Warfare in Scale chapter, 18 Mark IV Male 1, 35 TAKOM

The Mark IV was first used in large numbers on 7 June 1917, during the British assault on Messines Ridge. Crossing dry but heavily cratered terrain, many of the sixtyplus Mark IVs lagged behind the infantry, but several made important contributions to the battle. By comparison, at the Third Battle of Ypres (also known as Passchendaele) from 31 July, where the preliminary 24day long barrage had destroyed all drainage and heavy rain had soaked the field, the tanks found it heavy going and contributed little