Technology of World War One

TECHNOLOGY OF WORLD WAR 1

Technology of World War One

• In no other war has technology ______role in impacting how the ______.

• The First World War began as a clash of ______, with inevitably large casualties.

• Think of these ______

Technology of World War One

• Machine Guns

• Artillery

• Grenades

• Communications

• Transportation

• Tanks & Armor

• Aircraft

• Chemical Warfare

• U-Boats

• Convoy system

• Barbed Wire

TRENCH WARFARE

• Description/Use: Trenches, often reinforced with wood, with larger underground bunkers dug in side for more protection

• Series of ______trenches with interconnecting trenches

• ______employed because of ______, machine guns & artillery

• Impact: Many ______were created to overcome the ______

• Evolution: ______, pillboxes and gun emplacements – ______

MACHINE GUN

• Description:
______(400-800 rounds/minute) typically crewed by ______men , Belt-fed, .30 cal (typical)

• Use:
______

• Impact:
Possibly the most ______of the war
______and affected tactics
No longer would ______

• Evolution:
Would be ______and ______
Became ______, less crew (squad-level weapon)
______

ARTILLERY

• Description/Use: ______capable of direct (gun) or indirect (______) fire - 37 mm – 42 cm

• Impact: ______

• Huge guns to destroy ______– railway guns

• ______(Paris gun) terrified the people of paris 126 km (68 mi) range (300 attacks)

• Evolution: improved accuracy, range,

• better ______, improved ______

• ______, more portable

• ______

GRENADES

• Description/Use: ______

• Percussion (______) or ______

• ______– often referred to as “bombs”

• Impact: well-suited for trench warfare (indirect throw) – ______

• Becomes ______

• sturmtruppen – ______

• Evolution: better ______, ______, use of gas improved methods to propel (RPG)

AIRCRAFT

• Description/Use: 100 mph, ______, ______and ______. Constructed of canvas stretched over wooden frame

• ______

• Typically armed with ______

• Initially used for observation, later fighters and bombers

• Impact:

• ______

• Most ______used today are derived from ______.

• ______, though observation balloons and zeppelins played a role as well

• Evolution:

• Unarmed observation craft, Then purpose-built fighters, followed later by bombers - U.S. would pioneer large-scale bombing missions late in war

• ______

• ______for air support and ground attack - strafing

• SUBMARINES

• Description:
At outset Germans had two sub types:
______: (7 kts, 2 torpedoes and a crew of 14
______: 14 kts, 4 torpedoes, crew – 28

• Use: ______, primarily through use of deck guns NOT torpedoes

• Impact: Very ______, but sinking of ocean liners ______in the ______Use of convoy system, ______and hydrophones were a response

• Evolution:
Submarines would get ______with ______capability, ______

CONVOY SYSTEM

• Description/Use:

• Using armed ships such as ______to protect unarmed transport ships from submarines

• A ______not a______

• Impact:

• Fairly effective once employed (late 1917).

• Declined from 242/mo to 147/mo; 1918 – 103/mo

• Evolution:

• ______

TANKS & ARMOR

• Description/Use: ______

• Used to ______, ______obstacles, ______

• 2 (6.5t) crew to 16 (32t) crews; 3-8 mph

• Impact: ______depending on use; infantry support, combined arms

• Debate about use ______

• Mechanical ______, lack of speed

• Evolution: the modern tank with turrets mobility was also emphasized ______

BARBED WIRE

• Description/Use: sharp twisted strands of wire ______

• Often used in conjunction with ______

• ______Control avenues of approach

• Impact: critical to ______

• Evolution: improved methods of emplacement

• ______

• Coiled barb wire used late 20th century

• COMMUNICATIONS

• Description/Use: ______

• Impact: Would allow for ______better control by command elements

• Key for ______

• Used for ______

• ______(Russians sent radio signals “in the clear” – allowed for Germans to know their plans

• ______

• Evolution: more ______, more range, but telephone was most reliable

• Not until 80s will new methods used (Sincgars, burst satellite)

TRANSPORTATION

• Description/Use : Use of motorized vehicles and railroads to ______.

• Impact: Railroads were a ______and transport of ______.

• Evolution: As war progressed more trucking. In WW2 this would be standard.

CHEMICAL WARFARE

• Description/Use: Chemical gas used to incapacitate or kill enemy. An attempt to find a breakthrough weapon to end stalemate

• ______

• Horrible ______

• Initially just “______”

• Hard to control

• Impact: Troops had to ______

• Masks often______

• Evolution: Better means of dispersal

• ______

• Although ______chemical weapons still made ______