British Tank Warfare - John Plant

This book covers the British experience of Tank Warfare from its inception in 1916 until its final tactical developments in BAOR. It is a tactical study, covering the training, organisation and deployment of armoured formations. It looks at the design of tanks, the manuals for their use and examples of actions they were used in. It contains short excerpts from the author's 'Cruiser Tank Warfare' and 'Infantry Tank Warfare'.

Naturally the emphasis if the book is on the Second World War. In this conflict Tank Warfare had three main strands based on Cruiser Tanks, Infantry Tanks, and Light Tanks. These three themes are handled in separate chapters and one of the conclusions drawn is that Light Tanks were not the failures they were taken to be, but could perform important battlefield functions.

The final chapter considers equipment and organisational changes during the Cold War, when most British tanks were stationed in Germany preparing for a cataclysmic battle with Warsaw Pact forces.