Department responded quickly and established the U.S. Armored Force in June 1940. The rapid development of the Armored Force was a remarkable achievement. Although initially there were many misunderstandings and mistakes in the organization, equipment, and tactical employment of the armored divisions, the U.S. applied the lessons learned from the Allies and its own experience in North Africa in preparation for combat in Western Europe. The Armored Force that landed in Normandy was unique from any other force in the world. Its strengths were its tactical mobility, high quality equipment, flexible command and control, and unmatched lethality from combined arms coordination. When properly led, this force proved to be a decisive factor on the battlefield. This paper seeks to establish the mistakes in the development of American armored forces during the interwar period. It then analyzes the aspects of the U.S. Armored Force that made it unique and effective during combat in Western Europe. Despite the numerous mistakes made during the interwar period, the United States was able to field a unique and effective armored force to lead the Allied advance across Western Europe.

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