Machine Guns
The machine gun is a formidable battlefield element that can be used from the ground, on planes, and on naval ships. The initial design of the gun was water cooled and belt fed. The gun could fire up to 600 rounds per minute. Rapid and continueous fire was allowed by the explosion of powder in each gun cartridge. The machine gun was invented by Hiram Maxim and were introduced in World War one. The gun was invented to be used as a weapon of war that allowed armies to eliminate there enemies quickly and in larger amounts.
Effects of Machine Guns
- Soldiers struggled to use machine guns because of there inexperience with the weapons. The guns frequently jammed especially in the hot conditions of the trenches. The machine guns required a crew of four to six operators. Machine guns caused many war casualties due to there rapid fire.
- Leaders of countries had different views on the use of machine gun warfare. The British didn't want to use the machine guns because they didn't feel it was fair and that they would have no use for this weapon. Once other countries began using the weapon they quickly realized they had to do so as well. The Germans however, quickly grasped the importance of the machine gun. Officers that didn't want to include machine guns in there warfare were often dismissed.
- Citizens feared the new weapon because of its potential to take out large numbers of people in one time.
Pros and Cons
Pros of Machine Guns: No external power is needed. More convenient. Fired more rounds at a faster speed.
Cons of Machine Guns: Transportation of the weapon was slow. The machine guns were extremely heavy.
Cons of Machine Guns: Transportation of the weapon was slow. The machine guns were extremely heavy.
Modern Day
The machine gun changed as time went on. As the war tactics changed so did how the machine guns use. For example they were added to tanks and airplanes for different offensive tactics. As time went on there were more models of machine guns such as the Browning M2 which is used today in modern warfare. It is a feared weapon and respected foe.
Abby Bowsher