Warfare: 1900-present

Question 1

Weapons: 1900-present

Answer 1

.Rifles

•Machine Guns (key in WW1).

.Artillery (behind infantry-some could achieve a range of 10KM by 1900, 80KM by 1914. (Percussion shells from 1900).

• Aircraft (since WW1, jets since late 1945).

.Chemical weapons (gas)

.Tanks (since 1916 but widespread by 1939).

Question 2

Composition of Armies (number, type and tactics of combatants): 1900-present

Answer 2

.Infantry the major proportion of the army. 65% in 1914 but just 25% in 2003.

• Cavalry 10% of army in 1914. Role ended by 1918. Cavalry superseded by tank units. Tank Units 10% of army by 2003.

•Logistics increasingly important

Growth of specialist troop units. Just 5% in 1914. By 2003, 55%.

• 1900+ • wars of movement, attrition, total warfare & guerrilla warfare.

• Artillery

Question 3

Recruitment and Training of Combatants: 1900-present

Answer 3

• Conscription during First and Second World Wars and National Service, 1948 to 1960.

• Professional, paid volunteer troops for most of the period.

• Army size grew during WW1 & WW2; (1918 = 3.5m, 1938 = 197,000, 1945 = 3.3M, 2003 = 100,000).

Specialised training has become increasingly important.