Rare Picture of First War Tank

First War Tank

The first tanks were so loud that it was impossible to communicate via radio; instead they used carrier pigeons!

The Mark I was the world’s first combat tank made by the British Army during World War I. it was developed to be able to cross trenches, resist small arms fire, travel over difficult terrain, carry supplies, and to capture fortified enemy positions. 

The noise inside the tank was deafening and the driver used hand signals to communicate with the gearsmen. He first got their attention by banging on the engine block with a heavy spanner. There was no wireless radio communication.

Communication with command posts was by means of carrier pigeons that had their own small exit hatch in the sponsons, or by runners. The noise and vibration was too great to use any other form of communication and early experiments showed that carrier pigeons were the best route.

Tanks had major flaws when they came out. However, British propaganda often used tanks and promoted them. They portrayed them as the wonder weapon that would quickly win World War I.