Experience Of Modern Warfare Flashcards
What does logistics refer to
The transportation of troops,supplies,ammunition and post
When were haldane’s reforms and what were they
1908,Response to Boer War,Set up a professional full time army and Part time army called the Territorial Force
What is Army 2020
An ongoing review of the Army,Changes include renaming Territorial force to Army Reserve in 2013
How much of the army was made up of logistics officers in 2003
15%
Why was new logistics officers needed
New weapons such as planes,tanks and new artillery meant more transportation was needed for them
What was the difference in % of Infantry in 1914 compared to 2015
65% to 25%
What was the change in percentage of cavalry in 1914 to 2015
10% in 1914 to 10% in 2015 as tanks replaced Cavalry and their role as they lead the attack
What was the change in percentage of artillery from 1914-2015
From 20%-10% as tanks and aircraft now share the role of bombarding the enemy
What are the changes in % of specialist troops from 1914-2015
5%-55%
What corps were set up for specialist troops for new equipment
Royal Engineers,Royal electrical and mechanical engineers,Royal Logistics corps and Royal Medical corps
When were the first bomb disposal units created
Early 1940
What are EOD units
These are units in modern armies that make munitions safe after wars are over
What were the advantages of machine guns
Very effective in defense,could fire 600 rounds a minute
What did tanks replace and why
By 1918,cavalry replaced by tanks that were more effective
What are chemical weapons and what has happened to them since ww1
Weapons using chemicals to cause death,most nations have now agreed to not use them
When was the first nuclear weapon created
1945
How have aircraft changed since 1914-18 in terms of numbers
63 aircraft in 1914 to 22,000 by 1918
What does surveillance allow forces to do
Spot enemy forces and identify targets
Predict weather
Photograph impact of attacks
Provide communication
What are ICBM’s
Inter continental ballistic missiles
How was developments in transport shown in 1914
Germans moved troops by train in order to suprise attack and out-manouvere french forces
How was developments in transport shown in 1918
Motorised transport introduced trucks/motorcycles used
How was developments in transport shown in 1940
Aircraft introduced,parachute troops would enter behind enemy lines
How does war promote change in weaponry/society
“War is a catalyst of change” as all resources are put into the war and creating the newest and best weaponry/tactics
How was development in transport shown in 1944
Air support,allies create ‘cab rank’ system that allows the aircraft to always be in the sky and quickly attack when needed
When is guerrilla warfare used and what is it
Used by a weaker force against a bigger enemy,Traditionally use hit and run tactics (ambushes) inflciting small casualties,examples include Vietnam and Afghanistan
How are high tech weapons having a significant impact
They can be used to attack from thousands of kilometres away meaning casualties are lessened
What is RADAR
RAdio Detection And Ranging,Early warning system to detect enemy aircraft,important for air sirens in Britan
What happened in terms of recruitment in ww1
1914-Thousands needed to replace casualties appeal for volunteers
1916-Millitary service act introduces conscription
1918-Conscription ends
How were many people recruited in WW1 by the goverment
Propoganda
PALs Battalions-local volunteers from the same community
National sedvice/conscription meant all men 17-21 had to serve for a period of time
When were women first allowed to be conscripted and what did they have to be
Unmarried women aged 20-30 could first be conscripted in 1941
What was the WVS and how many members did it have in 1941 (when women were first conscripted)
Women’s voluntary Service,One million members
How many people died in WW1
10 million combatants
How many people died in WW2 (Millitary and Civilian)
15 million combatants
45 million civilians
What is Total warfare
The use of all people in the country towards the war effort and the targeting of all people in the other country.Used wars of attrition to break enemy down through limiting resources instead of actually beating the opponent
What is conscription
Where people are forced to serve in the armed forces instead of volunteering
What was the impact of active fighting on civilians in terms of recruitment
Many britons were forced to fight for the first time since the medieval period.700,000 died in the first war and 450,000 died in the second world war
What was the Home guard
A part time volunteer force formed in 1940 to defend against invasion
What was the civil defense
Volunteers who defended the country from air raids
What was the women’s voluntary service
Supported the civil defense with its million volunteers
What is ‘the home front’ referring to
The civilian population and the preparations of a country at home,who’s forces are fighting abroad
What is rationing
The dividing up of food so that all people have equal amounts,this happened in 1918 and again in 1940
What was the blitz
Between 1940-41.Two million homes were destroyed and 1.5 million civilians evacuated due to German bombing
What was the ‘defense of the realm act’
An act made in 1914 that allowed the goverment to censor information
What was the emergency powers act and when was it
1940,This act gave the goverment unlimited powers to act,in turn workers could be moved into jobs more needed for the war effort
What were some common Air raid precautions
Gas masks issued to every citizen
Air raid shelters set up in homes and public places
Children evacuated
Blackouts
What are some of the unexpected benefits warfare has given us
Major medical advances and equality for women
What could men opt to do instead of joining the armed forces in WW2
They could join the mining industry
What were the attitudes to Conscientious Objectors (Somebody like Desmond Doss)
Very poor attitudes towards them as it was seen as a sign of cowardice,many lost jobs,went to prison,were forced to serve and faced hostility and people giving them white feathers
What were the changes in war reporting over the modern period
New media such as televisions and satellite links have revolutionised reporting,impacting public attitudes
1914-One journalist reports from the battlefield
1916-Five journalists allowed on front line
2003-700 reporters allowed in Iraq war
Why has support for war been reduced after WW2
The financial and human costs of war reported by the news means people are more likely to oppose it
How are strategies made now to maintain public support
New strategies aim to minimise casualties on both sides
Why is it now harder for the goverment to implement censorship
New technology means it’s much harder to introduce censorship,However some journalists still present a patriotic view
In the first world war how was censorship used
It was used to hide the worst news from the public,soldiers letters were read and censored
How was propoganda used differently in both world wars
WW1-Propoganda used to exaggerate victory and increase patriotism
WW2-Propoganda concentrates on horrors of war and the need to win along with amorale building posters (censorship also used)
What was the battle of the Somme and when was it
1916,An attempt to break the stalemate on the western front
How long did the somme go on for
Five months
What were the main tactics employed in the somme
Week long heavy artillery bombardment
Creeping barrage of infantry
Infantry going ‘over the top’ and getting gunned down
What were the reasons for the stalemate in the somme
Suprise lost due to artillery barrage
German trench system was better
Power of defense,Artillery and machine guns cut down soldiers
British infantry were new and lacked experience
What was the nature of trench warfare
Boring daily routines such as sentry duty and cleaning weapons
Trench foot
Weather was harsh+heavy bombardement meant little sleep
Disease was spread by rats and dirty water
What did General Haig do well in the Somme
Calculated heavy casualties would hit the germans harder than the british
Wanted to pin down the german troops at the somme
What did General Haig do badly in the somme
Didn’t change strategy after first infantry attacks weren’t succesful
Used new weapons badly
Didn’t listen to advice
What was the ‘Coalition’ in the Iraq war
The Coalition used high-tech weaponry and surveillance techniques to limit casualties
What was the Strategy in the Iraq war
‘Shock and awe’ using overwhelming advanced firepower
F-117 fighters bombed Iraqi leaders whilst forces went in
Two months of air raids
200,000 ground troops captured key cities
What was used for surveillance in the Iraq war
Drones used
Satnet 4,British satellite placed over Iraq to intercept communications and guide tactics along with keeping commanders safer
What was the outcome of the Iraq war and why
The ‘coalition’ defeated Iraq’s army in 20 days but were forced to withdraw 8 years later,The high tech weapons were not able to control the country due to the guerilla tactics employed by the Iraqis
How was computeried weaponry used in Iraq
F-117 stealth fighter-bombers are undetectable by radar
Paveway bombs aka smart bombs are guided using lasers and GPS
Storm Shadows are cruise missiles launched from aircraft using cameras
How were tanks updated in the modern period
In WW1-Used innefectively due to them tending to break down
In WW2-Used much more effectively as a shock troop at the front of an attack and also to protect soldiers behind it
Later on-Tanks updated to be smaller,lighter and quicker,mainly used in surveillance
