Technology Used In WW1
World War One had a significant impact on the world. Not only in economic growth, but technology as well. Let's take a look at the technology used, the pros and
cons of them and the impact that they had on
others.
![Machine Guns](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-osFKvSYwLlU/TpAx4Xhxt8I/AAAAAAAATXM/pRDHaOSRGLg/s1600/wcmg1.jpg)
Machine Guns
Description
○An artillery with fast fire rate
○Used for mowing down
incoming enemies
![](https://weaponsofdestruction.weebly.com/uploads/6/7/6/0/6760174/1415444_orig.jpg)
Cons
○Heated up often
○Wasn’t portable and couldn’t be carried anywhere
○Had to remain stationary(until 1918)
○Needed a 2-3 man team to operate
○Average weight was 47kg(compared to today’s machine guns which weigh half of that)
Pros
○Faster Fire Rate
○Fired more than one bullet
○Reload wasn’t needed all the time
○Capable of mowing down incoming enemies
Submarine
Description
○An underwater vehicle
○Used for attack on
incoming enemy ships
![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e5/d4/e0/e5d4e027187d68f8a44402bfa8a2231e.jpg)
Cons
○Couldn’t carry many supplies
○Were expensive to build
○Was dark and smelly for soldiers(not enough room)
○Had to “resurface to fire torpedoes”
○Only had a limited capacity for torpedoes
![](http://apwhod2011.pbworks.com/f/Submarine.jpg)
Pros
○Effective in carrying supplies
○Could run on either gasoline or diesel
○Diving depth was perfect(30-75 meters)
○Were stealth-boats; detectability was hard
○Were lightweight
○Could last up to 2 months underwater
![Airplanes](http://www.picturesofworldwar1.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/3.jpg)
Airplanes
Description
○Airborne Vehicles
○Used for reconnaissance
○Later on attached with artillery
to use as fighter planes
![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4061/4673569616_4dee4f48a2_b.jpg)
Cons
○Machine gun needed to be situated properly(couldn't hit propeller)
○The engine was only 50 horsepower
○Pilots had to be careful otherwise they’d get shot down
○Pilots had to be alert 24/7 as enemies also used planes
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.flitetest.com/editor_images%2F1538562896686-bbe4c371ab7f9d79942014e0abd80496.jpg)
Pros
○Were the improved versions of zeppelins
○Good for reconnaissance
○Later on, designs had machine guns attached
○Could also be used to drop bombs
Poison Gas
Description
○One of the first chemical weapons
used
○Purpose was to wipe enemy
soldiers
○Considered a long range attack
![](http://userscontent2.emaze.com/images/445bf9eb-60c6-4cc4-8a3b-7d6369a53be7/72a8c7f1-8ca8-4d7a-b572-bd6b93589a91.jpg)
Cons
○Was bad for the environment
○Limited time to protect yourselves when gas appears
○Needed the wind to point to the enemy’s trenches
○Always a possibly of malfunction
![Deaths Per Country](http://image.slidesharecdn.com/poisongas-091215210021-phpapp01/95/poison-gas-17-728.jpg?cb=1260912500)
Deaths Per Country
Pros
○Effective in taking down enemies in their trenches
○Risk-free attack for those using it
○Not easily detectable
Tanks
Description
○Vehicle with the wheels of tractors
○Ability to cross No Man's Land
Cons
○Early design tanks needed 4-6 men to operate
○Was rather tiny and cramped
○Reached up to 100 degrees in there(engine was the reason)
○Shell wasn’t that tough and a man could get his flesh cut off
![](http://worldwar1tanks.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/5/6/13568623/9500351_orig.jpeg)
Pros
○Were able to cross the mud and craters in no man’s land
○Could mow down barbed wires
○Later on tanks(such as French tanks) had turrets at the top
![Grenades](http://www.britishbattles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Grenadier.jpg)
Grenades
Description
○Hand-held weapons
○Activated by pulling the cord or
hitting against something hard
○Explodes after a few seconds
![](https://period4team6.weebly.com/uploads/4/3/7/0/43707589/17992.jpg?429)
Cons
○Improper use could lead to it exploding anytime
○“Left a high number of amputees”
![](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/fwr-galleries/live/ww2/British_Cameron_Highlanders_practise_hand_grenade_throwing.jpg)
Pros
○Helped clear out trenches
○Considered a mid-range attack
○Soldiers didn’t need to be in front of the enemies
○Dealt a significant amount of damage