Operations of the Tank Corps A.E.F.

Before Patton made tanks famous, Rockenbach made them possible. Here is the blueprint of America’s armored future—written by the man who built it.
Operations of the Tank Corps A.E.F. is the definitive report on the creation, training, and deployment of the first American tank forces in World War I—written by Brigadier General Samuel D. Rockenbach, the very first commander of the U.S. Tank Corps. Known to military historians as The Rockenbach Report, this extraordinary document was previously unpublished, with only a handful of typed copies known to exist. Until now.

Hand-picked by General John J. Pershing to lead this brand-new combat arm, Rockenbach designed the U.S. tank program from the ground up—recruiting, training, organizing, and finally fielding armored forces in France in 1918.

This volume includes:

• The full text of Rockenbach’s original report, written just weeks after the Armistice

• Candid assessments of the Corps’ achievements—and its growing pains

• Rare insight into the logistical, tactical, and political challenges of launching tanks into the chaos of modern war

• Complete supporting documents, including:

  • The Tank Corps manning and organization list (Sept. 1918)

  • Operations reports from the 304th (Provisional) Tank Brigade, commanded by George S. Patton Jr.

  • Reports from the 1st French Tank Brigade and the 301st U.S. Battalion, which fought alongside the Australian Corps

This is not a biography. It’s not an analysis. It is the war, as reported by the man who led America’s first tanks into battle.
Unpublished until now—the original report on America’s tank corps in World War I.