As the world went into World War One, it faced new technological advances that
turned the view of battle forever. With the invention of many new killing machines,
soldiers were now in the deadliest battlefields ever. From artillery blasts to machine gun
fire, from air power to biological and weapons of mass destruction, the outcome of World
War One would be deadly. It would be the first war to be the greatest motivator for
technology at the beginning of the century.
Rifles and Pistols
One of the most important and common weapons was of course the Rifle and
Pistol. Rifles and pistols were large and significant part of the war. They were more
accurate and powerful and allowed the men to hit a target from further away with a better
chance of hitting where they aimed. Almost all infantry and officers in World War One
carried a rifle, pistol or both. Nearly all infantrymen in the First World War used bolt
action rifles.
The American rifle used in World War One was the Springfield. The bolt-action
magazine rifle was used by the United States Army during the First World War. The
M1903 rifle remained the US standard rifle until 1936. Because of production problems
with the M1A1, it was also used during the Second World War. Snipers also preferred
using the Springfield rifle all the way through the Korean War. A faithful pistol for the
Americans was the Colt .45, Model 1911. Throughout American history, Colt pistols
have been the standard-issue handgun used in combat from 1911 to 1985. Colt pistols
were in the hands of brave, WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam American soldiers. The ...
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...at I described. Not to only forget about the air and
the sea battles. About how pilots fought in the air with their newly designed airplanes and
guns attached to them. How certain of those planes would carry bombs and drop them to
their unfortunate targets. The sea, if not more important, would also see its shares of
battles with torpedoes sinking ships. Of how the new German U-boat submarines would
travel viciously, while quiet, and search for any possible threats toward Germany, while
both American and British Navies would hunt the wolf packs down. Much more of this
war is not even described in this paper, but one can only see how disastrous it really
was making it more than just a Trench War. But to me, it seems like it's the First, of
many yet to come, the most monstrous, uncivilized, inhuman war that I will ever read
about.
One weapon used in the Civil War is a Sharps Carbine. It was developed primarily for Calvary, because of the shorter barrel. They were much easier to handle on horse back than their longer brother the Breech-Loader. Sharps were preferred because they could be loaded on a moving horse, something virtually impossible with a Muzzle-Loader. Also, Breech-Loaders carbine which fired moisture proof metallic cartridges, where more reliable than rifles that fired paper cartridges. As I said be fore it is easier to load a Sharps than a Muzzle-Loader. A Muzzle-Loader took 9 long hard steps just to fire one shot. Even the most skilled solder could only get three rounds off in a minute on the old Civil War Muzzle-Loader. And No wonder. After each shot you have to (1) steady the gun on the ground take out a new cartridge out of a belt pouch. (2) Tear open a piece of paper with your teeth. (3) Empty the powder in the barrel and insert a bullet in to the muzzle. (4) Draw the long “rummer” out of its carrying groove under the barrel. (5) ram the bullet all the way down. (6) Return the rod back to its groove. (7) Lift the weapon half-cocked the hammer. (8) Fully cock the hammer, aim, and finally,(9) fire.
My thoughts after reading this book are that war can really take a toll on someone and war can bring out the worst in everyone. Works Cited:.. Caputo, Philip. The. A Rumor of War.
Each shot couldn’t be more than inches from the center of the bull’s eye. At the end of these contests, 1,000 winners were enlisted in the 1st United States sharper shooters. The next generation of breechloaders, called magazine rifles, would prove ever more deadly to confederate opponents. “Guns such as Spencer and Henry repeating rifles were designed to carry preloaded magazine of seven to fifteen bullets which could be inserted into the rear of the gun. ”3
A popular weapon used by both sides was the rifle. Rifles were invented before the Civil War and were greatly used in the War of 1812. However, more types were built and a larger amount was used during the Civil War. Rifles added a spin to bullets for a greater accuracy at longer ranges. Using this weapon, soldiers could fire 400 yards away, as opposed to the average 80 yards (Robertson 50). Rifles were the fastest and hardest weapon of the time. Rifles allowed their bullets to be shot harder and faster towards its target. New inventions, used by the Union more than the Confederate, included Parrott rifles. They were composed of iron. Robert Parker Parrott, an American soldier and inventor, created these weapons, hence the name Parrott rifles. Despite its name, the Parrott rifle was actually a cannon. Its size ranged from 10 to 300 pounders. It was not favored by most because it was considered unsafe (“Civil War Artillery”). Because of its bulkiness and heaviness, it seldom led soldiers to inaccuratel...
size. The muzzle velocity is at 2,800ft/sec (853m/sec) with also a rate of fire 725 rounds per
World War Warfare was one of the greatest examples of technological advancement and strategic challenge, with the introduction of inventions such as the aircraft and the tank the battlefield transformed from attrition as scene in the early years of the war to decisive by the end of the war.
Company E, Berdans 1st Regiment United States Sharpshooters. (n.d.). Retrieved July 2009, from US Sharpshooters: http://www.ussharpshooters.co.uk/index_files/Page2772.htm
Pike, John. A. The "Mosin-Nagant M1891/1930. " www.globalsecurity.org - www.globalsecurity.org.
Some of these smaller weapons include pistols and rifles. The majority of weapons used in World War II were improved weapons from World War II. Most guns increase in power and abilities. In World War II people thought that pistols were useless, but this was proved wrong due to the fact that the U.S. Military spent a lot of time into making a better sidearm. Pistols were mainly used in emergencies or whenever a soldier ran out of ammunition....
O'Neill, William L. World War II: A Student Companion. New York: Oxford UP, 1999. Print.
Immediately, the Battle of the Atlantic began when “the British announced a naval blockage of Germany” on September 3, 1939(“World War II” 391). Eight days later the Germans ordered a “counter-blockage” of the Allies(“World War II” 391). The Germans hoped to stop the shipments of war supplies and food to the countries of France and Britain. After only four months into the war, German U-boats, mines, airplanes, and surface raiders had destroyed more than 215 merchant ships and two of Britain’s largest warships. Over 1,500 people had been killed in this short time. “It was clear that despite the lull on land, a long war lay ahead on the world’s water” (Pitt 8).
Weapons and technology has made weapons far more lethal giving the advantage to the defender. Some examples of battles that were mostly defensive and where the attacker suffered high casualties were the following: the battle of Tarawa, the battle of Singapore, and the battle of Fallujah. The battle of Tarawa suffered 2,000 to 5,000 casualties, The Battle of Singapore suffered 2,000 casualties, and the Battle of Tarawa suffered 3,000 casualties. The war in Virginia frequently evolved into trench warfare. These factors were magnified by the much larger troops that the armies had and compare army sizes in the Civil War with army sizes with the Mexican-American War.
The Weapons that the United States soldiers used was the M-16, which is a “gas operated, magazine-fed rifle that fired a .223 caliber round. It could also fire 700-900 rounds per minute while in fully auto mode. The M-16 also had a secondary attachment called the m-203 which could fire a grenade up to 400m with a 5m casualty radius” (Meyerson). The U.S. Soldiers also used the M-60 light machine gun that could be mounted on tanks and helicopters and used as an artillery weapon. They also used the “105 mm Howitzer that shot explosive shrapnel bombs that have a fire rate of 3 to 8 rounds a minute” (History.com). The Howitzer was also used like the M 60 machine gun by being mounted to tanks and helicopters. The U.S. Soldiers used the M-79 40mm also known as the thumper which looked like a sawed of shotgun. It could fire up to 300 meters and fired a 6.5, pound grenade. The M-72 is a BBMM light anti-tank weapon that weighed 5.2 pounds. It was also used as a bunker buster and fired a 1 kg rocket that could travel 300 meters. (173dairborne)” “The US army used many different types of helicopters like the HU-1A. It had a T53-6-5 motor, which put out 700horse power and could hold up to 8,500 pound...
By World War I, most countries involved had used the Maxim Machine gun. Russia, Britain, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland bought Maxim machine guns. Russia and Germany each had about 16,000 Maxim guns. The United States however remained true to the Gatling (Chivers, 2010, p.90). They were either not yet interested in the Maxim or could not due to the fact it was still under orders to purchase American-made arms.