War elephants; early tanks; comparative history.

What is it about?

Although scholars have in the past dismissed the claim that war elephants were the ʻtanks of the ancient worldʼ, a closer examination of the similarities between the two weapons reveals some remarkable parallels. In fact, a comparison shows that many of the counter-measures in anti-elephant warfare in antiquity had parallels in anti-tank warfare in the Great War. More importantly, the upward spiral of increased weapon power, followed by defensive counter-measures, then an increase in the protective armour added to the ʻweapons systemʼ, is a process which can be observed in the evolution of both war elephants and early tanks. The comparison raises questions about the dominant narrative in the history of the tank, largely instigated by J.F.C. Fuller, namely, that its invention represented a revolution in warfare since it spelled the transition from animal and human muscular power to machine power. This article outlines the reasons why Fuller avoided drawing comparisons between war elephants and tanks before 1945; and, it identifies the main areas of commonality between the two weapons. It argues that identification of specific types of military phenomena recurring in different historical epochs point to aspects of strategy which can transcend historical epochs.

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Why is it important?

It makes a first attempt, methodologically, to compare a military-historical process which can be observed in two separate historical epochs of different lengths.

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