15 September 1916- First Combat for the Tank

[LineDoggie]

Just as it says gents. Today is the 96th Anniversary of the Battle of Flers-Courcellette.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_...rs-Courcelette


36 Mark 1 Tanks of Heavy Section Machinegun Corps went into action and going into history

[Einhander]

I'll just repost some photos and illustrations from another blog.


http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/uncleas/view/448557/


http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/uncleas/view/448554/


http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/uncleas/view/448560/


http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/uncleas/view/448556/


http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/uncleas/view/448566/


http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/uncleas/view/448568/


http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/uncleas/view/448558/

[FREE-FRENCH]

Thanks for the post LineDoggie. We will remember them.

[OldCode]

My grandfather fought in tanks in WW1. I'd thought he was in the first battle, but was corrected by an individual who has researched everyone involved in that very first tank action:

http://www.firsttankcrews.com/

An interesting site, and the owner was kind enough to reseach my grandfather's war records and provide me with a full history of his service. Gramps was recruited into the Motorcycle Machine Gun Service, and from there, moved to tanks. He missed the seminal battle at Flers but fought in tanks for all of WW1. Wounded once but returned to action. Fought in the tanks pictured above and eventually in the whippets.

[Tosco]

amazing photos!

[riderboy]

Those were some very tough men in those early tanks. The interior was an extremely uncomfortable and hostile place to be. I'll take an Abrams any day!