100th Indian Independent Light Tank Squadron, Malaya 1942
In April 1941 one Jat squadron was detached from 8th King George’s Own Light Cavalry and assigned to the newly raised 44th Cavalry then at Risalpur. Subsequently, this squadron was detached and redesignated as 100th Light Tank Squadron. It was composed of three troops and equipped with obsolete light tanks. These tanks would have been:
• Light Tank Mk II Indian Pattern
[the production version of Carden-Loyd Mk VII/VIII light tank]
two-man (commander/gunner, driver) light tank with cupola
armament: 1x Vickers .303in machine gun
armour: 10mm to 4mm
maximum speed: 30mph (20mph cross country)
Horstmann suspension
• Light Tank Mk IV India Pattern
two-man (commander/gunner, driver) light tank with cupola
armament: 1x Vickers .303in machine gun Or 1x Vickers .5in machine gun
armour: 12mm to 4mm
maximum speed: 36mph (28mph cross country)
Horstmann coil spring suspension
The squadron had between 9 and 18 of these tanks.
The squadron was sent to Malaya early in 1942. On 29 January 1942, His Majesty’s Transport Empire Star arrived in Singapore with "16 tanks of obsolescent type." On 11 February 1942 a detachment of the squadron was attached to 'Massy Force' of 18th Infantry Division for counterattacks against the Japanese forces on Singapore Island. The entire squadron was lost when British forces surrendered on 15 February 1942.
Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942
Copyright © James A. Broshot 1999-2000
