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IrelandTanks clear a path for Survive History's cavalry
Richard Townsley explains the wire-clearing machinery in a five-upload week devoted to the Western Front.
Survive History
Story of Why this story? The channel's weekly summary: what went up this week, what is drawing views now, and where the channel stands among similar channels.
How WW1 Tanks and Cavalry Worked Together
Next story: Chainmail and football helmets: Survive History tries tank-crew protection
An anchor-like device dragged behind a tank is the crucial detail in Survive History's most-watched new upload. In "How WW1 Tanks and Cavalry Worked Together", reenactor Richard Townsley explains that getting armour through barbed wire was only part of the job: the route had to be cleared for horses following behind.
Beside a vintage tank, he describes the grapples used to tear away the obstacles. Archival footage shows tanks pulling through wire, while mounted reenactors help illustrate the intended advance. Even a remaining strand could injure a horse, Townsley explains. The short has reached roughly 81,000 views.
All five uploads stayed on the Western Front. Townsley also explained communication using coloured discs, while the Tank Museum's Chris Copson covered recruitment into tank crews. Jon Leathem took the opposing perspective, describing German soldiers confronting British tanks with bundled stick grenades and the huge Tankgewehr rifle.
For viewers wanting the longer experience, Louee Dessent brought infantry, cavalry and tank episodes together in "Could You Survive 24 Hours on the Western Front? | WW1 Infantry, Cavalry & Tanks". It is a full-series compilation, moving from trench routines to mounted warfare and the cramped working conditions inside a Mark IV.
The busiest video right now sits just outside this week's releases. "German Razor Wire in WW1 Was Nasty Stuff" has passed a million views and is adding views faster than any other upload on the channel. Subscribers grew over the week, although daily viewing is below its usual level. That wire explainer gives this week's tank-and-cavalry lesson a useful companion: the obstacle first, then the machinery intended to remove it.
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The videos drawing views on Survive History right now
Germans Used These Rudimentary Tactics Against British WW1 Tanks40,183 views · 2026-11-13
Could You Survive 24 Hours on the Western Front? | WW1 Infantry, Cava…36,202 views · 2026-11-09
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- Channel
- Survive History
- Subscribers
- 415,000 ▲ 2,000 this week
- Channel views, last 7 days
- 2,528,256
- Videos published this week
- 5
- Video published
- November 9, 2026
- Video views so far
- 80,881
- Views on its first day
- 31,716
The numbers
Here is how Survive History's Western Front week looks in views and subscribers.
💡 Test your knowledge
In which English county is the Tank Museum at Bovington?
The Tank Museum is at Bovington in Dorset.