UNITED KINGDOM

A pioneer in the development of the tank and its deployment to the battlefield, the British endorsed the earliest armoured fighting vehicles that were tested and entered production during the World War I era. Along with that commitment, a doctrine related to three types of tanks, as well as a specific division of labour, came to dominate the thinking of the British military establishment by the mid-20th century. Light tanks were to be developed for reconnaissance, infantry tanks with plenty of armour protection and heavy weapons were to support ground troops, and cruiser tanks, swift and mobile, were to burst through ruptures in enemy lines, wreak havoc in rear areas, and destroy enemy vehicles in tank versus tank encounters.

This perspective dominated the development of tanks in Britain into World War II, finally giving way to the concept of the main battle tank. Lessons learned from the deployment of armoured vehicles, which were often disappointing in performance, led to further innovation and more effective designs. These lessons were applied