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Today's episode is on the evolution of tanks from the early concepts of the Tank to the WW1 developments.
My Guest for today is Narayan Sengupta, the author of The Used Tank Guide which you can find here:
http://www.peachmountain.com/5star/The-Used-Tank-Guide-of-World-War-I-and-World-War-II.asp
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Disaster_at_Dieppe/5yZBDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQvbf_p7XrAhUooXIEHVBbDgkQiKUDMA96BAgMEAQ
https://www.amazon.com/Used-Guide-World-Military-Stuff/dp/197827565X
Taabish Nadeem…
Narayan Sengupta, the author of The Used Tank Guide, lives in Atlanta.
WWI (1914-1918) is perfectly timed with the invention of the tank
We’ll sweep through what is a tank, its precursors, and WWI’s key models.
Necessity is the mother of invention
Tank catalyzed by the unique circumstances of WWI
What’s a tank? A motorized, armored and armed vehicle with caterpillar treads.
Precursors (da Vinci, Jan Žižka)
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/hussite-war-wagon.html
Da Vinci’s was in some sense a very elaborate doodle. Impractical. Wheels. Long overhang. Only one weapon fires in one direction. Defensive.
Chinese in 119 BC and more famously Jan Zizka’s (Yan Zhishka) is more interesting, but was a dead end, which begs the question of why? Wheels need roads. Defensive weapon. Etc. Not as good as alternatives. Not necessary to have these armored wagons.
Early attempts (massive casualties, trenches, rolling personal shields – too cumbersome and heavy w/ a rifle (limited firepower); armored cars)
Holt tractors for artillery could go cross country
Mother, Little Willie
Mark I
St. Chamond/Schneider
Mark II-V
A7V German behemoth
Whippet
Renault FT