Mark I at the Battle of Somme Even though the British were the first to use tanks in combat, the French continued with their own tank development. Popular Science documented the evolution in tanks, that thunder before the blitz, from slow novelty to deadly weapon in the interwar years, a selection of which can be found in “ The Rise Of The Tank Before World War II.”Īlso included are novel ideas that didn’t make the cut: heavy, winged “flying tanks,” or unusual lightweight fast tanks and goofy, armored cars.Īs for the tank evolution over a full 100 years, the British Army is again happy to tell that story in a video that is as much historical timeline as modern military infomercial. The British Mark I tank was first used in active combat during the Battle of the Somme in September 1916. By the start of the next World War, however, German tanks were powerful, fast, armored and deadly machines, which enabled a style of fast attack that shaped not just World War II, but how nations after the war envisioned future wars. It was only in November 1917, at the battle of Cambrai, that tanks were used effectively for the first time. The earliest appearance of tanks in Popular Science comes from the December 1918 issue, in “German Monsters–Clumsy Copies of the French Tanks.” The tanks used by Germany were heavy, slow, poorly designed, and weak to all kinds of weapons, including rifle fire. See how it evolved /XmkU8VkHyo- British Army 🇬🇧 September 14, 2016 The British tank continues to play a decisive role on the battlefield.

Which battle were the tanks first used