Why were the early tanks ineffective as a weapon?

The decision of the British commander-in-chief, Sir Douglas Haig, to reveal the secret weapon before large numbers of tanks had become available generated criticism, but the tanks’ real problems were slow speed, mechanical failures, and inability to cross soft or heavily cratered ground.

Why did Artillery dominate the World War I battlefield?

Because firepower mechanization was so much more advanced than mobility mechanization, artillery dominated World War I as no other war in history. Artillery turned into a blunt instrument for hammering large sections of ground.

What was the temporary tactical solution that the British came up with in order to end the deadlock in their battle?

Tank tactics
Tank tactics The tank was designed to break the deadlock of trench warfare. In their first use on the Somme, they were placed under command of the infantry and ordered to attack their given targets in groups or pairs.

Which military revolution has had the greatest impact on the birth of combined arms warfare?

The Industrial Revolution had the greatest impact on the way nations practice warfare in the 21st century. The Industrial Revolution’s changes were more fundamental to the conduct of war than the subsequent military revolutions, including World War I.

What fired shells in ww1?

World War I was a war of artillery – The Big Guns. Rolling barrages destroyed the earth of France and Belgium and the lives of many. Millions of shells were fired in single battles, with one million shells alone fired by the Germans at the French Army in the first day at the 1916 battle of Verdun, France.

How many military revolutions are there?

Knox and Murray identified just five Military Revolutions in the modern era. Appropriately, they are characterised by the sweeping effect they had not simply on the military in war, but on the organisation and operation of human society as a whole.

What were the different types of Mark I tanks?

There were two types of Mark I tank: ‘male’ and ‘female’. Male tanks mounted a six-pounder gun in each sponson, plus three light machine guns. Female tanks had two heavy Vickers machine guns in place of the six-pounders.

What was the thickness of the Mark I’s armor plate?

In order to limit the weight of the Mark I to a ‘manageable’ 28 tonnes, the thickness of its armour plate was limited. In vital areas, such as the front, it was 10 mm thick. Elsewhere it was a minimal 6 mm. In theory, the crew were reasonably safe from small arms fire and shrapnel.

When did the Mark V Heavy Tank enter service?

The Mark V, with a much improved transmission, entered service in mid-1918. More than two thousand British heavy tanks were produced. Manufacture was discontinued at the end of the war.

Why did British heavy tanks not have turrets?

British heavy tanks are distinguished by an unusual rhomboidal shape with a high climbing face of the track, designed to cross the wide and deep trenches prevalent on the battlefields of the Western Front. Due to the height necessary for this shape, an armed turret would have made the vehicle too tall and unstable.