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British heavy tanks of the First World War

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General Characteristics
Length: n/a
Width: n/a m
Height: n/a
Weight:14 tons
Speed:
8 mph (13 km/h)
Range: n/a
Primary armament: 4 x 0.303 machine gun
Secondary armament: -
Power plant: 2 x Tylor 45 bhp
Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver)

The Mark 1 was the first tank of World War I. The tank was needed to break the domination of trenches and machine guns over the battlefields of the Western Front in World War Two.

A rhomboid shaped vehicle with a low centre of gravity and long track length able to grip muddy ground and cross trenches. Sponsons on the hull sides carried two Naval 6-pounder guns.


Production History

The Mark 1 was a development of Little Willie, the experimental tank produced for the British army by Lieutenant W. G. Wilson and William Tritton in 1915. Working on problems discovered with Willie, the Mark 1 was developed.


Variants

A requirmeent was found for two types of armament so Mark I's were armed with 6 pounder guns and called 'Male' or Machine guns and called "Female"

To aid steering a pair of large wheels were added behind the tank.

The subsequent Mark II, III, IV and V tanks all bear a strong resemblence to 'Mother'.

Combat History

The first tanks were added, as 'Heavy Branch', to the Machine Gun Corps until a separate Tank Corps was formed.

A small number of Mark 1 tanks took part in the battle of the Somme at Flers in September 1916. Although many broke down or became stuck their effect on the enemy was noted leading to requests for more.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWmother.htm http://www.tankmuseum.co.uk/colww1.html

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