Today in History - September 15, 2022

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Published on September 15, 2022 3:00:39 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKXsd7kpJLY

Duration: 0:56

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On this day, a revolutionary new weapon saw its first use by an army desperate to break through the trenches of World War I. On September 15th, 1916, the British Army used tanks for the first time at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, part of the larger Battle of the Somme. The British Mark I tank had been developed in utter secrecy for the past year - even the term “tank” was chosen to confuse potential spies into thinking the invention was some sort of steel water tank. Unfortunately, the first tanks were rushed onto the battlefield, and their performance in their first action was somewhat mixed: roughly two thirds of the tanks broke down, but a few did succeed at breaking through the German line. More reliable tank designs would eventually be deployed by most of the war’s participants, and tanks have been a key part of warfare ever since.