The first models of armoured tanks were among the many innovations that took place during the First World War. Already considered as early as the end of the 18th century during the First Industrial Revolution, the prototypes were built between the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century when the project for the application of the internal combustion engine to cars was perfected in Germany.
Coinciding exactly with the years of the conflict, British industry succeeded in developing the first model which made its appearance on the Western front. It was a large armoured vehicle that was equipped with tracks and able to advance in various types of terrain and overcome obstacles such as trenches that were two metres wide. Inside these armored vehicles there was space for ten soldiers who could guide the tank and use the machine guns that were fitted on the outside. But these first armoured tanks which appeared in 1916 were soon abandoned in view of serious structural problems (for example, no exhaust pipes had been installed) and replaced in 1917 and 1918 by new prototypes that proved decisive in many battles on the Western front. It was a curious fact that these tanks were produced in large quantities in England and France but not in Germany which is usually very receptive to innovations.
Armoured tanks hardly ever appeared on the Italian front. The Austro-Hungarians never had the strength and the means to produce them whereas in 1918 Italy launched six experimental models, the Fiat 3000, that were manufactured by the firm based in Turin but which were only perfected in the 20s. It was not uncommon to see in their place armoured cars that were similar to tanks but equipped with wheels instead of tracks.
