Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Britannica Sources used in this answer

How were Little Willie and Big Willie related to the first British tanks?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
A British Warrior mechanized combat vehicle serving in NATO's Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1997.
armoured vehicle A British Warrior mechanized combat vehicle serving in NATO's Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1997.

"Little Willie" and "Big Willie" were the foundational prototypes for the first British tanks developed during World War I.1

Following experiments by the Admiralty Landships Committee, "Little Willie" was constructed in September 1915 as the first tank. It was quickly followed by a second model, "Big Willie," which was specifically designed to cross wide trenches. This second design proved successful and was accepted by the British Army, leading to an order for 100 units of the vehicle, which was designated as the Mark I tank.1