Existing comment:
Britain and the Leading Tank:
The Royal Navy, rather than the British Army, determined the development of the tank in Great Britain. The First Lord of Admiralty, Winston Churchill, set up an organization called the "Landships Committee" in February of 1915. Similar to their French counterparts, early British tanks were unable to cross trenches. The incorporation of Holt caterpillar tracks gave these tanks more mobility than wheels.
Lieutenant WG Wilson improved the early tank design by wrapping the track around the side of the vehicle. This improvement allowed the tank to cross trenches and crush barbed wire. The resulting vehicle was the Mark I, sometimes referred to as "Mother." The Mark I became the first production model. It carried two 57mm guns in side-mounted sponsons and three machine-guns. Hardened steel plates riveted to a metal framework provided protection from enemy fire. Its 105-horsepower engine gave it a top speed of 2 miles per hour. The Mark I possessed a short range of just 20 miles. The tank saw its first combat action in the battle of the Somme, September 15, 1916. The British saw the tank as a "leading" vehicle. It was used ahead of an infantry attack to destroy machine-gun nests. The infantry would follow to mop up and occupy the trenches. The Mark I provided valuable on the battlefield as it cleared a path for the infantry and reduced casualties. The British continued to make this tank in a variety of models until the end of the war and beyond. |