War in the Air & Sea
War in the Air
Pilots flew alone Largely for aerial reconnaissance Early Planes
Dog Fights Pilots used spins and aerial tricks to escape attacking planes Aerial combat tactics
Life expectancy for a WW1 pilot was three weeks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OILxxfj-iCU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f85CDEpiMhQ
New Tech Pilot on both sides with pistols and rifles Machine guns mounted on the planes New Tech
Zeppelins carried machine guns for defense and bomb loads strategic bombing did not exist before war aerial warfare changed that robbed the British of the protection by the English Channel. The Zeppelin allowed Germany to bring the war to the English homeland Zeppelins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZqqWSUirls
Billy Bishop After 5 enemy aircrafts shot down pilot becomes as ace often withdrawn from air force to fundraise at home Billy Bishop – top ace Awarded Victoria Cross medal for bravery Billy Bishop
War at Sea
British Strategy
Germany could not match Britain’s navy – had set up blockades food and supplies could not get to Germany Germany retaliates with U-boats U-boats (submarine) were their most dangerous weapon U - Boats
German Strategy was to choke supplies going to and from Britain Difficult to detect and interfered with British ships War at Sea = who controls supply lines?
Later in the war equipped with torpedoes guided missile that happens to "fly" underwater could completely destroy British ships
Convoys Conveys = group of ships British and allied ships gathered in Halifax Cross the Atlantic together carrying supplies Protected by navy vessels from U-boat attacks Convoys
Merchant Marine Merchant Marine: ferry munitions and food to Britain Many merchant sailors lost lives though not officially part of the armed forces Merchant Marine
The Lusitania British passenger ship sunk by U-boat in 1915 Killed 1200 people including Americans and Canadians Germany declares they will sink any ship that enters the warzone - “unrestricted submarine warfare” Major reason for United States to join the war in 1917 The Lusitania