Page 47 - History of War - Issue 30-16

THE SOMME: 1916–2016

WHAT LESSONS DID TANK DEVELOPERS A tank near Thiepval in September
TAKE FROM THE PERFORMANCE OF THE 1916. Mark I’s were very slow, noisy
MACHINES ON THE BATTLEFIELD? and extremely prone to breaking down
Serviceability was a big issue as was crew
endurance. How do you make these tanks more
comfortable so you don’t asphyxiate the crews,
burn them and basically hospitalise them after
a day inside them? A big issue was moving
them into a position where they are able to
attack without alerting the enemy. The engines
are very loud so how do you concentrate them
in their jumping-off points without alerting
the enemy? There are many lessons to be
learned. Then, of course, you’ve got a problem
when tanks get too isolated so if they do enjoy
success and penetrate into German defences
you actually end up isolated and not helping the
infantry advance.
What is born on the Somme, and continues
in armoured warfare right up until the Gulf War
in 1991 and beyond, is a debate about how
tanks are designed to thrust deep into enemy cues so that there wasn’t friendly i re. They in the ‘green i elds beyond’. They actually
lines in order to sow chaos and confusion in had to take incoming i re as well. Even machine do things like surprise a German corps
line with quite conservative goals involving guns with rounds that were not armour-piercing commander while he’s having his breakfast and
supporting the infantry. You see the very could make life pretty miserable inside a tank – it makes them an extraordinary weapon.
beginnings of that long-running debate in the you’re attracting enemy i re and it’s hammering However, I think the Mark I tanks were too
autumn of 1916. on the outside of the tank. It’s a brutal, limited to be really effective in 1916 but it,
claustrophobic place to be. obviously, didn’t hurt at the same time and I
WHAT WERE CONDITIONS LIKE INSIDE THE think they would have proved themselves even
TANKS? WERE THE DRIVERS WELL TRAINED HAIG WANTED 150 TANKS FOR THE more. Because of their unreliability, 150 might
BEFORE GOING INTO COMBAT? BATTLE BUT ONLY 50 WERE EVENTUALLY have perhaps been a bigger embarrassment to
Obviously they weren’t as well trained as they AVAILABLE. WOULD THIS FULL FORCE OF the British. The key thing about the tank is that
would be later in the war, it was all pretty TANKS HAVE CHANGED THE COURSE OF Haig ordered 1,000 of them after the battle,
rushed. The inside of the tanks was absolutely THE BATTLE MUCH? which was a brave decision. 1,000 tanks is
brutal. If you go into one of those tanks there’s I don’t think at that point in their history tanks asking a lot of an industry struggling under the
no separation between the crew compartment were a breakthrough weapon. I think the pressure of the war, but a seed was laid that
and the engine. The engine is really hot and fundamental problem was fuel, range, speed began of one of the most prominent features
blasting out appalling fumes and there were and they were not the strategic weapon they of 20th century warfare. 20 years after their
real problems with burns. There’s also not would become in WWII and other conl icts. introduction [at] the Somme tanks are thrusting
much in the way of suspension so you’re being What’s so remarkable about 1918 is that for deep into Russia and encircling literally millions
thrown around inside a lot. the i rst time you get these light tanks, which of Soviet troops. It’s an amazing journey.
There was also ‘blue-on-blue’ sometimes. are almost like armoured cars, that actually
Oficers would have to stand up and give visual break through German positions and they’re

the somme 100 app features Dan
The Somme
100 App
Snow explaining
key moments of
the battle along
SNOW HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION TO CREATE A FREE MOBILE with academic
AND TABLET APP, BRINGING TO LIFE KEY MOMENTS FROM THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME answers from
Professor Sir
“With the Somme anniversary coming up video etc that people can then build on in their own Hew Strachan
this summer there’s going to be a thirst for time and get involved… It feels like an exciting
information and a thirst for a background that and versatile project and I hope it’s a beginning
will allow people to enjoy and get involved with because I’d love to do things like this in the future.”
Images: Alamy, Getty, Royal British Legion, Rex Features
this summer’s activities. With the Royal British The Somme 100 App is available for free via the
Legion we’ve hopefully provided a real timeline App Store and Google Play. For more information,
with battle maps, accounts, sources, pictures, visit: www.britishlegion.org.uk

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