T15 of the Chasseurs Ardennais, recognizable by their Ardennes wild boar emblem. T15, presumably of the 2nd Lanciers, Gembloux area, May 1940, courtesy of Georges Coninckx. The camouflaged livery is as seen from a photo probably taken in 1943 (photographer unknown) Over 255 units seem to have been delivered until May 1940, but far fewer were actually serviceable in time.īeutepanzerkampfwagen T13(b) of the German feldgendamerie. T13 Type 3 of the elite Chasseurs Ardennais with the famous Ardennes wild boar insignia, Albert Canal, 10. Only 21 Type 2s were produced (23 from other sources). The panels were folded, which left the crew unprotected, but the gun had full traverse. Vickers T13 Type 2, 3rd Lanciers (1DC), May 1940. Unknown unit (unicorn), Cyclist Frontiere unit, central plains near Liege, May 1940.

The gun was partially protected, and could be fully traversed only when the driver compartment armored panels were folded. Vickers T13 Type 1, first version of this prolific tank-hunter (32 units delivered). They were passed, in 1938, from the Chasseurs Ardennais to the Cycliste Frontiere regiment, and placed in fixed ambushing positions between Vivegnis and Lixhe (Meuse river western banks), firing some rounds on the Germans on 10.

This early experiment was unsuccessful, as the hull was too light to cope with the muzzle blast and recoil of the gun. SA FRC 47 mm (1.45 in) mounted on a Carden-Loyd Mk.VI tankette. This illustration is based on the Brussels army model on display at the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces in Brussels. 75 were still held in reserve in early 1939, and replacements were on their way in the form of the ACG-1 medium tanks. Some new tactics were developed during the interwar and refined, such as the “Blitzkrieg” which proved decisive and changed the way tanks would be used thereafter.

They fought in most battles of the Second World War, some of these have become legendary like Kursk, one of the largest armoured clashes in the history of mankind. From the snowy steppes of Russia to the soaky jungles of New Guinea, from the sands of Egypt to the grassy plains of Western Europe, the tanks were wherever soldiers were to be seen. Never in history have so many tanks and AFV’s been built and fought all around the globe.

World war 2 tank battles