Gaming Tactics - Using British Tanks In Defence

One of the tactical rules of using tanks in WW1 is to never use them in defensive actions. But in cases when you have no other option, what is the best way to utilize these machines when playing the defender in a tabletop game? Here's my thoughts on the matter...

General Tactics:

• Always keep tanks dug in. In most rule sets tanks can use cover so prepare defensive terrain for them to reduce the tanks profile.
• Watch out for artillery. Keep tanks back from their intended position if you anticipate a preliminary bombardment and they could be damaged by it.
• Once in cover, keep them there. Unless using Whippets try not to move your tanks that much and expose them to further fire, a breakdown out in the open can shatter your defense.
• Let your infantry do their own thing. Don't let them rely on the tanks too much or have them defend the tanks for the whole game. Tanks make good last stand areas though and can be a good fallback point in dire circumstances.
• Tanks are imposing units and act as bullet magnets. Careful placement can draw fire away from other areas of the line or other valuable troops, even if the tank isn't adding much to the overall battle.
• Placement of Tanks can create roadblocks or push the enemy into your fire lanes. Forcing enemies to go around your tanks through it's physical presence can force them into choke points or other kill zones. Even knocked out Tanks accomplish this, so your armour can still aid you after their deaths.

Male Tanks:

• Male tanks are probably the least useful of British tanks for defense. Two fixed position 6 pounder guns can do very little against infantry and there are much better ways of combating tanks than using them.
• What machine guns there are on the tank do not cover everywhere, giving enemy infantry chance to advance up close to it.

Female Tanks:

• Female tanks become useful machine gun pilboxes, while not as effective as heavy machine guns they can bring three LMGs to bear on attacking troops if facing forward.
• Unlike the male tanks their guns can cove all areas of the tank apart from the direct rear, so that if the line breaks it can actually add more firepower, and fire in all directions at once rather than limiting it's fire output.

Whippet Tanks:

• Whippets, while they can only be used in games after Spring 1918, fill two roles in defensive actions.
• Firstly they also act as machine gun pillboxes, while not as effective as a Female tank, can also fire in all directions, although they can't fire all weapons at the same time due to limited crew.
• In this role thanks to their speed it can be beneficial to move these tanks out into no-mans land to harass assaulting troops and force them into other pre-set fire lanes. 
• Whippets work best as line pluggers, best kept in the rear of the battle and rushed in to plug breaches in the line, due to their small size they can work in teams to cover each other as they advance.

One nice aspect of using tanks in a defense is that the idea of it is so stupid that it is often not anticipated and an attacking force without heavy anti-tank weaponry can be seriously set back by a well placed tank covering the line, stopping dead the momentum of an attack.

That's my thoughts on the matter, more tactical ideas coming soon!