Why is it called a Tank?

| Linda Brown | Word & Idioms

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Till 1915 the word ‘Tank’ had only one meaning – a container that holds liquid or water. So, how did it become to also mean that military vehicle of distraction we all know? – Hmm… you are going to love this. 

During WWI, in order to keep the development of the new weapon a secret, the British high command proposed to refer to the vessel as a ‘Water Carrier’. But, in those days, government committees were known by their initials; and  W.C did not sit comfortably with the committee in charge of the tank, who did not want to be mistaken for a pee and poop committee.  

For this reason, they decided to name it a ‘Tank’, and the overseeing committee was called the ‘Tank Supply’ or ‘T.S.’ Committee.

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And for all of the tank-enthusiasts, here some more:

The tank was created to address the problem facing the British High Command during WW1 – the machineguns’ high-rate of fire cost a huge amount of casualties on the one hand and failed to bring victory on the other. It was a very costly stalemate, a dead end.

The solution was an armored vehicle with a cannon designed to destroy the enemy’s firing positions while giving cover to the advancing infantry.

 

In 1912, an Australian inventor by the name of Lancelot de Mole proposed a caterpillar car shed. In 1915, in the face of the stalemate on the Western Front during World War I, De Mole pitched again his proposal but was rejected again. Finally, De Mole did not give up and finally, after a few months his efforts prevailed and the tank’s development commenced. Its first trial was conducted on September 6 of that year.

Fortunately for the Allied Powers, the Central Powers – that developed their own version – failed to take advantage of the tank. They sent only a few tanks into battle, thus losing the surprise effect of a massive tank attack. Only towards the end of the war did they use the tank properly and learn to exploit its advantages, but that was too little, too late. By then the Allied Powers had already broken the enemies’ lines and it was game over.

And for all of the tank-enthusiasts, here some more:

The tank was created to address the problem facing the British High Command during WW1 – the machineguns’ high-rate of fire cost a huge amount of casualties on the one hand and failed to bring victory on the other. It was a very costly stalemate, a dead end.

The solution was an armored vehicle with a cannon designed to destroy the enemy’s firing positions while giving cover to the advancing infantry.

 

In 1912, an Australian inventor by the name of Lancelot de Mole proposed a caterpillar car shed. In 1915, in the face of the stalemate on the Western Front during World War I, De Mole pitched again his proposal but was rejected again. Finally, De Mole did not give up and finally, after a few months his efforts prevailed and the tank’s development commenced. Its first trial was conducted on September 6 of that year.

Fortunately for the Allied Powers, the Central Powers – that developed their own version – failed to take advantage of the tank. They sent only a few tanks into battle, thus losing the surprise effect of a massive tank attack. Only towards the end of the war did they use the tank properly and learn to exploit its advantages, but that was too little, too late. By then the Allied Powers had already broken the enemies’ lines and it was game over.

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