World Encyclopedia of the Tank An International History of the Armoured Fighting Machine

One of the most potent and fascinating weapons of the twentieth century, the tank has evolved over ninety years of development. Increasingly sophisticated technology has enhanced the tank's domination of all operational conditions, by virtue of its unparalleled combination of offensive and defensive attributes. Firepower, protection and mobility have all been improved continuously in the ceaseless struggle for battlefield supremacy. The tank has a position of unrivalled importance in twentieth-century military history. Developed originally by the British to break the deadlock of trench warfare during the First World War, the tank proved to be a devastating breakthrough weapon, achieving unprecedented results in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. The tank's true potential, however, was only fully appreciated by the Germans, who set in train a highly secret tank development program between the World Wars. This initiative culminated in the revolutionary concept of Blitzkrieg, a strategy based on the use of amour to punch holes in the enemy's defenses, and was to result in the Nazi domination of continental Europe. The tank continues to be at the heart of modern strategic thinking, having proved its worth in the 1991 Gulf War. A combination of color photographs, specially-drawn artwork and technical specifications make this a definitive reference for anyone interested in the development of the tank.Chant, Christopher is the author of 'World Encyclopedia of the Tank An International History of the Armoured Fighting Machine', published 2003 under ISBN 9780750931472 and ISBN 0750931477.