Editing Battle of Cambrai (1917) (section)

===British plan===
{{see also|Western Front tactics, 1917}}

[[File:Cambrai area 1917.jpg|thumb|{{centre|Cambrai area, 1917}}]]
Proposals for an operation in the Cambrai area using a large number of tanks originated from Brigadier [[Hugh Elles]] of the Tank Corps, and the reliance on the secret transfer of artillery reinforcements to be "silently registered" to gain surprise came from [[Henry Hugh Tudor]], commander of the [[9th (Scottish) Division|9th (Scottish)]] infantry division artillery.{{sfn|Miles|1991|pp=4–6}} In August 1917, Tudor conceived the idea of a surprise attack in the IV Corps sector, he suggested a primarily artillery-infantry attack, which would be supported by a small number of tanks, to secure a breakthrough of the German Hindenburg Line. The German defences were formidable; Cambrai, was a quiet front and the Germans had built an elaborate defence in depth.{{sfn|Miles|1991|pp=17–30}}

Tudor's plan sought to test new methods in [[combined arms]], with emphasis on joint artillery and infantry tactics to see how effective they were against German fortifications.{{sfn|Miles|1991|pp=17–30}} Tudor advocated using the new [[sound ranging]] and [[Predicted fire|silent registration]] of guns to achieve instant suppression of fire and surprise. He also wanted to use tanks to clear paths through the deep barbed wire obstacles in front of German positions, while supporting the tank force with the [[No. 106 Fuze]], designed to detonate high explosive (HE) ammunition without cratering the ground, to supplement the armour.{{sfn|Hammond|2009|p=57}}