The Era Of The Great War #4: Military Tactics

Question 1

Describe the creeping barrage

Answer 1

• artillery would fire just ahead of attacking infantry
• this would keep the enemy soldiers pinned down until the attacking force was on them

Question 2

Example of creeping barrage

Answer 2

Battle of Arras (April-May 1917)
A successful creeping barrage ensured it remained the ideal 100m ahead of the attacking troops

Question 3

Describe extensive tunnelling

Answer 3

This involved the creation of underground supply and storage tunnels, as well as the creation of assault tunnels

Question 4

When was the Battle of Arras?

Answer 4

April/May 1917

Question 5

When was extensive tunnelling used?

Answer 5

• At the Battle of Arras (April 1917)
• The supply and storage tunnels hid 24000men pre-attack and assault tunnels were used to place mines near the German line and detonate

Question 6

Describe reconnaissance aircraft

Answer 6

This was when airplanes were used to monitor and report back on enemy’s lines

Question 7

Give an example of reconnaissance aircraft

Answer 7

• Battle of Arras in 1917
• British used this to report of Germans
• It was partly ineffective: German fighter pilot Manfred Von Richtofen was effective in shooting them down, so the average life expectancy of a British pilot in Arras was 18hours

Question 8

Describe open formation

Answer 8

This was when an advance was made speedily, fluidly, or in the leapfrog formation

Question 9

Give an example of open formation

Answer 9

Canadian Troops effectively used this at the Battle of Arras in 1917 to capture Vimy Ridge to the north of Arras

Question 10

Describe bombardment

Answer 10

This involved the use of RFC intelligence and the Field Survey company which could pinpoint the enemy’s heavy artillery and target them

Question 11

Give an example of bombardment

Answer 11

When this was used at the Battle of Arras in 1917, at least 80% of the German heavy artillery was destroyed

Question 12

Describe the ‘all arms battle plan’ (combined arms)

Answer 12

This involved the use of infantry, artillery, tanks, and aircraft altogether in attack

Question 13

Give an example of the ‘all arms battle plan’ (combined arms)

Answer 13

This tactic helped the British to win the war at the Battle of Amiens in August 1918, along with at the subsequent Hundred Days Offensive

Question 14

Describe the use of snipers

Answer 14

• Trained snipers would creep into No Man’s Land at night time and hide under camouflage.
• They would then wait for an enemy soldier to lift his head out of the trench before shooting them, causing fear amongst the enemy.

Question 15

Describe the use of the navies + give an example

Answer 15

• Navies were used to attack the enemy, both at sea and on land. Naval ships might fire artillery at enemy positions.
• Britain also successtully used a naval blockade of Germany to try and starve the country into surrender.

Question 16

Describe the use of submarines

Answer 16

• Submarines were also used during the war, especially by the Germans with their feared U-boats.
• This was not just to attack military ships, but also to destroy civilian ships believed to be carrying war resources.

Question 17

Loos Summary

Answer 17

• Indecisive battle, didn’t make the war any closer to finishing
• 20 Scottish regiments and 30,000 troops
• 1 in 3 missing soldiers was Scottish
• Gas was used for the first time with líttle success 8/12 battalions that lost 500 men were Scottish
• 5 Scots were awarded the Victoria cross for valour at loos Huge Losses for the cameronians, blackcurrant watch and Gordon highlanders
• Seven Scottish battalions lost their commanding officers

Question 18

Loos Summary

Answer 18

• Indecisive battle, didn’t make the war any closer to finishing
• 20 Scottish regiments and 30,000 troops
• 1 in 3 missing soldiers was Scottish
• Gas was used for the first time with líttle success 8/12 battalions that lost 500 men were Scottish
• 5 Scots were awarded the Victoria cross for valour at loos Huge Losses for the cameronians, blackcurrant watch and Gordon highlanders
• Seven Scottish battalions lost their commanding officers

Question 19

When was the Battle of Loos?

Answer 19

25 September - 16 October 1915

Question 20

When was the Battle of the Somme?

Answer 20

1 July - 18 November 1916

Question 21

Somme Summary

Answer 21

• 3 Scottish divisions: the 9th, 15th and 51st highland division
• 51 Scottish infantry divisions were involved
• 600,000 casualties overall
• 20,000 killed on the first day
• Not much land was gained
• It weakened the German spirit
• 16th highland infantry attacked Frankfurt trench, but some left behind when the rest of the army withdrew

Question 22

When was the Battle of Arras?

Answer 22

9 April to 16 May 1917

Question 23

Arras Summary

Answer 23

• Well planned transport, and gas stopped German horses so th couldn’t move their guns
• 10 Scottish divisions
• 1/3rd of 159,000 casualties were Scots
• New tactics were used and artillery did its job well
• Attacks were launched in waves rather than all at once
• Developed a new strategy which eventually won the war; infantry, artillery, tanks and aircraft all at once
  “all arms” battle plan