探秘（近代卷194）坦克的前身——机枪破坏器！世界历史免费阅读：排比篇
在第一次世界大战的黎明时分，英国一位名为坦克的工业家创造了一个令人震惊的武器。它是一种能移动、装甲坚固且能够越过障碍物的奇迹，能够抵御机枪扫射，并在掩护步兵冲锋同时向敌人发射火力。因此，它被称为“机枪破坏器”，这一名称令人们对这种新型武器产生了浓厚兴趣。
然而，当初，这种未经实战考验的“机械化玩具”并未得到权威人士重视。许多将军们低估了它的能力和潜力，甚至陆军大臣将其蔑称为“美妙而无用的机械装置”。但坦克并没有气馁，他继续进行改进，使其更加灵活和机动，但由于资金短缺，其发展缓慢。
就在这个时候，一位海军大臣邱吉尔发现了这一情况，他暗中筹集资金，为该项目提供必要资料。不久后，该项目得到了推进，最终，在1916年8月生产出了48辆新的“机枪破坏器”，随着多次改进，它终于得到了命名——坦克。在此期间，德国在伊普尔战役中首次使用毒气弹，再加上之前在列日使用穿甲榴弹，大量杀伤协约国士兵。这迫使英军司令海格将军不顾众人的反对，将这款新型武器投入到战斗中。
尽管这些坦克还处于试验阶段，从未真正参与过战斗，而且驾驶员也是临时从汽车驾驶员中抽调来的。但当十辆这些怪物隆隆地向德军阵地前行时，德军惊慌失措，用枪射击，但它们仍然坚持前行，“当、当、当！” gunfire echoed off the tank's exterior, while the tank continued to rumble forward, sending the German troops into a panic.
One tank even inadvertently entered a village, where it faced off against this massive steel monster. The Germans were terrified and fled their positions, leaving one village under the control of a single tank. Another accidentally drove into a trench, causing chaos among the German troops who were unable to escape. This victory surprised those skeptical generals and boosted morale among British soldiers.
However, soon after its success in battle came criticism that these weapons were too expensive and slow-moving, unable to traverse muddy terrain or overcome objective conditions effectively. Thus their strategic value was questioned.
In 1917 winter, as World War I neared its end on Eastern fronts with Germany focusing on Western fronts for decisive battles ahead by mobilizing massive forces there; British commanders planned an offensive operation in northern France using tanks to break through enemy lines led by Major Fuller from General Staff at GHQ.
This decision sparked heated debate: "Tanks' mobility is insufficient; they require dry ground for maneuver." Some argued that trenches stretching up to four meters wide would stop them dead in their tracks. Others claimed that deploying hundreds of tanks upfront would tip off enemy defenses early enough for countermeasures before they could strike deep inside enemy territory.
As voices swelled around discussion tables filled with military strategists arguing over what could be done about obstacles such as trenches and maintaining secrecy regarding these plans - all eyes turned towards Major Fuller who smiled confidently walking towards maps spread out across wooden boards saying:
"Friends! You've made some excellent points here today," he said quietly but firmly before pointing his finger toward Cambrai town south of Amiens city near Paris saying: "Cambrai's southern flank & westward side consists mainly of solid landmasses (10 kilometers long) which can provide an ideal battleground area suitable for our tanks."
The room fell silent momentarily until nods began appearing around every face present at this meeting place where decisions shaping history are made now more than ever –- all agreeing unanimously about how feasible this idea seemed given circumstances surrounding recent events involving other nations fighting wars worldwide during World War II period time frame era when countries engaged themselves within conflict scenarios seeking victory without losing lives unnecessarily due largely due primarily because technology advancements advanced rapidly leading people living then believing future wars will become less brutal compared earlier days past times gone by so much progress seen since invention discovery date year 1920s onwards etcetera...