C1900-Present Flashcards
Machine guns?
developed in 1880s,
gave troops advantage over unarmed
infantry and cavalry
Nuclear weapons
first used in WWII
Radars
sensors used to detect objects
from afar, used in WWII
Aircraft?
first used in WWI
What’s Conscription?
was introduced by the Military
Service Act in 1916 - all single men between 18 and
41 were legally required to join the army
Later in the year that was extended to include
married men
Auxiliary Territorial Service
was founded in
1938 to provide supporting roles for WWII such as cooks and drivers
What was the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps?
was supposed to
help deal with manpower shortages in 1917
Nagional service?
came into force in 1949 - all physically
fit men between 17 and 21 had to serve in armed forces
for 18 months
Bomb Disposal Units?
In 1940, 25 bomb disposal units were
formed, another 109 by end of year
1972 - remote controlled robot
developed to move explosives
In 2015 the British Army had 2000
Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists
High-Tech Warfare?
High tech weapons can be
used to attack from
thousands of miles away
Troops are now supported
by tanks, jets, helicopters
and radio communication
Iraq War 2003
Saddam Hussein ignored a UN
resolution to stop oppressing his people
Hussein agreed to destroy his weapons
of mass destruction but refused
inspections
George W Bush launched ‘war on terror’
after 9/11
Following intelligence reports, USA and
UK were concerned Hussein was
stockpiling weapons of mass destruction
USA, UK and allies invaded
Battle of the Somme
On the first day of battle British forces
had 57,000 casualties and 19,000 deaths
British and French troops were shot
down by German machine gun and rifle
fire in no man’s land
General Haig ordered more offensives
over next fortnight to wear down
German defenses
British troops launched big attack in
north of Somme, taking Germans by
surprise
First time Britain used tanks in combat
Guerrilla Warfare
Weaker forces may use guerrilla
warfare against occupying
troops
Guerrillas blend in with civilians
and use hit and run raids
Traditional weapons and tactics
are harder to use against them
Surveillance
-in 1957 the first
artificial satellites allowed
surveillance from space
This was used to:
Spot enemy forces and
identify targets
Predict weather
Take photos of attacks
Provide communication
Conscientious Objectors
16,000 conscientious
objectors in WWI
Had to make a public appeal
to be allowed not to fight,
some faced harsh treatment
from their communities
Some who refused to
cooperate with the war effort
altogether were imprisoned
