Episode
How the tank is evolving to survive the century of the drone
- Podcast
- Iran: The Latest
- Published
- May 25, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2659
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://shows.acast.com/battle-lines-israel-gaza/episodes/how-the-tank-is-evolving-to-survive-the-century-of-the-drone
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Summary
In this special bank holiday episode, we’re taking a break from looking at the US-Iran war and focusing instead on tanks. Since it first appeared on the Somme battlefield, the tank has dominated and defined modern warfare. It has been such a successful concept that its distinctive silhouette - two tracks, a turret and a gun - has barely changed in a hundred years. But can it survive in the century of the drone? Or will the venerable tank go the way of the armoured knight before it? Hamish de Bretton Gordon, a former commander of the Royal Tank Regiment and the author of a new book on the subject, Tank Command, takes Roland Oliphant through the history of armoured warfare. They discuss why the tank has long been the ultimate instrument of battlefield shock action from World War 1 to the Arab-Israeli war to Ukraine today. Hamish argues that in 100 years from now, armies will still be fielding - and fighting against - tanks. Plus, Hamish shares what it’s like to command a Challenger, his ultimate "petrol-head" tank from history, and the definitive Hollywood film every enthusiast needs to watch. Highlights Why the lessons of tank development are still hugely relevant today What it’s like to command a Challenger CONTRIBUTORS: Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former tank commander @HamishDBG CONTENT REFERENCED: Hamish de Bretton-Gordon’s new book Tank Command is out June 4: https://linktr.ee/TankCommand Producer: Max Bower Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells ► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor ► EMAIL US: Contact the team…