Villers-Bretonneux A7V

a7v tank (mephisto) after recovery battlefield

the first tank against tank combat in history took place on 24 april 1918 when 3 a7vs (including chassis number 561, known nixe ) taking part in attack infantry incidentally met 3 mark ivs (two female machine gun-armed tanks , 1 male 2 6-pounder guns) near villers-bretonneux. during battle, tanks on both sides damaged. according lead tank commander, second lieutenant frank mitchell, female mk ivs fell after being damaged armour-piercing bullets. unable damage a7vs own machine guns. mitchell attacked lead german tank, commanded second lieutenant wilhelm biltz, 6-pounders of own tank , knocked out. hit 3 times, , killed 5 of crew when bailed out. went on rout infantry case shot. 2 remaining a7vs in turn withdrew. mitchell s tank withdrew action, 7 whippet tanks engaged infantry. 4 of these knocked out in battle, , unclear if of them engaged retreating german tanks. mitchell s tank lost track towards end of battle mortar shell , abandoned. damaged a7v limped german lines, broke down.

three detachments (abteilungen) of 5 tanks each @ villers-bretonneux @ head of 4 german divisions committed on 4-mile front. 1 tank refused start, 14 saw action achieved success, , british recorded lines broken tanks.

however, counter attack re-established allied line, time 3 a7vs out of action in no man s land or behind german lines. nixe badly damaged, , german team destroyed explosive charges during night of 24th. elfriede had overturned; righted , recovered no man s land 3 weeks later french troops , british tanks, , handed on french examination. mephisto lay stuck in crater behind german lines 3 months. after area taken australian troops, in july, tank towed rear and, eventually, transported australia.