Chapter 376: The Improvised Defensive Line
The development and design of tanks doesn't require them to excel in every aspect. Trying to make a tank universally strong often results in a mediocre machine. A tank must be purpose-built, and the German Upper Silesia model embodies this principle perfectly.
Its primary target was clear: the French Charles A1.
During a meeting organized by Major General Luka of Germany's Seventh Transport Division, there was a focused discussion:
"We need heavy armor on this tank, right?"
"No. Heavy armor would only slow it down, and it would end up like the A7V, easily outmaneuvered by the Charles A1 on the battlefield."
"To avoid this, it must reach a speed of at least 12 kilometers per hour, with a top speed even higher!"
"The armor just needs to deflect standard bullets—after all, the French don't have anti-tank rifles."
"As for the cannon, it must penetrate the Charles A1's frontal armor with a high rate of fire. And most importantly, it must have a rotating turret, just like the Charles A1."
After extensive testing and careful design, the Upper Silesia took shape:
Armor: 14 mm, just thick enough to withstand regular rifle fire.Speed: 12 km/h, with a maximum speed of 16 km/h, ensuring that it wouldn't become a sitting target like the A7V.Main Armament: A 57 mm rapid-fire cannon, capable of piercing the Charles A1's 25 mm front armor at a range of 300 meters.Machine Guns: A heavy machine gun mounted at the front and another at the back for self-defense and trench-clearing.
(Note: The forward machine gun was effective as a "coaxial" gun, ideal for engaging nearby infantry without using the main cannon. The rear gun was less practical, as supporting infantry could handle rear threats. However, with the underdeveloped tank-infantry tactics of WWI, such designs were common.)
If the Charles A1 had faced the German Upper Silesia without any modifications, it would have likely led to Charles's first, and devastating, defeat—not merely because of the larger caliber of the Upper Silesia's main gun, but due to the tactical approach of Major General Nicholas.
When analyzing the Upper Silesia's capabilities, Nicholas noted that:
"Though our cannon is larger, our armor is thinner than the Charles A1's."
"This means our effective engagement range is similar, offering us no clear advantage in direct confrontation."
"Our true advantage lies in our machine guns, loaded with K bullets."
"Once an Upper Silesia passes an enemy tank or maneuvers to its rear, our machine guns can target their weaker side and rear armor."
On the Cambrai battlefield, Nicholas's strategy was quickly validated. As the two tank formations passed each other, the Upper Silesia's machine guns turned to the sides and unleashed a storm of K bullets on the Saint-Chamond tanks' flanks.
In order to reduce weight, the Saint-Chamond's side armor was reduced to 15 mm, barely within the K bullets' penetration threshold.
Some of the Saint-Chamond tanks sputtered to a halt, their crews likely maimed by bullets tearing through the thin armor.
Others continued forward, oblivious to the peril surrounding them, firing shell after shell. The intense noise and smoke inside the tank obscured any sense of the external threat; the crew couldn't even see their targets clearly through the haze.
Observing from behind, Christian realized in horror that the German tanks' primary weapons were actually machine guns.
The Upper Silesia's K bullets could easily penetrate the Saint-Chamond M21's side armor, which was only 13 mm thick, and the rear armor, a mere 8 mm, offered even less protection.
Advancing was suicidal.
Without hesitation, Christian issued an order, "Halt the advance! Form a defensive line!"
Despite Joffre's orders to keep advancing, Christian switched to defense.
Changing from an attack formation to a defensive line on the battlefield was no easy feat. Fortunately, the slow speed of the Saint-Chamond M21 allowed soldiers to catch up and relay Christian's orders.
The sluggish Saint-Chamond M21 came to a halt, forming a defensive line in front of the advancing infantry. They aimed their machine guns and 37 mm cannons at the German tanks still engaged with the heavier Saint-Chamond units.
The infantry filled the gaps between tanks, setting up mortars and readying grenades to repel any German advances.
The 37 mm cannons on the Saint-Chamond M21 roared to life, catching everyone off guard by successfully piercing the German tanks' armor.
Several German tanks slowed to a stop under the cannon fire; two of them were hit in the ammunition storage, resulting in instant explosions. Their turrets were blown off, flying into the air before crashing back to the ground amidst debris and smoke.
This success emboldened Christian, who raised his saber and shouted, "Fire! Destroy them!"
The French poured gunfire and cannon shells onto the German tanks, temporarily halting their advance. Instead of charging the line, the German tanks circled the heavy Saint-Chamond units, taking advantage of their superior maneuverability.
The German tactic was clever; circling the Saint-Chamond units forced the French rear to hold their fire, fearing they might accidentally hit their own tanks.
Despite its size, the heavy Saint-Chamond was no match for the German tanks.
Its sluggish movement, poor field of vision, and lack of a rotating turret left it vulnerable to the mobile Upper Silesia tanks. Much like the Charles A1's infamous A7V encounters, the Saint-Chamond units were systematically destroyed, each one becoming a victim of the German machine guns.
They were "peacefully destroyed," as machine gun fire, rather than explosive shells, meant no fiery explosions. Instead, faint smoke occasionally leaked from the armor as the toxic fumes from the Saint-Chamond's own 75 mm cannon filled the crew compartments.
Of the over 100 heavy Saint-Chamond tanks, only seven made it back, saved only by Christian's hastily organized defensive line.
The Germans, however, missed a chance to exploit the situation fully. This was their first tank battle, and they were unfamiliar with the Saint-Chamond M21. The improvised tank-and-infantry defense seemed to deter them, causing them to pull back rather than press the attack.
If the German tanks had pushed through and engaged directly, the turretless Saint-Chamond M21 would have been helpless. Once past the French line, the Upper Silesia's twin machine guns could have easily massacred the French troops.
Recognizing this narrow escape, Christian breathed a sigh of relief as the German tanks retreated from the field.
He knew that his quick orders had saved them from a massacre.
But this was just the beginning. What was the next move?
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