To the infantrymen crouched in their foxholes, even the smallest tanks project an aura of invincibility. Rolling relentlessly onwards, they can seem like an unstoppable armoured juggernaut, the very essence of armoured might. Tanks appear from the outside to be so invulnerable and impersonal, it’s easy to forget that, inside the vehicle, there are men just the same as any others, with the same fears and emotions which run through every soldier on the battlefield.
In many respects, these emotions are heightened because the tank gives the protection of its armour, but imposes a host of other restrictions on its crew.
Inside the tank, visibility is severely limited. The interior is cramped and noisy. The crew are acutely aware that their vehicle is a prime target for every enemy weapon on the battlefield. With their own stocks of fuel and ammunition aboard, they know that one hit can turn the tank into a blazing inferno. There is also the danger that infantrymen might get close enough to attack with anti-tank weapons, from unseen hiding places.
The main source of danger for tank crews in battle during the Second World War stemmed chiefly from the lack of visibility from inside the tank. The crew relied on a series of narrow vision slits that allowed them to see a very small area directly in front of that slit; the early Panzers had a number of those around the vehicles but there were always blind spots. Most armour on the battlefield at that time didn’t move much quicker than a man running; in consequence a man running with a hand-held anti-tank device was frequently able to out-manoeuvre tanks.
Shortly after the Second World War Basil Liddel-Hart conducted a highly impressive series of interviews with leading German officers which formed the basis for a masterful study entitled The Other Side of the Hill. From the ranks of the Panzerwaffe Liddell personally interviewed Guderian, von Thoma and Manteuffel - who was to rise to prominence later in the war.
One factor which emerged very clearly from those discussions was the reliance on the speed of armour as opposed to the heaviness of its ordnance or armour plate. Manteuffel went as far as to stress that the speed of manoeuvrability of a tank was by far the most important attribute. Von Thoma confirmed this view when he asserted that, given the choice between a thick skin or a fast runner, he would choose the fast runner every time. This view made for an interesting departure from the commonly held view that the German High Command valued heavy tanks above all else.
Under favourable circumstances, placed in good positions, with their strong frontal armour facing the enemy the crews of the German tanks of the Second World War had good cause for confidence. The Panthers and Tigers of the later war years could withstand most guns on the battlefield from all but the closest ranges. Once infantry tank-hunting teams got close to the tanks, or enemy tanks were able to manoeuvre into a position to fire at the weaker sides or rear of the tank, the picture changed dramatically. The all conquering armoured hull could just as soon turn into a steel coffin.
For tank commanders to have a good field of vision, it was necessary for them to stand with their heads fully exposed outside the vehicle. But when the bullets started to fly, the commander and driver had to retreat inside the vehicle, closing their hatches behind them. Once the tank was battened down, the crew had only a very limited view of the outside world. With their diesel engines roaring and weapons firing, the heat generated inside the tanks was oppressive. In battle, the noise, the smell of sweat, smoke, fear and cordite, was an ever-present ingredient to life in the Panzers. Not only was it a claustrophobic world, unbearably noisy and uncomfortably cramped, but the severely restricted view made it difficult to spot targets or to defend against enemy tank-hunting teams.
Once the tank was battened down for better protection it became difficult to see anything at all, especially for the driver, who only had very small slots to look through and he could see very little. He had to rely on the commander to a great deal, who was sitting higher up in the tank, to advise him if there was any trouble ahead. In the Second World War tank-hunting teams were trained to move up close to enemy tanks to disable them. Occasionally they would climb onto vehicles themselves and set anti-tank mines or drop grenades into exhaust outlets and any open hatches.
As it was designed to fire over long ranges, the main gun of the tank was useless at close quarters. For combat against infantrymen who got too near the vehicle, tanks were equipped with grenade dischargers which could be operated from inside. The turret of a tank is very much like a mobile pillbox, with only the minimal openings for weapons. The armour gives protection, but severely limits visibility. In desperate situations there was the option of a small opening called a pistol port. When teams of infantry got close enough to climb onto the vehicles themselves, the crew of the tank had to either clamber out and engage the enemy with small arms, or rely on supporting infantry and other tanks in the unit to spray their vehicle with machine gun fire to kill any infantry clambering aboard.
Tanks of all nations tended to mount at least one or two machine guns for close quarter defence. Some tanks in fact mounted as many as six. But in addition to these, smoke projectors which could lay a smoke screen, mine layers, grenade launchers and even light mortars could be built on to tanks for close quarter protection against infantry or anti-tank gun crews. Later in the war the Germans used a cement-like paste called Zimmerit which coated the sides of the vehicles that were reachable by anyone attacking the tank; its purpose being to stop magnetic mines being attached. At longer ranges, there were other dangers. Concealed anti-tank guns were the chief menace. One well-placed shot could blast a tank to fragments. These guns were difficult to spot and could be camouflaged very easily.
In order to give the tanks protection against enemy guns they need as much armour as possible. Ideally, every inch would be covered in thick steel plate. However, the crew need to be able to see out of a tank, so vision slits and hatches had to be allowed for. The engines need air intakes, and exhaust pipes to allow the fumes to escape from the engine. These weakly armoured parts of the tank are where it is most vulnerable, and they were the favourite aiming points for lurking anti-tank guns. From the confines of a tank, anti-tank guns were often impossible to find until it was too late.