Evening star., 1941-11-02
Tank Production


President Roosevelt's decision to
ask Congress for funds to double tank
production as the first step in a COM
prehenSive expansion of the defense
effort, based on the military lessons
Of the past two years, indicates that
we are about to embark in earnest
upon race for supremacy in
mechanical armament.
To many Americans who have
checked off one by one the hapless
victims of Nazi superiority in tanks
and airplanes, the wonder has been
that we have waited so long before
seeming to give full recognition to
the effectiveness of mechanized
armies. 1t is hopeful sign that we
are at last on the threshold of the
great industrial output of which this
country is capable, once its industry
is fully geared for the task.
BY way of emphasizing the magni-
tude of the test that confronts us,
the President might we'll have pref
aced his statement by cursory
comparison of our own pitifully small
armored force with the appalling
size of these Nazi mechanical armies.
Lord Beaverbrook, quoting Russian
sources said that the Germans had
10000 tanks and were using $4,000 in
the assaults on the Eastern front
These figures are borne out by our
own official estimates that Hitler is
using at least thirty armored di-
visions The difference between the
10000 tanks available and the $4,000
in use was said to be accounted for
by the German policy of operating
on basis of 100 per cent replace
ment for all active units. It must
be remembered, also, that in the
German as in the American armored
division, the tanks actually represent
only about 20 per cent of the total
armored vehicles used by the COM
| bined arms that make up such a
division.
Against this vast array, our own
armored force consists of only five
divisions and fifteen separate tank
battalions. Of the divisions, only
two have anywhere near their full
quota of about 400 tanks each. But
in actual battle performance in
North Africa, American tanks have
demonstrated their worth and espe-
cially their durability. In this fashion
much useful knowledge has been
gained for future guidance.
It is ironical but true that the
United States, which surpasses all
other nations in automobile produc-
ton, should lag so far behind Euro
pean powers in mass tank production.
Before the start of the rearmament
program, eighteen months ago, our
Army was fortunate If it received
thirty tanks in year. The best
tank brains" were admittedly in
Germany, and our own designers and
men experienced in production were
lamentably few. We had to start
producing almost from scratch.
Fortunately, however, our produc-
ton is beginning to get into full
swing. Estimates place the output
of medium, twenty y-eight-ton models.
at about 240 a month. Yet the pro-
gram is being stepped up so rapidly
that soon we will reach a scheduled
1000 mediums a month, without
taking into account the light tanks.
The number is to be raised to 1000 a
month and before long the new heavy
tanks will begin rolling off the line.
Even so, our production then would
be considerably below the combined
German effort at present. To exceed
it calls for superhuman efforts on
the part of American industry. Given
the time, the incentive and the op-
portunity, the task is not too great
for accomplishment.
Announcement is made from 1ta1v