MECHANISED UNITS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 291, 21 September 1935, Page 5

MECHANISED UNITS

BRITISH ARMY MANOEUVRES,

OPERATIONS ON LARGE SCALE.

(United Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, September 19.

Fifty thousand men are engaged in the British Army manoeuvres. The most notable factor is the difference between the armies of ten years ago and of to-day in mechanisation and motoi isation, in which there have been great advances. Although with the exception of the tank brigade, Great Britain does not yet possess permanent mechanised formations such as the French mechanised cavalry divisions, the Army Council is experimenting toward building up mobile divisions consisting of tanks, mechanised cavalry and artillery, while new model divisions, which are also envisaged, will include a battalion of tanks to assist infantry assaults. The Army Council is also testing an entirely motorised infantry brigade, consisting of a support battalion equipped with heavy machine-guns and antitank guns, and three rifle battalions, each armed with 52 machine-guns and four mortars. These are expected to he the model of the future. Other motorised units include divisional artillery, anti-aircraft guns, arid engineers’ supply services. Experiments 'are proceeding with mechanised cavalry scouts. The artillery units are largely employing, smoke barrages to assist .tank attacks. Eight air squadrons are participating in the exercises, which cover an area of nearly 100 square miles.