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How did World War I tanks support infantry attacks?
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M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks of the U.S. 1st Armored Division moving across the desert in northern Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War, February 1991.
During World War I, tanks were introduced as a critical tool to overcome the stalemate of trench warfare, where infantry were otherwise unable to advance across open terrain against machine guns and barbed wire.12
Tanks supported infantry attacks in several key ways:
- Overcoming Obstacles: They were designed to drive through barbed wire and cross wide trenches, sometimes by dropping fascines (bundles of sticks) into them to create a path.12
- Neutralizing Strongpoints: Tanks were used to crush or neutralize well-positioned enemy strongpoints that had previously halted infantry advances.1
- Providing Cover: They served as mobile cover for infantry following behind them, protecting soldiers from enemy fire.1
- Tactical Support: Tanks were also employed to lay smoke screens to obscure infantry movements from enemy observation.1
While these vehicles were essential for breaking through defensive lines, their effectiveness in World War I was often limited by their low speed, short range, and mechanical unreliability. Success frequently depended on concentrating large numbers of tanks to achieve a sufficient "shock effect," as individual tanks were vulnerable to field artillery and heavy machine guns.12