The magazine contained between three and ten cartridges, although it typically had five. The diameter of the barrel fluctuated between 6.5 millimeters and eight millimeters. The rifles used in the First World War were developed between 18. This development had far-reaching effects, including the transition to field uniforms in muted and inconspicuous colors, which most armies had carried out by 1914. Indeed, this alluded to its most important feature – its lack of white smoke - for even in long firefights, the guns were no longer engulfed in thick white clouds of smoke that simultaneously obscured the rifleman’s view and gave away his location. In a slight exaggeration, it was referred to at that time as “smokeless powder”. While black powder was simply a mix of basic ingredients, the new propellant was developed on the basis of nitrocellulose in chemical factories. France’s adoption of a new rifle that used nitrocellulose powder in 1886 represented a large advancement in weapons technology. Through the general introduction of the rifled barrel and the reduction of the caliber, accuracy and firing distance were greatly improved. In the second half of the 19 th century, engineers succeeded in greatly improving the performance of military service rifles. By 1918, planes had been developed that could drop bombs on Berlin.In Europe, the rifle with a fixable bayonet was the standard weapon of the infantry, the largest and most important branch of the armed forces from the end of the 17 th century on. Heavier planes were developed that dropped bombs on the enemy. ![]() Later in the war, fighter planes were fitted with machine guns. They were more used for spotting the enemy and for gathering intelligence. They were used more effectively at the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917. However, they often broke down, got stuck in the mud and ran out of fuel. They were first used at the Battle of the Somme. It was believed that they would change the course of the war. Tanks were developed in order to break the deadlock and as a way to cross no-man’s land. ![]() Counter measures like gas masks were quickly developed to minimise the effects of gas attacks.It needed light winds, but light winds could change and blow the gas back towards where it came from. Despite its fearsome effects, gas never proved a decisive weapon.The German army was the first to use chlorine gas in 1915 at Ypres - when breathed in it burned the lungs.This war was the first in which chlorine and mustard gas were used. The use of artillery caused over 60 per cent of deaths on the battlefield during World War One. ![]()
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