Englishman Ernest Swinton
The invention of the tank
The history of fighting in vehicles can be traced back to ancient times. China began to use it as early as the Xia Dynasty Horse-drawn chariots evolved from hunting chariots. But the birth of tanks is the result of the requirements of modern warfare and the development of science and technology.
During the First World War, in order to break through the defensive positions composed of trenches, barbed wire, and machine gun fire points, and break the deadlock in positional warfare, the two warring parties urgently needed to develop an organic combination of firepower, mobility, and protection. new weapons. In 1915, the British government adopted E.D. Swinton's suggestion and used automobile, tractor, gun manufacturing and metallurgical technology to trial-produce a prototype tank.
The Type I tank was produced in 1916, with a rhombus-shaped outline and rigid suspension. There were protruding gun mounts on the track frames on both sides of the vehicle body. Two tracks passed around the vehicle body from the top, and the rear of the vehicle extended. Get a pair of steering wheels. The tank has a crew of 8 people, including "male" and "female". The "male" is equipped with 2 57mm artillery and 4 machine guns, while the "female" is equipped with only 5 machine guns. On September 15, 1916, 49 Type I tanks were deployed in the Battle of the Somme for the first time. In order to keep it secret at that time, the British described this new weapon as a "water tank" (English "tank") for delivering water to the front line. As a result, this name is still used today, and "tank" is the transliteration of this word.
This type of tank, called the Nomad I, ran on tracks. It could gallop across the battlefield, cross obstacles and trenches, was not afraid of bullets, and was unstoppable. It quickly broke through the German defense lines and opened up a new era of army mechanization. era. From then to now, hundreds of thousands of tanks have been built in the world and have become the main combat weapons of armies, marines and airborne troops in various countries.
Tanks are tracked armored combat vehicles with powerful direct firepower, high cross-country mobility and solid protection. It is the main assault weapon for ground combat and the basic equipment of armored troops. It is mainly used to fight enemy tanks and other armored vehicles. It can also suppress and destroy anti-tank weapons, destroy field fortifications, and annihilate effective forces.