Group+4+Weapons+Specialist

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 * WEAPONS of WWI ** 

**Machine Guns**: Machine guns were the most used gun that devastated and claimed many lives. The machine gun could fire many small caliber about 400-600 rounds in one minute which sprayed bullets into the battlefield. The machine gun was first used by the Germans where they were in trenches and mowed down the opposing force. The machine gun was invented by Hiram S. maxim and later many countries made many improvements and different versions of this weapon and now are still used in wars today but are much more powerful. 

Flamethrowers: Early in WW1 about 1914 the devastating flamethrower was used. The flamethrower flung burning fuel that burned land, vehicles, enemies, and trees. The flamethrower was helpful most when used in the jungle because it could burn all the trees and or enemies hiding. The flamethrower dates back to 5th century B.C. where they had long tubes that could blow flaming projectiles such as burning coal that could easily ignite houses and villages.



Tanks **: Tanks were large metal vehicles that usually had machine guns or cannon or both. The tank could deflect or take little damage dealt by regular hand held guns and needed to be taken out by grenades, mortars, artillery, or rockets. The tanks unique caterpillar track moves the tank over hard, muddy, rough terrain and could virtually go anywhere. When the first tank was created for battle it was nicknamed little Willie and others believed it was a land battle ship. Tanks were greatly used as an offensive weapon against enemy’s forces and many advancements came upon the tank and some were very destructive. **

Gasses **: One terrible life taking strategy used in WW1 was chemical warfare. This was bombs that carried highly toxic chemicals that wiped out numerous populations. The French first created the gas bombs but myth told that the Germans did. One insane gas was mustard gas and was most deadly in war. This gas was completely odorless or smelled like onions and garlic and created large blisters to exposed skin internally and externally, swelled and even blinded people’s eyes, caused runny nose short of breath and heavy breathing, and it caused digestive problems with nausea and vomiting. Mustard gas was not easy to tell if infected. Some times the victim's symptoms can act up from 2-24 hours after exposer to the gas. 

** DEVILS WIRE ** : This devils wire is also known as barbed wire. Barbed wire’s purpose was to create a defense against troops from getting into trenches, beaches, and forts. This wire fence was a series of tightened wire that had sharp points that would cut troops and be fatal. Many armies would surround a base or put this along the whole coast of a beach to keep enemies out. Soon though people figured out ways to cut or blow up this sharp wire. They either blew them up with explosives or crushed them with tanks. One of the most effective ways of getting threw the barbed wire was to use a Bangalore. A Bangalore was a long tube that held an explosive at the end and was use to clear the way of obstacles without standing in the line of fire. These were very helpful when it came to destroying barbed wire to get to the enemies. 

by defending their airspace. Transports could take soldiers and drop them off. Supports would bring supplies of weapons to allied forces. Bombers had an important job. They were guided by fighters over enemy’s territories and dropped a series of bombs of many assortments and destroy all of significant structures and lives. 
 * Aircrafts**: Taking the war to the skies. There were only about 140 planes in the war which increased to about 4,500. There were many different types of planes, such as fighter, transport, supports, scouts, and bombers. The fighter could shoot ground units or other enemy’s aircraft. Also it was used to transport other ships safely to their positions

Submarines: The Germans have believed to create U-boats which were ships that could travel under the water and fire torpedoes at enemy’s ships. The German U-boat was up to 315 feet long and could carry 700 tons of cargo. This boat could travel up to 12-13 knots on the surface and 7 knots underwater. Submarines carried large torpedoes, guns, and mines. The torpedoes would fire underwater and hit the bottom hull of a ship and would sink it due to water pouring in. The number of submarines increased as the war went along and numbers of casualties increased. Trade ships were getting destroyed from these subs. Submarines were a very large advancement in the war. \ Artillery: Trench mortars, mortars were short stubby tubes that could fire small projectiles at a steep angle and come right down on the enemies and usually hit them while in the trenches. They were operated by 2-3 people. Artillery were much larger cannons that were usually had a 4-5 man crew and fired large shots that destroyed chunks of land, enemies, tanks, and other vehicles. These cannons could be fired a long way from the battle and fire at enemies without them firing back.

Land Mines: Land mines were a great defensive weapon. They were a man triggered explosives. They were small devices that carried explosives and were placed and hidden among the ground and were triggered when pressure was applied when an enemy or even a civilian would walk over it and explode killing them and injuring others around them. Some land mines could also destroy small vehicles or even blow off tanks tracks and they remain motionless. Many armies would put mines in fields and on roads as a setup defense and far from the fort or base. These placed mines also made a great warning when exploded they could now know enemies were there. Land mines don’t deactivate and a lot of landmines have survived over decades and are still here today.

Resorces: "Facts about sulfer mustard gas." __Centerfor disease control and prevention.__ 4 january. 2010 [] "Weapons of war." __First world war.__ 4 january. 2010 <[]> “Land Mines.” __Wikipedia.__ (Wiki). 6 January 2010. < []>.