I Became a Tycoon During World War I: Saving France from the Start

Chapter 72: The Mark I Tank

Historically, the Mark I tank came in two variations: "male" and "female." The male model was equipped with two 57mm cannons—one on each side—and four Hotchkiss light machine guns. The female version had six Vickers machine guns instead of cannons. This design required a crew of eight: a driver, a commander, and either six machine gunners or two gunners and four machine gunners, with a total weight of 28.4 tons.

However, Charles' prototype of the Mark I was streamlined to include only three machine guns: a Vickers gun mounted at the front and a Hotchkiss on each side. This reduction allowed the crew size to shrink to five: a driver, a commander, and three machine gunners.

Deyoka and Joseph felt this was a missed opportunity and began eagerly suggesting changes:

"Our engine has 83 horsepower and can carry a weight of up to 23 tons, yet this Mark I, even with the crew, weighs just under 19 tons. We could add a small cannon in place of the Vickers gun!"

"A cannon would have a far greater impact on the enemy than a machine gun!"

"Yes, with explosive shells, we could even break through sandbag defenses, something a machine gun just can't do!"

Their calculations weren't far off. Historically, the original Mark I had a 105-horsepower engine that could handle 28.4 tons, meaning the 83-horsepower Holt 75 engine Charles was using could theoretically support up to 22.45 tons—close to their estimate of 23 tons. Adding a small-caliber cannon was, in fact, feasible.

But Charles remained firm in his decision.

"We'll stick with the Vickers machine gun," he said. "In battle, it's not always about having the heaviest firepower. Sometimes, having a constant stream of bullets is more critical than shells."

However, he didn't dismiss their idea entirely. "We can consider producing a small batch of tanks with a low-caliber cannon, but we'll remove the side machine guns to compensate. That model will have a reinforced front armor as well."

Deyoka and Joseph exchanged uncertain glances. They doubted the wisdom of the decision, especially since side-mounted guns were essential for preventing enemy soldiers from approaching the tank's flanks.

But Charles understood why they thought that way; it stemmed from their lack of military experience. Joseph was an expert in tractors, having spent his life designing them, and Deyoka came from a business family with no practical understanding of the battlefield. To them, adding a cannon automatically seemed superior to machine guns, and they assumed every tank needed comprehensive defense on all sides.

In reality, the situation was more nuanced.

At this point in history, tanks lacked stabilization systems, relying on basic rigid suspensions that struggled to keep the vehicle level on rough terrain. Cannons required a stable, level firing platform to calculate trajectories accurately and hit their targets effectively. In the early tanks, firing a cannon accurately was almost impossible—it was a matter of luck more than skill.

Meanwhile, machine guns, while facing similar limitations, provided an area of fire that the gunner could adjust by observing bullet impact points. This flexibility made them far more effective than cannons on these early tanks.

As for the defense of the tank's sides and rear, that responsibility should fall to supporting infantry.

Charles was willing to approve a limited production of cannon-equipped tanks in case they encountered fortified enemy bunkers. While machine guns would be ineffective against such defenses, a cannon could breach the bunker walls and hit firing slits to neutralize the threat from within.

"How much longer will it take to complete this?" Charles asked.

"About another week," Joseph replied.

Charles was pleased with this timeline. Historically, the Mark I had taken around six months to go from design to a working prototype, while Joseph had only needed a little over two weeks. Charles's simplified design—with many weapons removed, especially the complex side-mounted turrets—had certainly contributed to this efficiency.

The prototype still had several flaws, however. The most significant was the track durability. The maximum operational range was only about 35 kilometers, after which the tank required extensive repairs, or in some cases, a complete track replacement.

But Charles wasn't concerned. This was the First World War, and the battlefield was dominated by trench warfare, with each side dug into fixed positions. The Mark I didn't need long-range mobility; it only needed to cross the battlefield and withstand enemy fire—a few track replacements were a small price to pay. Unlike in World War II, where maneuverability was essential, the Mark I didn't require high mobility.

Moreover, the tank's imperfections worked to Charles's advantage. By limiting its capabilities, he could ensure that when a more advanced version was ready, any competitor's imitation would quickly become obsolete and unsellable.

Charles and Deyoka worked at the factory until nine in the evening, stopping only to snack on bread and sip coffee. When they finally returned home, Camille's frustration awaited them.

Her ire was primarily directed at Deyoka:

"Charles is only home for a short time, and you've kept him out so late! I had dinner ready hours ago!"

"Do you realize he'll have to go back to the military tomorrow?"

"You never work this late normally. Why start now, of all times?"

Charles tried to defend Deyoka, as he had indeed nudged Charles to leave several times. But Charles had been unable to walk away from the work—the Mark I required decisions only Charles could make. Both Deyoka and Joseph lacked the military knowledge to understand the tank's needs.

Still, Camille wasn't swayed. She quickly turned her frustration toward Charles:

"Shouldn't adults be taking on this responsibility at the factory?"

"Isn't it enough that the military needs you? Now the factory does, too?"

"Working on weapons for the army—aren't you taking on too much for this country?"

What Camille didn't know was that Charles wasn't doing all of this for the country. He was doing it for his own survival.

If he explained everything to her, she might understand and stop reprimanding him. But the truth would only leave her worried and sleepless, consumed with fear.

So, both Charles and Deyoka decided it was best to say no more.

(End of Chapter)

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