Tanks (WW 1) - Great Britain: books - history, types and construction
A book on tanks? Explore here illustrated books on the history, types and construction of tanks from World War I from Great Britain.
The Complete Catalogue of British Tanks - All British-built Tanks from 1915 to the Present Day
NEW
As the nation that conceived the first tank more than a hundred years ago, Britain has a long and fascinating series of tank designs to its credit. Despite a period of apathy from the relevant authorities about the value of tanks, which led to its grateful reliance on American-made models during the Second World War, Britain bounced back to become an important innovator once again - notably with the development of the still-secret Chobham armour for the 1980s.
In addition to the outstanding successes of British tank design, there were many unsuccessful designs along the way. The sheer quantity of proposals, prototypes and production models is bewildering to all but the non-specialist, and yet fascinating to those who persevere in their search for information. The Complete Catalogue of British Tanks therefore aims to make the essential information available in readily digestible form, as well as to suggest further sources of information for those who wish to take their interest a stage further.
Complete with useful Appendices about the variety of engines used in British tanks, and about the multiple main weapons that have been employed, this book will be a rapid-reference standby for anyone with an interest in the story of these armoured fighting vehicles.
Author:
James Taylor
Specs:
144 pages, 27 x 22 x 1.7 cm / 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.67 in, hardback
Illustrations:
175+ b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:
Herridge & Sons Ltd (GB, 2023)
EAN:
9781914929038
The Complete Catalogue of British Tanks - All British-built Tanks from 1915 to the Present Day
When British soldiers charged across the Somme in September 1916 they were accompanied by a new, revolutionary weapon - the tank. After a stuttering start armoured behemoths such as the Mark IV, Mark V and Whippet Tank played a crucial role in bringing World War I to an end, but were then inexplicably rejected by their country of origin.
Marking the centenary of their battlefield debut this comprehensive volume traces the design and development of the famous British weapon system, from the initial concept of a steam powered tank during the Crimean War to the role the British military played in creating the infamous German Blitzkrieg tactic of World War II. Bolstered by historic photographs and stunning illustrations, author David Fletcher brings us the thrilling history behind British battle tanks.
David Fletcher MBE was born in 1942. He has written many books and articles on military subjects and until his retirement was the historian at the Tank Museum, Bovington, UK. He has spent over 40 years studying the development of British armoured vehicles during the two World Wars and in 2012 was awarded an MBE for services to the history of armoured warfare.
A study on one of the seminal events in military history dispells many of the myths surrounding Cambrai 1917. Common perception classifies it as the 'world's first tank battle' but Alexander Turner shows us that the true importance of Cambrai was that it saw the first use of armour as an operational shock tactic. With this, the conduct of war was irrevocably changed. The battle also heralded the combined use of aircraft, armour and artillery, marking the birth of modern combined-arms techniques.
Written by a military historian and serving soldier, this is a fascinating analysis of a battle which ended a stalemate, yet spawned a host of war-winning tactics.
Contents: Introduction - Chronology - Opposing commanders - Opposing forces - Opposing plans - The battle of Cambrai - Aftermath - Further reading - Index.
Author:
Alexander Turner
Specs:
96 pages, 24.5 x 18.5 x 0.8 cm / 9.7 x 7.3 x 0.31 in, paperback
Cambrai 1917 - The Myth of the First Great Tank Battle
Cambrai was the last - and most influential - battle fought by the British on the Western Front in 1917. With many of the Allies on the brink of collapse, only Britain was still capable of holding the Germans at bay.
Over time, many myths have grown up around what happened at Cambrai. The events of this iconic attack are now buried beneath accumulated legends and misrepresentations built up over almost a century. It is remembered as the world's first great tank battle, but it was the brilliant British innovations in artillery techniques that most shocked the enemy. Equally important were the new 'stormtroop' tactics the Germans pioneered.
Drawing on previously unpublished letters, diaries, first-hand accounts and official reports, Bryn Hammond's definitive account examines this military milestone, how the myths were created, and how they changed the face of warfare for ever.
Author:
Bryn Hammond
Specs:
528 pages, 21.5 x 13.5 x 3.8 cm / 8.5 x 5.3 x 1.5 in, paperback
Illustrations:
24 photographs, 6 maps
Publisher:
Orion Publishing Co (GB, 2009)
EAN:
9780753826058
Cambrai 1917 - The Myth of the First Great Tank Battle
When tanks, the newly invented British weapon, were used for the first time in a mass attack on November 20 1917, they not only achieved one of the most remarkable successes of the First World War but set the pattern for the future of mechanised warfare. For the first time in three years of bloody trench warfare, epitomised by the slaughter at Passchendaele which was then reaching its climax, tanks brought about a breakthrough of the massive German defence system of the Hindenburg Line, followed up by British infantry and cavalry divisions. They were supported for the first time by low flying fighter aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps.
The initial victory at Cambrai brought cheering crowds into the streets of London and the ringing of church bells in celebration. In seemed possible that the success might bring about the final defeat of Germany. But the British High Command failed to exploit the success. Generals who still dreamt of massive cavalry charges had not had much faith in this strange new weapon that had been brought to them - funded initially by the Royal Navy at the behest of Winston Churchill who was then First Lord of the Admiralty and did see its value. The High Command did not really believe the breakthrough was possible and tragically miscalculated the necessary steps to follow it up. Within days the Germans counter-attacked and regained much of the ground that the British had won. What could have been the final victory was delayed for another year.
This book describes the use of tanks at Cambrai and the following developments.
Author:
Brian Cooper
Specs:
244 pages, 24.5 x 16.5 x 2.4 cm / 9.7 x 6.5 x 0.94 in, hardback
Tanks on the Somme - From Morval to Beaumont Hamel
On 15 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, tanks were sent into action for the first time. In his previous books Trevor Pidgeon, one of the leading authorities on the early tanks, has told the story of that memorable day, but only now has his account of later tank operations during the Somme battle become available.
In this, his last work which was completed shortly before he died, he reconstructs the tank actions that took place between late September and November when the Somme offensive was closed down. His account gives a vivid insight into the actions and experiences of the tank crews, and it shows the appalling dangers they faced as they manoeuvred their crude, vulnerable and unreliable machines towards the enemy. His book will be essential reading for anyone who is familiar with his previous studies of the subject and for anyone who wants to follow in the tracks of the tanks as they lumbered across the battlefield nearly 100 years ago.
Author:
Trevor Pidgeon
Specs:
176 pages, 24 x 16.5 x 2.2 cm / 9 x 6.5 x 0.87 in, hardback
Illustrations:
30 illustrations
Publisher:
Pen & Sword Books Ltd (GB, 2010)
EAN:
9781848842533
Tanks on the Somme - From Morval to Beaumont Hamel
The First World War's fierce battles saw the need to develop military technology beyond anything previously imagined: as exposed infantry and cavalry were mowed down by relentless machine-gun attacks, so tanks were developed.
Here author Craig Moore presents every First World War tank, from the prototype `Little Willie', through the French heavy tanks to the German light tank. He gives a focused history of the development of this game-changing vehicle and the engagements it was used in - vital battles such as the Somme and Cambrai.
Stunningly illustrated in full colour throughout, Tank Hunter: World War One provides historical background, facts and figures for each First World War tank as well as the locations of any surviving examples, giving you the opportunity to become a Tank Hunter yourself.
Author:
Craig Moore
Specs:
256 pages, 23.5 x 16 x 1.4 cm / 9.25 x 6.3 x 0.55 in, paperback
![[NVG] British Mark I Tank 1916](../afb/GB/9781841766898.jpg)
![[NVG] British Mark IV Tank](../afb/GB/9781846030826.jpg)
![[DUE] Mark IV vs A7V - Villers-Bretonneux, 1918](../afb/GB/9781780960050.jpg)
![[NVG] Mark V Tank](../afb/GB/9781849083515.jpg)