Admiralty Landships Committee

British military body

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July 23, 2026

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The Admiralty Landships Committee was a British military body formed during World War I. It was established to develop tracked, armored vehicles capable of overcoming the challenges of trench warfare. The committee's work, supported by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston S. Churchill, led to the construction of the first tank, known as "Little Willie," in September 1915. This innovation paved the way for the development of the Mark I tank, which was ordered by the British Army in February 1916. The Admiralty's role in this development highlights a crucial step in the evolution of armored warfare.12

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tank
World War I
…in the formation of an Admiralty Landships Committee. A series of experiments by this committee led in September 1915 to the construction of the first tank, called “Little Willie.” A second model, called “Big Willie,” quickly followed. Designed to cross wide trenches, it was accepted by the British Army, which…
Read More
…in the formation of an Admiralty Landships Committee. A series of experiments by this committee led in September 1915 to the construction of the first tank, called “Little Willie.” A second model, called “Big Willie,” quickly followed. Designed to cross wide trenches, it was accepted by the British Army, which…
Read More