Mary Lee Stubbs and Stanley Russell Connor

“ For World War II, increased weights resulted in the light tank being over 20 tons, the medium over 30, and the heavy, developed toward the end of the war, over 60 tons. During the period between the world wars, the weights of the classifications varied generally within these extremes. The National Defense Act of 1920 attempted, among other things, to settle the tank into its proper place within the Army, based upon World War I experiences. Under the act's comprehensive provisions, the Tank Corps was abolished, and tank units were assigned to infantry, becoming known as "Infantry (Tanks) ." ”

“ On the other hand, the Ordnance Department, while recognizing the usefulness of the Christie, was of the opinion that it was mechanically unreliable and that such dual-purpose equipment generally violated good engineering practice. The controversy over the advantages and drawbacks of Christie tanks raged for more than twenty years, with the convertible principle being abandoned in 1938. ”

“ Later the same year when all infantry tank units were transferred to a newly organized Armored Force, the 66th, 67th, and 68th Infantry were redesignated the 66th, 67th, and 68th Armored Regiments, and all were assigned to the 2d Armored Division. A new 69th Armored Regiment was organized in the 1st Armored Division. Units of the new Organized Reserves of post-World War I were organized exceedingly understrength. By the outbreak of World War II, most of them had only officer cadres and did not enter active Federal service as organized units. ”