Part 2/11:
Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, military strategists recognized the need for an effective, armored fighting vehicle capable of overcoming the treacherous conditions of the Western Front. By 1915, the stalemate caused by barbed wire, machine guns, and artillery had rendered traditional cavalry and infantry assaults incredibly deadly and ineffective. The idea of a "landship" or heavily armored vehicle that could traverse rough terrain and break enemy lines gained traction among military officials and engineers.