Tank Command
Product details
- ISBN 9781035437610
- Dimensions: 156 x 240mm
- Publication Date: 04 Jun 2026
- Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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Former tank commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon OBE offers a gripping and unique account of the evolution of tank warfare, in collaboration with The Tank Museum.
'This deep dive into the evolution of tank warfare could not be timelier, and Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, who has more experience than most on these machines, is the perfect person to tell their tale' James Holland
'Tank Command is an exciting and original look at tanks and tank warfare by a tank commander with over twenty years experience of commanding and fighting these behemoths of the battlefield' Al Murray
Who would have thought that steel boxes with guns would endure as the stalwart of the battlefield for over a hundred years? For all the new trickery and wizardry of the modern fight, the tank's ability to pack a huge punch at up to 3000 metres, protected by steel, ceramics and now, electronics, is still the most reliable and durable weapon in the military toolbox.
In this thrilling new book, former tank commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon OBE offers a unique and timely exploration of the evolution of the tank, on and off the battlefield. Written in close collaboration with the world-renowned Tank Museum, it brings the thrill of hardware together with the sweep of history, telling the tank's origin story on the battlefields of World War I, charting its primacy during World War II, and analysing its critical role in modern warfare, whether in the Gulf (where Hamish served) or on the new Ukrainian and Russian front lines.
From the MARK IV at the battle of Cambrai to the Challenger 2 in Ukraine, discover the characters who sat at the helm of these iron chariots and what they saw, those who innovated the machine to continue the tank's prominence despite numerous attempts to write it off, and why it remain critical to success in battle even in today's era of drones and cyber warfare.
With thousands of hours commanding Chieftains, Challenger 1s, and Challenger 2s, Hamish is the leading authority on the subject, and Tank Command is an essential addition to any military history reader's bookshelf.
'This review of tank warfare by an accomplished exponent is timely given the increased risks of high intensity conflict and the need to equip our Army effectively' General Sir Nick Carter, former Chief of the Defence Staff
'I fought with Hamish in a tank squadron in the First Gulf War, and gauge there are few better people to explain the evolution of the tank from Cambrai to the Donbass' General Sir Richard Sherriff, Deputy Commander of NATO
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is a world leading expert in chemical, biological and nuclear (CBRN) weapons. Hamish is a commissioned reserve officer in the British Army's Staff Corp as senior advisor & mentor to the Ministry of Defence on CBRN. He is advising NGOs and journalists in Ukraine on CBRN defence. He is also advising the Ukraine Government on CBRN defence in the war with Russia.
Hamish served 23 years in the British Army including service as Commanding Officer of the UK CBRN Regiment and NATO's Rapid Reaction CBRN Battalion. His operational deployments included the 1st Gulf War, Cyprus, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan and has been in Syria & Iraq frequently in the last 10 years. This considerable experience in the field places Hamish as one of the world's leading and most current experts in chemical, biological and nuclear counter terrorism and humanitarian operations.
Hamish has worked in Syria during the current conflict setting up the CBRN Task Force and advising medical charities, the White Helmets and the Idlib Health Directorate on treating the victims of chemical weapons attacks and collation of evidence. He advised the Peshmerga 2015-17 on CBRN matters and trained them on several occasions to counter the ISIL chemical attacks in Northern Iraq.
Today, Hamish gives advice to UK and US Government agencies and is a senior Ministry of Defence advisor on CBRN and Syria, and is frequently seen on global news channels providing expert commentary, and writes in UK, Middle East and US news journals and newspapers. He was a Visiting Fellow at Magdalene College Cambridge in 2020-2022 and his memoir Chemical Warrior was published in 2021.
