Breadth 2: Role of the People (Technology) Flashcards
What was the carronade and why was it useful to the British Navy?
The carronade was a short cannon that fired grapeshot at close range.
It was useful because it complemented the British tactic of ‘crossing the T’ (sailing in front of an enemy ship), and made close quarter fighting and boarding an enemy ship much safer as it would clear the deck of defenders.
Why did the carronade fall out of favour on British ships?
Long range combat became more popular as long range guns became more accurate and powerful. They were phased out of Royal Navy service by 1851.
What were the two main components that made the carronade a significant technological innovation?
The use of grapeshot: it was devastating against people. Wounds from high explosive shells would later be commonplace in WW1.
Windage: the carronade helped to solve the issue of windage (a gap between the ammo and the barrel), which could take the force out of a shot. As engineering became more precise, especially in rifled barrels, windage became less of a problem.
What were Congreve’s rockets and how were they useful to the British?
Congreve’s rockets were rockets consisting of a iron tube and gunpowder. The design was based on Indian rockets that had been used in colonial wars in the years prior.
The rockets were erratic in their flight paths and didn’t do a lot of damage. However, their psychological impact was huge as they were unpredictable and produced smoke and noise. They were most effective when used alongside conventional weapons.
What were the problems with Congreve’s rockets?
They did little actual damage, and could sometimes be just as big a threat to the firer as they were to the target.
They didn’t store well in extreme temperatures.
Their flightpath was hard to predict and erratic.
Rockets’ effectiveness relied on traditional weaponry.
Deployment was difficult on rough terrain.
They were eventually rendered obsolete by advances in steel artillery.
Why was a breech-loading gun better than a muzzle-loading gun?
The muzzle-loading gun was complex to reload. Having so much gunpowder in the muzzle also meant that barrel would quickly become fouled.
Breech-loading guns were reloaded through a hole or chamber closer to the firer. The weapon therefore didn’t have to be moved so much during reloading. Moreover, the gunpowder and bullet would be loaded together in a shell.
The first breech-loading gun was ready for the army in 1858.
What were the three main problems with traditional artillery, and how did Armstrong solve them?
Slow loading time: This was solved by Armstrong’s cannon being breech-loaded, with a screw thread that could replace and screw the breech back into position before firing.
Barrel wear: Armstrong’s projectiles were coated in a soft metal (lead.) As it was softer than the metal of the barrel, there would be less wear on the barrel.
Poor accuracy: The soft metal expanded when fired, reducing windage and putting more spin on the shell. Less gunpowder was needed because of this.
Why was Armstrong’s weaponry significant in the British Armed Forces?
Improved range and reliability of weaponry made battlefields deeper.
Without breech-loaders, the change from broadside firing to turret mounted guns would not have happened on warships.
The killing power of artillery meant warfare became static as men relied on trench systems to protect themselves. The biggest killer in war was now artillery fire, as opposed to sickness.
How did breech-loading guns change British tactics?
Larger breech-loaders were the first to fire in a larger range than the gunners could see. This led to artillery spotting, as the spotter would tell the gunner if the shot was effective. Signalling led to the development of signal flags, the field telephone and the radio in WW1. Artillery would often be aimed on points on a map, so the map had to be accurate.
When was the first machine gun (the Maxim) created, and how did it work?
Created in 1884.
Used the recoil from firing to expel the used cartridge and place a new one in the breech. The barrel was surrounded by a sleeve of water that prevented the gun from overheating. Needed a team to set up and move, but could be operated by one man.
How did the Vickers machine gun differ from the Maxim?
It was lighter and more reliable than the Maxim. Used the same ammunition as the infantry rifles. Its parts were easier to mass-produce. Gun itself was easier to move.
What was the Lewis gun?
A light machine gun. It was widely used in infantry battalions. Heavier guns like the Vickers were reformed into the Machine Gun Corps, which were assigned to divisions.
What was the impact of the Vickers gun and other machine guns on warfare?
It contributed to the rise of static trench warfare. Men couldn’t travel across the battlefield or they’d be gunned down by a machine gun.
Fewer men were needed to hold an area. The firepower of a machine gun was the same as 40-50 rifle men.
Those in machine gun units were often trained in mechanics to look after the weapon.
What was the first working prototypes of the tank like?
‘Little Willie’ showed the benefits of caterpillar tracks for moving over rough terrain. It was planned to be mounted with a single pompom gun, along with six machine guns.
‘Big Willie’ was rhomboid shaped with tracks on the outside.
What were the problems with the Mark 1 iteration of the tank?
They were large, cumbersome and difficult to operate.
The top speed was a little over walking pace.
They needed large crews.
They required large engines because of their size.
There was no steering, and the direction was determined by the speed of each track.
Communication was tricky; usually done via a runner or by signal.
