1900- Present Flashcards
How the infantry changed ruing this period?
- 65 % in 1914,
- 25% in 2015
- still the most likely to fight on ground
What happened to cavalry during this period?
- 10% in 1914
- 10% in 2015 (tanks)
- tanks now lead the attack and protect the infantry and give mobile artillery support
What happened to artillery during this period?
- 20% in 1914
- 10% in 2015
- bombarding the enemy is still key bit aircrafts and tanks now share this role, artillery is now more mobile , such as satellite guided missiles.
What happened to specialist troops during this period?
- 5% in 1914
- 55% in 2015
- royal engineers and royal electrical and mechanical engineers , royal logistics corps and royal medical corps provide support to the front
What happened to the size of the army during this period?
1899- 250000 1918- 3,500,000 1920-200,000 1945-3,300,000 1963-170,000 2020-82,000
What are logistics?
Refers to the transportation of troops , supplies, ammunition and post
The growth of bomb disposal units?
- early 1940s , 25 bomb disposal units were formed during the second world war
- later 1940, another 109 were created , an essential part of modern war
- 1972, remote controlled robots were developed, able to move an explosive device
- 2015, british army had about 2000 explosive ordnance disposal specialists
What are EOD units?
Make munitions safe after wars are over. Most bombs are still made safe by disposal experts
Timeline of the growth of logistics corps?
- 1900, army logistics badly organised
- 1914-18, scale of WW1 led improvements to army service corps
- 1939-45, second world war logistics were even more demanding
- 1993, royal army service corps joined with other army corps : royal logistics corps
- 2003, 15 % of british army , the RLC organised logistics for the invasion of iraq
What were Haldane’s reforms of 1908?
- In response to boers war
- professional army :15000
- territorial force: national reserve of part time soldiers, renamed territorial army in 1920
How army 2020 is a reform to help structure the army?
- ongoing review
- professional army:82000
- territorial army renamed as army reserve in 2013, 30000 part time soldiers
How machine guns are effecting warfare during this period?
Were clumsy, needed teams of men to cool them down, very effective in defence , could fire 600 rounds per minute
How tanks were effecting warfare during this period?
By 1918, cavalry replaced by motor vehicles , particularly tanks, which were effectively mobile artillery
How chemical weapons effected warfare during this period?
146 chemical attacks in first world war using chlorine, phosgene and mustard gas; most nations have now agreed not to use chemical weapons
How nuclear weapons effected warfare during this period?
In 1945 , atom bomb revolutionised the power of bombing , in the 1950s and in the 1960s, nuclear arms race, mutually assured destruction
How aircrafts effected warfare during this period?
British flying corps had 63 aircraft in 1914, 22000 by 1918, they played a key role as mobile artillery , providing mobility and offense.
How transport effected warfare?
Made defence less important
How the train helped in WW1?
1914: germans moved troops by train for surprise attack; over two million men and 600000 horses out manoeuvre french and advance 300 km
How motorised transport helped in WW1?
1918: motorised transport introduced british army has over 55000 trucks and 35000 motor cycles
How aircrafts helped during WW2?
1940: aircraft parachute troops behind enemy lines: vehicles transport infantry quickly into areas seized by tanks, as with the german ‘blitzkrieg’
How air support helped in WW2?
1944: air support important; allies create ‘cab rank’ system (air crafts always in sky ) allowing infantry to call quick air strikes
Surveillance during this period?
from 1900 surveillance from aircrafts was introduced. In 1957, the first artificial satellites allowed surveillance from space. Military satellites are used:
- spot enemy forces and identify targets
- predict weather conditions
- photo impact of attacks
- provide communication systems
How is surveillance techniques used now?
Used to guide inter continental ballistic missiles, ICBMs and bombs dropped from stealth air craft, fighter jets and drones. ‘Smart’ bombs are 10 times more accurate than conventional bombs
What was RADAR?
Vital for Britain victory in the battle of Britain, in 1940. It was used as part of an early warning system to detect enemy aircrafts
What is 21st century guerrilla warfare?
Powerful states can use bombing and elite infantry to capture territory , but controlling it can be more difficult .
Weaker forces may use guerrilla warfare against occupying troops. Guerrillas blend in with local civilians and use hit and run raids instead of open battles . Traditional weapons and tactics are much harder to use against them , as west has found in Afghanistan and iraq
High tech warfare during this period?
Computerised high tech weapons are having a significant impact. Used to attack from thousands of Kms away, they are followed by infantry . Troops are supported by tanks , jets m attack helicopters and mobile artillery. Battles are coordinated via radio communication and satellite surveillance .
How recruitment changed during this world war one?
1914: thousands needed to replace casualties-appeal for volunteers
1916: military service act , introduces conscription for unmarried men aged 18-41, and later married men.
1918: conscription ends
Changes in recruitment during world war 2?
1939: national service act reintroduces conscription
1941: conscription also applies to men aged up to 51, and unmarried women aged 20-30
1943: age limit for conscripted women increased to 51.
Changes in recruitment in 1960s?
Return to permanent , volunteer standing army .
How government propaganda was used for recruitment?
Government propaganda encouraged men to enlist , but the scale of casualties put of recruits.
How did pals battalions help recruitment?
Were made up of local volunteers from the same community .
How national service helped recruitment?
Introduced in 1948, meant all men aged 17-21 had to complete 18 months military training and service followed by four years in the reserves.