WEAPONS OF WORLD WAR ONE

War between nations Most of us think of war as a conflict between nations. However war also is a conflict between two other entities…

Tactics Versus Technology Tactics: how one fights and/or uses his armed forces to engage his opponent in battle Technology: the advancement of weaponry in an attempt to disrupt and defeat an opponents tactics

All wars begin with outdated tactics. As battle ensues, the side that has the most up-to-date technology usually has the advantage. Adapting to technology is vital in modern warfare. Tactics during World War I, for the most part, failed to adapt, leading to slaughter.

The Weapons of the War

Poison Gas

Poison Gas was first used by the Germans against the French in April, 1915

Chlorine and Mustard Gas When inhaled, the gas would cause choking and vomiting as it destroyed the lining of the lungs. Mustard gas would also blister the skin over a period of hours.

Note the blisters under the arm and neck

Protection Against Gas Attacks

In the Trenches Protection for both man and beast. Gas would filter into the trenches.

Tactics Used to Protect Horses

Tanks

French FT – 17’s

Advantages of Tanks Protected those inside Could break through enemy lines Multiple guns were fired from inside the tank

Disadvantages

Airplanes

Initial Uses First used as observation platforms to help direct troops and artillery Pilots then begin shooting at one another using hand-held pistols and rifles Also dropped bricks and small bombs by hand

Fixed guns were then added to aircraft, resulting in “Dogfights”

Dutchman Anthony Fokker Invented an interrupter gear that enabled the pilot to fire a machine gun through the propeller blades. Prior to this, steel guards were used, causing ricochets which often killed the pilot.

German Fokker

The Aces

Manfred Von Richthofen

Richthofen’s Plane

The Red Baron Richthofen became known as the “Red Baron” Flew a “Blood Red” Fokker Credited with 80 “kills”

Eddie Rickenbacher

America’s Top Ace Rickenbacher was credited with 22 “kills”

German Gotha

First Bomber Aircraft The Gotha caused 835 deaths and 1,972 injuries

Machine Guns

Machine guns did more to cause the carnage of World War I than any other weapon They fired between 450 and 600 rounds per minute

Artillery

Artillery evolved from cannons Designed to shell the enemy from protected positions behind the front lines. High explosive shells were developed in order to cause “maximum” damage.

Big Bertha

Also known as the Paris Gun

The Paris Gun fired a 210 pound projectile 75 miles The Germans used this massive weapon to shell the French Capital The Coriolis Effect impacted trajectories due to the distance and height reached

Submarines and Mines

Flamethrowers

Dirigibles

Zeppelins Germany used its Zeppelins to bomb London. Became obsolete with the advancement of airplanes.

How Did the Tactics Adjust?

They Didn’t

Men Hid in the Ground!

Trench Warfare Ensued