History of Tanks & Armored Warfare

In this special episode, we explore the mysterious Japanese O-I superheavy tank—the 120+ ton prototype shrouded in secrecy and speculation. With almost no hard evidence of its existence beyond a few blueprints and scattered reports, the O-I remains one of World War II’s biggest “what ifs.” I’m joined by a guest to discuss its theoretical battlefield role, logistics, and legacy. This is a conversation built on what we know… and what we can only imagine.

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The Medium D was Britain’s bold attempt to build a true fast tank after WWI — powerful, experimental, and ambitious, but ultimately too unreliable to survive.

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This episode explores the Medium Mark C, Britain’s attempt to carry the momentum of WWI tank design into the postwar era. A weapon designed for a war that never came, the Mark C highlights both the ambition and the limitations of early interwar tank development.

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The Mark VIII “International” was unlike any other tank of the First World War. Built through cooperation between Britain, the United States, and France, it was designed to spearhead the massive 1919 offensive. Though it never saw combat, it stands as a symbol of Allied ambition, innovation, and the future of armored warfare.

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Season 2 begins with an introduction to the interwar years. After tracing the birth of the tank in Season 1, this new season explores nearly a hundred vehicles, prototypes, and the people who shaped them between 1919 and 1935. We’ll look at how different nations experimented, debated doctrine, and laid the foundations for the iconic tanks of the Second World War.

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Steel fortresses on rails—armored trains thundered across battlefields from the First World War to the Second, shaping revolutions, civil wars, and empires. In this case study episode, we explore their origins, battlefield use, and eventual decline, from Trotsky’s command train to German Panzerzüge. Once symbols of unstoppable industrial power, these iron leviathans ultimately became relics, remembered as war machines that rode the very rails of war.

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In this episode we wrap up Season 1 with listener questions, a look back at where we’ve been, and a preview of what’s ahead in Season 2. 

I’ll also be dropping a bonus episode during the short break so don’t miss it!

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As Allied tanks grew bolder in the final years of World War I, Germany responded with something new: a weapon built for one purpose—killing tanks. In this episode, we dive into the development and deployment of the Mauser Tankgewehr M1918, the world’s first purpose-built anti-tank rifle. We also explore the rise of armor-piercing ammunition, improvised gun conversions, and the evolving defensive doctrines that sought to counter the growing armored threat. This is the story of how science and desperation shaped the battlefield.

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British tanks shocked the battlefield in 1916 — and German troops had no idea how to stop them. This episode explores the chaos, fear, and improvised anti-tank tactics that marked the first encounters with armor at the Somme.

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As WWI progressed, armored cars got heavier and more dangerous. In Part 2, we explore the Austin, Putilov-Garford, and Ehrhardt E-V/4—machines built not just to scout, but to fight. 

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Before tanks dominated the battlefield, armored cars paved the way—fast, lightly armored, and often improvised. In this episode, we explore the early days of mechanized warfare through the lens of three key vehicles: Belgium’s Minerva, the iconic Rolls-Royce, and Britain’s rugged Lanchester. These machines weren’t built to cross trenches—they were built to move, strike, and adapt. We’ll look at how they were developed, where they were deployed, and the role they played in shaping the future of armored warfare.

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In this episode, we dive into the battlefield debut of the A7V—the German Empire’s only tank of the First World War. From its limited deployment to its infamous duel with British Mark IVs at Villers-Bretonneux, we unpack the world’s first tank-on-tank battle. We explore crew experiences inside the A7V, its tactical limitations, and the legacy it left behind. This is the dramatic—and often overlooked—final chapter of Germany’s first step into armored warfare.

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In the autumn of 1916, tanks arrived on the Western Front—and Germany had none. In this episode, we explore how the German Empire responded to the sudden appearance of Allied armor, why their high command hesitated to build tanks of their own, and how a civilian engineer pushed through the bureaucracy to create Germany’s first and only operational tank of the First World War: the A7V. From design challenges and industrial limitations to fire control systems and final production, this is the story of a tank born too late to change the war—but not too late to mak...

The Medium Mark A Whippet was Britain’s first "fast" tank—built for speed, not trench-crushing. In this episode, we explore its design, combat use, and how it helped shape the future of armored warfare.

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On this solemn anniversary of the D-Day landings, we pause to remember one of the most pivotal and costly days of the Second World War. In this special episode, we reflect on the scale and significance of Operation Overlord, explore a few armored and amphibious vehicles that carried men ashore, and share true stories from those who lived through the chaos of June 6, 1944 — tankers, engineers, and soldiers who faced the storm of war on the beaches of Normandy.

We close with a tribute to those who gave their lives for freedom, and to the memory of all wh...

In Part 3 of our Renault FT series, we follow the tank into combat—starting with Soissons and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, and continuing through its postwar service and final days in WWII. We examine how the FT performed in action, what lessons it left behind, and how its design shaped the future of tank warfare.

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In Part 2, we dive into the daily life of Renault FT crews, drawing on vivid firsthand accounts to explore what it was like inside this cramped but groundbreaking machine. We also break down the many French variants and how countries like the U.S., Italy, and the Soviet Union adapted the FT into tanks of their own. From the battlefield to global influence, this episode uncovers the FT’s lasting legacy.

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Small tank, big legacy. In Part 1 of our Renault FT series, we dive into the revolutionary design that changed tank warfare forever. From its early development to the battlefield philosophy behind it, discover how this little two-man machine became a giant leap forward in armored history.

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France’s second tank of WWI was bigger, louder, and packed a massive 75mm gun, but was it actually any good? In this episode, we dive into the story of the Saint-Chamond: a tank born from industrial ambition and political compromise. Overweight, under-tracked, and endlessly debated, the Saint-Chamond shows us what happens when power outruns practicality on the battlefield

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France’s second tank of WWI was bigger, louder, and packed a massive 75mm gun, but was it actually any good? In this episode, we dive into the story of the Saint-Chamond: a tank born from industrial ambition and political compromise. Overweight, under-tracked, and endlessly debated, the Saint-Chamond shows us what happens when power outruns practicality on the battlefield.

Join us as we discuss the story of France’s first tank—the daring, fire-spewing Schneider CA1! From bold innovation to battlefield chaos, discover how this steel beast helped shape the future of armored warfare in France.

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In today’s episode, we barely scratch the surface of the tank’s origin story, from the experimental prototypes like "Little Willie" and "Mother" to the battlefield-tested Mark V. We explore the challenges of early tank design and their revolutionary impact on World War I. Join us as we uncover how these mechanical innovations changed warfare forever. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to email me at Historytanksarmor@gmail.com

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In today’s episode, we barely scratch the surface of the tank’s origin story, from the experimental prototypes like "Little Willie" and "Mother" to the battlefield-tested Mark V. We explore the challenges of early tank design and their revolutionary impact on World War I. Join us as we uncover how these mechanical innovations changed warfare forever. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to email me at Historytanksarmor@gmail.com

In this debut episode, we explore the origins of the tank and the creation of Little Willie—the world’s first tracked armored fighting vehicle. From the trench stalemate of World War I to the bold engineering experiments of 1915, we uncover how this boxy prototype paved the way for a revolution in warfare.

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This episode will be a very rough breakdown of how the podcast will be structured. It will also set the stage for season 1 of the podcast

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