Many new technologies appeared during World War I, including the machine gun, airplane, tank and barbed wire. It is important to examine the historical circumstances of their development, their introduction onto the battlefront and the effect each had in bringing victory to countries that employed them. It can be categorically said that without giant strides made prior to and during the World War I (914-1918) it would never have taken on titanic proportions that it did. The Perfection of technology in the hands of imperfect man or man-the-beast resulted in the tragedy of World War I. However, during this war, technology advancement that had led to the formation of colonies in countries received a new life and influenced WWI by a great degree. …show more content…
It was accompanied by modern artillery as well as airplanes. Vast supplies were possible because of railroad connections. Horses were taken off the battlefield and used only for carrying goods. In 1916 tanks entered the battle scene. However, the weapon that proved to be most destructive, the humble barbed wire, had been invented in 1874, DeKalb, Illinois. A farmer started the use of a type of barbed wire had seen at a rural fair to control his cattle. The barbed wire came into great use during World War I by being strung in front of trenches. Soldiers dashing across no-man’s-land got entangled in the wires and became sitting ducks for machine gunfire from the opposite trenches. Thus, the initial years of the war saw the military concentrating on snipping off the wires – a task in which they failed …show more content…
However, in war use the problem was mounting it avoiding the propeller blades. It was solved by the introduction of the interrupter gear. In those days, once the plane took to the skies, there was no contact with land. Flags and lamp signals had to suffice. Radio use solved this problem.
Other technologies that had come into use many decades prior to the outbreak of this war were widely used during the combat, and these proved to be decisive factors in forcing the outcome – machineguns, massive use of artillery (long-range), mortars, hand grenades and the barbed wire. There were other less known technologies introduced – diesel engines, motorized tractors and steam turbines. Advances were made in field of medicines; firearms sans smoke and one of the most effective weapons were high explosives.
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Show MoreTechnology played a crucial role in determining the outcome of the World War II. Much of it developed during the interwar years to 1920s and 1930s. However, the developmental changes in technology occurred in early and late 1940s. The customization of technology took place in United States while the soldiers kept on fighting abroad. Weaponry, logistical support, communications, intelligence equipment, medicine and industrial changes were among them. In weaponry, some of the technological upgrades happened in ships, military vehicles, aircraft, artillery, rocketry, and small arms, biological, chemical and nuclea...
Among the many innovations of World War I, the machine gun was an addition. Depending upon the specific weapon system, machine guns were capable of firing more than six hundred bullets within one minute. Because of machine gun fire, Armies of the War’s participants sustained countless casualties and were forced to alter the way they fought. Prior to this alteration in strategy machine guns easily mowed down hundreds of enemies with one wave. Single shot rifles could not match the use of a machine gun placed in the right position. Strategists soon learned that machine guns could perform as well as sixty rifles, and when they were coupled together on the firing line they produced a decent defense. Aside from its mass casualty producing capability, the machine gun was also an asset because it was relatively small and tough for the opposing force to destroy.
"Technology during World War I: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article." AbsoluteAstronomy.com. Web. 05 Feb. 2010.
Thesis: Though many argue that World War 2 was an unnecessary show of violence that benefitted no one, World War 2 uniquely and critically revolutionized the world in science, technology, and medicine.
With the dawn of World War One, the machine gun firmly asserted itself as a preeminent weapon of war. This came especially true in the later years of the war. In 1914 and 1915, the war
Weapons like the machine gun, air support, tanks, and gas made it easier to take groups of soldiers out. Knowing that the Allies and the Central Powers both had access to these type of weapons, the number of casualties was unprecedented. The machine gun differed from the common semi-automatic rifles that were commonly used. The gun was a very good defensive weapon, shown through the British’s failed attempt of attack during the Somme Offensive. They gained 60,000 casualties, majority of which was from the machine gun. Furthermore, air support provided better access to the soldiers in the trenches. In the Battle of Ypres, the tactic of flying low was used to drop bombs on enemy trenches, causing a disturbance in the stalemate between the two opposing trenches. The tank also was also another weapon made to break the long stalemates in trench warfare. During The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, 49 tanks moved in position, 15 of which made it onto No Man’s Land, and destroyed the morale of the Germans. Lastly, the use of poisonous gas was first used by the Germans to shake the Allies. The gas burned the skin, eyes, and left the soldiers paralyzed leading to death. Along the western front the Germans fired 150 tons of chlorine gas which devastated the
During the time of World War I there were many technological advances, including “railroads…rifling and breech loading guns and artillery, high
For example, cars were introduced as well as radios and telephones. With the advancements in technology made, governments began to build new advancements in warfare to keep up with potential enemies that posed a serious threat. Tanks and planes were the first to be used in combat, machine gun and artillery played an impactful role in WWI, boats were also developed during WWI and caused many deaths. The advancements in warfare left many homeless and without family, it brought poverty and horror to society. Gas was another deadly weapon used in combat in order to eliminate hundreds of men all at once without having to attack them and putting their soldiers at risk. Once the gas was deployed assuming that the wind was blowing the right direction is could simply obliterate a line of soldiers. Gas was very problematic for the reason that the person setting off the gas canister could easily be gassed himself. The wind played a crucial role in the war when using gas tactics, the wind had to be just right or otherwise it could backfire and kill their own
According to Top inventions and technical innovations of World War 2, “Saying that World War II completely changed the world sounds like either a massive understatement or a trivialization of the entire conflict.” Back in the 1900s, new ideas shaped and changed the world. During WWII, there were many inventions that gave each side of the war advantages. In the following paragraphs, it will tell you some of the major inventions of WWII. Hope you enjoy!
The airplane, bombs, machine guns, and more advanced guns changed warfare by making it much easier
The technological advances since WW1 introduced such things as the atomic bomb and new and improved sea and air warfare. The atom bomb was a big part of WW2 as people could be killed from a bomb from a long distance. This bomb also covered a long area killing more people and people of the area bombed could still be feeling the effects in the form of cancer. New air warfare such as fighter jets were introduced in WW2. These planes carried deadly bombs and could take out a large number of people. New sea warfare was introduced, such ships as the corvette were popular, and the corvette was mostly used for shipping ammunition to Europe from North America. Also, submarines proved deadly as they were out of radar and carried deadly bombs such as the torpedo.
The stalemate on the Western front had developed by December 1914 because of the new advances in defensive weaponry where both sides had developed lethal weaponry like the machine guns and artillery, which subsequently led to trench warfare. The Machine Gun was a very dominant weapon in the First World War. It could kill hundreds of men a minute due to its rapid firing rate of 600 bullets a minute. However the machine guns that were used in the First World War weighed between 30kg – 60kg, would require a four to six operators and could heat up extremely quickly; clearly not very effective as a offensive weapon (Duffy, Michael. "Machine Guns.") Machine Guns were only effective for defense as they were extremely heavy, required a lot of ammunition a needed to be fixed into the ground. This made it severely difficult to attack and move with machine guns. Artillery was even deadlier as a defensive weapon and was one of the most important weapons of the First World War as it was the cause of the majority of human losses. The artillery ranged from field artillery to heavy and long range artillery that could fire long distances and would trap the enemies in their trenches. The Trench Mortar was also a very effective weapon in the war, which was a “tube” that would fire at a vertical angle (higher than 45 degrees) and could therefore be fired within the safety of the trench, unlike artillery. All these new advances in technology made trenches almost impossible to attack yet also kept each side trapped in their trenches.
...ecame more accurate at long range. Repeating weapons were improved, and the machine gun was invented in time for use in the American Civil War. The invention of the screw propeller, combined with the steam engine, brought about a new kind of naval ship and ended the age of sail. Mobile field artillery came into use, assuring the demise of cavalry units until motorized cavalry appeared in the 20th century. Communications and transportation systems were vastly changed. In the 20th century, there has been such a proliferation of inventions applied to war that no list could be complete. The Industrial Revolution is far from over. The world still may witness many tremendous changes in warfare as third world countries that are just now industrialising becoming great industrial powers. The impact of the Industrial Revolution on warfare will be felt for many years to come.
The products of the Industrial Revolution made World War I a war like no other. The Industrial Age brought with it the development of the railroad, a huge factor in the area of transportation of soldiers and supplies. The Revolution also brought changes in warfare at sea. Instead of ships made of wood, iron and steel were the new materials of choice. The products of the Industrial Revolution that had the most impact on the war were by far the weapons created by the new machines and materials of the revolution. The book, Warfare in the Twentieth Century, states that "industrialization dramatically increased the destructive capacity of armies by providing them with weapons of enhanced range, accuracy, and fire..." (3). The weapons of World War I are a perfect example of how reason and progress are not always without consequence; they can sometimes bring about horrible suffering and pain.
During the twentieth century, inventions were needed to keep up with the times and be the best country we can be. Most of these inventions were used to keep up with the war, such as the radio and the airplane.