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What new weapons and tactics did both sides employ? - Coggle Diagram
What new weapons and tactics did both sides employ?
Tanks
Designed to achieve a breakthrough through no-mans-land, strong armour
British Mark 1 first used during battle of the Somne, Sept 1916
By 1918, Allies had over 1000 tanks, 480 deployed at battle of Soisson, July 1918
German high command not impressed by early tanks, Germany only built 20 tanks by the end of 1918
Artillery
Categories
Howitzers, shorter barrel and fired in long curved trajectory, i.e French 520mm Howitzer, Big Bertha
Mortars, very short barrel fired in a high curved trajectory to be used in trenches
Guns, long barrel and long range, i.e. Paris Gun
Types of Shells
Shrapnel, packed with lead balls, tend to cause nasty wounds and kill many
High Explosive Shells, explode on impact or explode delayed underground
Gas shells, delivered gas, typically mustard gas, wind dependent
Gas
Very wind dependent, and difficult to deliver
Many shells would have to land in the same place to have an effetive concentration
Still accounted for over 90000 deaths and many appalling injuries.
Xylyl Bromide
Teargas, irritated eyes and caused uncontrollable tearing
Chlorine
pale green and peppery smelling, created HCl in lungs when inhaled, blindness ad vomiting
Phosgene
colorless, heavier than air, smelling like hay, could last a long time in the trenched and symptoms could take 48 hours to show, accounted for 85% of deaths
Mustard Gas
yellow, smelling of garlic, caused severe chemical burns
Vehicles
Aircraft
Only around 200 planes on both sides in 1914, used for reconnaissance and artillery spotting
Fighter Planes
By mid 1915, both sides on the western front were producing fighter planes
German Fokker II
French SPAD S.VII
British Sopwith Camel
Most pilots inexperienced and died quite quickly, majority of battles won by air aces
Zeppelins
Germany invested more heavily in them, putting several dozen into service
Fairly ineffective as bombers, very vulnerable to anti aircraft weapons