From my year 12 History assignment:
Due
to the new introduction of trenches, many war techniques were no longer
practical, with most soldiers succumbing to enemy fire in No-Man’s Land.
The stalemate could not be broken, even though the death toll continued to rise.
Each side searched for a way to overcome their enemy, leading to the rapid
increase in technology. The main weapon introduced by the British was the
bolt-action rifle, firing 16 rounds per minute.
Large field guns were also common, delivering devastating long-range shells
that exploded on impact. Machine
guns were used prior to World War I, but were extensively advanced to become
one of the biggest killers and account for 85% of the total soldiers’ deaths on
the battlefields. Beside machine guns, other common handheld weapons included
bayonets, flamethrowers and grenades, which also contributed to massive loss of
life.
These smaller weapons significantly increased the success for both sides. Another
major weapon, used extensively by the Allied powers, were tanks. They were
introduced in the Battle of Somme in 1916 and were heavy and clumsy with a
maximum speed of 5km/h. They were further developed to cope with the rough
terrain and be resistant to enemy fire-power,
providing extra protection and success for the Allies in future battles.
Poisonous gas was introduced by the Germans at the Battle of Ypres in 1915, and
had previously been considered foul play. After this, both sides adopted gas, including
chlorine gas, which caused burning in the lungs, and mustard gas, which caused
vomiting and internal bleeding[6]. These
gases deterred the enemy from approaching their forces. Possession and use of
these weapons resulted in some victory, providing new technological advances
that had not been seen or used before to overcome the enemy. Without the use of
trench warfare, technology would not have been advanced, and the First World
War would have had a much different outcome.
The
Battle of the Oceans saw the major powers patrolling all seas, including the
Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Sea campaigns were vitally important to control the
supplies being delivered to the enemy. Compared to the battles of land, little fighting between battleships occurred.
Submarines only made a large military impact with Germany’s launch of a U-boat
fleet, which sank 6,596 ships. The submarine warfare was the primary reason for
America’s involvement in the war. Airplanes
also became a theatre of war. Planes were new and untested when they were
introduced in 1914, and were originally used for spying before they were advanced
for dropping explosives. Dogfights
were a frequent conflict between the major powers, with over 50,000 airmen
succumbing to enemy fire. There
were approximately 70 different types of planes in WW1, all modified to perform
a particular task to aid the war effort.
