Alternate names for the Tank?

Devolved

The whole point of calling it a tank was so that it wouldn't sound like a new weapon. If German spies wondered what the new tracked vehicle beng built was they would think 'oh it's a water tank and the troops at the front need a vehicle to deliver water over rough ground'.

Calling it a land battleship or an armoued dreadnought kind of gives it away.
 

Seleucus

If H.G. Wells had been more popular among military staff, 'land ironclads' could possibly have became the term (after his prophetic 1903 novel.)
 

mkemp

freivolk said:
What would be a good translation for Panzer.
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"Armor" or "armored." German battleships or cruisers are "Panzershiffe" - "armored ships;" a tank is a "Panzerkampfwagon" - "armored fighting vehicle."

If the origin is the same as the tank I'd say something like the previous suggestion of 'oven' or Turtledove's 'barrel' are more probable. You don't stencil "New Secret Weapon" on the side of the shipping crate unless you're running a counterintelligence operation in a comic book or animated cartoon.
 

MattII

'Tractor' makes more sense than most suggestions, in the context of keeping it a secret what the thing is actually for.
 

Karelian

Someone with a suitable Edwardian mindset might take a look at Joshua 1:19, and have some ideas. After all, "Chariots of Iron" does have a certain ring to it.
 
FickleCrossroad

FickleCrossroad

Motorized Fortress: It's sterile, to the point, and sounds deceptively like an armored car which will be only more unwieldy...
...but the best part is the nickname. "Mofo". :p

Sorry... long night at work.
 

Delta Force

Banned
MattII said:
'Tractor' makes more sense than most suggestions, in the context of keeping it a secret what the thing is actually for.
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The press or the military could play a role in naming the new weapons though, especially if they aren't given a name or the one chosen doesn't catch on. A name chosen in such a manner would reflect what the vehicle looks like (such as a fortress or land ship), what it does (cavalry or artillery), or something that impresses the observer (tracks, armor, or perhaps seeming sturdy/imposing like a fortress).

Also, new inventions rarely have a single name. The battlecruiser and nuclear weaponry and related technology all had many names before one emerged as the dominant one.
 

Cryhavoc101

How about its name ultimately being something the troops / crews call it?

Perhaps a slowish armoured 'land' animal

"Crab"

"Turtle"

"Tortoise"

"Beetle"

"Armadillo"
 

MattII

Delta Force said:
The press or the military could play a role in naming the new weapons though, especially if they aren't given a name or the one chosen doesn't catch on.
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The military were the ones pressing for it, and the ones insistent on security.

Also, new inventions rarely have a single name. The battlecruiser and nuclear weaponry and related technology all had many names before one emerged as the dominant one.
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The latter maybe, but the former only ever had that name AFAIK.
 
Driftless

Driftless

Donor
I like the Cataphract or Chariots ideas.

If you could separate the security origin of "tank" from popular lore, they might have been known as "Little Willies", or just "Willies"
 
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