Top 10 Things to Know About Tanks in World War I

WW1 French Renault FT-17 Tank – Photo by Daderot from Wikimedia

Top 10 Things to Know About Tanks in World War I

Tanks were first developed and introduced in the World War 1 battlefields by the British Army in 1916. This was in an attempt to break the stalemate of trench warfare which had dragged on for over two years with both sides making little or no progress at all.

Their introduction into the World War 1 was a major milestone as they could travel over difficult terrains, cross trenches, crush obstacles, and provide infantry with mobile protection from machine guns and small arms fire.

Unlike today, tanks are a common feature on the battlefields, their usage in World War 1 was limited as they were deemed hard to maneuver and highly unreliable. Nevertheless, more than 6000 tanks were manufactured and many were deployed on the battlefields before the end of the war in 1918.

Here are the Top 10 Things to Know about Tanks in World War I

 1. Tanks were first used in World War 1 on September  15, 1916

British World War 1 Tank – Photo Source: Wikimedia

Before World War 1, the use of motorized war machines was still relatively not very common. This changed on 15TH September 1916, after the British introduced the first tanks into the battlefield which came as a great surprise to the Germans.

On that day, forty-nine British Mark I tanks were deployed at the battle of Somme where nine of them succeeded in breaking through the German lines. Although their impact on the battlefields was first seen as minimal, tanks increasingly became standard war machines with thousands of them being deployed before the end of World War 1 in 1918.

Read  Brutal facts about WW1

2. Tanks in the World War 1 were very slow

Unlike modern tanks which can reach a top speed of over 50kms/h and have an operational range of over 300kms, tanks in the World War 1 were extremely slow as they could only travel at about a walking pace at best. 

For instance, the British mark 1 tank, which was the first tank to go into action during World War 1, had a top speed of only 6 kms/h and an operation range of just over 20 kilometers.

This was because the automotive technology used then was not particularly advanced and the engines could not produce enough power to move the tanks at a higher speed.

3.  First Tanks in World War I were highly unreliable

Replica of a World War I Mk IV tank – Photo by Phillip Capper from Wikimedia

The idea to introduce tanks into the World War 1 came as a result of prolonged trench warfare which had dragged on for over two years. In a quest to break the stalemate, early tanks were produced in a hurry and rushed into the battlefields without proper pre-deployment tests.

The tanks also suffered from serious design flaws, making them mechanically unreliable and hard to operate. This is evident by the fact that of 49 tanks first deployed on the battlefield; only 25 were able to move forward into the action.

Nevertheless, as the war progressed and technology improved, tanks proved to be an important tool on the battlefield, helping armies to break enemy lines and gain ground.

4. The Environment inside the Tanks was extremely unpleasant

WW1 Splinter goggles (mask) for tankers – Photo Source: Wikimedia

Due to the fact the early tanks were generally slow and hard to maneuver, they required a large number of personnel for them to operate effectively. The crew consisted of several soldiers, a driver, gunners, and a commander.

These crew members crowded together inside the tank, which made the environment extremely unpleasant.  This was because the early tank’s ventilation was inadequate and the atmosphere within the tank was consistently heavy with poisonous carbon monoxide from the engine and firing the weapons.

5. Tanks were originally known as the “Landships”

During their initial development by the British, tanks were originally referred to as the “Landship”. The concept was to build a super-heavy armored fighting machine that would cross the trenches, crush all obstacles and break through the enemy lines.

However, the name didn’t stick for long as British military experts became concerned that such an overly descriptive title might have given away what was their secret weapon to the enemy. Consequently, the name ‘tank’ was instead adopted and has been universally used since its first appearance on the battlefield.

 6. The First Tank-versus-tank Battle took Place on 24 April 1918

Although tanks were introduced in World War 1 in 1916, the first tank-versus-tank battle did not take place until 24 April 1918. The battle which occurred near the small town of Villers-Bretonneux pitted three German tanks against three British tanks.

The main reason it took so long for such an event to happen was that the Germans concentrated more on the production of anti-tank guns and mines rather than tanks themselves. This is evident by the fact that the Germans produced only 20 tanks during the whole war, compared to the Allies who produced over 6000 tanks of various designs.

7. Tanks pkayed a signifacant role in the outcome of WW1

Tanks in World War 1 – Photo Source: Wikimedia

While tanks did not achieve an overwhelming victory in World War I, they did however, played a significant role in the outcome of the War. Their presence on the battlefield provided valuable support to the allies’ soldiers while at the same time causing panic and confusion among the enemy soldiers.

Moreover, tanks provided infantry with much-needed supplies at the front line which was also a significant tactical advantage for the allies over the Germans. However, their limited capabilities and lack of doctrine prevented tanks from becoming the critical factor in delivering the final decisive victory to the allies over the Germans. 

8. France Produced more Tanks in World War 1 than any other Country

While the British began the design and use of tanks in World War I, the French fielded their first tanks in April 1917 and ultimately produced far more tanks than all other countries combined.

By the time the war came to a close, the French had produced some 3,870 tanks more than the British who produced around 2600 tanks, despite being the first country to use them. The Germans, who by the end of the war were not yet fully convinced of its merits, produced only 20 tanks.

9. Tanks were used extensively in the later years of World War I

Although the first tanks were very slow and mechanically unreliable, as the war progressed, tanks evolved and improved, becoming faster, more maneuverable, and better armed. The improvement prompted the British and the French to increase their production as they were now seen as a key element that could decide the final outcome of world ward 1.

This was particularly evident in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917, where over 400 tanks were deployed by the British. The success in this battle demonstrated the effectiveness of tanks in warfare and paved the way for their production in great

By the summer of 1918, tanks had become a common element of British and French fighting methods, with both Countries producing close to 7000 tanks.

10. Only three countries used Tanks in World War 1

WW1 German A7V Tank – Photo Source: Wikimedia

The First World War, which took place between 1914 and 1918, involved over 30 nations.  The majority joined on the side of the Allies, including Britain, France, Italy, Russia, and the United States. They were opposed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire, who together formed the Central Powers.

Despite such a big number of countries being involved, only three countries produced and actually used tanks in World War 1. They included Britain, which was the first country to produce and use them, France, which produced more tanks than the other two combined, and Germany, which despite its technological advancement, produced only 20 tanks before the end of the war. 

Conclusion

Although tanks in World War 1 were less reliable unlike modern tanks, their presence played a significant role in the final outcome of the War. By the end of the war in 1918, despite their initial difficulties, tanks proved to be an important tool with the potential to revolutionize how wars were fought.

Their legacy continues to this day, as tanks remain a symbol of military power and technological prowess, a reminder of the ingenuity and determination of those who fought in the Great War.