What was the short term significance of tanks and their usage in World War One?

The tank’s significance in World War One was primarily in its effect on the morale of people both on the front lines and at home. This psychological boost to the war effort came at a time when many were becoming disillusioned with the British Army. Through propaganda the tank was presented as the weapon to end the stalemate and ultimately win the war. On the battlefield soldiers saw the tank as representing Britain’s technological superiority in the war and it acted as a beacon of hope that suggested that victory was on the horizon. At home too the tank became a symbol of national strength and through sponsorship of tanks it also provided an opportunity for people to feel a connection to the battlefield and the war effort. However, it could be argued that the tanks tactical misuse and unreliability on the battlefield limited its significance. Tanks were often used as battering rams, but could easily get caught in barbed wire, and were susceptible to artillery strikes, leaving the people manning these weapons effectively sitting ducks. Furthermore, the tanks were unreliable and subsequently often did not appear on the battlefield in the numbers that were promised, leaving many to loose trust in their effectiveness. Therefore, while the tanks image was used as a symbol of hope and victory on the battlefield and at home, its military use and unreliability left it susceptible and unable to live up to expectations. It can be suggested that the tanks real significance lay in its psychological impact on the war rather than its military reality.