History of Tanks & Armored Warfare

Episode 22 continues the story of the A1E1 Independent, one of the most ambitious tank designs of the interwar period. In this episode we explore the practical flaws of the multi-turreted heavy tank concept, the challenges of crew coordination and battlefield effectiveness, and why the Independent ultimately remained a prototype despite its revolutionary appearance. We also examine the tank’s last...

A visit to the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois, Wyoming. In this episode, I walk through one of the most complete armored vehicle collections in the world, sharing impressions, standout vehicles, and conversations that bring the history of armored warfare off the page and into the real world. This episode was also recorded earlier, so I apologize in advance for the lower audio quali...

In this episode, we explore the origins of the A1E1 Independent, tracing how British interwar tank thinking, financial constraints, and War Office requirements led to one of the most ambitious and unconventional tank designs of the 1920s. Focusing on its intended role as a fast, heavily armed breakthrough tank, this episode examines why the Independent looked so promising on paper—and why its bold...

In this episode we cover some changes to the podcast including a few ideas on future topics. I hope you enjoy. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyoftankspodcast Email: HistoryTanksArmor@gmail.com

By the end of the First World War, J.F.C. Fuller had seen the future of warfare—but Britain wasn’t ready to follow him there. Part Two traces Fuller’s post-war career, his growing isolation, and the slow sidelining of one of the army’s most original thinkers. It’s the story of a man whose ideas survived long after his influence did. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyoftankspodcast Email:...

Today, we pause to honor every man and woman who has ever worn a uniform. From the mud of Flanders to the sands of the desert, from the skies above Europe to the streets of faraway cities — each answered when their country called. This episode is dedicated to them: the veterans who fought, who endured, and who carried home the memories that the rest of us cannot. Their courage built our freedom, a...

In this first part of our two-episode look at J.F.C. Fuller, we explore how a curious, eccentric English officer became one of the most influential—and controversial—military thinkers of the twentieth century. From his unusual upbringing to the trenches of the First World War, Fuller’s restless intellect reshaped the way modern armies would fight. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyoftank...

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 conversat...

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. Vote in the fan episode poll: https://forms.gle/JqKVT9HRsm2D3GU69 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyoftankspodcast Email: HistoryTanksArmor@gmail.com

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. Vote in the fan episode poll: https://forms.gle/JqKVT9HRsm2D3GU69 Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/historyoftankspodcast Email: Hist...

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. Here is the link to the Instagram page link:  https://www.instagram.com/...

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. Have questions? Email me at Histor...

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, reme...

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! Have questions? Email me at HistoryTanksArmor@gmail.com

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 d...

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. Heres the link to the Q&A form: https://forms.gle/xgxPwHzNpjDwxDcj9 Email me at HistoryTanksArmor@gmail.com

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.  Here is the link for the Q&A form: https://forms.gle/1mqaxCRwkDag9EtC7 Have more questions? Email me at HistoryTanksArmor@gmail.com

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 ho...

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 overlook...

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...

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.

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...

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. Have questions? Email me at HistoryTanksArmor@gmail.com

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 le...

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. Have questions? Email me at HistoryTanksArmor@gmail.com