Japanese armour doctrine is compared with British infantry-tank doctrine, while Soviet employment is compared with British cruiser-tank doctrine. Heavy British infantry tanks illustrate a transport problem in northern China: bridges could require rebuilding before the armour advanced. The panel associates Soviet use of light Valentine tanks in the Far East with these bridge limits. It also argues that disappointing Japanese experience with concentrated armoured formations in China encouraged their dispersal into infantry support, leaving them poorly matched against Soviet mechanized opponents.
Notable Point · 31:38-35:37
Japanese tank doctrine and northern China's bridges
Japanese and Soviet tank employment are compared through infantry support, mechanized formations and the infrastructure needed to move armour.