Tanks in the Great War, 1914-1918

The author chronicles the conception, technical development, and battlefield employment of the first armored tracked vehicles during the Great War, combining firsthand staff recollections, reports from pioneers and engineers, and unit diaries. Chapters trace early experiments, design evolution, organizational formation, training and supply arrangements, and descriptions of combat operations and tactical lessons learned across multiple theaters. The narrative balances technical explanation of chassis, armament and mobility with accounts of crew experience, logistical challenges, and doctrinal debates, concluding with reflections on the invention’s impact on contemporary military practice and the collaborative effort of designers, manufacturers and crews that brought the weapon into service.