Which late-1917 battle near Ypres is noted for limited gains and extensive use of tanks (about 380)?

Which late-1917 battle near Ypres is noted for limited gains and extensive use of tanks (about 380)?

• A. Passchendaele
• B. The Somme
• C. Ypres 1915
• D. Marne 1918

Answer: (A)

Passchendaele, the Third Battle of Ypres, is the late-1917 engagement near Ypres that stands out for both limited gains and a large-scale tank deployment—about 380 tanks were used. The aim was to seize the Passchendaele ridge and push German lines back, but the battlefield turned into a vast, waterlogged quagmire after weeks of rain. That terrain drastically slowed infantry advances, so gains in territory were small relative to the heavy casualties. The tanks were a notable feature of this offensive. British forces used them in significant numbers to try to break through machine-gun nests and cratered ground, offering support to advancing troops and attempting to overcome the stubborn fortifications that traditional assaults struggled against. Although the tanks did contribute to temporary progress at times, the overall result remained limited and costly, and the operation’s strategic value is debated. Other options refer to battles in different places or times—The Somme was in 1916 and not near Ypres, Ypres 1915 occurred earlier in the war, and Marne 1918 took place in a different theater and year.

Passchendaele, the Third Battle of Ypres, is the late-1917 engagement near Ypres that stands out for both limited gains and a large-scale tank deployment—about 380 tanks were used. The aim was to seize the Passchendaele ridge and push German lines back, but the battlefield turned into a vast, waterlogged quagmire after weeks of rain. That terrain drastically slowed infantry advances, so gains in territory were small relative to the heavy casualties.

The tanks were a notable feature of this offensive. British forces used them in significant numbers to try to break through machine-gun nests and cratered ground, offering support to advancing troops and attempting to overcome the stubborn fortifications that traditional assaults struggled against. Although the tanks did contribute to temporary progress at times, the overall result remained limited and costly, and the operation’s strategic value is debated.

Other options refer to battles in different places or times—The Somme was in 1916 and not near Ypres, Ypres 1915 occurred earlier in the war, and Marne 1918 took place in a different theater and year.