1. How did weapons develop in the 20th century?

2. Learning objective – to be able to identify changes and continuities in modern weapons.
I can describe the key changes and continuities in modern weapons. Grade 3
I can explain the key changes and continuities in modern weapons Grade 6
I can explain and assess changes and continuities in modern weapons.
Grade 9

3. What weapons developed in the 20th century?
Machine guns
Tanks
Chemical weapons
Nuclear weapons
Missiles

4. How did machine guns develop?
Machine guns were an invention of the 19th century but only became a decisive weapon in the First World War.
Bulky and clumsy, machine guns were used to defend positions and encouraged stalemate in warfare rather than one of movement. They could fire 600 bullets in a minute.
The key developments in machine guns was that they became smaller and more mobile so infantry could use them on their own as hand guns while larger versions could be attached to tanks and helicopters.

5. How did tanks develop?
Armour plated vehicles armed with machine guns, tanks were first used at the Somme in 1916 and their first decisive impact was at Cambrai in 1917.
Replacing cavalry, tanks evolved quickly so by the Second World War they were stronger, faster and more reliable.
The tanks allowed infantry to attack defensive positions and encouraged more mobile warfare. This has continued into the 21st century.

6. How did chemical weapons develop?
Chemical weapons were first used in the First World War with the use of chlorine gas in Its impact was limited as 146 gas attacks occurred with over one million casualties.
Chemical weapons have been very limited since as a variety of international agreements, such as the Geneva Protocol in 1925 and the Geneva Weapons Convention in 1997, agreed not to use any form of chemical weapons.

7. How did nuclear weapons develop?
Nuclear weapons were first detonated in 1945 by the Americans and used in Japan soon afterwards.
Eight countries have capacity for nuclear weapons and was the centre of an arms race between USA and USSR. Although both sides would be unlikely to use them in the event of MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction.
This created a new kind of stalemate and limited the impact of nuclear weapons on active warfare.

8. How did missiles develop?
The most modern form a missile was those that were precision guided by laser and other technology rather than those that relied on trajectory.
These developed form the late 1960s. The most modern form are guided by Global Positioning Satellites [GPS] which have made them cheaper to produce and the main missile used in warfare.
Other forms of missiles include the expensive stealth missiles with can be dropped from unmanned planes [drones] and ‘smart’ bombs.

9. How did surveillance develop?
With the development of aircraft and satellites, there has been an increase in surveillance.
A primitive form began in the First World War where photographs taken of enemy positions from planes.
The main development in the Second World War was RADAR which was critical in Britain’s defence of German invasion during 1940.
With the development of satellites, surveillance from space allowed the ability to spot the enemy and identify targets, predict weather conditions, photograph the impact of attacks and provide communication systems.

10. What how did transport affected changes in weapons?
Developments in transport have had a huge impact on warfare as the developments in weapons increased the demands of transportation and logistical support. The importance of this can be reflected in the formation of the Royal Logistical Corps in 1993 – the largest corps in the British Army.
Railways – Used extensively in the First World War to transport men and munitions. This was an increasingly inflexible way of moving men and munitions to precise locations.
Motorised road transport – From the First World War, this became the main use of transport in the army.
Air Transport – Used for reconnaissance in the First World War, air transport was crucial in the Second World War as it was used for bombing, transport, ferrying motorised vehicles and supplies. However, air transport is expensive and limited in capacity.
Sea Transport – Continued to transport the majority of a large mechanised force – 90% of all items in the Iraq War of 2003.

11. The role of government in developing weapons
Before 1918, weapons development mainly through inventors and private investment. The First World War changed governments’ attitudes as politicians began to see the importance of having the most advanced weapons. Governments put increased investment into developing radar, nuclear weapons and jet engines to ensure Britain was at the cutting edge of warfare. This was particularly so during times of war when military expenditure was at its highest. Government investment was vital in equipping modern armies as the enormous costs often could not be borne by private investment. The scale of Government investment could only happen because GNP and taxation rose to meet the costs.

12. Sort the following weapons and technologies under the following headings – Encouraged war of movement and Encouraged war of stalemate
Tanks
Railways
Machine guns
Aircraft
Bombers
Radar
Fighter planes
Mines
Nuclear weapons
Chemical weapons
Satellites
Missiles

13. Plot the following weapons on the continuum and write on paragraph for each weapon to explain your decision
Machine gun, Satellites, Aircraft, Tanks, Nuclear Weapons, Chemical Weapons, Missiles
Some change
Much change

14. Extension Task – complete the table
Weapon
Impact
Extent of change
Tank
Machine guns
Nuclear weapons
Chemical weapons
Missiles

15. Plenary – My Brain Subheading – My Brain
Draw an outline of your brain.
Fill your drawn brain with all the things you have learnt in this lesson. This can be in the form of key words, drawings, bullet points, lists – anything you like so long as it summarises your learning and that others can understand it.