How Have Weapons Chaned In The Modern Era

Question 1

What are the three main ways in which weapons have tended to be designed for ?

Answer 1

Precision( accuracy)
Rate and range of fire
Maneuverability in combat

Question 2

What was the typical twentieth century British soldier equipped with

Answer 2

-An automatically loading assault rifle, some from of optic, rapid and semi automatic capabilities with the ability to attach a grenade launcher
- body armour including a helmet such as the Mk6
- personal radio

Question 3

What where the big developments toe weapons in the 1900 to present?

Answer 3

Machine guns
Tanks
Nuclear weapons
Precision guided missiles(PGMs)
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

Question 4

What is a machine gun and how was it developed over 1900-present?

Answer 4

-Automatic weapon capable of firing bullets in quick succession
-Developed in the late 1800s but first used on a large scale in WW1
Early machine guns where not very mobile although lighter and more portable ones where developed
-they where developed so that now lightweight versions are used by infantry and larger guns are mounted on tanks and helicopters

Question 5

What is a tank and how has it been developed over 1900-present ?

Answer 5

First used in 1916
Armor plated vehicles armed with machine guns
Early tanks where slow (7km) and mechanically unreliable
By WW2 they were stronger, faster and more reliable (could go 40km/h)
They changed warfare by allowing infantry greater mobility and firepower, encouraging mobile warfare

Question 6

What is a UAV and how was it developed 1900-present ?

Answer 6

UAVs or drones are pilotless aircraft that can be controlled remotely
First introduced in the1970’s, recent developments in micro electrics enhanced their capabilities so they can be used for a wide variety of things (raids, surveillance and reconnaissance)
They are changing warfare by removing soldiers from the battle field

Question 7

What are Precision guided missiles and how where they developed 1900-present?

Answer 7

They do not follow a ballistic trajectory based on the laws of physics
Instead they are guided to their target and can change direction
Appearing in the late 1960’s
They can be guided via radar, heat sensors and GPS
GPS tech has made them cheaper to produce and are becoming increasingly used

Question 8

What is a nuclear weapon and how was it developed 1900-present ?

Answer 8

Produce large explosion and produce lethal and harmful radiation after use
Only used twice: Nagasaki and Japan
Originally only able to be dropped via plane they can now be fired from very far distances like ICBMs
They have never been used in warfare since WW2 however tension have arose over them as MAD would take place causing both sides to take heavy losses
They are the ultimate deterrent to war
Example: Britain’s trident program on four nuclear submarines