The Era Of The Great War #3: New Technology Flashcards
What technology was used?
- Machine guns
- tanks
- artillery
- aircraft
- submarines
How many bullets could machine guns fire per minute?
400 - 600 (more than a rifle)
How were machine guns operated?
They were placed on a tripod and 4-6 men were needed to operate them
Machine guns weaknesses
- Often overheated because of speed which they fired, stopping them being completely useful
- heavy and could not be moved easily around the battlefield
Machine guns strengths
- Kill large numbers of soldiers in a short period
- Their quick firing nature meant that precise aim was not an essential part of firing, making them easy and deadly to use
When were tanks first used?
Battle of the Somme (1916)
Tanks were originally known as…
Lanships
The first tank was nicknamed…
Little Willie
What were tanks armed with?
Guns, as well as metal armour
Strengths of tanks
- Tanks could provide defensive cover for soldiers as they crossed No Man’s Land
- Tanks were also used to destroy barbed wire, making it easier for soldiers to advance
Weaknesses of tanks
- Very slow (up to 4mph)
- Often got stuck in muddy fields, or their tracks could become removed from the body
- Tank crews often got sick due to petrol fumes
What 3 types of gas were used?
- Chlorine
- Phosgene
- Msutard
Generally, what injured would you sustain from gas?
- blisters
- damage to lunges when inhaled (injury or death)
- internal bleeding
Smell & Appearance of tear gases (ethyl bromoacetate, chloroacetone, xylyl bromides )
- Both ethyl bromoacetate & chloroacetone are colourless to light yellow with fruity, pungent odours
- Xylyl bromide is a colourless liquid with a pleasant, aromatic odour
Effects of tear gases
- lachrymatory agents
- irritate mucous membranes in the eyes, mouth, throat & lungs
- this led to crying, coughing, breathing difficulties, and temporary blindness
Effects of tear gases
- lachrymatory agents
- irritate mucous membranes in the eyes, mouth, throat & lungs
- this led to crying, coughing, breathing difficulties, and temporary blindness
When was tear gas first used?
- August 1914
- French forces used against Germany to little effect
When did tanks bring success?
- Battle of Cambrai, 1917
- Brought success to Britain as it destroyed barbed wire defences easily and crossed no man’s land
Estimated tear gas causalities
- 0
- used to incapacitate for around 30mins, not for killing
Smell & Appearance of chlorine gas
- yellowish-green
- strong bleach like odour
- soldiers described it as a mix between pineapple and pepper
Effects of chlorine gas
- reacts with water in the lungs
- this forms hydrochloric acids
- can cause coughing, vomiting, and irritation to the eyes at low concentrations, and rapid death at concentrations of 1000 parts per million
When was chlorine gas first used?
- By Germans at Ypres in April 1915
- By Brits at Loos in September 1915
Estimated casualties from chlorine gas
- > 1100
- it was devastating as troops were initially un equipped to deal with it
- later, gas masks limited effectiveness
Smell and appearance of phosgene & diphosgene gas
- phosgene is a colourless gas with a musty odour, like newly mown grass or hay
- diphosgene is colourless and oily
Effects of (di)phosgene gas
- react with proteins in lung air well, causing suffocation
- coughing, difficulty breathing, irritation to throat and eyes
- can cause delayed effects only shown 48hrs after, including fluid in lungs and death
First use of phosgene gas?
- December 1915
- Germans used against Britain at Ypres
Casualties from (di)phosgene gas
- 85%
- it is estimated that 85% of all gas-related fatalities in WW1 were from phosgene and diphosgene
How was (di)phosgene gas used?
Fired in artillery shells
Smell and appearance of mustard gas
- when pure, it’s colourless and odourless, but it’s used as a chemical agent in an impure form
- these are yellow/brown in colour and smell like garlic/horse radish
Effects of mustard gas
- powerful instant blistering agent that can damage the eyes, skin, & respiratory tract
- causes chemical burns on contact with skin
- forms intermediates that react with DNA leading to cell death
When was mustard gas first used?
- 12th July 1917
- German forces used against Britain at Ypres
Mortality rate of mustard gas
- 2/3%
- but effects were debilitating, and patients required elaborate care
Strengths of poison gas
- disorienting/ killing
- with the development of gas filled shells it became easier to target enemy soldiers without hurting your own
Weaknesses of poison gas
- a change in wind direction could send it back to a sides own soldiers (ie happened to Britain at Loos in September 1915)
- over the course of the war, development of gas masks made it easier to limit effects
What was artillery?
- highly explosive shells that could be fired great distances at the enemy
How did both sides use artillery?
- to pound enemy defences
- creeping barrages - fired just in front of advancing soldiers
What was Big Bertha?
- A German super gun which could fire projectiles weighing up to 810kg as much as 6 miles
- 12 used during war
- most famous example of artillery used in ww1
Strengths of artillery
- very difficult to defend against and caused more casualties than any other weapon
- up to 60% of deaths on the western front were from artillery
Weaknesses of artillery
- as soldiers advanced it was difficult to measure where to fire, causing casualties to a sides own soldiers
- barrels of artillery cannons needed regularly replaced, slowing down their use
What was aircraft used for?
- WW1 saw aircraft being used for the first time as a significant part of war tactics
- Zeppelins (hot air balloons) and airplanes formed different parts of each sides battle and preparation plans
What was aircraft used for?
- WW1 saw aircraft being used for the first time as a significant part of war tactics
- Zeppelins (hot air balloons) and airplanes formed different parts of each sides battle and preparation plans
Strengths of aircraft
- Used to spy on enemy positions, helping battle plans (reconnaissance)
- planes later had guns and zepppelins were used in bombing raids (Edinburgh 1916)
Weaknesses of aircraft
- airplane guns were not always effective, including jamming
- zeppelin raids were countered by anti-aircraft artillery, or barrage balloons to limit locations
What were submarines?
- underwater ships that could move without easy detection
- they could fire torpedos capable of sinking enemy ships
When and what was the first ship to be sunk by a German U-boat?
- September 1914
- HMS Pathfinder
Strengths of submarines
- Not easy to spot and so military and civilian ships feared them
- Germans used submarines to great effect to try and stop supplied from reaching great britain
Weaknesses of submarines
- using submarines rather than engage in open battles was felt by some military personnel to be dishonourable
- Germany sinking the Lusitania helped bring the USA into the war against them
How were planes used at the Battle of the Marne in 1914?
A pilot spotted a gap between the advancing German armies, and the British and the French quickly pushed into it
How were planes used?
Tactical and strategic bombing
Ground attack
Naval warfare
Dogfights
(First plane fight was in 1903, so not very advanced by 1914)
