Existing comment:
Samuel D. Rockenbach, First Chief of Armor:
Before American entry into WWI in 1917, General "Black Jack" Pershing had been advised that the Army should add tanks as part of their forces. General Pershing needed leaders who knew motorized tactics. Colonel Rockenbach was just such an officer. Rockenbach, Pershing, and Patton had all served together in the Mexican Expedition in 1916. Rockenbach also impressed General Pershing with his organizational skills when the two had served together as Lieutenants in the mid-1890s.
The first Chief of the Tank Corps, Brigadier General Rockenbach was responsible for creating a new branch of the Army. The US Army only had direct control of the Renault designed FT-17 light tanks [sic] units. Rockenbach successfully organized, equipped, and trained Army tank crews in a matter of months. Within a year, Patton's 304th Tank Brigade was helping allied forces win the battle of St. Mihiel.
For the British heavy tanks, Rockenbach was the key decision maker for the join development of the new Mark VIII heavy tank. This tank, although completed too late for combat, used US Liberty aircraft engines. With improved armor and speed, the Mark VIII would have been available as a standard "heavy tank" for both nations to use.
In 1920, Congress dissolved the Tank Corps as a separate branch and placed tanks under the control of the infantry. Rockenbach continued to serve as the Chief of the Tank Corps until his retirement. |