The tanks had one big advantage: They could draw enemy fire. There are several notable stories of tanks sent in action ahead of the infantry. Although it lightly armored, it was an effective variant that had much better control mechanisms and required less crew. A lighter tank called Whippet came into service in early 1918. However, they still managed to surprise and alarm the German army – which quickly began to develop their own.Ī significant improvement came with the Mark VIs, which had more armor, an external tank and carries fascines, or bundles of wood that could be dropped to bridge trenches and ditches. The tanks would make violent movements and were also mechanically unreliable. Men driving these first WW1 tanks (usually a Subaltern, 3 Drivers and 4 Gunners) would often become sick due to the heat, noise, and engine exhaust. Turning was a especially complex maneuver, requiring these “caterpillars” to halt – and making them an easy target. The first tanks, Mark 1, were built in two types: “Male” (carrying two Hotchkiss 6-pounder guns and 4 machine guns) and “Female” (carrying 5 machineguns). The “Mechanical Warfare Supply Department” of the Ministry of Munitions was in charge of supplying the machines. The first tanks (or armored vehicles) had been created in the autumn of 1914, with the first experimental machine completed in December 1915.
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