Weapons in WWI essays

Weapons in WWI essays New weaponry and interventions can ultimately decide who will win a war. In World War I there were many new weapons introduced into the battle scene. These new weapons were more efficient in destroying and more powerful which made the death count rise dramatically. The new weaponry in World War I helped contribute to it being one of the bloodiest wars know to man at that time. One key weapon that played a part in eventually bringing the United states into the war was the submarine, also called U-boats. This submarine was able to moved underwater and attack ships without being spotted. A major problem with these ships that it broke international law. For the reason that when the Germans would attack a neutral ship they would not warn the ship like they were supposed to. If the Germans had warned there enemies they would easily be destroyed because the ships were so fragile and slow moving. The U-boat was used as a tool to force embargo. The other countries did not want to risk traveling the high seas with the submarines out there ready to strike, so trade was put to a stop in certain areas. While the U-boat enforced embargo was proving to be an effective weapon, it also seemed that it would bring America into the war against Germany (Bowes 595). Some weapons had even been around awhile, but were not used effectively in large-scale combat. For example, the machine gun, in the form of the Gatling Gun or Maxim Gun, was actually invented during the American Civil War, but did not see widespread use until World War I. Chemical weapons were used on a massive scale in World War I. Mustard gas and chlorine gas were two of the more frequently used weapons. Chlorine is an asphyxiating gas that causes acute bronchitis with gradual suffocation and, "those who initially survived a considerable dose generally died from pneumonia." The effects were so horrible that they have been mostly controlled since then. Mustard gas produces ...