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.
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 tanks of the First World War.