1. On the 13th June 1900 Maj.Gen. Sir Ernest Swinton, who during his service in the Boer War, visualised the requirement for armoured vehicles to counter the threat of machine guns. His vision of this new weapon was later to break the stalemate and dominance of the machine gun power on the battlefields of Flanders in 1916. 
1. Hornsby Caterpiller
Produced in 1909 can be seen at Bovington Tank Museum
The last remaining track vehicle 2. Mark I ( Little Willie) 
The Mark I ,Little Willie was designed by William Tratton and Walter Wilson in 1915.
Crew: 8
Weight: 28 tons
Dimensions: length 32', width 13', heighth 8'.
Speed : 3.7 mph The first tanks produced in 1916 were manned by members of the Machine Gun Corps, 6 companies collectively called the 'Heavy Branch'.
Lord Kitchener upon over seeing the trials of the tank, remarked that they were a "pretty mechanical toy but very limited military value".
The first battle took place on the Somme. About 32 Mark I's attacked a German position between the villages of Flers and Courcelette on Friday 15th Sep.1916.
At 5.15 am the male tank D1 commanded by Cpt. H W Mortimore moved out from its starting point near Ginchy towards the German lines near Delville wood. 2 Companies of the 6th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry moved off in its wake.
Lumbering over broken ground immune to the German bullets,the guns waved about as the gunmen sought their targets steaded fired and resumed. In the center cab a Hotchkiss machine gun fired short bursts. Some Germans fought and fell others ran. D1 arrived at the enemy lines,deserted except for the dead. At this point D1's career came to an abrupt end when a shell ,either from the enemy or the British barrage, struck the steering gear and put it out of action.
Just after 6 am the remaining tanks got under way. Many were either lost by being knocked out by British shells , broke down or became ditched.
That day was one of local surprise rather than overwhelming victory.
One tank caught the public imagination, Lt. Hasties D17 nicknamed 'Dinnaken' penetrated and held the village of Flers.
But it was the failures that were remembered by the rest of the army
During the action the Press reported on an aircraft crews comments: 'A tank is walking down the main road of Flers with the British Army cheering behind it'. This was 'D' Company, later the 4th Tanks. These companies were later expanded to form Battalions and were named the Tank Corps in 1917.
The Mark I was nicknamed 'Mother' after Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig stated that it was a mother to control at Flers in 1916.
Of the 150 tanks produced 60 were sent to France.In the battle of the Somme 49 were actually deployed. Mechanical defects reduced the final total to 32.
9 tanks pushed on , 9 failed to reach the infantry, 9 broke down and 5 were ditched.
It is still a contencious issue whether Haig was right in deploying the tanks. The surprise of the weapon as a counter to the machine guns was over.
On the 1st July 1916 there were 60,000 British casualties of these 20,000 dead. By the end of the Somme offensive there were 420,000 British, 200,000 French,and 450,000 German casualties.
3. Mark II and Mark III 
Picture is a Mark II
crew: 8
Weight: 27 tons
Speed: 3.7 mph The Mark II and III were used at the battle of Arras in April 1917.
They were training tanks, plated but not bullet- proof and so they were used sparingly.
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4. Mark IV 
Mark IV in action
Crew: 8
Weight: 27 tons
Speed: 3.7 mps The Mark IV was the most numerous produced tank in WWI.
It did not show its worth till 1917 ,however, this was probably the date when the tank became instituted as one of the most essential parts of modern warfare.
In June 1917 a change of title from the Heavy Branch to the Tank Corps. A new cap badge,a male tank enclosed in a wreath replaced the crossed machine guns.
On the dawn of November 20th 1917, 381 tanks, made up of 3 Tank Brigades of 2 Battalions,assembled before Cambrai. Led by Brigadier Hugh Ellis, an attack was made on the Hindenburg line on a 6 miles front.
Close to the center of the 6 mile line of tanks stood a male Mark IV of 'H' Battalion, inappropriately named 'Hilda'. Through the predawn mist strode Brig. Ellis. Climbed aboard 'Hilda', and unfolded the brown, red and green flag. For a modern Field Commander to lead his troops into battle it was unheard of. A single gun shot sent men and machines in motion. A 3 mile advance was made,(never been achieved before), and created a major breakthrough. Though Cambrai was not taken the battle was deemed a success. So much so that church bells were rung throughout Great Britian. Each year the great battle is commemorated as " Cambrai Day". ( This will be covered later in personal pages). 5. Mark V 
Mark V
Crew: 8
Weight: 29 tons
Speed: 29 mph The first Tank versus Tank battle took place near the village of Cachy on 24th April 1918.
A German AZV engaged 3 MarkIV's, damaging 2 but was knocked out by 2/LT Frank Mitchell.
On the 8th August the Tank Corps struck General Ludendorff's line at Amiens and stretched from Ancre to the Somme, part of Villers Breton to Luce.It was foggy and an immense success for the Whippet tanks.
By December 1918 there were 26 Tank Battalions. As well as serving in France a detachment from the Corps served with General Allenby at Gaz ,Palastine in 1917.
The Corps saw almost continuous action, winning 4 VC's. Mark IX 
Mark IX prototype tested on Armistice day 1918.It was fitted with large airdrums.movement in the water was by paddles fitted to the tracks. |
