Technology/weapons used in trench warfare
- Machine guns
This was a really dangerous and frightening weapon it would wipe out any intruders that would invaded there territory. This weapon was usually placed at one spot since it was not mobile. It would be placed at a 90 degree angle so it could see everyone who was or was about to attack the trench. Machine guns would fire up to 600 bullets in one minutes that was equivalent to 250 men with rifles. It would take about three people to operate this gun. 90% of casualties were caused by this gun.
This was a really dangerous and frightening weapon it would wipe out any intruders that would invaded there territory. This weapon was usually placed at one spot since it was not mobile. It would be placed at a 90 degree angle so it could see everyone who was or was about to attack the trench. Machine guns would fire up to 600 bullets in one minutes that was equivalent to 250 men with rifles. It would take about three people to operate this gun. 90% of casualties were caused by this gun.
- Artillery
This was the upgraded versions of cannons. Artillery guns were to have a huge impact in World War One. Along with machine guns and poison gas, artillery guns played a prominent part in the trenches especially at battles such as the Somme and Verdun. For years Britain had been using artillery and firing 170 million shells at one time. But after Germany had a plan to make a better and much more improved artillery. They were making something much bigger and more powerful. It was called big Bertha. Produced by the German firm of Krupp the Big Bertha was a 42cm howitzer, model L/14 designed to demolish the allies’ trench and to kill the soldiers. The shells were upgraded as well. Instead of ordinary shells, new High-explosive shells were developed.
This was the upgraded versions of cannons. Artillery guns were to have a huge impact in World War One. Along with machine guns and poison gas, artillery guns played a prominent part in the trenches especially at battles such as the Somme and Verdun. For years Britain had been using artillery and firing 170 million shells at one time. But after Germany had a plan to make a better and much more improved artillery. They were making something much bigger and more powerful. It was called big Bertha. Produced by the German firm of Krupp the Big Bertha was a 42cm howitzer, model L/14 designed to demolish the allies’ trench and to kill the soldiers. The shells were upgraded as well. Instead of ordinary shells, new High-explosive shells were developed.
- Flamethrower
The flame thrower came in to play and the basic idea of this was to launch burning fuel at opponents, and burn them to death, it was a harsh way to kill them. This was a great weapon for close battle, since no one could come close to you even if they did they would burn and die. But this weapon wasn't good for far distances like the snipers were, you could not get the fire to reach a certain distance, this made it really easy for the allies to kill them from far.
The flame thrower came in to play and the basic idea of this was to launch burning fuel at opponents, and burn them to death, it was a harsh way to kill them. This was a great weapon for close battle, since no one could come close to you even if they did they would burn and die. But this weapon wasn't good for far distances like the snipers were, you could not get the fire to reach a certain distance, this made it really easy for the allies to kill them from far.
- Tanks
Tanks were known as 'The Chariots of God' and were big blocks of metal that. They were first used at the war of Somme. Tanks were really big but not reliable as most of them broke down. The tanks were really slow and couldn’t exceed 5 miles an hour. Tanks could fit about 2 soldiers and was equipped with 208 shells and up to 13, 000 of bullets. This was a great way for soldiers to be transported to other places. The French added rotating turret, which was a huge advantage. The maximum success of tanks came in 1918 which was at the end of the war.
Tanks were known as 'The Chariots of God' and were big blocks of metal that. They were first used at the war of Somme. Tanks were really big but not reliable as most of them broke down. The tanks were really slow and couldn’t exceed 5 miles an hour. Tanks could fit about 2 soldiers and was equipped with 208 shells and up to 13, 000 of bullets. This was a great way for soldiers to be transported to other places. The French added rotating turret, which was a huge advantage. The maximum success of tanks came in 1918 which was at the end of the war.
- Planes
Planes were used to go over no man’s land and check on the enemy. Also they were used for checking if the enemy was about to attack or not. Planes were a great help in the sense of dropping bombs and firing at the enemy. They also had to huge blimp like bombers called Zeppelins. Zeppelins were invented and was an improved version of the observation balloon. But it still had its disadvantages. The bad part about zeppelins was that they were made of hydrogen, and hydrogen is very dangerous, plus it was really expensive. It was dangerous because it was very explosive. It was used to drop bombs at the enemies.
Planes were used to go over no man’s land and check on the enemy. Also they were used for checking if the enemy was about to attack or not. Planes were a great help in the sense of dropping bombs and firing at the enemy. They also had to huge blimp like bombers called Zeppelins. Zeppelins were invented and was an improved version of the observation balloon. But it still had its disadvantages. The bad part about zeppelins was that they were made of hydrogen, and hydrogen is very dangerous, plus it was really expensive. It was dangerous because it was very explosive. It was used to drop bombs at the enemies.
- Naval units
Naval ships were very important for some of the war. British specialised in Ships such as battleships, and the Germans specialised in Submarines. Britain specialized in them because they were always in need of them, since they are an island and that was the only way they could get places.
Naval ships were very important for some of the war. British specialised in Ships such as battleships, and the Germans specialised in Submarines. Britain specialized in them because they were always in need of them, since they are an island and that was the only way they could get places.
- Transportation
Transportation increased, as more troops were needed at the front line and for other needs. British forces used almost about everything that they could think of, from trains to Lorries and even taxis. They transported 500 men in 1914; 250 taxis took the reserve troops to the Battle of Marne and thousands of lorries were used to transport troops to Verdun in 1916
Transportation increased, as more troops were needed at the front line and for other needs. British forces used almost about everything that they could think of, from trains to Lorries and even taxis. They transported 500 men in 1914; 250 taxis took the reserve troops to the Battle of Marne and thousands of lorries were used to transport troops to Verdun in 1916
- Gas grenades
These grenades were highly toxic and a very effective weapon. The Germans invented three main ones. The first one was chlorine gas, which was utilized in the war of Ypres in 1915. Second one was phosgene gas and the third one was mustard gas which got its name because the colour of the gas was mustard. It was an effective weapon because once it was inhaled it would burn the lungs leaving them to die in pain. The gas grenades also had a disadvantage. It was that they couldn’t always be used, it would depend which way the wind was going, and once the gas grenade was open you couldn’t close it so if the wind changed you were in danger rather than your enemies. Now the gas grenades are banned from war.
These grenades were highly toxic and a very effective weapon. The Germans invented three main ones. The first one was chlorine gas, which was utilized in the war of Ypres in 1915. Second one was phosgene gas and the third one was mustard gas which got its name because the colour of the gas was mustard. It was an effective weapon because once it was inhaled it would burn the lungs leaving them to die in pain. The gas grenades also had a disadvantage. It was that they couldn’t always be used, it would depend which way the wind was going, and once the gas grenade was open you couldn’t close it so if the wind changed you were in danger rather than your enemies. Now the gas grenades are banned from war.
- Communication
Radios and telephones were the main way ways of communication in 1914. These were really important in the trenches, but that didn’t mean that all the other types of communication was out of service. They were usually used to call back where they would get new supplies, and ask them for food or for more men if they were running out.
Radios and telephones were the main way ways of communication in 1914. These were really important in the trenches, but that didn’t mean that all the other types of communication was out of service. They were usually used to call back where they would get new supplies, and ask them for food or for more men if they were running out.