AMERICA’S TANKS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21266, 21 February 1931, Page 20

AMERICA’S TANKS.

OVER A THOUSAND. BRITAIN OUTNUMBERED. In the course of an address to the United States War College class, Majorgeneral S. 0? Fugua, chief of infantry, made some significant disclosures as to American armament (says the Daily Telegraph’s military correspondent). He said that the present tank equipment comprises 947 light tanks and 100 40-ton heavy tanks. This is a far higher total than in the British Army, which possesses only 120 11-ton medium tanks of an eight-year-old model. By 1931 we shall add five new type medium tanks and 16 light tanks. Numerically this is a rather trifling addition. It is true that the American tanks are also of an old pattern, but General Fugua said that many improvements have been made in the light tank, and that it is likely to be fitted also with a new aircooled engine. He also said that the first of the new Christie wheel and track tanks was just being delivered, and .that its specification required a speed of 40 m.p.h. on the road, 30 m.p.h. over flat ground, and 20 m.p.h. up a field slope of ,1 in 10. A smaller eight-ton tank of a similar pattern is also being produced. Another line of experiment -in the United States is that of converting commercial tractors into tanks at short notice. General Fugua also revealed that nine infantry regiments, or 27 battalions, have been motorised in part. One regiment has been completely motorised. Only a few battalions in the British Army have yet been provided with motorised transport. He stated that “notable progress” had been made in the development of a semiautomatic shoulder rifle to replace the ordinary service rifle, and that it was only a question of time before such an automatic loading rifle was adopted for all infantrymen other than those that are armed with the complete machiajcrifle, in which both loading and firing are automatic. ' ,