Technology of World War One Technology of World War One

Machine gunsMachine guns

These weapons were first used in the These weapons were first used in the American Civil War to devastating effect. American Civil War to devastating effect. But with World War One their effectiveness But with World War One their effectiveness reached frightening new levels. reached frightening new levels.

Firing up to 600 bullets a minute (the Firing up to 600 bullets a minute (the equivalent of 250 men with rifles) equivalent of 250 men with rifles)

Machine gunsMachine guns

The .303 Vickers Gun could fire over 600 rounds The .303 Vickers Gun could fire over 600 rounds per minute and had a range of 4,500 yards. Being per minute and had a range of 4,500 yards. Being water-cooled, it could fire continuously for long water-cooled, it could fire continuously for long periods. There were usually six men in a Vickers periods. There were usually six men in a Vickers gun team.gun team.

In his book, In his book, With a Machine Gun to CambraiWith a Machine Gun to Cambrai, , George Coppard, explained how the Vickers Gun , explained how the Vickers Gun Team worked. "Number One was leader and fired Team worked. "Number One was leader and fired the gun, while Number Two controlled the entry of the gun, while Number Two controlled the entry of ammo belts into the feed-block. Number Three ammo belts into the feed-block. Number Three maintained a supply of ammo to Number Two, and maintained a supply of ammo to Number Two, and Number Four to Six were reserves and carriers, Number Four to Six were reserves and carriers, but all the members of the team were fully trained but all the members of the team were fully trained in handling the gun." in handling the gun."

ArtilleryArtillery

These were the new and upgraded These were the new and upgraded versions of cannons. Never in the history versions of cannons. Never in the history of man, where there so many cannons of man, where there so many cannons used in one war alone. used in one war alone.

For four years the British had been using For four years the British had been using artillery and firing 170 million shells in that artillery and firing 170 million shells in that time. But Germany had a plan up their time. But Germany had a plan up their sleeve. sleeve.

For years, German scientists were For years, German scientists were developing the biggest artillery ever developing the biggest artillery ever known. known.

It was called the Big Bertha. Big It was called the Big Bertha. Big Bertha was so powerful it could fire at Bertha was so powerful it could fire at the heart of Paris from 12 kilometers the heart of Paris from 12 kilometers away. The cannons weren't the only away. The cannons weren't the only things that had been improved. The things that had been improved. The shells were upgraded as well. Instead shells were upgraded as well. Instead of ordinary shells, new High-explosive of ordinary shells, new High-explosive shells were developed. shells were developed.

The Shells were thin casings and were The Shells were thin casings and were filled with tiny lead pellets. This was so filled with tiny lead pellets. This was so effective, that artillery fire killed effective, that artillery fire killed hundreds and thousands of men. It hundreds and thousands of men. It also blew the ground, which made also blew the ground, which made hiding much more difficult. hiding much more difficult.

ArtilleryArtillery

Big Bertha Big Bertha

Gas GrenadesGas Grenades

These were highly toxic, and very effective These were highly toxic, and very effective weapons. The Germans had invented 3 weapons. The Germans had invented 3 main gas grenades. main gas grenades.

The first was Chlorine gas, which was used The first was Chlorine gas, which was used at the battle of Ypres in 1915, killing at the battle of Ypres in 1915, killing thousands. thousands.

Second was Phosgene gas and third was Second was Phosgene gas and third was Mustard gas. Mustard gas.

This burned the lungs of the inhaler This burned the lungs of the inhaler leaving them to die in agony. Gas masks leaving them to die in agony. Gas masks were issued to everyone in the country, were issued to everyone in the country, but they weren't so useful and many but they weren't so useful and many people died. people died.

Gas Grenades Gas Grenades

Gas statisticsGas statistics CountryCountry Total Total

Casualties Casualties DeathDeath

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary 100,000100,000 3,0003,000

British Empire British Empire 188,706188,706 8,1098,109

France France 190,000190,000 8,0008,000

Germany Germany 200,000200,000 9,0009,000

Italy Italy 60,00060,000 4,6274,627

Russia Russia 419,340419,340 56,00056,000

USAUSA 72,80772,807 1,4621,462

Others Others 10,00010,000 1,0001,000

TransportationTransportation

Transportation greatly increased, as Transportation greatly increased, as more troops were needed at more troops were needed at battlefields and other places. battlefields and other places.

British forces used everything from British forces used everything from trains to trucks and even taxis. They trains to trucks and even taxis. They transported 500 men in 1914; 250 transported 500 men in 1914; 250 taxis took the reserve troops to the taxis took the reserve troops to the Battle of Marne and thousands of Battle of Marne and thousands of trucks were used to transport troops trucks were used to transport troops to Verdun in 1916. to Verdun in 1916.

TransportationTransportation

CommunicationCommunication

1.1. In 1914 both radios and telephones In 1914 both radios and telephones were the main ways of were the main ways of communication. communication.

2.2. These were very vital for the troops These were very vital for the troops in trenches. However, that did not in trenches. However, that did not mean that messengers, dogs and mean that messengers, dogs and pigeons were out of business.pigeons were out of business.

CommunicationCommunication

TanksTanks

1.1. Tanks were known as The Chariots of Tanks were known as The Chariots of God at First, they were giant blocks of God at First, they were giant blocks of metal that could carry 1-2 personnel metal that could carry 1-2 personnel and traveled at about 5 kilometers per and traveled at about 5 kilometers per hour. But scientists and developers hour. But scientists and developers kept making new and improved tanks kept making new and improved tanks and by 1918 the Anglo-American Mark and by 1918 the Anglo-American Mark 88thth could carry up to 8 men, and at the could carry up to 8 men, and at the same time fire 208 shells and up to same time fire 208 shells and up to 13,000 bullets13,000 bullets

Although these beasts were powerful, Although these beasts were powerful, they were not so reliable. Most broke they were not so reliable. Most broke down and a good example is the battle down and a good example is the battle of Amiens. of Amiens.

The British sent 525 tanks, and after The British sent 525 tanks, and after four days, only 25 were left in working four days, only 25 were left in working order. order.

Rolls Royce also joined in the Rolls Royce also joined in the development of these tanks, by development of these tanks, by building their own armored car! It building their own armored car! It could travel up to 88 kilometers and could travel up to 88 kilometers and had 8mm machine guns. had 8mm machine guns.

Tanks Tanks

PlanesPlanes

• These were the new types of These were the new types of weapons use in advanced weapons use in advanced technological warfare. technological warfare.

• They had everything from mini They had everything from mini scout planes to huge blimp like scout planes to huge blimp like bombers called Zeppelins. bombers called Zeppelins.

• Air warfare was not seen as Air warfare was not seen as important as other types so it did important as other types so it did not have its own categorynot have its own category

Planes Planes

Naval UnitsNaval Units

Naval ships were considered very Naval ships were considered very important for some of the war. important for some of the war.

British specialized in Ships such British specialized in Ships such as battleships, and the Germans as battleships, and the Germans specialized in Submarines. specialized in Submarines.

Navel Units Navel Units

Sources Sources

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWweapons.htmFWWweapons.htm

http://www.firstworldwar.com/weaponry/http://www.firstworldwar.com/weaponry/machineguns.htmmachineguns.htm