Tanks (WW 1) - Great Britain: Illustrated History Books & Guides

British Mark I Tank 1916 (Osprey)

In 1915 a machine christened Little Willie changed the way that wars were fought. Little Willie was a fully tracked armoured vehicle that could break a trench system. Its development was completed in December 1915, but by then it had already been superseded by an improved design, Mother. This was the first rhomboid tank, and the prototype for the Mark 1 which would influence a whole generation of tank building.

This book details the development of the Mark I, and its surprise arrival in France in the middle of 1916 during the closing weeks of the battles of the Somme.

Contents: Introduction - Little Willie and Mother - The Mark I tank - Unit organisation and arrival in France - The intermediate tanks Mark II & III - Variants - Mark I tanks in Palestine - Tanks saved for preservation - Colour plate commentary.

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British Battle Tanks : The First World War

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.

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British Mark IV Tank (Osprey)

The formidable Mark IV tank was pitted against the German Army from 1917 until the end of World War I.

This book reveals the important role the tank played in the historic battle of Cambrai in 1917 as well as the first ever tank-versus-tank actions against German A7Vs. In awe of British technology, the Germans actively captured, salvaged and repaired Mark IVs for deployment against the Allies.
Using rare photographs and detailed artwork, David Fletcher explores the Mark IV's design and development, its variants and accessories, and brings to life its exciting deployment on the battlefields of World War I.

Contents: The First Main Battle Tank - The Mark IV Described - The Tank Corps Expands - Into Battle - Mechanical Improvements - 1918 - The Final Battles - Post-War - Colour Plate Commentary - Index.

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Deborah and the War of the Tanks 1917

Deborah is a British First World War tank that rose from the grave after taking part in one of the most momentous battles in history.

In November 1917 she played a leading role in the first successful massed tank attack at Cambrai.
Eighty years later, in a remarkable feat of archaeology, the tank's buried remains were rediscovered and excavated, and are now preserved as a memorial to the battle and to the men who fought in it.

John Taylor's book tells the tale of the tank and her crew and tracks down their descendants to uncover a human story every bit as compelling as the military one.

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Mark IV vs A7V - Villers-Bretonneux 1918 (Osprey)

The German A7V and the British Mark IV were similar in weight, size, and speed, but differed significantly in armour, armament and maneuverability. The A7V had thicker armour, and had nearly double the horsepower per ton. The Mark IV's pair of side-mounted 6pdr cannons forced the vehicle to present its side arc to an enemy in order to fire one of its main guns. Possessing twice as many machine guns as the Mark IV, the A7V had a frontally mounted 57mm gun that proved capable of defeating the Mark IV's armour. The Mark IV's rhomboid design proved superior in crossing trenches, climbing obstacles and moving over rough terrain.
As the first tank-versus-tank engagement in history, the fighting around Villers-Bretonneux showcased the British Mark IV and German A7V designs. Although not purpose-built to combat enemy armour, both vehicles proved the viability of such operations, which during the postwar period led to key advances in suspension, armour, gunsights, ammunition, and command and control. While the British continued to develop their armoured forces, German armour development never materialized, and only in the postwar period did they address the issue.

This book describes the A7V and the Mark IV in detail.

Contents: Introduction - Chronology - Design and Development - Technical Specifications - The Combatants - The Strategic Situation - Combat - Statistics and Analysis - Further Reading - Index.

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Mark V Tank (Osprey)

Although, to the casual eye, all British tanks of World War I look much the same, the Mark V is quite outstanding and has a strong claim to be the tank that won the Great War.
In this title, renowned tank expert David Fletcher examines the technological developments that made this tank excel where others had failed, and the reasons why it gave the British the upper hand over the Germans on the battlefield and why it was adopted by the US Tank Corps.

Accompanied by detailed artwork showing the design changes that allowed the Mark V to breach the widest German trenches, this title is an excellent resource for the study of the armour of World War I.

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Medium Mark A Whippet (Osprey)

Looks at the Medium Mark A Whippet, one of the most successful British tanks of World War I and, when placed alongside existing titles covering the Mark I, Mark IV and Mark V, completes the New Vanguard series' coverage of the major British tanks of the war.
The evolution of the Whippet is examined in detail, from design and development to mechanical details and crew duties, and information on the operational use of the vehicle is drawn from war diaries and battalion records. The Whippet was involved in several well-known incidents that are presented in this volume, including the clash at Cachy on April 24, 1918, the actions of the 6th Battalion tank known as "Musical Box" on August 8, 1918, and Sewell's Victoria Cross-winning exploits with the 3rd Battalion on August 29, 1918. Mention is also made of the Whippet's involvement with the Tank Corps' expedition to Russia.
In addition to this examination of the Mark A Whippet is a study of the other Medium tanks up to the end of the war: the Medium B, Medium C, Medium D and the experimental American Studebaker tank.

Contents: Introduction - Design and Development - Operational History - Conclusion and Analysis.

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Tank Hunter : World War One

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.

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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.

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The Complete Catalogue of British Tanks - All British-built Tanks from 1915 to the Present Day

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.

Pages of the book "The Complete Catalogue of British Tanks - All British-built Tanks from 1915 to the Present Day"

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.

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The Ironclads of Cambrai

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.

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