Modern Warfare Case Studies

Question 1

(Western front / battle of the somme 1916) Nature of Warfare / Strategy

Answer 1

-daily routines included cleaning weapons and sentry duty
-soldiers lived in dugouts

General Haig was under pressure from the government to recapture lost land.
-RFC shot down German observation balloons
-week long artillery bombardment and gas attacks in 40 places
-Haig refused to adapt his strategy
-120,000 went over the top, 20,000 were killed and 40,000 were injured or captured

Question 2

(Western front / battle of the somme 1916) weapons used

Answer 2

-gas
-tanks
-“creeping barrage” of artillery
-rifles and machine guns cut down advancing soldiers

Question 3

(Western front / battle of the somme 1916) Reasons for outcome

Answer 3

-Germans knew that infantry would advance when the barrage had ended
-German trench system was long and deep: 12 lines of parallel trenches and dugouts+bunkers, including useful bunkers
-power of defence (machine guns and rifles)
-British infantry lacked experience and training
-barrage failed to destroy defences
-tanks were spread out too scarcely so their impact was limited

Question 4

(Iraq war 2003) Nature of Warfare/Strategy

Answer 4

-shock and awe strategy (overwhelming firepower)
-use of F117 fighter planes
-air raids and targeted bombing
-ground attack with 200,000 troops

Question 5

(Iraq war 2003) weapons used

Answer 5

-computerised weapons. E.G. stealth bombers, paveway bombs and smart bombs guided by GPS
-cruise missiles guided by ground operatives using cameras
-challenger tanks with laser assited guns
-air surveillance

Question 6

(Iraq war 2003) reason for outcome

Answer 6

-Iraq army had been defeated quickly but coallition withdrew after 8 years
-high-tech weapons not very effective in controlling the country after the main army was defeated
-guerilla warfare was difficult to combat
-total victory never achieved
-anti war protests also a factor in withdrawal