Wargaming, creators of the World of Tanks game, has launched a free augmented and virtual reality experience to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first tank blasting onto the battlefields of the Somme in September 1916. The app was developed by Ballista Digital, which produces history-themed apps for museums.

The app uses AR and VR to enable anyone with an interest in tank gaming or history to see a life-sized model of the Mark 1 externally, and view 360-degree virtual reality films of tanks in action.

Wargaming has partnered with The Tank Museum in Bovington to deliver the history behind the development of the first tanks during WW1, offering a unique opportunity to visit tanks from 100 years ago and visit 100 locations throughout the UK where the tanks were originally stationed. When an app user visits one of the locations, they can fire up the app to see the previous location of the tank in that town or city.

Following the war, the government offered 265 battled tanks to the nation, as an acknowledgment of the successful efforts made by their citizens to procure investments in national War Bonds and War Saving Certificates, in a campaign entitled ‘Feed the Guns’. They toured with six tanks around the country, which became known as Tank Banks. However, not everybody wanted to receive and have a tank, as it signified memories of lives lost on the battlefield.

There is only one actual tank in its original location – Ashford in Kent. Many of the other tanks were scrapped in the years following the war. For example, Aylesbury Borough Council wanted to dispose of the tank to make more room for a bus station, and sent two workers with blow torches to destroy it. Unfortunately, like many tanks, it still contained fuel and blew up. Whilst the two men luckily survived, lots of damage was caused with part of the city centre destroyed. Later, most of the tanks were scrapped for use in building arms for World War II.

The Tank 100 app will continue to grow over the coming months. Future versions will include additional WW1 and later 20th Century tanks to coincide with key anniversaries. The AR 3D model tanks will also be enhanced to allow users to interact and take control of the tanks themselves. Available on IOS and Android stores, it will be a living app enriched regularly with new content.

Footnote – Tank Locations:
Ashton-under-Lyne, Aylesbury, Barnolswick, Barnsley, Barrow in Furness, Basingstoke, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Birmingham, Bishop Auckland, Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Bovington, Brighton Preston Park Run, British Museum, Bury St Edmonds, Canterbury, Carlisle, Cheltenham, Chesterfield, Chichester, Chiswick, Clitheroe, Colchester, Coventry, Dartford, Deal, Derby, Durham, Darlington, Evesham, Exeter, Exmouth, Falmouth, Farningham, Farsley, Faversham, Gloucester, Liverpool, Great Yarmouth, Goole, Grimsby, Halifax, Hythe, Hull, Hinckley, West Hartlepool, Haslingden, Hastings, Hemel Hempstead, Kidderminster, Kings Lynn, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln, Lowestoft, Luton, Malvern, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Morley, Newark, Newton Abbot, Newcastle under Lyme, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northampton, Oldbury, Oldham, Pontefract, Portsmouth, Reading, Redcar, Rugby, Rushden, Southampton, Southport, Stoke on Trent, Tonbridge, Torquay, Walsall, Warrington, Whitley Bay, Wigan, Worcester, York, Abergavenny, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Llandudno, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath, Pembroke Dock, Penarth, Port Talbot, Swansea, Aberdeen, Ayr, Elgin, Glasgow, Paisley.