"The fact that, in the extreme circumstances of the last winter, armored divisions were, at times, obliged to go into action in ways poorly suited to their peculiarities, does not change this truth. It is essential to recognize that these divisions were, from the point of view of equipment, in very poor shape and that, in particular, they were equipped with small numbers of second-rate tanks."
I have immense sympathy for the logistics officer whose desk this crossed upon publication, and who I imagine was swiftly relieved of his duties shortly thereafter on account of uncontrollable guffawing and the compulsion to shout [Amis's suggestion for the title of the second edition of Conquest's Great Terror] at a volume deemed detrimental to morale.
"... the day of the tank has passed ..."
In 1943!
We keep hearing this.
Yet 80 years later, the tanks keep rattling by, on their way to the front, apparently unaware that their day has passed.
Tanks are the obverse of nuclear fusion - the former always obsolete, the latter always right around the corner.
Perhaps both will finally be refuted in the future by a fusion powered tank.
Neither late nor early, but right on time.
"The fact that, in the extreme circumstances of the last winter, armored divisions were, at times, obliged to go into action in ways poorly suited to their peculiarities, does not change this truth. It is essential to recognize that these divisions were, from the point of view of equipment, in very poor shape and that, in particular, they were equipped with small numbers of second-rate tanks."
I have immense sympathy for the logistics officer whose desk this crossed upon publication, and who I imagine was swiftly relieved of his duties shortly thereafter on account of uncontrollable guffawing and the compulsion to shout [Amis's suggestion for the title of the second edition of Conquest's Great Terror] at a volume deemed detrimental to morale.