Lessons Learned from 20th Century Tank Warfare: Does a Common Thread of Lessons Exist?

This study is an historical analysis of lessons learned concerning tank mobility, firepower, protection, command and control, and overall design during the major tank warfighting experience of the 20th Century. The aim of this study was to make a determination concerning the existence or non-existence of a common thread of lessons learned during individual and small unit (company size or smaller) tank fighting. The major tank warfare experiences examined were World War I, World War II, and the Arab-Israeli 1967 and 1973 Wars. The lessons learned were gleaned from sources written by soldiers, engineers, and historians who had either participated in or studied the particular tank warfare experience. Lessons are grouped into five areas; mobility, firepower, protection, command and control, and overall design. This study concludes that a common thread of lessons learned concerning individual and small unit (company size or smaller) tank fighting. The major tank warfare experiences examined were World War I, World War II, and the Arab-Israeli 1967 and 1973 Wars. The lessons learned were gleaned from sources written by soldiers, engineers, and historians who had either participated in or studied the particular tank warfare experience. Lessons are grouped into five areas; mobility, firepower, protection, command and control, and overall design. This study concludes that a common thread of lessons learned concerning individual and small unit tank fighting does exist throughout the major warfighting experiences of the 20th century.