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Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
A Historical Connection Between Plastic Water Tanks And Armored Tanks
Plastic water tanks are a far cry from the armored behemoths also called tanks, but they do have a curious historical connection. Yes, that's right, modern plastics were developed after World War II, while tanks first made their debut in the waning years of the Great War, but there's something of a relationship.
Although not plastic water tanks, military tanks were first so named by their British inventors in an effort to disguise their research and development. It was hoped that by classifying these inventions basically as "tanks" on paper, any German spies who may have gotten a hold of the secret documents that referred to them could maybe be mislead. As it turned out, the label stuck and tanks have been called just that ever since.
In English, anyway. In German, and numerous other languages, they are known as only "armor," a more appropriate term that's a recognized synonym in the English-speaking world, particularly among military circles. A far cry from today's plastic water tanks indeed, but the thought is never far away in the minds of military history buffs.
The connection is a little more than merely etymological, really, as the earliest designs did resemble nothing more than simple water tanks to those who had the security clearance to see them. Tanks have dominated the battlefield for over sixty years, and even today they form the core of most conventional land warfare tactics.
The appearance of attack helicopters and guided missles have significantly reduced their striking power, and the asymmetrical warfare prevalent in conflicts these days render them ill-suited for most missions, but nothing on the horizon can match the tank in its useful combination of firepower, maneuverability, and defensive capacity. Though less used, the tank still figures eminently in invasion tactics and grand strategy and should find a role for itself in the decades yet to come.
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