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Origin of the word "tank" (military)



This is trivial, but if it's true, we are rather fascinated by it.....

We have a copy of an illustration and a caption from Motorcycling and
Bicycling (periodical, 1/15/17 issue), which claims that the World War I era
British tanks were so named because they were shaped almost exactly like the
gas tanks found on many motorcycle brands of the period.

It is entirely true that the two shapes are incredibly simliar, but does
anyone know if there is truth to this?  If it were not in a 1917 magazine,
I'd be tempted to think it an urban legend......


Bill Jackson
Senior Archivist
Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Milwaukee, WI



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This is trivial, but if it's true, we are rather fascinated by it.....
 
We have a copy of an illustration and a caption from Motorcycling and Bicycling (periodical, 1/15/17 issue), which claims that the World War I era British tanks were so named because they were shaped almost exactly like the gas tanks found on many motorcycle brands of the period.
 
It is entirely true that the two shapes are incredibly simliar, but does anyone know if there is truth to this?  If it were not in a 1917 magazine, I'd be tempted to think it an urban legend......
 

Bill Jackson
Senior Archivist
Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Milwaukee, WI