One of the great differences between the attacks of the Allies in their
last year of the war and those of preceding years, was the increased use
and the improved character of the tanks. The tanks were a development of
the war. Before the war, however, the development of the caterpillar
tractor had suggested to a few farsighted people the possibility of
evolving from this invention a machine capable of offensive use over
rough country in close warfare. Experiments were made in behalf of the
English War Office for some time without practical results.
At last, after these experiments had resulted in various failures, a
type of tractor was finally designed which produced satisfactory
results. It was a caterpillar tractor, with an endless self-laid track,
over which internal driving wheels could be propelled by the engines. It
was not until July, 1916, that the first consignment of these new
engines of warfare arrived at the secret maneuver ground.
There were two kinds. One called the male was armed with two Hotchkiss
quick-fire guns, as well as with an armament of machine guns. The other
type, called the female, was armed only with machine guns. The male tank
was designed for dealing with the concrete emplacements for the German
machine guns. The other was more suitable for dealing with machine-gun
personnel and riflemen.
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