Forgotten Armour: Tank Warfare in Burma

by Jack Bowsher

Forgotten Armour is a new appraisal of the role of tanks in India and Burma in the Second World War.  ‘Superbly researched and compellingly told’ James Holland'Jack Bowsher has found a fresh story in a campaign that is itself often overlooked, with a book that explains as much as it reveals.' Al Murray'The employment of British armoured vehicles in Burma deserves to be better known. Jack Bowsher's story of ordinary tank soldiers doing extraordinary things in inhospitable terrain fills this gap admirably. I am sure that Forgotten Armour, of how tank troopers quite literally sped up allied success, will be standard reading for decades to come.' Peter Caddick-Adams'It is not widely known that the 7th Armoured Brigade fought with great distinction in the Far East after making its name as part of the 7th Armoured Division, “The Desert Rats” early in the war. An experienced fighting brigade, they brought much tactical nous and armoured punch with them. They brought the clever, quick thinking of armoured soldiers too and proved to be able to adapt swiftly. Changing their famous red rat symbol to a jungle green one, they genuinely re-energised the campaign. They overmatched Japanese armour time and again; they raised morale; they were “battle winners”. Courage can be infectious and The Desert Rats have never lacked that vital quality. This book tells a very inspiring tale - and well.' Major General Patrick Marriott CB CBE DL, Commander, 7th Armoured Brigade 2005-2007Often regarded primarily as an infantryman’s war in dense jungle and through monsoon conditions, This book shows that this is far from the whole story.  Using original research from places such as the National Archives, eyewitness testimony, and official histories, as well as more recent academic studies. Beginning with the failure to fully mechanise the interwar Indian Army, and tracing the development of armoured training, logistics

Genres: World War II

383 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2024

Reviews

[Benito Vera]

As the title suggests, the book "Forgotten Armour: Tank Battles in Burma" covers the use of armored units in Burma, traditionally considered an infantry-centric campaign. The author argues (and successfully demonstrates) that armor played a crucial role. While tanks did not win the campaign outright, they had a decisive impact in its various phases.

Tank units helped the British Army in 1941-1942 to make an orderly retreat across the country and into India, avoiding a potential catastrophic rout and the loss of several hundred men who might have been killed or imprisoned. During the defensive battles in 1944, particularly at Kohima and Imphal, tanks were critical in stopping the Japanese advance and subsequently in destroying the retreating forces. Finally, during the brilliant 1945 offensive that led to the reconquest of Rangoon, tanks operated in large formations "à la blitzkrieg," pursuing, encircling, and annihilating Japanese forces retreating into Thailand.

This stellar performance was facilitated by the ability of the British and Indian armies to innovate in the use of armor adapted to the distinctive battle and geographical conditions of Burma. This included the reinvention of the logistics chain, based primarily on airborne supplies, and the lack of an effective response from the Japanese army, which was deficient in anti-tank weapons and failed to adapt their tactics to the new battlefield conditions.

The book is very well written, featuring excellent maps and graphics, and is brilliantly documented. The author extensively uses both public records and various private documents (such as diaries, letters, and interviews with veterans), all of which combine to create a very engaging narrative. "Forgotten Armour: Tank Battles in Burma" is the perfect complement to other works on the Burma battles. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

[Paul]

This book is exactly what the title says it is, when we talk of Burma in the war I thought of jungle, Chindits and the “Poor Bloody Infantry” beating the Japanese in spite of the environment. Jack Bowsher completely unwinds that narrative and tells a story of a modern combined arms operation, armour doing what it was designed to do supporting infantry and how Slim destroyed the 15th Army in Burma.

A fantastic read that I highly recommend.

[Gary Miller]

A great book on the Burma campaign.

[Jeff]

It's good to find a book that does a drill down into a major campaign. Mr. Bowsher made a valuable contribution to history of the Burma campaign by focusing on tank units. His book was well researched. All of the famous battles are covered but rather that a division/brigade view of the battles, this book goes down to the company and squadron view. Mr. Bowsher describes the firefights and tactics quite well. They read like a novel.

Aside from tank actions and combined arms fighting, the important support from the quartermaster and engineers are the real unsung heroes. Their extraordinary efforts kept the tanks moving from India to the outskirts of Rangoon.

[Charles McClure]

extremely well done

This work is well worth the time. If you know nothing about the Burma Campaign and perhaps care little for the Order Of Battle, still the personalities of the Allied combatants is the primary highlight of this book for me.

[Wai Zin]

War in CBI theater is often depicted as a Forgotten War.
Even people who have some knowledge of this theater, they know mostly of Chindit expeditions, Battle of Imphal and Flying Tigers. But not of Tank warfare.

This book fill that gap nicely. Starting from retreat from Burma in 42, desperate fights in swampy Arakan, mountains of Kohima and Imphal, burning plain of central Burma, the tanks were there sharing the fights with infantry. This book give you a details accounts of it.

For me, as a Burmese, the most particularly interesting part of this book is the fight at Shwetaung in 1942. This is the place BIA (Burma Independent Army) under tutelage of Japanese Army had their first big fight. BIA suffered horrendous loss against the tanks there however it had the pride of place in the annals of Burma fights for her Independence.

Most book of same genre give you a few lines of that fight and gloss over. In this book I can read quite detailed depictions of that fight from British perspective.

I have already bought Jack Bowsher's another book, Thunder Run Meiktila 1945 and will be reading it soon. Coincidentally I was born in Meiktila and can't wait to read the battle that took place in my birthplace.

[Marlon Slack]

An excellent book that's very well-researched and well-realised.

Bowsher has a wonderful way of writing and draws on a wide variety of sources to bring the often forgotten campaign in Burma to life on the tactical and strategic level. His writing is frequently visceral when describing the men and action taken in the claustrophobic jungle.

Of particular note is Bowsher's rehabilitation of the much maligned M3 Grant/Lee tank within the pacific theatre.

For a tank that's constantly derided as being overweight, out of date, clunky and largely useless Bowsher shows how effective it was, in no small part due to the bravery and initiative of those who manned and commanded them.

Well worth a read for armour fans.