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Total Categories: 7
James Cowan's 1855 proposal for a Steam Powered Land Ram is an example of a historical precedent for the tank concept.
Answer: True
James Cowan's 1855 proposal for a Steam Powered Land Ram, envisioning an armored, cannon-equipped vehicle, is cited as a conceptual antecedent to the tank.
David Roberts developed a 'chain-track' system for tractors that was evaluated by the British Army for artillery use.
Answer: True
David Roberts, an engineer, built a series of tractors using his patented 'chain-track' system from 1904 to 1909, which were evaluated by the British Army for artillery use.
Lieutenant Gunther Burstyn's 1911 tank design was widely adopted and saw limited production due to its innovative features.
Answer: False
Despite its innovative features, Lieutenant Gunther Burstyn's 1911 tank design lacked commercial backing for a prototype and was not widely adopted or produced.
Lancelot De Mole's proposals for a 'chain-rail vehicle' were immediately recognized and implemented by the British War Office.
Answer: False
Lancelot De Mole's proposals for a 'chain-rail vehicle' were initially not recognized for their value by the British War Office, though he was later compensated.
French Colonel Jean Baptiste Eugène Estienne envisioned victory belonging to the belligerent who could first mount a 75 mm cannon on an all-terrain vehicle.
Answer: True
On August 23, 1914, Colonel Jean Baptiste Eugène Estienne indeed declared that victory would belong to the belligerent who first succeeded in mounting a 75 mm cannon on a vehicle capable of moving across all types of terrain.
Armored cars were highly effective in trench warfare due to their ability to cross obstacles and challenging terrain.
Answer: False
Armored cars were not effective at crossing obstacles like trenches and challenging terrain due to their wheels, limiting their utility in trench warfare.
Caterpillar tracks solved the limitations of wheeled armored vehicles by concentrating weight for better ground pressure.
Answer: False
Caterpillar tracks solved the limitations of wheeled armored vehicles by spreading the vehicle's weight over a greater area, providing superior traction, not by concentrating weight.
Who was David Roberts, and what was his contribution to early tracked vehicle development?
Answer: The engineer who built a series of tractors using a patented 'chain-track' system.
David Roberts was an engineer who built a series of tractors using his patented 'chain-track' system from 1904 to 1909, demonstrating early tracked mobility.
What innovative design feature did Lieutenant Gunther Burstyn propose for a tracked armored vehicle in 1911?
Answer: A light gun in a rotating turret and hinged 'arms' for obstacle crossing.
Lieutenant Gunther Burstyn's 1911 design featured a light gun in a rotating turret and hinged 'arms' with wheels to aid in crossing obstacles and trenches.
Why were armored cars limited in their effectiveness on the World War I battlefield?
Answer: They were not effective at crossing obstacles like trenches and challenging terrain due to their wheels.
Armored cars were limited by their wheeled design, which rendered them ineffective at crossing obstacles like trenches and challenging terrain, unlike tracked vehicles.
How did caterpillar tracks provide a solution to the limitations of wheeled armored vehicles?
Answer: They spread the vehicle's weight over a greater area, providing superior traction across difficult terrain.
Caterpillar tracks spread the vehicle's weight over a much greater area, providing superior traction across difficult terrain and overcoming the limitations of wheeled armored vehicles.
The primary impetus for tank development in World War I was the need for a vehicle to transport heavy artillery across open fields.
Answer: False
The primary impetus for tank development was the tactical stalemate of trench warfare and the need to overcome formidable defenses like trenches and barbed wire, not solely for artillery transport.
The British prototype 'Little Willie' was constructed in late 1915, marking a crucial step in tank development.
Answer: True
The prototype 'Little Willie' was constructed at William Foster & Co. in Great Britain during August and September 1915, which is consistent with 'late 1915'.
The term 'tank' was chosen because it was the official military designation from the Landship Committee.
Answer: False
The term 'tank' was adopted to maintain secrecy, as the prototype resembled a steel water tank, and was not the official military designation from the Landship Committee, which initially used 'Landships'.
The Mark I tank's short wheelbase and high ground clearance were key features allowing it to cross wide trenches.
Answer: False
The Mark I tank's rhomboid shape and 26-foot (8-meter) length, combined with its caterpillar tracks, were crucial for negotiating wide trenches, not a short wheelbase.
Major Ernest Dunlop Swinton first suggested the idea of an armored tracked vehicle to British military authorities in October 1914.
Answer: True
Major Ernest Dunlop Swinton, inspired by a Holt caterpillar tractor, suggested the idea of an armored tracked vehicle to British military authorities in October 1914.
Lord Kitchener was a strong advocate for tank development and formed the Landship Committee in February 1915.
Answer: False
Lord Kitchener's committee deemed the idea of an armored tracked vehicle impractical. Winston Churchill, as First Lord of the Admiralty, independently formed the Landship Committee in February 1915.
The Landship Committee required an armored vehicle capable of 8 mph and crossing a 10-foot wide gap.
Answer: False
The Landship Committee's initial requirements included a speed of 4 mph (6.4 km/h) and the ability to cross an 8-foot (2.4-meter) wide gap, not 8 mph and 10 feet.
'Little Willie' was the initial British proof-of-concept vehicle, while 'Mother' was the design that led to the Mark I tank.
Answer: True
'Little Willie' served as the first proof-of-concept and test-bed for a new track system, while 'Mother' was the prototype that led to the foundational design of the Mark I tank.
'Male' Mark I tanks were equipped with machine guns, while 'female' tanks carried 6-pounder cannons.
Answer: False
'Male' Mark I tanks were armed with two 6-pounder cannons and machine guns, while 'female' tanks carried only machine guns, reflecting different tactical roles.
The first Mark I tanks had a crew of eight and a maximum speed of 6 km/h.
Answer: True
The Mark I tanks had a crew of eight and were capable of a maximum speed of 6 km/h (3.7 mph).
Sir William Tritton and Major Walter Gordon Wilson were recognized as the principal inventors of the tank after World War I.
Answer: True
The Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors recognized Sir William Tritton and Major Walter Gordon Wilson as the principal inventors of the tank after World War I.
What was the primary tactical problem that led to the development of tanks in World War I?
Answer: The stalemate of trench warfare and heavy casualties on the Western Front.
The development of tanks was a direct response to the tactical stalemate of trench warfare and the alarmingly heavy casualties on the Western Front, necessitating a vehicle to overcome formidable defenses.
Which two countries were primarily responsible for the initial research and development of tanks during World War I?
Answer: Great Britain and France
Initial research and development for tanks in World War I primarily took place in Great Britain and France.
Where was the British prototype vehicle 'Little Willie' constructed?
Answer: At William Foster & Co. in Great Britain.
The initial British prototype vehicle, 'Little Willie,' was constructed at William Foster & Co. in Great Britain.
Why was the term 'tank' adopted for the new armored vehicles?
Answer: It was chosen to maintain secrecy, as the prototype resembled a steel water tank.
The term 'tank' was adopted to maintain secrecy, as factory workers referred to the first prototype as 'the tank' due to its resemblance to a steel water tank.
Which design feature allowed the British Mark I tank to effectively negotiate wide trenches?
Answer: Its rhomboid shape, caterpillar tracks, and 26-foot length.
The Mark I tank's rhomboid shape, combined with its caterpillar tracks and 26-foot (8-meter) length, was specifically designed to negotiate wide trenches and other battlefield obstacles.
Who first suggested the idea of an armored tracked vehicle to British military authorities in October 1914?
Answer: Major Ernest Dunlop Swinton
Major Ernest Dunlop Swinton, inspired by a Holt caterpillar tractor, first suggested the idea of an armored tracked vehicle to British military authorities in October 1914.
What was Winston Churchill's key role in the early development of tanks?
Answer: As First Lord of the Admiralty, he independently created the Landship Committee.
Winston Churchill, as the First Lord of the Admiralty, was a key advocate for tank development and independently created the Landship Committee in February 1915.
What were the Landship Committee's initial requirements for an armored vehicle regarding gap crossing?
Answer: Crossing an 8-foot wide gap.
The Landship Committee's initial requirements for an armored vehicle included the capability of crossing an 8-foot (2.4-meter) wide gap.
Why were existing Holt Company caterpillar designs not adopted for British fighting machines?
Answer: Their engines were underpowered, and their short wheelbase resulted in poor trench-crossing ability.
Existing Holt Company caterpillar designs were not adopted because their engines were underpowered, and their short wheelbase resulted in poor trench-crossing ability, making them unsuitable for British fighting machines.
What was the primary purpose of the 'Little Willie' prototype in British tank development?
Answer: To test a new track system.
'Little Willie' was primarily built as a test-bed for a new track system, serving as a proof-of-concept vehicle in British tank development.
What was the armament difference between 'male' and 'female' Mark I tanks?
Answer: 'Male' tanks carried 6-pounder cannons, while 'female' tanks carried machine guns.
'Male' Mark I tanks were armed with two 6-pounder cannons and machine guns, while 'female' tanks carried four Vickers machine guns and one Hotchkiss machine gun.
What was the maximum speed of the first Mark I tanks?
Answer: 6 km/h (3.7 mph)
The Mark I tanks were capable of a maximum speed of 6 km/h (3.7 mph), which was intended to match the pace of marching infantry.
Who were recognized as the principal inventors of the tank by the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors after World War I?
Answer: Sir William Tritton and Major Walter Gordon Wilson.
The Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors recognized Sir William Tritton and Major Walter Gordon Wilson as the principal inventors of the tank after World War I.
France's tank production during World War I was modest compared to Great Britain and Germany.
Answer: False
France ultimately produced far more tanks than all other countries combined during World War I, fielding its first tanks in April 1917.
How did France's tank production compare to other countries during World War I?
Answer: France produced far more tanks than all other countries combined.
France ultimately produced far more tanks than all other countries combined during World War I, with the Renault FT alone having the largest production run of any tank.
Germany was a pioneer in tank research and development, initiating efforts before Great Britain and France.
Answer: False
Germany began its tank development efforts belatedly, only after Allied tanks had already appeared on the battlefield, focusing more on anti-tank weapons initially.
Germany deployed several thousand of its own A7V tanks during World War I, alongside repurposed captured Allied tanks.
Answer: False
Germany deployed only 18 of its own A7V tanks during the war, though they did repurpose captured Allied tanks. They did not deploy several thousand of their own.
What was Germany's primary approach to tank development and deployment during World War I?
Answer: Germany focused on developing anti-tank weapons and deployed only 18 of its own A7V tanks.
Germany began tank development belatedly, focusing more on anti-tank weapons, and deployed only 18 of its own A7V tanks, though they also repurposed captured Allied tanks.
Early tanks were mechanically robust, allowing for reliable performance across the heavily shelled terrain of the Western Front.
Answer: False
The first tanks were mechanically unreliable, leading to considerable attrition rates during combat deployment and transit, and the heavily shelled terrain was often impassable to many early models.
British Mark I tanks were first deployed in combat at the Battle of the Somme in September 1916.
Answer: True
British Mark I tanks were first deployed in combat at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, part of the Battle of the Somme, on September 15, 1916.
The first deployment of tanks at Flers-Courcelette was an overwhelming success, with most tanks breaking through German lines.
Answer: False
The first deployment of tanks at Flers-Courcelette yielded mixed results; many tanks broke down, and only nearly a third succeeded in breaking through German lines, not most.
What was a significant mechanical challenge faced by the first tanks?
Answer: They were mechanically unreliable, leading to high attrition rates.
The first tanks were mechanically unreliable, leading to considerable attrition rates during combat deployment and transit, and often struggled with the heavily shelled terrain.
When and where were British Mark I tanks first deployed in combat?
Answer: September 1916, at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette.
British Mark I tanks were first deployed in combat at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, part of the Battle of the Somme, on September 15, 1916.
What were the immediate results of the first tank deployment at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette?
Answer: Mixed results, with many tanks breaking down but nearly a third breaking through German lines.
The first deployment of tanks at Flers-Courcelette yielded mixed results, with many tanks breaking down but nearly a third succeeding in breaking through German lines.
What was a major hazard for tank crews inside the vehicle during World War I?
Answer: An atmosphere heavy with poisonous carbon monoxide and high temperatures.
The internal environment for tank crews was extremely unpleasant due to inadequate ventilation, leading to an atmosphere heavy with poisonous carbon monoxide and high temperatures, often causing loss of consciousness.
What protective gear did tank crews wear to mitigate dangers inside the vehicle?
Answer: Helmets with goggles and chainmail masks, along with gas masks.
To mitigate dangers from bullet splash and fragments, tank crews wore helmets with goggles and chainmail masks (splatter masks), and gas masks were standard issue.
The invention of the tank directly led to the development of the first self-propelled gun and armored personnel carrier.
Answer: True
Following the invention of the tank, the first self-propelled gun (British Gun Carrier Mk I) and the first armored personnel carrier were indeed developed, expanding armored mobility.
What other armored vehicles were developed following the invention of the tank?
Answer: The first self-propelled gun and armored personnel carrier.
Following the invention of the tank, the first self-propelled gun (British Gun Carrier Mk I) and the first armored personnel carrier were developed, expanding the utility of armored, tracked mobility.
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