The Tank
The first Advance in WW1 technology that I have chosen to talk about is the tank. The tank was originally known as the "Trench Crossing Vehicle". It received its name when they were put under covers to disguise them. Anybody who asked what was under the covers was told that it was a water tank, hence the name "The Tank". The tank was first used in the battle of the Somme in 1916. The Tank was designed by army journalist, Lt-Colonel Ernest Swinton. He designed it as an attempt to break the stalemate of Trench Warfare. The original specifications needed for the tank to be approved was; a top speed of 4 mph on flat ground; the capability of a sharp turn at top speed; a reversing capability; the ability to climb a 5-foot earth parapet; the ability to cross a 8-foot gap; a vehicle that could house ten crew, two machine guns and a 2-pound gun. However in the end the tank could only house eight crew: one commander, one driver, four gunners, and two gearsman.
The mark I tank was first used on 15th September 1916 in the battle of the Somme. In the first offensive 36 tanks made an en masse attack at the Somme. Originally there had been fifty of these machines but these thirty ton machines could not cope with the harsh lunar landscape of the churned up ground and fourteen had broken down or got bogged down. Tanks were used. Many German troops ran at the sight of the tank, it spread fear amongst the ranks in the Trenches. The first Tank offensive had been successful in the fact that they had scared the Germans, and that they had not been disabled immediately.
As a trial though some were disappointed. Concerns that were raised included the fact that the view slits were too thin to be able to see much while moving, and they were targets for enemy gunshot; and the exhaust made too much noise and the heat could have set alight the fuel tank. A further issue raised was the amount of mud that found its way into the treads causing them to block up. Also after the initial fear of the Tank had gone they started to become easy targets to German artillery as they were often bogged down in the mud. The tank also went on in the war to improve. Later on in the war more tanks made mass attacks.
One of the most successful Tank led attacks took place in which many regard as the first truly successful demonstration of the potential of the tank, the entire British Tank Corps (consisting of 474 tanks) saw action at the Battle of Cambrai on 20 November 1917 (although the French can lay claim to its earlier successful use at Malmaison).
In a sweepingly successful start to the battle twelve miles of the German front was breached, with the capture of 10,000 German prisoners, 123 guns and 281 machine guns. This early morning attack caught the Germans by surprise, initially the offensive had started out with what was then standard tactics by first bombarding the line with shrapnel, gas, etc. Then the tanks began to move forward, crashing through the wire leading the infantry and cavalry through. The tanks used fascines to fill the trenches, and the men behind used these to cross. The attack was successful until the German Fortified position of Flesquieres was encountered, the tanks could not continue, many ran out of fuel.
Unfortunately for the British this enormous initial success was effectively cancelled out in German counter-attacks because the British did not possess sufficient infantry troops to exploit the breach they had created. Nevertheless the successful use of tanks at Cambrai restored dwindling faith in tank development. The U.S. army took note and undertook development of its own tank series.
I think that the tank was not a success in World War One, but overall it has been a great success in the development of it. Today the Tank is one of the most effective weapons if used correctly. They now have bigger fuel tanks, better engines and better working conditions for their crew inside. Overall I think the tank has been a great success as it is now a very effective weapon.
The Hand Grenade
The second advance in World War One technology I have chose to talk to you about is the Hand Grenade.
Early in World War I, both sides only had small grenades of a pre-war design. For example, in Italy, the Besozzi grenade had a five-second fuse with a match-tip that was ignited by striking on a ring on the soldier's hand. As an interim measure, the troops often improvised their own, such as the Jam Tin Grenade. These were replaced when manufactured versions such as the Mills bomb, the first modern fragmentation grenade, became available to British front-line troops.
