First tank?

[OpsMajor]

I've just heard a program that said that the first tank was designed and constructed in 1915 in a factory in Lincoln and called Little Willie. Is that fact?

Thanks

Mike

[squirrel]

[OpsMajor]

Thanks Squirrel, place and date correct too?

[Scalyback]

1 minute ago, OpsMajor said:

Thanks Squirrel, place and date correct too?

https://tankmuseum.org//museum-online/vehicles/object-e1949-322

 

Can't get any more informative.

[MikB]

But it was Big Willie (also known as Mother) that actually represented the model for the tanks used in battle from the Somme onward. Fosters of Lincoln built that too.

 

Little Willie wasn't much more than an armoured tractor to prove the motive concept, and even the armour was only boiler plate. 

[Scalyback]

7 minutes ago, MikB said:

But it was Big Willie (also known as Mother) that actually represented the model for the tanks used in battle from the Somme onward. Fosters of Lincoln built that too.

 

Little Willie wasn't much more than an armoured tractor to prove the motive concept, and even the armour was only boiler plate. 

 

Yet Little Willie is very like a whippet tank. Cab moved to rear and higher but very much related.

[OpsMajor]

Thanks both.

They also talked about a 'tadpole' tank to get across the Hindenburg line?

Mike

[MikB]

The 'Tadpole' tank had an extended tail and longer tracks to increase its trench-crossing capability. I don't know, but suspect that a fascine bundle would probably be needed to take advantage of it. It seems possible the tank could otherwise still ditch nose- down with the tadpole tracks churning the air.

[OpsMajor]

 Thanks

Mike

[MikB]

On 28/10/2018 at 18:53, Scalyback said:

 

Yet Little Willie is very like a whippet tank. Cab moved to rear and higher but very much related.

 

Well, the engineering was very different. Little Willie had a single engine, Whippet had a pair - one for each side.