Warefare

NEW TECHNOLOGY IN WORLD WAR ONE
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World War one up to date is still one of the deadliest war the wrecked earth. By the end of the war, over seventeen million people dead and approximately thirty-eight million others injured. 1.32% of the dead were from Australia, which had the highest number of deaths. This included both the civilians and the military involved. The change in technology during the war is quite an outstanding factor. This may have been one of the fundamental factors that led to the high number of dead and injured people, and so much property damaged. Various technological changes, both in the forms of communication and fighting machinery came up in the course of world war one.
First, the mode of transport underwent rapid changes. The invention of the railroad made the transport of armies and arsenal faster to the war zones. In France, taxis were used to transport soldiers to the front. The change in transport seems to have favoured the continuation of the war. Aeroplanes were now used to scout and even conduct reconnaissance. The planes were used to deliver bombs and cannons to the war fronts.
We can safely say that the technological changes in the war machinery catapulted the World War One. The new machines used in the fighting were advantageous to the fighters as many people could be killed in an easier way. The main World War One technology included; airplanes, submarines, tanks, machine guns and trenches. Before World War One, the Gatling guns were the ones used.

These guns had to be loaded after every shot and were, therefore, time wasting. By 1914, however, machine guns that were previously unavailable were invented. These could fire hundreds of rounds per minute and were the main items used at the battlefield. One machine gun is estimated to be equal to eighty rifles and was operated by only five people.
Airplanes that had been invented around 11 years before were also put to great use, replacing the hot air balloons. The flying circus was invented which was the air movement of a unit of aircraft in the fight. Air fights were conducted, apart from the fact that airplanes were used to conduct reconnaissance. Airplanes served as an alternative to the Navy, had quicker access to faraway countries and enabled attacks from high above thus were advantageous. The aeroplanes also provided a good form of scouting the war area
The most feared weapon invented was the poisonous gas. These gases were mainly chlorine and the mustard gas. These gases had devastating effects as they would choke the individual to death. The mustard gas would cause the occurrence of itchy blisters once it came in contact with the skin. These gases were first used by Germans in Ypres. The mustard gas is colourless thus was not detectable in the atmosphere, having more effect than chlorine gas. These gases however were disadvantageous as they killed individuals from both sides of the fighting teams. Among many other inventions was the use of the tanks. The tanks provided protection to armies. They could also fire over long distances and had huge effects. With the tanks, one could easily break past the barriers and the barbed wires set to trap the fighting soldiers. Also, submarines were used, majorly by the Germans. The submarines ensured control over seawaters and were an excellent tool for spying the unknowing enemies.
The technology inventions in world war one favoured the side with more advanced weapons. The radical change in weapons used during the war ensured mass killing of individuals. The fight could be conducted over long distances. Short distance weapons like the bayonets were less used. People were left suffering from many family members dead as a result of the change in technology. Technology, therefore, had more of negative than positive effects in World War One.