The rest is all about tactics, keeping a level head and a steady hand when all around you is chaos, noise and danger. It’s thought that the actual firing is just 40% of the job. The only problem with that was that the gunner was in a moving vehicle, often being bounced around over uneven and bumpy terrain, with a cacophony of noise all around, trying to aim at a moving target, all whilst probably under serious enemy fire. John Irwin, an American tank gunner who participated in the Allied invasion of Europe, said, ‘Commander Joe would pick targets and I would try and hit them’. Firing the main turret might sound like a simple enough task, but during the Second World War it became an integral and high-pressure role. This job involved doing just what it says on the tin – operating the gun. Will we be withdrawn? Or sent in again? We need some rest: everyone is worn out, mentally and physically’. Trevor Greenwood of the 9 th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment explained the acute fatigue in the summer of 1944: ‘…speculation about our next move. Often operating in the dark, literally and metaphorically, the confusion, intensity and uncertainty of full-on warfare takes its toll on the boss. The commander assesses the battlefield, liaises with the Squadron Leader and coordinates the onboard team. Ultimately responsible for all actions and decisions, this is the highest rank of the high-pressure tank jobs. Here’s a rundown of the main roles of each crewman and the history behind it all:Īs you might imagine, this is the leader of the crew, the CO, the Old Man (that’s an affectionate term used whether it’s male or female in the US and UK armies).

In general, each tank crew is made up of three to five personnel. Who are the intrepid operators of these tanks? Indeed, technology might move on in leaps and bounds, but even the most primitive tanks from the early part of the 20th century have one thing in common with the latest battle tanks such as the AS-90 Braveheart or the Buffalo MRAP – a crew. When you’re in the driving ‘seat’ (many tanks require you to kneel uncomfortably or practically lie down, so there’s no real seat to speak of), it’s one thing negotiating the bumpy terrain in the daytime with your head poking out of the hatch, but imagine what it’s like during night-time warfare and the hatches are down – a whole different ball game. Attempting to skid-steer several tonnes of metal on tracks is tricky, to say the least. If you’re ever lucky enough to drive a tank, you’ll soon realise that it’s a military monster unlike any other vehicle.

American tank crew modern