Technological Advancements During Ww1

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Brayden Groff Mr. Androconis American History, Block 3 October 5, 2016 Weaponry and Technological Advancements During WWI During World War One enemies presented countless obstacles and challenges for both sides of the war. The end of the war was always on everyone mind. Thousands of soldiers were being slaughtered during trench warfare along with many civilians, at home and on passenger ships. In order to overcome these obstacles and end the war, both sides worked on advancements to all of their weaponry and found new technological advancements. These advancements lead to the development and evolution of aircraft, tanks, warships, and artillery, changing the weapons used in war forever. Compared to previous wars, the artillery used in WWI was extremely advanced. Unlike previous rifles, bolt-action rifles could shoot an average of 15 rounds a minute. However, the new war strategy of trench warfare brought an urge for competition and resulted in a numerous amounts of inventions. The bolt-action rifle was soon out matched as the machine gun was created. This weapon, later nicknamed “the killing machine”, could shoot up to 600 rounds per minute, dominating the battlefield. …show more content…

One of the biggest challenges was crossing no-man’s land. The space, between the trenches, provided an easy target for enemy soldiers and was cover in barbed wire, which entangled soldiers. As a solution, the tank was invented. In 1916, the first tank, known as Mark I, was taken into battle. The machine could run over the barbed wire with ease and could protect soldiers with its shield of durable metal. However, motors were often taken from old tractor or other vehicle and were proved unreliable. Still, tanks made trench warfare more manageable and saved many soldiers’ lives during the crossing of no-man’