Technology of WWI

Bold Action Rifle In the trenches, the weapon carried by all British soldiers was the bolt action rifle. It was possible for the soldier to fire 15 rounds per minute.

French soldiers used the bayonet – a long knife that fits on the end of a rifle. This was starting to be considered an “old school” weapon at that time. Add this to your notes please.

Machine Gun Unlike today, machine guns were not the main weapons of soldiers. In 1914, they needed 4 to 6 men to run them. They also had to be positioned on a flat surface. They could fire up to 400 rounds per minute and had the fire power of 100 guns.

Tanks Tanks were first used in 1916 to help move the war along. The Central Powers and the Allies were at a stalemate sitting in their trenches waiting for the other one to make a move.

The first tank was nicknamed “Little Willie” and it needed a crew of three to run it. Its maximum speed was about 5 kmh and it was unable to cross trenches. Not a success for the Allies.

Chlorine Germans during WWI were the first to use chlorine gas in French soldiers had not seen this before and assumed that it was a smoke screen. The gas smelled like a mixture of pepper and pineapple and the French only realised they were being gassed when they started to have chest pains and a burning sensation in their eyes and throats.

The problem with using chlorine is that weather conditions must be right before it is used. Why? If the wind changes direction, it will blow right back at you and not at the enemy.

Chlorine Gas Attack

Afterwards, Allied forces discovered that urine-soaked cotton pads neutralised the chlorine. However, they found it difficult to fight like this!

Mustard Gas Mustard gas was the most deadly biological weapon used in the trenches: o Odourless o Took 12 hours to take effect o Very powerful o only small amounts needed to be added to shells to be effective o It remained active for several weeks when it landed in the soil

The nastiest thing about mustard gas is that it blistered the skin, burned the eyes and severely damaged the lungs. It sometimes took up to five weeks to die from exposure.

Warning! Graphic pictures ahead. Look away if you’re easily grossed out.

On the way to the infirmary after a mustard gas attack

Planes This war also had another first: planes started to be used to deliver bombs. Planes were armed with machine guns, bombs, and cannons. The damage was devastating.

Plaque commemorating a Zeppelin raid on 61 Farrington Road, London in 1915

Pilots were known to fight enemy aircraft in the air in “dogfights” to protect the men on the ground.

A German plane shot down by American machine gunners

Billy Bishop Most famous Canadian fighter pilot during WWI Was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery In charge of recruiting Canadian fighter pilots during WWII years later

They were even used for reconnaissance work. Blimps were also commonly used for this.

German reconnaissance balloon being shot down by Allied aircraft