Customer Reviews

Where Heroes Trained

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This book is an interesting look back at an almost unknown project - the attempt to allow tanks to attack at night in WW2. The British developed a special searchlight for mounting in tanks. Known by the code name of Canal Defense Light (CDL), implying that these were searchlights for protecting the Suez Canal instead of their true purpose. The British got the Americans interested, who promptly converted 500 M3 Medium Tanks to "Shop Tractor T10" (another cover name). The US organized six tank batallions, with supporting headquarters units and other units. The idea was to be able to stage massive tank attacks at night with the CDLs lighting the way and blinding the enemy. Unfortunately, the project was too secret! The British and Americans pledged that the CDLs (also called "Leaflets" by the US troops) would not be used without coordinating with each other. Many Allied officers never even knew this equipment existed. In the end very few CDLs saw action. This book looks at the experiences of one unit that was trained for this unusual mission. The constant need for secrecy affected ever part of the soldiers lives. To allow training in secret the units were placed out in the Mojave desert. The troops were not to refer to a CDL" or even to "lights", the tank-mounted lights were referred to as "heaters". The book looks back at the 736th Tank Battalion, how the unit was organized, how it was trained, and most importantly, at the young men who trained hard for a secret mission that never ocurred. After more training in England the 736th was converted to a standard tank battalion and saw combat in Europe, hopefully these experiences will be the subject of a sequal. An easy to read book about an obscure subject and an interesting look at the procvess of turning American civilians into soldiers.

This is a great record of the Secret Weapon light on top of the medium tank project during World War two. Should be of interest to all War research people as well as those who served in World War Two. It would be even more meaningfull if the reader had been involved with the weapon.