Tanks in WW1
In 1915, the first ever tank rolled off the assembly line. This tank
was called Little Willie. It was a prototype, expected to do amazing
things on the battlefield. At the first test, it got stuck in
trenches, overheated, and had numerous mechanical malfunctions.
Another problem was that it was fourteen tons, and moved at two miles
per hour. One of the major problems that were caused by tanks is the
environment for the operators inside. The engine was located at the
same place that the people were on the interior of the tanks, so
dangerous gas leaked into the air inside, as well as very high
temperatures. Many soldiers passed out or even lost their lives from
this, so to improve the problem, goggles and chain mail masks started
being used. This tank was redone, and the newer version was named Big
Willie. It succeeded in crossing nine foot trenches, and was a
powerhouse. Knocking through wire and earth forts, it crushed
everything. These machines were first known as "land ships", but in
order to maintain secrecy, the British began calling them tanks
because of how closely they looked like steel water tanks. After Great
Britain began tank production, the French took up this idea only two
years later, in April of 1917. The French became extremely successful
in this tank making business; they produced more tanks than all the
others that had been made, combined. Tanks had to be made with tracks,
versus wheels that would typically be on moving vehicle. The use of
these "caterpillar tracks" helped armies to drive over rough land and
through barbed wire. They were able to cross over enemy lines and
advance in the war.
In 1915, the first ever tank rolled off the assembly line. This tank
was called Little Willie. It was a prototype, expected to do amazing
things on the battlefield. At the first test, it got stuck in
trenches, overheated, and had numerous mechanical malfunctions.
Another problem was that it was fourteen tons, and moved at two miles
per hour. One of the major problems that were caused by tanks is the
environment for the operators inside. The engine was located at the
same place that the people were on the interior of the tanks, so
dangerous gas leaked into the air inside, as well as very high
temperatures. Many soldiers passed out or even lost their lives from
this, so to improve the problem, goggles and chain mail masks started
being used. This tank was redone, and the newer version was named Big
Willie. It succeeded in crossing nine foot trenches, and was a
powerhouse. Knocking through wire and earth forts, it crushed
everything. These machines were first known as "land ships", but in
order to maintain secrecy, the British began calling them tanks
because of how closely they looked like steel water tanks. After Great
Britain began tank production, the French took up this idea only two
years later, in April of 1917. The French became extremely successful
in this tank making business; they produced more tanks than all the
others that had been made, combined. Tanks had to be made with tracks,
versus wheels that would typically be on moving vehicle. The use of
these "caterpillar tracks" helped armies to drive over rough land and
through barbed wire. They were able to cross over enemy lines and
advance in the war.