British Battle Tanks - World War I - 1939

When British soldiers charged across the Somme in September 1916 they were accompanied by a new, revolutionary weapon - the tank. After a stuttering start armored 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.

"Born from the stalemate of trench warfare, the first tanks went into action at the Somme just over a century ago. Over the next two years, British engineers and forward-looking military men developed their new war machines at a breakneck pace, improving the original design and creating faster new types such as the Medium Mark A Whippet. From scratch, they managed to create a mass tank army and developed innovative tactics to exploit the new technology. By the end of the war, the tank was firmly established as a key part of modern warfare, and the path towards Blitzkrieg was open."