Weapons of WWI

Approximately 9 million soldiers died over the course of 5 years during World War one. A war so significant, new weapons and strategies had been created in order to gain an advantage over the enemy. On a daily basis soldiers were fighting against weapons they knew little to nothing about. Heavy automatic guns, poisonous gases, and huge armored ships were the basis of the devastating weapons that would grace the battlefields on the land, air, and sea. Land combat at the time had primarily been associated with the use of personal firearms, primarily the bolt-action rifle that could fire up to 15 rounds per minute (Hamilton 6). However, the introduction of the machine gun changed the way battles would be fought forever. The most popular of these guns at the time was the German Maxim machine gun. Capable of firing over 600 bullets in a single minute, a tactical team of 4 or 5 soldiers could take down an arsenal of enemy soldiers in an extremely brief amount of time. It was put to the test on the first day in the Battle of the Somme where the British suffered its worst single-day number of casualties amounting to about 60,000 (Ellis 6). The Allies had soon adapted their own version of this automatic weapon dubbed the Vickers gun. This .303-inch machine gun was produced for the British army and required a 6 to 8 man team to operate. Although it was known to be more reliable than the German Maxim Machine gun, it needed at least two additional soldiers to operate. With the ability to tear down opponents over a flat surface on the battlefield, many believe that these guns were one of the major factors that led to soldiers seeking refuge over longer distances in trench warfare.

Largely immune to firearm attacks, trench warfare became a prevalent way to wear down the enemy. Separated by an area exposed to both forces fire, the so-called no mans land was avoided at all costs due to incoming machine gun and artillery fire. The use of gas arose as one of the prevailing weapons to take down the enemy without exposing infantry to gunfire. It is important to note, the use of gas was only a minor causal factor of casualties in the war. The fatality rate was very low but the gases had the capability of incapacitating soldiers hidden deep within the trenches. Three main gases were used throughout the war: mustard, chlorine, and phosgene (Simon 10). The effectiveness was judged by the severity of the reaction and the ease of detection when the gas was released. Phosgene and chlorine had proven to be extremely effective in both of these areas but mustard gas had become highly popularized in the war due to its ability to linger on the battlefield over a long period of time. This was especially effective during trench warfare where soldiers would often have to withstand a stalemate that could last for weeks on end. Initially, gas was released by hand during favorable wind conditions but due to the harsh repercussions resulting from misjudgment of wind direction, mortars and artillery served as the primary delivery system later on in the war. Another common group of weaponry used on land during the war was that of heavy artillery. These big guns were of great significance because of their ability to destroy enemy communication lines, artillery units, and possibly end a stalemate within opposing trenches. Guns such as the famous Big Bertha could fire shells up to a distance of 70 miles and carried huge destructive power (Hamilton 6). This was crucial when fighting battles that would take place over long distances where soldiers would be hiding far into the trenches. The artillery of the war was often characterized by the shrieking sounds of shells

as they would fly through the air and the deafening explosions once they had crashed to the ground. It is said that the sounds alone could be considered a weapon in itself since all soldiers knew what was coming when the big guns would fire. The introduction of the tank served as another way the British forces looked to break the deadlock of trench warfare. These heavily armored vehicles were first introduced at the Battle of the Somme but proved to be ineffective in beginning stages due to poor tactical planning. Many forces were spread too thin which made them an easy target for opposing forces. Also, due to heavy artillery fire over the battlefield, the ground the tanks traveled on was torn apart and difficult to traverse. Early technologies the tanks relied upon were not suitable for these types of terrain. However, later improvements in tank structure and strategy had proven to be a great force when attempting to breach enemy lines. Although WW1 is often characterized as the war that was fought within the trenches, it is important to note the advances and weaponry used in the sky. A vision of enemy forces was essential for commanders create a strategy over longer distances. Aircraft were first used as a type of reconnaissance that could detect troop movements and coordinate artillery attacks. However, it quickly became apparent that these planes could also carry bombs that could be dropped with relative precision for great damage. In 1917, the British introduced a single-seat biplane fighter to the western front called the Sopwith Camel. Armed with two machine guns, the Sopwith is credited with destroying over one thousand enemy aircraft. Carrying similar capabilities, the German Fokker Triplane was soon brought to the skies to battle the Sopwith Camel. Also accompanying these fighter planes in the sky was the German airship dubbed the Zeppelin. Primarily used as bombers,

these airships could travel at relatively quick speeds, had a longer endurance, and could carry many more guns than a fighter plane. These proved to be very effective in early years but were highly vulnerable to incendiary ammunition. The battle at sea became just as important as on land with the short availability of supplies and ammunition on a timely basis. With Britain being an island, a strong fleet was essential in order to keep their merchant ships and trade routes safe. In 1906, the first Dreadnought battleships were launched and had become known as a huge naval power around the world. Armed with a main battery of ten heavy-caliber guns and several other light guns, opposing forces were put to the test to create a ship that could defend against its shear power. These behemoths also boasted plated armor 11 inches thick and could travel up to 21 knots (40km/hr) (Hamilton 18). In an attempt to rattle Britains dominance on the sea, the Germans looked for opportunities below to fight them. In the beginning of the war the German submarines or, U-boats, as they were often referred to, were mostly used as anti-commerce weapons. Disrupting Allied supply lines was pivotal for success in the war. However, in what ultimately culminated into the Battle of Jutland, German U-boats fought against Allied battleships in the biggest sea showdown of the war. Several lives and many ships were lost in an attempt to gain an edge in the highly sought after naval aspect of the war. The technological aptitude of the countries involved in World War one was on the rise and it truly showed with the advances and creation of new weaponry. The traditional war on land consisting primarily of personal firearms was becoming outdated. The introduction of devastating machine guns completely changed the structure of land combat. Since these weapons carried such destructive power, the strategy of trench warfare

became more and more prevalent. Without the ability to see the enemy face to face, the use of poisonous gases and heavy artillery were vital to success in the trenches. The implementation of tanks had only been seen in the beginning stages of the war and had a fair amount defects but later on proved to be a formidable force. In the air, further advancements in weaponry were made with battles between fighter planes and bombings from airships. In a war where distance held great meaning, a strong air presence was very useful for both forces. On and below the sea a very important naval war was fought. Control of supplies was crucial for victory and led to several contests between Allied battleships and German U-boats. The weapons of WW1 were constantly adapting to military strategies and advancements in technology. Soldiers of opposing forces were at the forefront of a new type of war and had to quickly learn about the new weapons they faced every day. The introduction of many of these weapons serve as the original model of many technologies we see today.

Citations

Hamilton, John. Weapons of World War I. Edina : ADBO Publishing Company, 2004. Howard, Michael. The First World War. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002

Ellis, John. The Social History of the Machine Gun. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1986. Jones, Simon. World War I Gas Warfare Tactics and Equipment. New York: Osprey Publishing, 2007.