World War One's New Weapons: Gas and Tanks

The difficulties of the Western Front in World War One, where huge armies found themselves stuck in an almost static trench system, encouraged innovation in an attempt to find a solution. While the commanders are often criticised for a lack of such innovation in infantry tactics until 1917, the war did produce new aspects of warfare, one of which was until recenrtly considered vital in the modern world –tanks – and one which has since been international frowned upon: gas.

Tanks

With stalemate on the Western Front, military minds turned to industry to solve the crises. Several people advanced plans for vehicles, but the most vociferous was British Colonel Swinton, and an interested Winston Churchill set up a ‘Landships Committee’ to investigate. The core idea was an engine driven machine with an armoured shelter and caterpillar tracks which would be able to cross trenches and provide fire support.

The first model was called ‘Little Willie’, and was an oblong metal box with tracks on the side. This was improved into ‘Mother’, a rhomboid shape with tracks running over it. This led to the Mark I, the first operational tank, which had two ‘sexes’: the male, with six pound guns in two sponsons, and the female, with machine guns. They were called ‘tanks’ to try and provide cover from spies, who – it was hoped - would think they were just water tanks.

The first few experienced growing pains, due to mechanical unreliable, the ease with which artillery could damage them and poor conditions inside, leading to a lack of impact when used on the Somme, but they had their first breakthrough at Cambrai in 1917 when 378 were used en masse. They aided an advance of five miles, before half were damaged or broke down. Arguments raged over how best to use them – infantry support or a fully mechanized army? – but, crucially, British commander Haig supported them and they kept developing in form and use, with the Anzacs becoming particularly adept at using them along with infantry.

Hundreds were used in the victories of 1918. As the Germans ignored the possibilities of the tank – building only a few and not even worrying about a counter weapon – the Entente had a clear advantage, although it’s a matter for debate whether tanks were war winning weapons.

Gas

The Germans were the first to use gas in World War One, in January on the Eastern Front with tear gas, and at Ypres on the Western Front on April 22nd 1915. Chlorine gas was used at Ypres, and thousands of soldiers were injured as their commanders had ignored warnings and not issued them with any protection, although many Germans reserves couldn’t advance properly as they didn’t have masks either. After Ypres all sides were quickly issued with protection, and at first the Entente were issued linen which they had to wetten with their own urine; this enabled the BEF to hold Ypres, but they took twice as many casualties as the Germans.

The types of gas, and of protection, developed during the war. Phosgene gas proved initially successful at Verdun, but by the time the Germans had a ready supply the French had equipped their defences and the result was an ambush. Mustard was used in 1917, and this caused burnt and blistered skin and blindness as well as attacking the lungs. Both the Central Powers and Allies used gas and built up considerable stocks.

Gas was a highly demoralizing weapon for defenders, but it was not a breakthrough weapon. Once defendants had masks, gas caused only small numbers of casualties, usually less than a normal artillery attack. It was also tricky to use gas thanks to changing winds blowing it back over the attackers (as happened at Loos). However, gas was used frequently: “the Western Front in 1918 was a chemical battlefield of a kind not seen again until the Persian Gulf in the 1980s.” (Stevenson, 1914 – 1918, p. 447)