The Need for Organisational Resilience - Chapter 1

A knocked out Char B1. German Panzer crews quickly figured out the main weaknesses of the tanks. Their firing rate was relatively low and inaccurate. Hence, this allowed the German Panzers to get close and aim at their air intakes. (Kutsch, n.d.)

Another of the typical ‘land-ships’ (slow but heavily armoured) was the Somua S35, with 47mm of

sloped armour and a 25 km/h top speed. Its 47mm turret-mounted gun outclassed the PzKpfW II and

III.

On the Allied side, the British infantry tank Matilda Mark II was also noteworthy. Heavily armoured

with 78mm at the front, it could withstand the shells of any German Panzerabwehrkanone (PaK),

apart from the 88mm Flak. It also had a powerful main armament, a 40 mm ‘2 pounder’. Despite its

weight of 25t it reached a top speed of 26 km/h.

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Quality of Air Forces. From a pure performance perspective, the Germans

provided greater tactical ground support, with the Junkers 88A Schnellbomber (fast bomber),

the Dornier 17Z and the Junkers 87 Sturzkampfflugzeug − Stuka (dive bomber). The French

could only muster a few obsolete LeO 451 day bombers or some Bregeut 693 assault

aircraft. The Allies were equipped with the American-built Curtiss Hawk, and, although these

were undergunned, they were robust and fast. Hawker Hurricanes and Fairey Battles

complemented the Allied arsenal.

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