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Tanks at the Battle of the Somme

Tanks at the Battle of the Somme

Tanks were used in battle for the first time, by the British, on 15 September. Still mechanically unreliable, the tanks were rushed into action in small groups. Many broke down, and the Germans soon devised ways to stop them. Some senior officers had advised keeping them under wraps until large numbers could be assembled to strike a decisive blow.

HQ New Zealand Defence Force, Library

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How to cite this page: 'Tanks at the Battle of the Somme', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/battke-of-the-somme-tanks, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 18-Jun-2007

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Everett Sharp
In September 1916 the (magnificant) NZ infantry were accompanied by Mk1 Tanks, not the Whippet tank as shown here. This did not enter service until 1918. There is a famous photo showing your infantry accompanying such a vehicle...but it was taken in 1918 Everett Sharp Military Historian Oxford University Great War Archive http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/

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