document_title: History of the San Diego Chargers

question_text: where did san diego chargers get their name

question_tokens: where did san diego chargers get their name

text: History of the San Diego Chargers

text: AFL era (1961 – 1970)[edit]

text: 1961 – 1966[edit]

text: In 1959, the team began as the "Los Angeles Chargers" when they entered the American Football League (AFL), joining seven other teams: the Denver Broncos, Dallas Texans, Oakland Raiders, New York Titans, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, and Boston Patriots. The Chargers' first owner was Barron Hilton, the son of Conrad Hilton, founder of the Hilton Hotels corporation.[2] Barron Hilton held a contest to find a name for his team. The prize was a trip to Mexico. A man from Hollywood named Gerald Courtney, submitted the name "Chargers" and won.[3]:p.20 [4][5] Conrad Hilton said, "I liked [the name] because they were yelling "charge" and sounding the bugle at Dodger Stadium and at USC games".[6][7]

text: The team's first general manager was Frank Leahy, a former University of Notre Dame football coach. The team's first head coach was Sid Gillman from the Los Angeles Rams. His strength lay in offense innovation and he was later honoured in the Hall of Fame.[8] Gillman (87-57-6) signed a contract with the team for three years. When Frank Leahy resigned due to poor health, Gillman became the general manager in addition to his coaching role.

text: The Chargers planned to play at the Rose Bowl, but instead, signed a lease to play at the Los Angeles Coliseum.[9] The team played in the AFL for ten years until that league merged with the longer standing National Football League (NFL).

text: In the early years, the wide receiver, Lance Alworth made 543 receptions for 10,266 yards in his career of eleven AFL and NFL seasons. He made a record at ninety-six consecutive games with a reception.[10] With players such as Alworth, Paul Lowe, Keith Lincoln and John Hadl, the Chargers reached the AFL championship game five times and won it once.[11]

text: Relocation to San Diego[edit]

text: The Chargers spent one season in Los Angeles then, in 1961 moved to Balboa Stadium in Balboa Park, San Diego. By then, George Pernicano (1917 – 2016) of Detroit, had become a minor shareholder in the team.

text: In the 1961 season, the team's defense made forty-nine pass interceptions.[12] The term, "Fearsome Foursome" described the 1961 Chargers' defensive players' lineup.[13] The anchoring players were Earl Faison and Ernie Ladd.[14] The "Fearsome Foursome" phrase was later used by other NFL teams.[15] In 1961, the Chargers lost the championship to Houston by ten points to three with 29,556 patrons attending the game at Balboa Stadium.

text: In 1962, the team won four games and lost ten, including the final nine games of the season. This was mostly due to injuries.

text: In the 1963 season, eight Chargers players scored in the final week. Paul Lowe rushed over 183 yards, scoring 2 touchdowns on 17 carries. In the championship game, the Chargers beat Denver 58 points to 20 and became the AFL West champions. The season ended a week late due to a postponement of games after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (died November 22, 1963). The Chargers won the 1963 AFL title when they defeated the Boston Patriots 51 points to 10. Spectators numbering 30,127 attended the game at Balboa Stadium. Keith Lincoln's effort made up 349 yards of the total offense.

text: In 1964, the Chargers played the New York Jets resulting in 17 points each. 50,222 spectators attended the game at Shea Stadium, New York. The game earned $46,828 in entrance fees. On Thanksgiving Day, Buffalo defeated the Chargers 27 points to 24 at Balboa Stadium. The attendance was 34,865 spectators. The Chargers won their fourth AFL West title by defeating the Jets 38 points to 3 before 25,753 spectators at Balboa Stadium. Lance Alworth left the game with a knee injury, and the fullback, Keith Lincoln was sidelined in the first quarter with a fractured rib. At the 1964 championship game in Buffalo, the Chargers were beaten 20 points to 7. The AFL teams signed a five-year television contract with the National Broadcasting Company for $36 million to commence in 1965.

text: On December 12, 1965, San Diego (9-2-3) won their fifth AFL West title by defeating Houston 37 points to 26. Lowe came first and Alworth second in the player chosen AFL Player of the Year competition. Buffalo defeated the Chargers 23 points to nil in front of 30,361 spectators at Balboa Stadium for the AFL championship. At half time, new automobile, the "Charger," was introduced by Chrysler officials.

text: In 1966, Hilton sold the Chargers to a 21 member group of business executives for $10 million. The leading investors were Eugene V. Klein and Sam Schulman. The Chargers were third in the AFL West season, 7-6-1.[16]

text: In 1967, the Chargers and the Rams played three preseason games at the San Diego Stadium. The AFL and the NFL planned to merge during the 1970 season.

text: 1967 – 1970[edit]

text: In August 1967, the Chargers moved to the newly constructed San Diego Stadium (Qualcomm Stadium). In 1967, the Chargers played the NFL team, the Detroit Lions, in a pre-season game with 45,988 spectators. Detroit defeated the Chargers 38 points to 17.[2] In the fifth week of the season, Leslie "Speedy" Duncan had 203 yards in returns, 35 yards on a fumble recovery for a touchdown, 68 yards on four kickoff returns, and 100 yards for a touchdown. In the Charger's game against Kansas City, the team won 45 points to 31. In this game, the team's combined effort was 897 yards offense and 622 yards in returns. In the eleventh week, the Chargers were defeated by Oakland 41 points to 21 with 52,661 spectators at the game. In addition, 2,018 viewers watched the game on closed-circuit television in the San Diego Sports Arena.

text: In 1968, the Chargers played a first pre-season game at the San Diego Stadium against the NFL team, the San Francisco 49ers. The Chargers won 30 points to 18 before 39,553 spectators. "Speedy" Duncan set an AFL record with a 95 yard punt return for a touchdown in a game where the Chargers were defeated by the New York Jets 37 points to 15. The Chargers came third in the West league, winning nine games and losing five. The player, John Hadl led the 1968 West league with 440 pass attempts, 208 completions, 3,473 yards taken and 27 touchdown passes. and in passes intercepted.[17]

text: In the 1969 season, the Chargers lost their first two games. They then defeated the Jets in an at home game with 54,042 spectators. Joe Namath played for the Jets.[2] Hadl and Alworth played for the Chargers. Hadl made a professional record with a pass reception in his ninety-sixth consecutive game. The Chargers won the next three games and then lost four. Their last game was against Buffalo where they won 45 points to six. The team finished with eight wins and six losses and no chance of playing in the championship games. Charlie Waller, the offensive backfield coach was named head coach. Gillman had resigned after the season's ninth game due to illness but did continue as the team's general manager.[2]

text: 1970 – 1981 (Joining the NFL)[edit]

text: In 1970, the San Diego Chargers settled into the AFC West division following the NFL merger with the AFL. The years after the merger were difficult for the Chargers. Charlie Waller took over as the head coach, but after finishing 5-6-3, he stepped down, and Gillman returned to the job. Gilman resigned midway through the1971 season, which ended with six wins and eight losses.

text: In 1972, Duane Thomas and Deacon Jones joined the team which finished four wins, nine losses and one draw. In 1973, Johnny Unitas, a quarterback from the Colts joined the Chargers. Unitas was almost 40 and had chronic injuries. He played three games and then was replaced by Dan Fouts, a newcomer to the league. The Chargers made two wins, eleven losses and one draw.

text: In the 1974 season, Fouts was the starting quarterback. Don Woods joined the team. During one game, Woods ran over 1,000 yards in a 5-9 finish. However, in 1975, Woods and Fouts disappointed and the team finished with two wins and twelve losses.

text: In 1976, the Chargers began with a 3 win start but finished with six wins to eight losses. In 1977, the Chargers again began strongly. However, the team lost four out of five games. Fouts was removed and the team finished with seven wins and seven losses.

text: In 1978, the NFL increased the season schedule to sixteen games. The rules were changed so that wide receivers could no longer block defensive backs more than five yards beyond the line of scrimmage.

text: In the opening game of the season, the Chargers beat Seattle 24 points to 20. On September 10, 1978, the second game was played against the Oakland Raiders at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. The game became known as the "Holy Roller" game, or, the "Immaculate Deception" because the Raiders made a game winning play.[18] With 10 seconds left in the game, the Raiders had possession of the ball at the Chargers' 14-yard line. The Chargers were ahead 20 points to 14. The Raiders quarterback, Ken Stabler, took the snap but was about to be sacked by the Chargers' line-backer, Woodrow Lowe on the 24-yard line. Stabler fumbled the ball forward, and it rolled forward towards the San Diego goal line. Running back, Pete Banaszak, tried to recover the ball on the 12-yard line, but could not keep his footing, and the ball was pushed even closer to the end zone. The Raiders' tight end, Dave Casper, was the next player to reach the ball but he also could not get a hand on it. He batted and kicked the ball into the end zone, where he fell on it for the game-tying touchdown as time ran out. With the ensuing extra point by kicker, Errol Mann, the Raiders won 21 points to 20.[18]

text: The Chargers' fans saw the fumble as an incomplete pass or an intentional grounding. In the remaining minutes of the game, the teams battled for the ball towards the end zone where the Raiders ultimately recovered it for a touchdown .[18]

text: The Chargers lost their third game to Denver then in week four, the Chargers played Green Bay, Wisconsin Packers in an interconference match in San Diego. At the kickoff, the temperature was around 102 °F (38 °C). The Packers won 24 points to 3. After this loss, the Chargers' head coach, Tommy Prothro was dismissed. He was replaced by Don Coryell of the St. Louis Cardinals.

text: In New England, the Chargers won their first game under Coryell's coaching. When they returned, San Diego was still recovering from the recent PSA Flight 182. The Chargers' defeating Denver in San Diego was morale boosting for the city. Coryell coached the team in his "Air Coryell" offense: Fouts threw to a trio of receivers (Charlie Joiner, John Jefferson and tight end Kellen Winslow). The Chargers won nine games and lost seven, thus missing the playoffs.

text: In 1979, The Sporting News named the Chargers' team general manager, John Sanders, the NFL Executive of the Year.[19] Fouts set an NFL record by playing four consecutive 300-yard passing games. His achievement was established in a game in which he threw over 303 yards against the Oakland Raiders. The Chargers defeated the New Orleans Saints 35 points to nil and proceeded to the playoffs, the first time in fourteen years. On December 17, 1979, the Chargers won the AFC West division title by defeating the Denver Broncos 17 points to 7 before a national Monday Night Football television audience and their home crowd. In the divisional round, the Houston Oilers defeated the Chargers 17 points to 14. Ron Mix became the second AFL player and second Charger to be nominated to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The announcement was made during the half-time of the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl.[20]

text: In 1980, the running back, Chuck Muncie was traded to the team. Fouts set a club record with 444 yards passing in the Chargers' 44 points to 7 defeat of the New York Giants.[21] Kellen Winslow caught 10 passes for 171 yards. The Chargers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 26 points to 17, winning the AFC West title. They finished the season with eleven wins and 5 losses, a record for the team.

text: Jefferson (1,340), Winslow (1,290), and Joiner (1,132) became the first three players on the same team to have 1,000 yards receiving in a season. The Chargers' defense led the NFL in sacks (60). The defensive frontline included the 1975 Chargers' draftees Fred Dean, Gary "Big Hands" Johnson and Louie Kelcher. Together with Leroy Jones, these players were known as the "Bruise Brothers".

text: The Chargers topped the AFC West season with a record of 11 wins and 5 losses. In the playoffs, the Chargers defeated the Buffalo Bills 20 points to 14. However, they did not proceed to the Super Bowl XV due to a loss to the championship side, the Oakland Raiders, 34 points to 27.

text: In 1981, the Chargers won their third AFC West title with 10 wins and 6 losses during the season. After the division titles of the 1979 and 1980 seasons, contract disputes arose. Klein, the team owner, refused to renegotiate players' contracts. The Chargers' owner traded the wide receiver, John Jefferson, to the Green Bay Packers after a salary rise could not be agreed. Jefferson was replaced by Wes Chandler. Defensive end, Dean was traded to the 49ers again after a pay dispute.[22] Dean said his wage was similar to that of his brother, a truck driver.[23] After playing eleven games of the season, Dean went on to become the UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year. In 1980 and 1981, without Dean, the Chargers no longer had the most passing yards in the NFL.[24][25]

text: "I can't say how much it [Dean's leaving] affected us, because we did make it to the AFC championship game", said Johnson on the loss of fellow lineman Dean. "But I could say if we had more pass rush from the corner, it might've been different."[26]

text: In the 1981 playoffs divisional round, the Chargers defeated the Miami Dolphins 41 points to 38 at the Miami Orange Bowl where the temperature on the humid day was 85 °F (29.4 °C). The game became known as "The Epic in Miami". ESPN journalists named the epic the best game in NFL history.[27] Both teams showed strong offense. The Chargers were led by Fouts [28] who made an NFL single season record of 4,802 yards and 33 touchdowns.[29]

text: This game set records for the most points scored in a playoff game (79 points);[30] the greatest total yards by both teams (1,036 yards);[30] and the most passing yards by both teams (809 yards).[30]

text: The Chargers placekicker, Rolf Benirschke kicked the winning 29-yard field goal after 13 minutes and 52 seconds overtime. The tight end, Kellen Winslow, made 13 receptions for 166 yards, a touchdown and one blocked field goal. He became exhausted and was assisted from the field by his team mates.[31]

text: At the championship game the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Chargers 27 points to 7. The game became known as the "Freezer Bowl". The temperature was a record low −9° with a wind-chill factor of −59°.[32]

text: 1982 – 1993[edit]

text: During the strike-shortened 1982 season, Fouts averaged 320 yards passing per game. At that time, that average was a record.[33] The Chargers defeated San Francisco 41 points to 37 and Cincinnati 50 points to 34. In each game, Fouts threw for over 400 yards.[34] In the game against Cincinnati on December 20, 1982, the Chargers' made 501 yards passing and 175 yards rushing.[35] Chandler set a record of 129 yards receiving per game.[36] The Chargers reached the playoffs.

text: In 1984, Klein decreased salaries in preparation for the team's sale. The defensive linemen, Johnson and Kelcher, left for San Francisco.[22] On August 1, 1984, Alex Spanos purchased a majority interest in the Chargers. Benirschke was named "Miller Man of the Year". Joiner set an NFL record with his 650th pass reception in the fourth quarter of the game at Pittsburgh.[21]

text: In 1985 the guard, Ed White set an NFL record by playing in 241 NFL games. Lionel "Little Train" James, a 5' 6",171 pound running back, set an NFL record of 2,535 all-purpose yards and of 1,027 receiving yards by a running back.[37]

text: Changing head coaches[edit]

text: During the 1986 San Diego Chargers season, following the resignation of Coryell, Al Saunders was named head coach.[21]

text: In 1987, Joiner retired to become the Chargers' receivers' coach. The team finished the season with 8 wins and 7 losses including losses in the last six games. In 1988 Fouts retired after a 15 year career. He set seven NFL records and 42 club records, and became the NFL's second most prolific passer of all time with 43,040 yards. Fouts's jersey, the number fourteen was retired at halftime at the "Dan Fout's Day" game in San Diego.[21]

text: In the 1989 San Diego Chargers season, Dan Henning, a former Chargers' quarterback, Washington Redskins assistant, and Atlanta Falcons head coach, became the Chargers' head coach.[21] A first year running back, Marion Butts, set a club record with 39 carries and a team rookie record of 176 yards in the Chargers' 20 points to 13 win against Kansas City.[21] Steve Ortmayer, the director of football operations for the past three years, left and was replaced by Bobby Beathard.[21]

text: In the 1992 San Diego Chargers season, Bobby Ross became the Chargers' head coach. The quarterback, Stan Humphries was obtained in a trade with the Washington Redskins.[39] The Chargers finished the season with eleven wins and five losses and won the AFC West title. Ross was named AFC Coach of the Year.[39][40] In the Wild Card Round, the Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 17 points to nil. Then, they lost to the Miami Dolphins in the divisional round, 31 points to nil.

text: In 1993, the Chargers won and lost eight games, finishing fourth in the division.

text: 1994 – 2003[edit]

text: 1994: AFC Champions[edit]

text: In the 1994 season, the Chargers won eleven season games and lost five. The quarterback, Stan Humphries, and the wide receiver, Tony Martin, worked together to make a 99-yard touchdown completion. The players contributing to the Chargers' 1994 AFC West Division championship included the line-backer, Junior Seau, Reuben Davis and Shawn Lee who made defensive tackles and defensive end, Leslie O'Neal, and running back Natrone Means, Humphries and Martin who made offensive moves. In the playoffs, the Chargers unexpectedly defeated the Dolphins 22 points to 21 in the divisional round and the Steelers 17 points to 13 in the AFC championship game. The Chargers were defeated by the 49ers 49 points to 26 at Super Bowl XXIX.

text: Despite the 1994 Super Bowl loss, Beathard, who was responsible for the team line-up and the choice of coach, was named the "NFL Smartest Man" by Sports Illustrated.[41][42][43]

text: The Chargers' 1995 season was less successful. The team reached the playoffs with 9 wins and 7 losses then were defeated by the Indianapolis Colts 35 points to 20.[44]

text: 1996 – 2003[edit]

text: During the 1996 season, running back Rodney Culver was killed in the crash of ValuJet Flight 592 in the Florida Everglades. David Griggs had been killed in a single motor vehicle accident in Davie, Florida, eleven months earlier.[39]

text: In the 1997 season, Beathard dismissed Ross.[39] Kevin Gilbride became the Chargers' new head coach.[39] Gilbride encouraged a more open passing attack, a major change in offensive style.[45] After trades ofplayers and draft choices to the Arizona Cardinals, Beathard selected quarterback, Ryan Leaf, with his second pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. However, due to poor play and attitude, Leaf was dismissed after the 2000 season. Jim Harbaugh, who was acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens for a conditional draft choice in 2000, became the Chargers' starting quarterback.

text: In the 1998 season, the Chargers won 5 games and lost 11. Rodney Harrison said, "If I had to go through another year like that, I'd probably quit playing."[46] Humphries suffered several concussions due to a lack of pass protection and retired.[47] When Gilbride left, he was replaced by an interim head coach, June Jones, a member of the Chargers' staff.[39] Jones left the team at the end of the 1998 season to coach at the University of Hawaii. The Chargers' new head coach was Mike Riley from the Oregon State University.[39]

text: Beathard retired in April 2000 and was replaced in January 2001 by John Butler, former general manager of the Bills.[48] From 1996 to 2003, the Chargers had eight consecutive seasons where they finished with just as many, if not more losses than wins.[49]

text: In 2001, Riley chose Norv Turner, the former head coach of the Redskins, as his offensive coordinator.[48] Turner coached an offense method which he had employed at the Dallas Cowboys.[50] The Chargers signed the former Bills' quarterback, Doug Flutie. They also traded the team's first overall selection in the 2001 NFL Draft to the Atlanta Falcons in return for the first-round selection (fifth overall) and third-round selection in the same draft. In addition the Chargers obtained the wide receiver-kick returner, Tim Dwight, and the Falcons' second-round draft selection in the 2002 NFL Draft. The Chargers used those selections in the 2001 draft to select the Texas Christian University running back LaDainian Tomlinson and the Purdue University quarterback Drew Brees.[48]

text: For the 2002 season, Marty Schottenheimer replaced Riley. Under Schottenheimer, the Chargers won their first four games.[48] Butler would succumb to cancer after a nine-month struggle in April 2003.[48] Butler was replaced by A. J. Smith, who was named the Executive Vice President and General Manager.[51]

text: In 2003, the Chargers traded Seau to the Dolphins for a draft pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Before he left, Seau's teammates awarded him the Emil Karas Award for the team's Most Inspirational Player.[52] Tomlinson accumulated 195 total yards from scrimmage in a late season game against the Packers to raise his season total to 2,011. He became the first Chargers player and the eighth player in NFL history to record consecutive 2,000-yard seasons.[48] Tomlinson also became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes in the same season.[48] The Chargers were the host team for the Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXVII.

text: During the 2005 NFL Draft, the Chargers drafted key rookies who would help carry the momentum from the team's 2004 season. The Chargers used their first pick to gain Shawne Merriman from the University of Maryland. Their next picks included Luis Castillo from Northwestern University, Vincent Jackson from Northern Colorado, Darren Sproles from Kansas State, Wesley Britt from Alabama University, Wes Sims from Oklahoma University, and the center, Scott Mruczkowski from Bowling Green State.

text: The Chargers lost their first game of the 2005 season 28 points to 24 to the Dallas Cowboys at home and their second game, away, 20 points to 17 to the Denver Broncos. Through Tomlinson's efforts, the Chargers won their third game, which was a home game against the New York Giants. Tomlinson took 220 yards in total, 3 rushing touchdowns, and threw for a touchdown helping the team to win 45 points to 23. The Chargers then defeated the New England Patriots 41 points to 17. At their fifth game, which was against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chargers wore their throwback uniforms. The Steelers defeated the Chargers 24 points to 22 after Jeff Reed made a 40 yard field goal. The Chargers won the sixth game against the Oakland Raiders, 27 points to 14. In the seventh game, against the Eagles in Philadelphia, the Chargers were leading 17 points to 13 till late in the game. Then, the Chargers' field goal was blocked and returned 65 yards by Matt Ware. This led to the game winning touch down for the Eagles.

text: After winning three games and losing four, the Chargers won the following five games. These included an at home game against the Kansas City Chiefs won 28 points to 20 and an away game against the New York Jets won at 31 points to 26. The tenth week was a bye. Next, the Chargers won at home in their throw-back uniforms against the Buffalo Bills, 48 points to 10. Then, the team won against the Washington Redskins, 23 points to 17 in over time and the Oakland Raiders, 34 points to 10 at home.

text: The Chargers were defeated 23 points to 21 by the Miami Dolphins. On December 18, 2005, the Chargers defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 26 points to 17 who had won their previous 13 games. The KKansas City Chiefs then defeated the Chargers 20 point to 7 and the team was officially eliminated from AFC playoffs. The Chargers lost their final game of the season 23 points to 7 to the Denver Broncos. The Chargers completed the 2005 season with 9 wins and 7 losses.

text: 2006 – 2012[edit]

text: In the 2006 season, the Chargers lost two games, one to the Ravens and the other to the Chiefs. They finished the season with fourteen wins and two losses. They were seeded first in the AFC playoffs. In the divisional round, the Chargers were defeated by the Patriots 24 points to 21. After the season, Schottenheimer left and Norv Turner became the head coach.

text: In the 2007 season, the Chargers won eleven games and lost five. In the playoffs, the Chargers defeated the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts. In the AFC championship game, the Chargers were defeated by the Patriots.

text: In the 2008 season, the Chargers won and lost eight games each. They won the AFC West title over a weak field. The Chargers defeated the Colts in the wild card round then lost their game against the Steelers in the divisional round.

text: In the 2009 season the Chargers first won two games and lost three. In the rest of the season the Chargers won each game including those against the NFC East teams. Having lost a game against the Broncos, the Chargers defeated them in the eleventh week, 32 points to 3. In the twelfth week, the Chargers defeated the Cleveland Browns 30 points to 23. In this game, LaDainian Tomlinson broke Jim Brown's rushing record and was congratulated by him. The Chargers secured another division title and became the AFC second seed. The Chargers then played and lost 17 points to 14 to the Jets at home on January 17, 2010.

text: 2010 – 2012[edit]

text: Prior to the 2010 season Tomlinson departed. He was aging and an expensive contract. The Chargers lost the first game to Kansas City, 21 points to 14. The second game was at home was a win against the Jaguars. However, low ticket sales resulted in a blackout. The third game, an away game, was a 27 points to 20 loss against Seattle. The fourth game was a win for the Chargers against the Cardinals, 41 points to 10 at home. There was blackout during the game. Then in the next game, after many wins against the Raiders, the Chargers were defeated by them.[53] The Chargers won the next four games then again were defeated by the Raiders at home, 28 points to 13.[54] After a game where they tied with the Raiders, the Chargers were defeated by the Bengals 34 points to 20 and did not proceed to the AFC West title, the first time since 2005. The Chargers defeated Denver and ended the season with 9 wins and 7 losses.

text: The Chargers finished the season as the eighth team in NFL history to rank first in overall offense (395.6 yards/game), and overall defense (271.6 yards/game). Despite these statistics, the team did not make the playoffs, a situation only shared with the 1953 Eagles team.[55] The Chargers ended the season second to the Colts in passing yards per game (282.4), second to the Patriots in points scored per game (27.6), first in passing yards allowed per game (177.8), fourth in rushing yards allowed per game (93.8), and tied for second in sacks (47). In contrast, the Chargers gave up the most punt return yards per game (18.9) and gave 29 turnovers.[56] Rivers had a career highlight of 4,710 yards, 294 yards passing per game, 66 percent completion; 30 TDs, 13 INTs and a 101.8 passer rating. Tolbert made 11 rushing TDs and Gates made 10 receiving TDs. Phillips made 11 sacks.[57]

text: The Chargers started the 2011 season with a four wins and one loss to the Patriots. Losses continued to the Jets, Chiefs, Packers, Raiders, the Bears and Broncos. Offensive and the defensive players received injuries. On December 5, 2011, the Chargers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars.Three wins followed including a solid defeat of the Ravens. The Chargers were then defeated 38 points to 10 by the Detroit Lions. At seven wins and eight losses, the Chargers failed to reach the playoffs. After a 38 points to 26 win against the Raiders in the seventeenth week, the Chargers finished the season with eight wins and losses each. In the AFC West league, the Chargers tied in first place with Oakland and Denver. In a tie breaker, Denver defeated the Chargers in the Division title.

text: During a game on October 21, 2012, a line judge saw what he thought was a suspicious substance, such as a banned adhesive, on hand towels used by the Charger's players.[58] However, on November 7, the NFL announced that the Chargers did not cheat. Even so, the team was fined $20,000.[59] After the 2012 season where the Chargers again failed to reach the payoffs, Smith and Turner were dismissed.[60]

text: 2013 – 2016[edit]

text: On January 9, 2013, the Chargers announced that Tom Telesco, former Vice President of football operations at the Indianapolis Colts, would become the Chargers' General Manager. On January 15, 2013, Broncos offensive coordinator, Mike McCoy, was hired as the Chargers' new head coach and Ken Whisenhunt as offensive coordinator. D. J. Fluker, Manti Te'o, and Keenan Allen were selected in the first three rounds of the 2013 NFL Draft.[61]

text: Under McCoy, the Chargers won two and lost three games. The team then defeated Indianapolis in the Monday Night Football and then Jacksonville. After a bye, the Chargers won four of the next five games. They then won all the remaining regular season games. Combined with the losses from other AFC teams, the Chargers played a wild card playoff after 9 wins and 7 losses. On the 50th anniversary of the 1963 AFL Championship, the Chargers beat Cincinnati 27 points to 10. In the wild card payoff, Denver defeated the Chargers 24 points to 17.

text: On January 13, 2014, Ken Whisenhunt left the team to join the Titans. On January 14, 2014, the Chargers announced Frank Reich, the quarterback coach, would replace Whisenhunt as the team's offensive coordinator. The Chargers also brought back Donald Butler, Chad Rinehart, and Darrell Stuckey; dismissed Derek Cox; and engaged the running back Donald Brown. The Chargers selected Jason Verrett, Jeremiah Attaochu, and Chris Watt in the first three rounds of the 2014 NFL Draft.

text: In September and October 2014, the Chargers won five games after losing their first game of the season and then lost a further three games. Some players sustained injuries and the team finished the season with nine wins and seven losses. The Chargers did not qualify to enter the playoffs. In three of their last four games, and five of their last eight, the Chargers did not score more than one touchdown. Compared to 2013, the offense dropped in points (from 12th in the league to 17th), yards (5th to 18th), first downs (3rd to 15th), net yards per pass (2nd to 8th), rushing yards (13th to 30th) and yards per rush (21st to 31st). It was the second time in three years the team had finished second-to-last in yards per carry. In the AFC West division the Chargers finished the season with two wins and four losses.

text: In the 2015 NFL draft, the Chargers selected Melvin Gordon, Denzel Perryman, and Craig Mager in the first three rounds. The season started off with a win against the Detroit Lions at home. The Chargers lost to the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings in away games before defeating the Cleveland Browns on a last second field goal. Following their 2 wins and two losses, the Chargers lost their next six games to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, the Chicago Bears, and the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chargers then won against the Jaguars in an away game and week 14, defeated the Miami Dolphins, 30 points to 14. The Chargers finished the season in last place in the AFC West league and third last ahead of the Titans and the Browns in the American Football Conference with 4 wins and 12 losses.

text: The Chargers drafted defensive end Joey Bosa in the third overall pick of the 2016 draft. Other selections included Hunter Henry, Max Tuerk, Joshua Perry, Jatavis Brown, Drew Kaser, Derek Watt, and Donavon Clark.

text: The Chargers started their 2016 season in Kansas City, playing against the Chiefs and at half time held a lead of 21 points to 3. The Chiefs rallied in the second half, defeating the Chargers 33 points to 27. In San Diego, the Chargers defeated the Jaguars 38 points to 14. The running back, Danny Woodhead did not play due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The Chargers then had losses to the Colts, the Saints and the Raiders before winning against the Broncos 21 points to 13 and the Falcons, 22 points to 30. There were further losses including to the Dolphins, 31 points to 24; to Kansas City, 37 points to 27 in San Diego; and to the Browns in week 16.

text: Move to Los Angeles[edit]

text: The owner of the Chargers, Dean Spanos advocated for many years for the city of San Diego to build a new stadium. With no success, the Chargers, in association with the Raiders, planned to construct a new stadium in Carson, California.[62]

text: Immediately after the conclusion of the 2015 season, the Chargers, Rams, and Raiders all filed applications to relocate to Los Angeles.[63] On January 12, 2016, the NFL owners voted 30 to 2 to allow the Rams to return to Los Angeles, approving their Inglewood stadium project. The Chargers, however, were given an approval to relocate in one year's time, under the condition they negotiate a lease or partnership agreement with the Rams.[64] The Chargers registered the trademark, "Los Angeles Chargers".[65] They submitted to the City of Santa Ana the grading and landscape plans for a five acre parcel of land which would serve as an interim headquarters and training facility.[66] The Chargers and Rams came to an agreement in principle on sharing the planned City of Champions Stadium to commence on January 29, 2016. The Chargers would contribute a $200 million stadium loan from the NFL and personal seat license fees to the construction costs, and they would pay $1 per year in rent to the Rams.[67]

text: The NFL then encouraged the Chargers to stay in San Diego by offering the team $100 million if they were to enter into an agreement with the city of San Diego.[64] On January 29, 2016, Spanos, the Chargers' chief executive officer, announced that the team would remain in San Diego for the season.[68] The Chargers continued to seek public approval of a new stadium in San Diego.[67] On February 23, 2016, the Chargers announced that their preferred location for a new stadium was the East Village, in Downtown San Diego. The funds for the stadium would come from the team, the NFL and the City of San Diego. Even though it was a more economical proposal, the Chargers dismissed the City's alternative plan for a stadium in Mission Valley. Between April 21, 2016 and June 10, 2016, the Chargers collected 110,786 signatures in support of a Downtown stadium.

text: On July 9, 2016, the San Diego city clerk received the signatures and on July 18, 2016, the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to put the Downtown Stadium plan to a public ballot. On July 28, 2016, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce announced its support of the Chargers' Downtown stadium proposal, and on October 3, 2016, Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced his support. However, on November 8, 2016, the proposal (Measure C) failed to receive support at public ballot (57 percent for and 43 percent against).

text: In December 2016, the NFL owners approved the terms of a lease agreement between the Chargers and the Rams and the Chargers debt ceiling. On December 23, 2016, the Chargers leased a property of approximately 3 acres in Costa Mesa for offices, practice fields, and training facilities.

text: On January 12, 2017, Spanos announced the Chargers would move to Los Angeles for the 2017 season. The team would play in the StubHub Center in Carson, California, and eventually, share with the Rams the Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park.[69]

text: Records[edit]

text: Seasons[edit]

text:
AFL Champions (1960–1969)
Conference Champions
Division Champions
Wild Card Berth

text:
Season
Team
League
Conference
Division
Regular season
Post-season results
Awards
Head coaches

Finish
Wins
Losses
Ties

San Diego Chargers

1961
1961
AFL

West
1st
12
2
0
Lost AFL Championship (Oilers) 10–3

Sid Gillman

1962
1962
AFL

West
3rd
4
10
0

Earl Faison (ASG MVP)
Sid Gillman

1963
1963
AFL

West
1st
11
3
0
Won AFL Championship (1) (Patriots) 51–10
Lance Alworth (MVP)
Keith Lincoln (ASG MVP)
Sid Gillman

1964
1964
AFL

West
1st
8
5
1
Lost AFL Championship (Bills) 20–7
Keith Lincoln (ASG MVP)
Sid Gillman

1965
1965
AFL

West
1st
9
2
3
Lost AFL Championship (Bills) 23–0
Frank Buncom (ASG MVP)
Sid Gillman

1966
1966
AFL

West
3rd
7
6
1

Sid Gillman

1967
1967
AFL

West
3rd
8
5
1

Speedy Duncan (ASG MVP)
Sid Gillman

1968
1968
AFL

West
3rd
9
5
0

Sid Gillman

1969
1969
AFL

West
3rd
8
6
0

John Hadl (ASG MVP)
Charlie Waller

1970[A]
1970
NFL
AFC
West
3rd
5
6
3

Charlie Waller

1971
1971
NFL
AFC
West
3rd
6
8
0

Harland Svare (2–2)
Sid Gillman (4–6)

1972
1972
NFL
AFC
West
4th
4
9
1

Harland Svare

1973
1973
NFL
AFC
West
4th
2
11
1

Harland Svare (1–6–1)
Ron Waller (1–5)

1974
1974
NFL
AFC
West
3rd
5
9
0

Don Woods (OROY)
Tommy Prothro

1975
1975
NFL
AFC
West
4th
2
12
0

Tommy Prothro

1976
1976
NFL
AFC
West
3rd
6
8
0

Tommy Prothro

1977
1977
NFL
AFC
West
3rd
7
7
0

Tommy Prothro

1978
1978[B]
NFL
AFC
West
3rd
9
7
0

Tommy Prothro (1–3)
Don Coryell (8–4)

1979
1979
NFL
AFC
West
1st
12
4
0
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Oilers) 17–14

Don Coryell

1980
1980
NFL
AFC
West
1st[C]
11
5
0
Won Divisional Playoffs (Bills) 20–14
Lost Conference Championship (Raiders) 34–27

Don Coryell

1981
1981
NFL
AFC
West
1st[D]
10
6
0
Won Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 41–38 (OT)[E]
Lost Conference Championship (Bengals)[F] 27–7
Kellen Winslow (PB MVP)
Don Coryell

1982[G]
1982
NFL
AFC

6th
6
3
0
Won First-Round Playoffs (Steelers) 31–28
Lost Second-Round Playoffs (Dolphins) 34–13
Dan Fouts (OPOY,
PB MVP)
Don Coryell

1983
1983
NFL
AFC
West
5th
6
10
0

Don Coryell

1984
1984
NFL
AFC
West
5th
7
9
0

Don Coryell

1985
1985
NFL
AFC
West
3rd
8
8
0

Don Coryell

1986
1986
NFL
AFC
West
5th
4
12
0

Leslie O'Neal (DROY)
Don Coryell (1–7)
Al Saunders (3–5)

1987[H]
1987
NFL
AFC
West
3rd
8
7
0

Dan Henning

1988
1988
NFL
AFC
West
4th
6
10
0

Dan Henning

1989
1989
NFL
AFC
West
5th
6
10
0

Dan Henning

1990
1990
NFL
AFC
West
4th
6
10
0

Bobby Ross

1991
1991
NFL
AFC
West
5th
4
12
0

Bobby Ross

1992
1992
NFL
AFC
West
1st
11
5
0
Won Wild Card Playoffs (Chiefs) 17–0
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 31–0

Bobby Ross

1993
1993
NFL
AFC
West
4th
8
8
0

Bobby Ross

1994
1994
NFL
AFC
West
1st
11
5
0
Won Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 22–21
Won Conference Championship (Steelers) 17–13
Lost Super Bowl XXIX (49ers) 49–26

Bobby Ross

1995
1995
NFL
AFC
West
2nd
9
7
0
Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 35–20

Bobby Ross

1996
1996
NFL
AFC
West
3rd
8
8
0

Bobby Ross

1997
1997
NFL
AFC
West
5th
4
12
0

Kevin Gilbride

1998
1998
NFL
AFC
West
5th
5
11
0

Kevin Gilbride (2–4)
June Jones (3–7)

1999
1999
NFL
AFC
West
4th
8
8
0

Mike Riley

2000
2000
NFL
AFC
West
5th
1
15
0

Mike Riley

2001
2001
NFL
AFC
West
5th
5
11
0

Mike Riley

2002
2002
NFL
AFC
West
3rd
8
8
0

Marty Schottenheimer

2003
2003
NFL
AFC
West
4th
4
12
0

Marty Schottenheimer

2004
2004
NFL
AFC
West
1st
12
4
0
Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 20–17 (OT)
Marty Schottenheimer (COY)
Drew Brees (CBPOY)
Marty Schottenheimer

2005
2005
NFL
AFC
West
3rd
9
7
0

Shawne Merriman (DROY)
Marty Schottenheimer

2006
2006
NFL
AFC
West
1st
14
2
0
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Patriots) 24–21
LaDainian Tomlinson (MVP, OPOY)
Marty Schottenheimer

2007
2007
NFL
AFC
West
1st
11
5
0
Won Wild Card Playoffs (Titans) 17–6
Won Divisional Playoffs (Colts) 28–24
Lost Conference Championship (Patriots) 21–12

Norv Turner

2008
2008
NFL
AFC
West
1st
8
8
0
Won Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 23–17 (OT)
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 35–24

Norv Turner

2009
2009
NFL
AFC
West
1st
13
3
0
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Jets) 17–14

Norv Turner

2010
2010
NFL
AFC
West
2nd
9
7
0

Norv Turner

2011
2011
NFL
AFC
West
2nd
8
8
0

Norv Turner

2012
2012
NFL
AFC
West
2nd
7
9
0

Norv Turner

2013
2013
NFL
AFC
West
3rd
9
7
0
Won Wild Card Playoffs (Bengals) 27–10
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Broncos) 24–17
Philip Rivers (CBPOY)
Mike McCoy

2014
2014
NFL
AFC
West
3rd
9
7
0

Mike McCoy

2015
2015
NFL
AFC
West
4th
4
12
0

Mike McCoy

2016
2016
NFL
AFC
West
4th
5
11
0

Mike McCoy

Total
416
421
5
(1961–2016, Regular season only)

11
16
0
(1961–2016, Post-season games only)

427
438
5
(1961–2016, Total for all games; 1 AFL Championship, 3 NFL Titles)

text: Footnotes[edit]

text:
A As a result of the AFL–NFL merger, the league was broken into two conferences; the AFL teams moved into the American Football Conference.
B This season included the Holy Roller game.
C The Chargers finished ahead of Oakland in the AFC West based on better net points in division games.
D The Chargers finished ahead of the Denver Broncos based on better divisional record.
E This game is known as The Epic in Miami.
F This game was known as the Freezer Bowl.
G The 1982 season was shortened by a strike, so the league was divided up into two conferences instead of its normal divisional alignment.
H The strike of 1987 reduced the regular season schedule from 16 to 15 games.

text: Retired numbers[edit]

text:
San Diego Chargers retired numbers

No.
Player
Position
Tenure

14
Dan Fouts
QB
1973–1987

19
Lance Alworth
WR
1962–1970

21
LaDainian Tomlinson
RB
2001–2009

55
Junior Seau
LB
1990–2002

text: Chargers members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame[edit]

text:
San Diego Chargers in Pro Football Hall of Fame

No.
Player
Position
Tenure
Inducted

19
Lance Alworth
WR
1962–1970
1978

74
Ron Mix*
OT
1960–1969
1979

19
Johnny Unitas
QB
1973
1979

75
Deacon Jones
DE
1972–1973
1980

—
Sid Gillman*
Head coach
1960–1971
1983

89
John Mackey
TE
1972
1992

14
Dan Fouts
QB
1973–1987
1993

72
Little, LarryLarry Little
OG
1967–1968
1993

80
Kellen Winslow
TE
1979–1987
1995

18
Charlie Joiner
WR
1976–1986
1996

71
Fred Dean
DE
1975–1981
2008

55
Junior Seau
LB
1990–2002
2015

21
LaDanian Tomlinson
RB
2001-2009
2017

text: (*) Indicates Player or Coach began his tenure in Los Angeles

text: Chargers Hall of Fame[edit]

text: The San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame was founded in 1976.[70] The members of the Hall of Fame are honored at the Chargers' "Ring of Honor", founded in 2000.[71][72] Eligible candidates must have been retired for at least four seasons.[73] Selections for admission to the Hall of Fame are made by a five-member committee chaired by Spanos.[73] The Chargers in 2012 allowed fans to vote for the newest member.[74]

text: 50th Anniversary Team[edit]

text: in 2009, the Chargers announced their 50th Anniversary Team. It honored the top players and coaches in the team's history.[75] The team included 53 players and coaches selected from 103 nominees.[76][77][78][78] Online voting accounted for fifty percent (400,000 votes) of the results. The remainder were from members of the Chargers Hall of Fame and five members of the local media. Dan Fouts and LaDainian Tomlinson were the most popular players.[77][79] The resulting team included seven members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and eleven players from the 2009 Chargers' team.[80][81]

text: San Diego Hall of Champions[edit]

text: The San Diego Hall of Champions includes Lance Alworth, Ron Mix, John Hadl, Charlie Joiner, Don Coryell, Sid Gillman, Gary Garrison, Dan Fouts, Ed White, Kellen Winslow, Earl Faison, Rolf Benirschke, Keith Lincoln, Russ Washington, Stan Humphries, Ernie Ladd, and Doug Wilkerson. The Hall of Champions admits athletes from the San Diego area as well as those who have played for San Diego-based professional and collegiate teams.

text: Franchise records[edit]

text: Passing[edit]

text:
Regular Season
Playoffs
Rookie

Statistic
Career
Season
Game
Career
Season
Game
Season
Game

Passes Completed
3,811
Philip Rivers
437
Philip Rivers
2015
38
Philip Rivers
10/25/15 OAK
164
Philip Rivers
63
Stan Humphries
1994
33
Dan Fouts
1/2/82 @MIA
118
Craig Whelihan
1997
25
Ryan Leaf
10/25/98 SEA

Pass Attempts
5,917
Philip Rivers
661
Philip Rivers
2015
58
Mark Herrmann
12/22/85 @KAN
Philip Rivers
10/25/15 OAK
286
Dan Fouts
114
Stan Humphries
1994
53
Dan Fouts
1/2/82 @MIA
260
John Hadl
1962
52
Ryan Leaf
10/25/98 SEA

Passing Yds
45,833
Philip Rivers
4,802
Dan Fouts
1981
503
Philip Rivers
10/18/15 @GB
2,165
Philip Rivers
767
Philip Rivers
2007
433
Dan Fouts
1/2/82 @MIA
1,632
John Hadl
1962
350
Billy Joe Tolliver
12/10/89 @WAS

Passing TD
314
Philip Rivers
34
Philip Rivers
2008
6
Dan Fouts
11/22/81 @OAK
12
Dan Fouts
4
Dan Fouts
1980, 1981, 1982
Stan Humphries
1994
Philip Rivers
2007
3
Dan Fouts
1/2/82 @MIA
1/9/83 @PIT
Philip Rivers
1/13/08 @IND
1/11/09 @PIT
15
John Hadl
1962
3
John Hadl
9/30/62 @OAK
11/25/62 @HOU

Passer Rating
94.7+
Philip Rivers
105.5
Philip Rivers
2013
158.3*
Dan Fouts
9/26/76 STL
85.2#
Philip Rivers
145.3*
Tobin Rote
1963
145.3*
Tobin Rote
1/5/64 BOS
58.3#
Craig Whelihan
1997
122.9*
Rick Neuheisel
10/11/87 @TAM

Passes Intercepted
242
Dan Fouts
26
John Hadl
1972
5
Dan Fouts
9/14/80 @OAK
16
Dan Fouts
5
Dan Fouts
1979, 1982
Stan Humphries
1994
5
Dan Fouts
1/16/83 @MIA
24
John Hadl
1962
5
John Hadl
12/16/62 @DTX
Marty Domres
11/09/69 @KAN

Sacked
361
Philip Rivers
49
Philip Rivers
2012
7
Stan Humphries
09/14/97 CAR
Philip Rivers
10/17/10 @STL
12/28/14 @KAN
20
Philip Rivers
8
Philip Rivers
2008
4
Philip Rivers
1/11/09 @MIA
1/12/14 @DEN
22
Ryan Leaf
6
Rick Neuheisel
10/18/87 @RAI
Ryan Leaf
10/18/98 PHI

Yds/Pass Att
7.75+
Philip Rivers
8.75#
Philip Rivers
2009
15.8*
Dan Fouts
11/3/74 CLE
7.96#
Philip Rivers
11.53*
Tobin Rote
1963
13.9*
Philip Rivers
1/13/08 @IND
6.6#
Jesse Freitas
1974
11.8*
Marty Domres
11/23/69 DEN

Pass Yds/Game
253.22+
Philip Rivers
320.33
Dan Fouts
1982
-
303.57#
Dan Fouts
333*
Dan Fouts
1979
-
219.4
Billy Joe Tolliver
1989
-

text: ∗ = minimum 15 attempts, # = min. 100 attempts, + = min. 500 attempts

text: Rushing[edit]

text:
Regular Season
Playoffs
Rookie

Statistic
Career
Season
Game
Career
Season
Game
Season
Game

Rushing Att
2,880
LaDainian Tomlinson
372
LaDainian Tomlinson
2002
39
LaDainian Tomlinson
10/20/02 @OAK
Marion Butts
12/17/89 @KAN
110
Chuck Muncie
57
Natrone Means
1994
26
LaDainian Tomlinson
1/8/05 NYJ
339
LaDainian Tomlinson
2001
39
Marion Butts
12/17/89 @KAN

Rushing Yds
12,490
LaDainian Tomlinson
1,815
LaDainian Tomlinson
2006
243
LaDainian Tomlinson
12/28/03 OAK
516
Chuck Muncie
241
Natrone Means
1994
206
Keith Lincoln
1/5/64 @BOS
1,236
LaDainian Tomlinson
2001
189
Brad Hubbert
12/24/67 NYJ

Rushing TD
138
LaDainian Tomlinson
28
LaDainian Tomlinson
2006
4
LaDainian Tomlinson
10/14/07 OAK
11/12/06 @CIN
Chuck Muncie
11/29/81 DEN
Clarence Williams
9/16/79 BUF
4
LaDainian Tomlinson
2
Natrone Means
1994
LaDainian Tomlinson
2006
Darren Sproles
2008
2
LaDainian Tomlinson
1/14/07 NWE
Darren Sproles
1/3/09 IND
10
Tim Spencer
1985
LaDainian Tomlinson
2001
3
Natrone Means
12/27/93 MIA
LaDainian Tomlinson
9/30/01 CIN
Ryan Mathews
1/2/11 @DEN

Yds/Rushing Att
4.9+
Paul Lowe
6.45#
Keith Lincoln
1963
12.6*
Brad Hubbert
12/24/67 NYJ
12.0*
Keith Lincoln
7.86*
Paul Lowe
1960
7.93*
Marion Butts
1/2/93 KAN
6.29#
Paul Lowe
1960
12.6*
Brad Hubbert
12/24/67 NYJ

Rushing Yds/Game
88.6+
LaDainian Tomlinson
113.4#
LaDainian Tomlinson
2006
-
86.0*
Chuck Muncie
165*
Paul Lowe
1960
-
96.8#
Don Woods
1974
-

text: Receiving[edit]

text:
Regular Season
Playoffs
Rookie

Statistic
Career
Season
Game
Career
Season
Game
Season
Game

Receptions
897
Antonio Gates
100
LaDainian Tomlinson
2003
15
Kellen Winslow
10/7/84 @GNB
Keenan Allen
9/13/15 DET
42
Antonio Gates
18
Vincent Jackson
2007
13
Kellen Winslow
1/2/82 @MIA
71
Keenan Allen
2013
13
LaDainian Tomlinson
11/25/01 ARI

Receiving Yds
11,192
Antonio Gates
1602
Lance Alworth
1965
260
Wes Chandler
12/20/82 CIN
539
Charlie Joiner
300
Vincent Jackson
2007
166
Kellen Winslow
1/2/82 @MIA
1,046
Keenan Allen
2013
155
John Jefferson
12/4/78 CHI

Receiving TD
111
Antonio Gates
14
Lance Alworth
1965
Tony Martin
1996
5
Kellen Winslow
11/22/81 @OAK
4
Charlie Joiner
Kellen Winslow
3
Charlie Joiner
1980
2
Charlie Joiner
1/11/81 OAK
James Brooks
1/2/82 @MIA
Kellen Winslow
1/9/83 @PIT
Keenan Allen
1/12/14 @DEN
13
John Jefferson
1978
2
(8 players)

Yds/Reception
19.44+
Lance Alworth
28.6#
Bobby Duckworth
1984
46.25*
Lance Alworth
11/26/64 BUF
17.97#
Charlie Joiner
31.5*
Ron Smith
1980
23.67*
Keenan Allen
1/12/14 @DEN
18.62#
Jerry Robinson
1962
35.5*
Harrison Davis
11/3/74 CLE

Receiving Yds/Game
86.3+
Lance Alworth
129#
Wes Chandler
1982
-
86.75#
Wes Chandler
133*
Ronnie Harmon
1995
-
71.5
John Jefferson
1978
-

text: ∗ = minimum 4 receptions, # = min. 20 receptions, + = min. 200 receptions

text: Special teams, defense, other[edit]

text:
Regular Season
Playoffs

Statistic
Career
Season
Game
Career
Season
Game

Rushing/Receiving TD
153
LaDainian Tomlinson
31
LaDainian Tomlinson
2006
5
Kellen Winslow
11/22/81 @OAK
4
Charlie Joiner
Darren Sproles
LaDainian Tomlinson
Kellen Winslow
3
Charlie Joiner
1980
Darren Sproles
2008
2
(9 players)

Yds From Scrimmage
16,445
LaDainian Tomlinson
2,370
LaDainian Tomlinson
2003
271
LaDainian Tomlinson
12/1/02 DEN
644
Chuck Muncie
329
Keith Lincoln
1963
329
Keith Lincoln
1/5/64 BOS

Returning

Kick Returns
258
Darren Sproles
67
Ronney Jenkins
2000
8
Andre Coleman
10/27/96 @SEA
Ronney Jenkins
10/1/00 @STL
12/3/00 SFO
Darren Sproles
10/26/08 @NOR
21
Darren Sproles
13
Andre Coleman
1994
8
Andre Coleman
1/29/95 N SFO

Kick Return Yds
6,469
Darren Sproles
1,541
Ronney Jenkins
2001
250
Ronney Jenkins
11/18/01 @OAK
537
Darren Sproles
350
Andre Coleman
1994
244
Andre Coleman
1/29/95 N SFO

Kick Return TD
4
Andre Coleman
2
Andre Coleman
1994, 1995
Ronney Jenkins
2001
1
(8 games)
1
Andre Coleman
1
Andre Coleman
1994
1
Andre Coleman
1/29/95 N SFO

Yds/Kick Return
27.56*
Richard Goodman
27.95*
Speedy Duncan
1969
46.67+
Darren Sproles
12/30/07 @OAK
41.8#
Speedy Duncan
30.0#
Darren Sproles
2008
49.0+
Speedy Duncan
12/26/64 @BUF

Punt Returns
212
Mike Fuller
46
Mike Fuller
1979
8
Mike Fuller
9/19/76 @TAM
Phil McConkey
11/26/89 @IND
Latario Rachal
10/11/98 @OAK
Leon Johnson
12/7/03 @DET
12
Darren Sproles
6
Darrien Gordon
1994
5
Eric Parker
1/14/07 NWE

Punt Return Yds
2,388
Mike Fuller
537
Darrien Gordon
1996
168
Eric Metcalf
11/2/97 @CIN
107
Darren Sproles
76
Darren Sproles
2008
72
Darren Sproles
1/3/09 IND

Punt Return TD
3
Eric Metcalf
Darrien Gordon
3
Eric Metcalf
1997
2
Eric Metcalf
11/2/97 @CIN
1
Wes Chandler
1
Wes Chandler
1981
1
Wes Chandler
1/2/82 @MIA

Yds/Punt Return
13.7*
Keith Lincoln
21.43#
Keith Lincoln
1961
42.0+
Eric Metcalf
11/2/97 @CIN
12.38#
Mike Fuller
15.2#
Darren Sproles
2008
24.0+
Darren Sproles
1/3/09 IND

Kick & Punt Return Yds
7,404
Darren Sproles
1,737
Andre Coleman
1995
282
Speedy Duncan
11/24/68 NYJ
644
Darren Sproles
364
Andre Coleman
1994
244
Andre Coleman
1/29/95 N SFO

All-Purpose Yds
16,445
LaDainian Tomlinson
2,535
Lionel James
1985
345
Lionel James
11/10/85 RAI
1,059
Darren Sproles
602
Darren Sproles
2008
329
Keith Lincoln
1/5/64 BOS

Kicking

Regular Season
Playoffs

Statistic
Career
Season
Game
Career
Season
Game

Extra Pts
349
Nate Kaeding
58
Nate Kaeding
2006
6
(6 games)
18
Nate Kaeding
6
George Blair
1963
Rolf Benirschke
1981
Nate Kaeding
2007
6
George Blair
1/5/64 BOS

Field Goals
261
John Carney
34
Nick Novak
2013
6
Greg Davis
10/5/97 @OAK
John Carney
9/5/93 SEA
9/19/93 HOU
8
Nate Kaeding
5
Nate Kaeding
2007
4
Nate Kaeding
1/20/08 @NWE

Punts
771
Darren Bennett
95
Darren Bennett
1998
11
(5 games)
52
Mike Scifres
13
John Kidd
1992
7
John Kidd
1/10/93 @MIA
Mike Scifres
1/14/07 NWE

Punt Yds
34,152
Mike Scifres
4,248
Darren Bennett
2000
522
Darren Bennett
10/11/98 @OAK
2,330
Mike Scifres
599
Mike Scifres
2008
324
John Kidd
1/10/93 @MIA

Defensive Records

Regular Season
Playoffs

Statistic
Career
Season
Game
Career
Season
Game

Interceptions
42
Gill Byrd
10
Antonio Cromartie
2007
3
(11 games)
3
Glen Edwards
Drayton Florence
2
(6 seasons)

Interception return yards
546
Gill Byrd
349
Charlie McNeil
1961
177
Charlie McNeil
9/24/61 HOU
62
Glen Edwards
45
Bud Whitehead
1961

Interception return TDs
5
Dick Harris
Kenny Graham
3
Dick Harris
1961
1
(108 games)
0

Sacks (since 1982)
105.5
Leslie O'Neal
17
Leslie O'Neal
1992
Shawne Merriman
2006
5
Leslie O'Neal
11/16/86 DAL
4
Gary Johnson
2.5
Fred Dean
1980
Leroy Jones
1980
Burt Grossman
1992
2.5
Burt Grossman
1/2/93 KAN

text: ∗ = minimum 20; # = min. 5; + = min. 3

text: Exceptional Performances[edit]

text:
Statistic
Career
Season
Playoff Games
Rookie Games

Games with 300+ passing yards
51
Dan Fouts
Philip Rivers
8
Dan Fouts
1980
Philip Rivers
2015
5
Dan Fouts
2
Billy Joe Tolliver

Games with 100+ rushing yards
46
LaDainian Tomlinson
10
LaDainian Tomlinson
2006
2
Chuck Muncie
7
Don Woods

Games with 100+ receiving yards
41
Lance Alworth
9
Lance Alworth
1965
2
Wes Chandler
Vincent Jackson
Charlie Joiner
Kellen Winslow
5
Keenan Allen

Games with 1+ TD scored
93
LaDainian Tomlinson
14
LaDainian Tomlinson
2004
3
Vincent Jackson
Charlie Joiner
Chuck Muncie
Darren Sproles
LaDainian Tomlinson
Kellen Winslow
9
Paul Lowe
1960

Games with 2+ TD scored
42
LaDainian Tomlinson
10
LaDainian Tomlinson
2006
1
(7 players)
5
John Jefferson

Games with 3+ TD scored
13
LaDainian Tomlinson
6
LaDainian Tomlinson
2006
-
1
Ryan Mathews
Natrone Means
Dickie Post
LaDainian Tomlinson

text: Other career records[edit]

text:
Games Played
204 (Antonio Gates)

Long pass
99 (Tony Martin from Stan Humphries, 9/18/94 @SEA)

Long rush
87 (Paul Lowe, 9/10/61 @DTX)

Long punt return
95 (Speedy Duncan, 11/24/68 NYJ)

Long kickoff return
105 (Richard Goodman, 1/1/12 @OAK)

Long interception return
103 (Vencie Glenn, 11/29/87 DEN)

Long field goal return
109 (Antonio Cromartie, 11/4/07 @MIN)

Long FG
62 (Ray Wersching, 9/22/74 @CIN)

Seasons with 4000+ pass yards
8 (Philip Rivers)

Seasons with 1000+ rush yards
8 (LaDainian Tomlinson)

Seasons with 1000+ receiving yards
7 (Lance Alworth)

text: Team records[edit]

text:
Most points scored
58, 12/22/63 DEN

Most points allowed
57, 10/1/00 @STL

Largest margin of victory
46, 11/2/63 @NYJ

Largest margin of defeat
43, 12/13/64 KAN

Most yards allowed
614, 10/1/00 @STL

Fewest yards allowed
58, 10/22/61 @OAK

Shutouts
17


document_title: 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards

question_text: who is performing at radio disney awards 2018

root

text: 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards

text: Performances[edit]

text:
Performer(s)[2]

Song[3]

Meghan Trainor

"Let You Be Right""No Excuses"

Echosmith

"Over My Head""Cool Kids"

Kelly Clarkson

"Miss Independent""Since U Been Gone""My Life Would Suck Without You""Catch My Breath""Stronger""Heat"

Marshmello

"Alone""Friends""Silence"

Maddie Poppe

"Going, Going, Gone"

Charlie Puth

"The Way I Am"

Carrie Underwood feat. Ludacris

"The Champion"

tag: table

text: Winners and nominees[edit]

text:
The nominees were announced via a nomination live stream on April 27, 2018.[4][5]
Voting began the day nominations released.[5]

tag: ul

text:
Best Artist

Breakout Artist of the Year

Shawn Mendes
Selena Gomez
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
Meghan Trainor

Camila Cabello
Halsey
Dua Lipa
Marshmello
Julia Michaels
Charlie Puth

Best Group

Song of the Year

BTS
Clean Bandit
Echosmith
Imagine Dragons
Maroon 5

"Havana" - Camila Cabello
"Look What You Made Me Do" - Taylor Swift
"The Middle" - Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey
"There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" - Shawn Mendes
"Wolves" - Selena Gomez and Marshmello

Favorite Social Music Artist

Best Dance Track

Max & Harvey
Alex Aiono
Chloe x Halle
HRVY
Carson Lueders
Rudy Mancuso

"Mic Drop (Steve Aoki Remix)" - BTS
"Friends" - Justin Bieber and BloodPop
"Let Me Go" - Hailee Steinfeld and Alesso featuring Florida Georgia Line and Andrew Watt
"The Middle" - Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey
"Silence - Marshmello featuring Khalid

Best New Artist

Best Collaboration

Bebe Rexha
Cheat Codes
Hey Violet
Lauv
Why Don't We

"It Ain't Me" - Selena Gomez and Kygo
"Meant to Be" - Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
"No Promises" - Cheat Codes featuring Demi Lovato
"Mi Gente" - J Balvin and Willy William
"The Middle" - Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey

Best Crush Song

Fiercest Fans

"Perfect" - Ed Sheeran
"I Like Me Better" - Lauv
"Why" - Sabrina Carpenter
"Ins and Outs" - Sofia Carson
"Legends" - Kelsea Ballerini

BTS Army (BTS)
Mellogang (Marshmello)
Megatronz (Meghan Trainor)
Mendes Army (Shawn Mendes)
Selenators (Selena Gomez)

Best Song That Makes You Smile

Best Song to Lip Sync To

"DNA" - BTS
"I Miss Those Days" - Bleachers
"No Excuses" - Meghan Trainor
"One Foot" - Walk the Moon
"So Much More Than This" - Grace VanderWaal

"New Rules" - Dua Lipa
"Look What You Made Me Do - Taylor Swift
"Sorry Not Sorry" - Demi Lovato
"These Girls" - Why Don't We
"This Is Me" - Keala Settle

Country Favorite Artist

Country Best New Artist

Kelsea Ballerini
Luke Bryan
Florida Georgia Line
Maren Morris
Thomas Rhett

Carly Pearce
Jordan Davis
Devin Dawson
Jillian Jacqueline
Lanco

Country Favorite Song

Hero Award

"Meant to Be" - Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
"Legends" - Kelsea Ballerini
"Take Back Home Girl - Chris Lane and Tori Kelly
"Unforgettable" - Thomas Rhett
"You Broke Up with Me - Walker Hayes

Carrie Underwood

Icon Award

Kelly Clarkson[6]

Impact Award

Janet Jackson[2]


document_title: Tanks in World War I

question_text: when was the tank first used in ww1

question_tokens: when was the tank first used in ww1

text: Tanks in World War I

text: Conceptual roots of the tank[edit]

text: The conceptual roots of the tank go back to ancient times, with siege engines which were able to provide protection for troops moving up against stone walls or other fortifications. With the coming of the Industrial Revolution and the demonstrable power of steam, James Cowan presented a proposal for a Steam Powered Land Ram in 1855, towards the end of the Crimean War. Looking like a helmet on 'footed' Boydell wheels, early forerunners of the Pedrail wheel, it was essentially an armoured steam tractor equipped with cannon and rotating scythes sprouting from the sides. Lord Palmerston is said to have dismissed it as 'barbaric'.

tag: p

text: From 1904 to 1909, David Roberts, the engineer and managing director of Hornsby & Sons of Grantham, built a series of tractors using his patented 'chain-track' which were put through their paces by the British Army, a (small) section of which wanted to evaluate artillery tractors. At one point in 1908, Major William E. Donohue of the Mechanical Transport Committee remarked to Roberts that he should design a new machine with armour, capable of carrying its own gun. But, disheartened by years of ultimately fruitless tinkering for the Army, Roberts did not take up the idea. In later years he expressed regret at not having pursued it.[5]

text: An engineer in the Austro-Hungarian Army, Lieutenant Gunther Burstyn, inspired by Holt tractors, designed a tracked armoured vehicle in 1911 carrying a light gun in a rotating turret; equipped also with hinged 'arms', two in front and two at the rear, carrying wheels on the ends to assist with obstacles and trenches, it was a very forward-looking design, if rather small. The Austrian government said it would be interested in evaluating it if Burstyn could secure commercial backing to produce a prototype. Lacking the requisite contacts, he let it drop. An approach to the German government was similarly fruitless.

text: In 1912, A South Australian, Lancelot De Mole, submitted a proposal to the British War Office for a "chain-rail vehicle which could be easily steered and carry heavy loads over rough ground and trenches". De Mole made several more proposals to the War Office after 1912, in 1914 and 1916, with a culminating proposal in late 1917, accompanied by a huge one-eighth scale model, yet all fell on substantially deaf ears. De Mole's proposal already had the climbing face, so typical of the later World War I British tanks, but it is unknown whether there was some connection. Inquiries from the government of Australia, after the war, yielded polite responses that Mr. De Mole's ideas had unfortunately been too advanced for the time to be properly recognised at their just value. The Commission on Awards to Inventors in 1919, which adjudicated all the competing claims to the development of the tank, recognised the brilliance of De Mole's design, even considering that it was superior to the machines actually developed, but due to its narrow remit, could only make a payment of £987 to De Mole to cover his expenses. De Mole noted in 1919 that he was urged by friends before the war to approach the Germans with his design, but declined to do so for patriotic reasons.

text: Before World War I, motorized vehicles were still relatively uncommon, and their use on the battlefield was initially limited, especially of heavier vehicles. Armoured cars soon became more commonplace with most belligerents, especially in more open terrain. On August 23, 1914, the French Colonel Jean Baptiste Eugène Estienne, later a major proponent of tanks, declared: Messieurs, la victoire appartiendra dans cette guerre à celui des deux belligérants qui parviendra le premier à placer un canon de 75 sur une voiture capable de se mouvoir en tout terrain ("Gentlemen, the victory will belong, in this war, to the one of the two belligerents who will be the first to succeed in mounting a 75 mm gun on a vehicle capable of moving in all types of terrain").

text: Armored cars did indeed prove useful in open land such as in deserts, but were not very good at crossing obstacles (e.g. trenches, barriers) or in more challenging terrain. The other issue was that it was very hard to add much protection or armament.

text: The main limitation was the wheels, which gave a high ground pressure for the vehicle's weight. This could be solved by adding more wheels, but unless they also were driven, the effect was to reduce traction on the powered wheels. Driving extra wheels meant more drive train weight, in turn requiring a larger and heavier engine to maintain performance. Even worse, none of this extra weight was put into an improvement of armor or armament carried, and the vehicles were still incapable of crossing very rough terrain.

text: The adoption of caterpillar tracks offered a new solution to the problem. The tracks spread the weight of the vehicles over a much greater area, which was all used for traction to move the vehicle. The limitation on armor and firepower was no longer ground pressure but the power and weight of the power-plant.

text: The remaining issue was how to utilise and configure a vehicle. Major Ernest Dunlop Swinton RE, was the official British war correspondent serving in France in 1914. He recounts in his book Eyewitness how the idea of using caterpillar tracks to drive an armoured fighting vehicle came to him on October 19, 1914, while he was driving through northern France. In July 1914 he had received a letter from a friend, Hugh Marriott, a mining engineer, drawing his attention to a Holt caterpillar tractor that Marriott had seen in Belgium. Marriott thought it might be useful for transport over difficult ground, and Swinton had passed the information on to the appropriate departments. Now Swinton suggested the idea of an armoured tracked vehicle to the military authorities, by sending a proposal to Lieutenant-Colonel Maurice Hankey. Hankey in turn tried to interest Lord Kitchener in the idea; when this failed he sent a memorandum in December to the Committee of Imperial Defence, of which he was himself the secretary; Winston Churchill the First Lord of the Admiralty was one of the members of the committee. Hankey proposed to build a gigantic steel roller, pushed by tracked tractors, to shield the advancing infantry. Churchill in turn wrote a note on January 5 to the Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, in which he warned that the Germans might any moment introduce a comparable system. A worried Asquith now ordered Kitchener to form a committee, headed by General Scott-Moncrieff, to study the feasibility of Swinton's idea; however, after trials with a Holt 75 h.p. machine the committee concluded in February 1915 that the idea was impractical.

text: The Landships Committee[edit]

text: Winston Churchill however decided that if the Army wouldn't take up the idea, the Navy should proceed independently, even if it were to exceed the limits of his authority. He created the Landships Committee in February 1915, initially to investigate designs for a massive troop transporter. As a truer picture of front-line conditions was developed the aims of the investigation changed. A requirement was formulated for an armoured vehicle capable of 4 mph (6 km/h), climbing a 5 feet (1.5 m) high parapet, crossing an 8 feet (2.4 m) wide gap, and armed with machine guns and a light artillery piece. A similar proposal was working its way through the Army GHQ in France, and in June the Landships Committee was made a joint service venture between the War Office and the Admiralty. The Naval involvement in Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) design had originally come about through the Royal Naval Air Service Armoured Car Division, the only British unit fielding AFVs in 1914; surprisingly, until the end of the war most experimentation on heavy land vehicles was conducted by Royal Naval Air Service Squadron 20.

text: At first, protecting heavy gun tractors with armour appeared the most promising line of development. Alternative early 'big wheel' designs on the lines of the Russian tsar tank of 1915 were soon understood to be impractical. However, adapting the existing Holt Company caterpillar designs — the only robust tracked tractors available in 1915 — into a fighting machine, as France and Germany did, was decided against. While armour and weapon systems were easy to acquire, other existing caterpillar and suspension units were too weak, existing engines were underpowered for the vehicles that the designers had in mind, and trench-crossing ability was poor because of the shortness of the wheelbase. The Killen-Strait tractor with three tracks was used for the first experiments in June but was much too small to be developed further. The large Pedrail monotrack vehicle proved to be unsuitable. Trials to couple two American Bullock tractors failed. There also were considerable differences of opinion between the several committee members. Col R.E.B. Crompton, a veteran military engineer and electrical pioneer, drafted numerous designs with Lucien Legros for armoured troop carrying vehicles and gun-armed vehicles, to have used either Bullock tracks or variants of the Pedrail. At the same time, Lt Robert Macfie, of the RNAS, and Albert Nesfield, an Ealing-based engineer, devised a number of armoured tracked vehicles, which incorporated an angled front 'climbing face' to the tracks. The two men fell out bitterly as their plans came to nought; Macfie in particular pursued a vendetta against the other members of the Landships Committee after the war.

text: To resolve the threatened dissipation of effort, it was ordered in late July that a contract was to be placed with William Foster & Co. Ltd, a company having done some prewar design work on heavy tractors and known to Churchill from an earlier experiment with a trench-crossing supply vehicle, to produce a proof-of-concept vehicle with two tracks, based on a lengthened Bullock tractor chassis. Construction work began three weeks later.

text: Fosters of Lincoln built the 14 ton "Little Willie", which first ran on 8 September. Powered by a 105 hp (78 kW) Daimler engine, the 10-foot-high (3.0 m) armoured box was initially fitted with a low Bullock caterpillar. A rotating top turret was planned with a 40 mm gun but abandoned due to weight problems, leaving the final vehicle unarmed and little more than a test-bed for the difficult track system. Difficulties with the commercial tracks supplied led to Tritton designing a completely new track system different from, and vastly more robust than, any other system then in use. The next design by Lieutenant Walter Gordon Wilson RNAS, a pre-war motor engineer, added a larger track frame to the hull of "Little Willie". In order to achieve the demanded gap clearance a rhomboidal shape was chosen—stretching the form to improve the track footprint and climbing capacity. To keep a low centre of gravity the rotating turret design was dropped in favour of sponsons on the sides of the hull fitted with naval 6-pounder (57 mm) guns. A final specification was agreed on in late September for trials in early 1916, and the resulting 30 ton "Big Willie" (later called "Mother") together with "Little Willie" underwent trials at Hatfield Park on 29 January and 2 February. Attendees at the second trial included Lord Kitchener, Lloyd George, Reginald McKenna and other political luminaries. On 12 February an initial order for 100 "Mother" type vehicles was made, later expanded to 150.

text: Although landship was a natural term coming from an Admiralty committee, it was considered too descriptive and could give away British intentions. The committee therefore looked for an appropriate code term for the vehicles. Factory workers assembling the vehicles had been told they were producing "mobile water tanks" for desert warfare in Mesopotamia. Water Container was therefore considered but rejected because the committee would inevitably be known as the WC Committee (WC meaning water closet was a common British term for a toilet). The term tank, as in water tank, was in December 1915 finally accepted as its official designation. From then on, the term "tank" was established among British and also German soldiers. While in German Tank specifically refers to the World War I type (as opposed to modern Panzer), in English, Russian and other languages the name even for contemporary armoured vehicles is still based on the word tank.

text: It is sometimes mistakenly stated that, after completion, the tanks were shipped to France in large wooden crates. For secrecy and in order to not arouse any curiosity, the crates and the tanks themselves were then each labelled with a destination in Russian, "With Care to Petrograd". In fact the tanks were never shipped in crates: the inscription in Russian was applied on the hull for their transport from the factory to the first training centre at Thetford.

text: The first fifty had been delivered to France on 30 August. They were 'male' or 'female', depending upon whether their armament comprised two 6-pounder cannon and three Hotchkiss machine guns or four Vickers machine guns and one Hotchkiss. It had a crew of eight, four of whom were needed to handle the steering and drive gears. The tanks were capable of, at best, 6 km/h (4 mph), matching the speed of marching infantry with whom they were to be integrated to aid in the destruction of enemy machine guns. In practice, their speed on broken ground could be as little as 1 mph.

text: After the war the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors decided that the principal inventors of the Tank were Sir William Tritton, managing director of Fosters, and Major Walter Gordon Wilson.

text: First deployments[edit]

text: The first use of tanks on the battlefield was the use of British Mark I tanks at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (part of the Battle of the Somme) on 15 September 1916, with mixed results; many broke down, but nearly a third succeeded in breaking through. Of the forty-nine tanks shipped to the Somme, only thirty-two were able to begin the first attack in which they were used and only nine made it across "no man's land" to the German lines. The tanks had been rushed into combat before the design was mature enough (against Churchill's and Ernest Swinton's wishes)[6] and the number was small but their use gave important feedback on how to design newer tanks, the soundness of the concept, and their potential to affect the course of the war. On the other hand, the French Army was critical of the British employment of small numbers of tanks at this battle. They felt the British had sacrificed the secrecy of the weapon while employing it in numbers too small to be decisive. Considering that the British attack was part of an Anglo-French offensive while the Russians were also attacking at the same time, Haig felt justified in making a maximum effort, regardless of the limitations of the tank force.

text: The Mark Is were capable of performing on the real battlefield of World War I, one of the most difficult battlefield terrains ever. They did have reliability problems, but when they were working they could cross trenches or craters of 9 feet (2.7 m) and drive right through barbed wire. It was still common for them to get stuck, especially in larger bomb craters, but overall the rhomboid shape allowed for extreme terrain mobility.

text: Most World War I tanks could travel only at about a walking pace at best. Their steel armour could stop small arms fire and fragments from high-explosive artillery shells. However they were vulnerable to a direct hit from artillery and mortar shells. The environment inside was extremely unpleasant; as ventilation was inadequate the atmosphere was heavy with poisonous carbon monoxide from the engine and firing the weapons, fuel and oil vapours from the engine and cordite fumes from the weapons. Temperatures inside could reach 50°C (122°F). Entire crews lost consciousness inside the tanks, or collapsed when again exposed to fresh air.[7]

text: To counter the danger of bullet splash or fragments knocked off the inside of the hull, the crew wore helmets with goggles and chainmail masks. Gas masks were also standard issue, as they were to all soldiers at this point in the war due to the use of chemical warfare. The side armour of 8 mm initially made them largely immune to small arms fire, but could be penetrated by the recently developed armour-piercing K bullets. There was also the danger of being overrun by infantry and attacked with grenades. The next generation had thicker armour, making them nearly immune to the K bullets. In response, the Germans developed a larger purpose-made anti-tank rifle, and also a Geballte Ladung ("Bunched Charge")—several regular stick grenades bundled together for a much bigger explosion.

text: Engine power was a primary limitation on the tanks; the roughly one hundred horsepower engines gave a power-to-weight ratio of 3.3 hp/ton (2.5 kW/ton). By the end of the 20th century, power-to-weight ratios exceeded 20 hp/ton (15 kW/ton).

text: Many feel that because the British Commander Field Marshal Douglas Haig was himself a horse cavalryman, his command failed to appreciate the value of tanks. In fact, horse cavalry doctrine in World War I was to "follow up a breakthrough with harassing attacks in the rear", but there were no breakthroughs on the Western Front until the tanks came along. Despite these supposed views of Haig, he made an order for 1,000 tanks shortly after the failure at the Somme and always remained firmly in favour of further production.

text: In 1919, Major General Sir Louis Jackson said: "The tank was a freak. The circumstances which called it into existence were exceptional and not likely to recur. If they do, they can be dealt with by other means."[8]

text: French developments[edit]

text: France at the same time developed its own tracked AFVs, but the situation there was very different. In Britain a single committee had coordinated design, and had to overcome the initial resistance of the Army, while the major industries remained passive. Almost all production effort was thus concentrated into the Mark I and its direct successors, all very similar in shape. In France, on the other hand, there were multiple and conflicting lines of development which were badly integrated, resulting in three major and quite disparate production types. A major arms producer, Schneider, took the lead in January 1915 and tried to build a first armoured vehicle based on the Baby Holt tractor but initially the development process was slow until in July they received political, even presidential, support by combining their project with that of a mechanical wire cutter devised by engineer and politician Jean-Louis Bréton. In December 1915, the influential Colonel Estienne made the Supreme Command very enthusiastic about the idea of creating an armoured force based on these vehicles; strong Army support for tanks was a constant during the decades that followed. Already in January and February 1916 quite substantial orders were made, at that moment with a total number of 800 much larger than the British ones.

text: Army enthusiasm and haste had its immediate drawbacks however. As a result of the involvement of inexperienced army officers ordered to devise a new tank based on the larger 75 hp Holt chassis in a very short period of time, the first French tanks were poorly designed with respect to the need to cross trenches and did not take the sponson-mounting route of the British tanks. The first, the Char Schneider CA equipped with a short 75 mm howitzer, had poor mobility due to a short track length combined with a hull that overhung front and rear. It was unreliable as well; a maximum of only about 130 of the 400 built were ever operational at the same time. Then industrial rivalry began to play a detrimental role: it created the heavy Char St Chamond, a parallel development not ordered by the Army but approved by government through industrial lobby, which mounted much more impressive weaponry — its 75 mm was the most powerful gun fielded by any operational tank up till 1941 — but also combined many of the Schneider CA's faults with an even larger overhanging body. Its innovative petro-electrical transmission, while allowing for easy steering, was insufficiently developed and led to a large number of breakdowns.

text: But industrial initiative also led to swift advances. The car industry, already used to vehicle mass production and having much more experience in vehicle layout, in 1916 designed the first practical light tanks, a class largely neglected by the British. It was Renault's excellent small tank design, the FT, incorporating a proper climbing face for the tracks, that was the first tank to incorporate a top-mounted turret with a full 360° traverse capability. In fact the FT was in many respects the first truly 'modern' tank having a layout that has been followed by almost all designs ever since: driver at the front; main armament in a fully rotating turret on top; engine at the rear. Previous models had been "box tanks", with a single crowded space combining the role of engine room, fighting compartment, ammunition stock and driver's cabin. (A very similar Peugeot prototype, with a fixed casemate mounting a short 75mm cannon, was trialled in 1918 but the idea was not pursued). The FT had the largest production run of any tank of the war, with over 3700 built, more numerous than all British tanks combined. That this would happen was at first far from certain; some in the French army lobbied for the alternative mass production of super-heavy tanks. Much design effort was put in this line of development resulting in the gigantic Char 2C, the most complex and technologically advanced tank of its day. Its very complexity ensured it being produced too late to participate in World War I and in the very small number of just ten, but it was the first tank with a three-man turret; the heaviest to enter service until late in World War II and still the largest ever operational.

text: French production at first lagged behind the British. After August 1916 however, British tank manufacture was temporarily halted to wait for better designs, allowing the French to overtake their allies in numbers. When the French used tanks for the first time on 16 April 1917, during the Nivelle Offensive, they had four times more tanks available. But that did not last long as the offensive was a major failure; the Schneiders were badly deployed and suffered 50% losses from German long-range artillery. The Saint-Chamond tanks, first deployed on 5 May, proved to be so badly designed that they were unable to cross the first line of German trenches.

text: Battle of Cambrai[edit]

text: The first battle in which tanks made a great impact was the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. British Colonel J.F.C. Fuller, chief of staff of the Tank Corps, was responsible for the tanks' role in the battle. They made an unprecedented breakthrough but, as ever on the Western front, the opportunity was not exploited. Ironically, it was the soon-to-be-supplanted horse cavalry that had been assigned the task of following up the motorised tank attack.

text: Tanks became more effective as the lesson of the early tanks was absorbed. The British produced the Mark IV in 1917. Similar to the early Marks in appearance, its construction was considered to produce a more reliable machine, the long-barrelled naval guns were shortened (the barrels of the earlier, longer guns were prone to digging in the mud when negotiating obstacles) and armour was increased just enough to defeat the standard German armour-piercing bullet.

text: The continued need for four men to drive the tank was solved with the Mark V which used Wilson's epicyclic gearing in 1918. Also in 1918 the French produced the Renault FT, the result of a co-operation between Estienne and Louis Renault. As mentioned before, it had the innovative turret position, and was operated by two men. At just 8 tons it was half the weight of the Medium A Whippet but the version with the cannon had more firepower. It was conceived for mass production, and the FT became the most produced tank of World War I by a wide margin, with over 3,000 delivered to the French Army. Large numbers were used by the Americans and several were also lent to the British.

text: In July 1918, the French used 480 tanks (mostly FTs) at the Battle of Soissons, and there were even larger assaults planned for 1919. The Entente had hoped to commit over 30,000 tanks to battle in that year.

text: Whippet[edit]

text: Finally, in a preview of later developments, the British developed the Whippet. This tank was specifically designed to exploit breaches in the enemy front with its relatively higher speed (around 8mph vs 3-4mph for the British heavy tanks). The Whippet was faster than most other tanks, although it carried only machine gun armament, meaning it was not suited to combat with armoured vehicles but instead with infantry. Postwar tank designs reflected this trend towards greater tactical mobility.[citation needed]

text: Villers-Bretonneux: Tank against tank[edit]

text: The German General Staff did not have enthusiasm for the tanks, but allowed the development of anti-tank weapons. Regardless, development of a German tank was under way. The only project to be produced and fielded was the A7V, although only twenty were built. The majority of the fifty or so tanks fielded by Germany were captured British vehicles. A7Vs were captured by the Allies, but they were not used, and most ended up being scrapped.

text: The first tank-versus-tank battles took place 24 April 1918. It was an unexpected engagement between three German A7Vs and three British Mk. IVs at Villers-Bretonneux.

text: Fuller's Plan 1919, involving massive use of tanks for an offensive, was never used because the blockade of Germany and the entry of the US brought an end to the war.