“How significant were technological innovations during the First World War”
The First World War prompted huge technological advancements and stimulated the development of many new innovations. All these innovations were manufactured with the intent of ending the war quickly. Although no single technology was responsible for winning the war, together they changed the way the war was fought and that is why I think technological innovations were significant. Only eleven years after their invention planes took to the skies as reconnaissance vehicles in WW1. These aircraft would evolve in to fighter planes with Lewis machine-guns attached to the plane. Although the aircraft were hugely advanced for their time I think they were not a significant
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In the Tank’s first major engagement at Cambrai, before effective tactics had been introduced and when using a prototype model, the Tank excelled by striking fear in to the enemy and diverting machine gun fire from the infantry. They could flatten the enemy’s barbed wire enabling the troops to advance much quicker with the cover of the tanks armour. The Tanks captured 10,000 German troops along with 123 guns and 281 machine guns. It was clear from this first encounter that the Tank was there to …show more content…
It proved its significance on the first day of the Somme on the 1st July 1916 when nearly 60,000 British troops were killed. It was the king of defence and a small team would operate the gun in a dug out position; this gave them cover from most artillery fire. Other than artillery they killed the most soldiers and were feared by the soldiers going over the top. It was because of the machine guns, innovations like the Tank had to be invented to absorb some of the fire to enable easier movement for infantry. The machine gun was so effective because it made the war slow down and reduced the number of frontal assaults
The history of flying dates back as early as the fifteenth century. A Renaissance man named Leonardo da Vinci introduced a flying machine known as the ornithopter. Da Vinci proposed the idea of a machine that had bird like flying capabilities. Today no ornithopters exist due to the restrictions of humans, and that the ornithopters just aren’t practical. During the eighteenth century a philosopher named Sir George Cayley had practical ideas of modern aircraft. Cayley never really designed any workable aircraft, but had many incredible ideas such as lift, thrust, and rigid wings to provide for lift. In the late nineteenth century the progress of aircraft picks up. Several designers such as Henson and Langley, both paved the way for the early 1900’s aircraft design. Two of the most important people in history of flight were the Wright Brothers. The Wright Brothers were given the nickname the “fathers of the heavier than air flying machine” for their numerous flights at their estate in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville and Wilbur Wright created a motor-powered biplane in which they established incredible feats of the time. The Wright Brothers perfected their design of the heavier than air flying ma...
Throughout the 20th century, the Allied Air Forces during World War II experienced rapid advancements in technology, mainly with the immense amount of new aircrafts that were being made, as well as the new tactics used. This progress would greatly influence modern day as it pushed for the evolution of the air force, as it pushed the boundaries of what was possible. The Allied Air Forces consisted of the United States Army Air Forces, The Royal Air Force, and the Soviet Air Force, all of which increased in control and power as the war went on, resulting in the vast improvements of aviation,
It was important that machine guns were used as part of the Vimy strategy because of Lt.-Col R. Brtinel’s plan of shooting into enemy bunkers, day and night. Movement ceased in the German lines. Raids showed to be too dangerous and repair of barbed-wire nigh impossible. The machine-gun fire became a supporter to the artillery barrage. During the attack, the machine guns would be set up along with the Canadian advances providing cover and a true offensive power helping to keep the Germans from usual defense system.
Medical procedures and inventions are constantly being developed and made better. World War 1 was a time in which many of the procedures used today were first thought of and used. It was a time that inspired the doctors and nurses working today, not to mention the fact that it’s a topic that still affects everyone in the world today. Medical advancements made during World War 1 had a major impact on the world as evidenced by those advancements still in use today.
Many new and improved weapons and artillery were brought out during the war. One example of this introduction of new weapons was the long-range rocket. Also during this time the atomic bomb proved to have a big impact on the war. Along with these new and improved weapons, falls the infamous tanks of World War II (Military History 1). Although some weapons proved to be more important than others, every weapon played an important role in fighting this war. Some of these smaller weapons include pistols and rifles.
The first war to use significant technological advancement was World War I. Despite the introduction of trench warfare (in which troops dug bases many feet deep into the ground and fought only on the surface), the art of battle would forever be changed. There were many different types of weaponry advancements experienced in World War I. Machine guns were built twice more powerful than in the Civil War, firing up to 600 bullets a minute which was the equivalent of 250 riflemen. Artillery experienced a massive technological progression with the building of several thousands of powerful cannons with shells filled with ...
...w warfare. Also since there was a new air force being used, there had to be certain precautionary measures to be taken in order to thwart off the planes, thus the birth of flak cannons. These shot shards of metal not the sky to shoot down the planes. Finally the most important piece of technology that was introduced in World War Two was the Hydrogen and Atomic Bombs; which were dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. These two pieces of weaponry ended World War Two in the pacific front and in the world.
Many of these new inventions shape the future for us; for example, the telephone helped us communicate with other people from around the world. Like for us right now, we cannot live without phones; our lives would be nothing without the telephone. Another great advancement was the railroad, it allowed us to travel much easier and much faster, it also allowed us to trade much easier. Nowadays most things are transported by train, airplane, ships. But back in the day they had to transport stuff by horse and wagon, that’s what motivated them to create the railroad that made every day much easier.
In the war between countries, technology has played a huge part in the outcome; this is especially evident during the time of World War II. Technology in warfare consisted of weapons, vehicles, aircrafts, and chemical reactants. Technology during World War I was lacking and countries knew when World War II began that in order for them to be victorious they must have the most technologically advanced weapons and other devices or systems that would benefit the nation. The Allies were victorious in WW2 because they made better use of the available technologies than the Germans, advancing in communication/detection systems such as sonar and the radio, as well as, weapons including the atomic bomb, and bomber aircrafts.
Planes have developed immensely through the years. The Wright brothers developed the first plane in 1903.
The Battle of the Somme epitomizes the harsh realities of trench warfare for the Allies and represents the negligent battle planning and technological advancements that are associated with the stalemate of World War One. Trench warfare was common across the Western Front, with similar strategies being employed by both opposing sides. Sir Douglas Haig, one of the British coordinators for the Somme offensive is blamed with an offensive strategy destined for failure. The British offensive, an utter failure, resulted in a stalemate, which was common throughout World War One. The British development of the tank, while it eventually ended the horrendous stalemate, was ineffectively used during the Somme.
The Theme of our Almanac is Science and Technology so my Historical Analysis will be based off of the Science and Technology of the Industrial Revolution. My historical analysis will be about the inventions during the Industrial Revolution. The three I will be focusing on: The Water Frame, The Improved Steam Engine and the Sewing Machine. All three of those inventions all offer some sort of Problem, Progress and Promise to the Industrial Revolution. I will be analyzing those three things.
No other weapon in my opinion has changed the face of the battlefield as has the machine gun. It's design and and association with mass death makes it a great and powerful weapon. Two men, Hiram Maxim and Richard Gatling, made huge impacts in the development of the Machine Gun and bringing it to use in the military. These two brilliant men designed capable and reliable versions of Machine guns in a time when everyone was making unreliable models. However before we get into discussion about the inventions of Hiram Maxim and Richard Gatling, it's important to understand how machine guns were developed.
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.
Technology has shaped America in many ways from developing complex computer systems available to the everyday people to being able to track weather patterns across the world. Without technology, we certainly would not be where we are today as a high tech society. A lot of this technology came from World War II. During World War II, the atomic bomb prevailed making it the most high tech weapon in history. Radar equipment was also produced, as well as medicines to prevent diseases, nutrition research, high horsepower jet engines to power aircraft, and the V-1 and V-2 rockets. Through all of this technology, World War II was known as the first high technology war.