It wasn't enough to simply develop effective tanks, because they'd get nowhere without crews. The British answer to this was ...

BBC History Best of History websites The British Museum The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites Thursday, 9.00 - 9.45am, rpt 9.30pm Melvyn Bragg explores the history of ideas.

Protective mask used in tanks. The tank crews used many purpose built and adapted items of head gear to protect themselves from the splinters of hot metal created by bullets hitting the tank.

Designed to break the stalemate of trench warfare, tanks made their first faltering appearance at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, 15 September 1916. How did the guns operate? How was the fuel stored?