Existing comment:
AEF Tank School -- France:
Captain George S. Patton Jr. became the first American officially assigned to serve with tanks in November 1917. Patton could read and speak French, knew cavalry tactics and had worked with both machine-guns and vehicles. He was asked to create the AEF light tank school. After a short period of training at the French Tank School, Patton went to work. From January to May 1918, Patton wrote instructional and tactical manuals. He also managed the founding and operation of a tank school. Men who had no previous experience in tanks were trained as mechanics, tank drivers, and gunners. By the end of July 1918, two American light tank battalions had completed their training in France and were waiting for enough tanks to arrive so they could go into combat.
In August 1918, Lieutenant Colonel Patton was given command of the 1st Tank Brigade, which would be part of the assault on the St. Mihiel salient. General Pershing had identified the salient as the best place to push the Germans out of the area. On September 12, 1918, in heavy mud, the American tankers went into combat. Within two days, they had achieved their goal. |