Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux - First Tank Battle

First Tank Battle

After the Germans took Villers-Bretonneux, the first ever engagement between opposing armoured tanks took place. Three British Mark IV tanks (No. 1 Section, A Company, 1st Battalion, Tank Corps) had been dispatched to the Cachy switch line at the first reports of German advance and were to hold it against the Germans. One was a "male" (the No. 1 Tank of the section) armed with two 6-pounder (57 mm) guns and machine guns, under the command of Lieutenant Frank Mitchell. It was only crewed by four of the normal crew of seven as the others had been affected by gas. The other tanks were "females" armed only with 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns, intended for use as anti-infantry support fire. All were advancing when they encountered a German A7V, No.561, "Nixe" of Abteilung III Imperial German Tank Force commanded by 2nd Lt Wilhelm Biltz.

Biltz's tank fired on the two "females", damaging them to the extent that it left holes in the hull leaving the crew exposed. Both retreated; their machine guns were unable to penetrate the armour on the German tank.

Mitchell's "male" Mark IV continued to fire at the A7V while on the move to avoid German artillery fire and the cannon of the German tank. The movement meant Mitchell's gunner had difficulty in aiming the Mark IV's six-pounders. The tanks continued to fire at each other on the move until the Mark IV stopped to allow the gunner a clear shot. He scored three hits (a total of six shell hits). The German heeled over on its side, possible as a result of crossing an incline at the wrong angle. The surviving German crew (out of 18 men), including Biltz, alighted from the vehicle. Mitchell's crew continued to fire at them as they fled on foot, killing five.

The British tank was next faced by two more A7Vs, supported by infantry; Mitchell's tank fired several ranging shots on the German tanks, and they retreated. Mitchell's tank continued to attack the German infantry present, firing case-shot rounds at them. Following this, a group of seven of the new British Whippet medium tanks arrived. The Whippets attacked the German troops encountering some battalions "forming up in the open", doing much damage both with their machine guns and by running them down. Mitchell later remarked that when they returned their tracks were covered with blood. Only four of the seven Whippets returned, the rest were destroyed by artillery though only five crew in total were killed.

Being the sole tank on the field, and slow moving, the Mark IV now became an obvious target for German artillery. Lieutenant Frank Mitchell's tank retreated, maneouvering to try to avoid the shells. A mortar round eventually disabled the tank's tracks. The crew left the disabled tank, escaping to a British-held trench, much to the surprise of the troops in it.

Lt Biltz and his crew reboarded "Nixe" and successfully returned to German Lines. The tank was eventually broken up for spares in June 1918. Earlier in the day, another tank in the same group as Lt Biltz, A7V No. 506, "Mephisto", had fallen onto its side and was abandoned. It was captured by Australian troops when they counterattacked a few days later. Today, it is the only surviving German World War I tank and it is preserved at the Queensland Museum in Brisbane, Australia.