Editing Tank (section)

====Germany====
Germany fielded very few tanks during [[World War I]], and started development only after encountering British tanks on the Somme. The [[A7V]], the only type made, was introduced in March 1918 with just 20 being produced during the war.<ref>[[#Willmott2003|Willmott (2003)]], ''First World War'', p. 222</ref> The first tank ''versus'' tank action took place on 24 April 1918 at the [[Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux]], France, when three British [[Mark IV tank|Mark IVs]] met three German [[A7V]]s. Captured British Mk IVs formed the bulk of Germany's tank forces during World War I; about 35 were in service at any one time. Plans to expand the tank programme were under way when the War ended.