The Mark I Tank: A Pioneer in Armored Warfare

Of the forty-nine Mark I tanks deployed during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, some broke down before reaching their starting positions, and others suffered mechanical failure or got trapped in bomb holes and trenches. It’s believed only about twenty went into action. Yet despite these early setbacks, the groundbreaking Mark I marked a paradigm shift in military history and ushered in the dawn of armoured warfare.

The idea of a vehicle that could offer troops firepower, protection and mobility was not entirely new. However, during World War I, several factors converged to make the production of tanks possible. The availability of internal combustion engines, armour plating, and continuous tracks, along with the pressing need to overcome the challenges of trench warfare, all came together to enable the development of the world’s first tank.

The First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, established the Landship Committee in February 1915 to develop armoured vehicles that could be deployed on the Western Front.

Let’s track back to the early twentieth century to tell the fascinating story of the Mark I, the World War I tank that literally and metaphorically took the world by storm.

The evolution of the Mark I tank can be traced back to its predecessor, Little Willie, which in 1915 was the world’s first completed tank prototype. While it never saw combat, it served as a crucial experimental platform that saw a significant advance in tank design. It provided invaluable insights into the challenges of creating a practical and effective armoured vehicle, and paved the way for the battle-ready Mark I.

Interestingly, the word ‘tank’ was originally used to conceal the true nature of these armoured machines from foreign intelligence. The story the Landship Committee put out was that they were mobile water tanks being built for use on the Mesopotamian Front. The men and women in the factories referred to them as ‘tanks’ and the name stuck.

Known as The Wilson Machine (after Lieutenant Walter Wilson who designed it), Big Willie, His Majesty’s Land Ship Centipede, and, affectionately, ‘Mother’, the first Mark I was a clandestine and ambitious project. It completed secret trials in early 1916.

Manufactured by William Foster & Co. in Lincoln, and Metropolitan Carriage in Birmingham, the Mark I was designed to traverse the treacherous terrain of no man’s land, crush barbed wire, and withstand small arms fire, providing a mobile shield for advancing infantry.

For the very first British tank, WWI was like being thrown into the deep end of a very, very deep pool. Everyone involved with the project was impressed, except Lord Kitchener, the Secretary of War, who was sceptical about the tank’s potential. However an order was placed for 150 tanks. Fosters built thirty-seven and Metropolitan built one hundred and thirteen.

Perhaps the most fascinating part of the story is the difference between the male and female versions of the new British World War I tank. The order for the Mark I included seventy-five male and seventy-five female tanks, to maximise effectiveness in different combat roles. Male tanks were equipped with heavy armament, featuring two 6-pounder naval guns and machine guns, making them suitable for engaging enemy strongpoints and fortified positions. In contrast, female tanks were armed solely with multiple machine guns, designed to provide infantry support by suppressing enemy troops and clearing trenches.

This combination allowed for a balanced approach, where male tanks could tackle heavily fortified targets while female tanks focused on infantry and machine-gun nests. This strategic diversity ensured that the tank units could handle various battlefield situations, enhancing their overall operational flexibility. By deploying both types of the Mark I tank, the British Army aimed to create a comprehensive armoured force capable of addressing the complex challenges of trench warfare, as well as improving their ability to break through enemy lines, and supporting advancing infantry.

Originally, both versions had what was described as a ‘tail’, a wheel at the back used as a rudder for steering, but it was quickly ascertained that it made very little difference and was removed.

In comparison to state-of-the-art main battle tanks like the British Army’s £4.2 million, 64-tonne Challenger 2, one of the world’s biggest tanks, the first tank ever made was decidedly rudimentary by today’s standards.

Weight | Male – 28 tonnes, Female – 27 tonnes

Length | With steering tail – 9.91 metres, Without – 7.75 metres

Width | Male – 4.19 metres, Female – 4.38 metres

Height | 2.49 metres

Crew | 8 – commander/brakesman, driver, two gearsmen, four gunners

Armour Plating | Between six and 12 millimetres thick

Main Armament | Male – 2 x Ordnance QF Hotchkiss 6-pounder gun | Female  – 4 x .303in Vickers machine guns

Secondary Armament | Male – 3 x .303 Hotchkiss machine guns | Female  – 1 x .303 Hotchkiss machine guns

Engine | Daimler Knight 6-cylinder sleeve-valve 16-litre petrol

Power | 105 horsepower

Fuel Capacity | 230 litres

Operational Range | 23.6 miles (or approx. 6 hours)

Maximum Speed | 3.7 mph

During the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September 1916, the Mark Is were used to clear routes through German defences for infantry soldiers, and also to destroy emplacements for enemy machine gunners. While many broke down, malfunctioned or got stuck, the Mark I tank demonstrated the potential of armoured vehicles to break the deadlock of trench warfare and was deemed a success by the powers that be.

Beyond the Somme, the British World War I tank was also used in other engagements, notably in the Middle East theatre in April 1917 as they attempted to use tanks to break through Turkish Ottoman defences, though the rough terrain and technical limitations rendered the vehicles broadly ineffective.

These deployments, while limited in number, showcased the early experimentation and adaptation of tank warfare in various combat arenas, and laid the groundwork for future armoured operations.

The first tank ever made quickly made way for the Mark II in early 1917. The second iteration was introduced primarily as a training tank, though some were used in combat. The first significant deployment of Mark II tanks occurred on the Western Front during the Battle of Arras in April 1917.

Although the Mark II featured some improvements over its predecessor, it was quickly followed by further developments, including the Mark III and Mark IV, as the British continued to refine and enhance their designs based on battlefield experiences and evolving tactical requirements.

The strategic impact of the Mark I tank can’t be overstated. Its potential to overcome the brutally harsh conditions of the Western Front at times provided a crucial advantage, breaking through enemy lines and significantly altering the dynamics of ground combat.

Although the early versions faced a number of technical challenges and mechanical failures, their psychological impact on both Allied and enemy forces was profound, ushering in a new era of warfare where mobility, protection, and firepower were integrated into a single, formidable platform.

The famous Mark I World War I tank not only played a vital role in the eventual Allied victory, but also laid the foundations for future tank development, influencing the design and tactics of armoured warfare for decades to come.