Despite repeated claims (particularly online) that Great War tanks were fitted with magnetic compasses no primary source evidence, it would appear, has ever been presented. I would be interested to hear from anyone here who knows of any primary source evidence (i.e. photographs, technical reports, official documents, manuals etc) that confirms the use of magnetic compasses in First World War armoured vehicles. Thanks
I don't research German tanks. My interest is in British machines. There is a paper written by Philip Johnson recording the use of compasses in British tanks from the Tank Mark IV onwards in his papers at the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives at King's College, London. There is also material related to compasses in Great War tanks in the Buddicom papers at the Imperial War Museum. So, yes, there is definitely primary source evidence for the use of compasses in British tanks in the Great War.
