What are some disadvantages of artillery?

Artillery. Artillery was the most destructive weapon on the Western Front. Guns could rain down high explosive shells, shrapnel and poison gas on the enemy and heavy fire could destroy troop concentrations, wire, and fortified positions.

Why was artillery not effective in ww1?

The need to be lightweight limited the size of the shells and the damage they could inflict on the enemy. Heavy artillery is difficult to transport and typically used in fixed positions during siege warfare.

What was the hardest job in ww1?

Of all the jobs in the infantry, “the runner’s job was the hardest and most dangerous,” World War I veteran Lt. Allan L. Dexter observed in a 1931 newspaper article. “With a runner, it was merely a question of how long he would last before being wounded or killed.”

What were the advantages of artillery in ww1?

Artillery (heavy guns) played a big part in the battlefields of World War I. A bombardment that was aimed well could destroy enemy trenches, and knock out artillery batteries (groups of guns) and communication lines. It could also help break up an attack by infantry (soldiers on foot).

What is an advantage of artillery?

Artillery also has the added advantage of being cheaper to field and operate than precision-guided air-launched weapons traditionally used by UAS platforms. Gady said that this cost factor makes artillery the more economical option for suppression of enemy fires or for breaking up enemy formations.

What was an advantage and a disadvantage of the WWI machine gun?

Advantages: Machine guns allowed for a high rate of fire in situations that required it. Artillery was used a lot, but it usually inflicted little damage since they were primarily used to destroy machine guns. . Advantage Killed lots of people with just a couple of men operating one.

Do artillery shells explode?

See, the explosion at the heart of the an artillery round creates lots of shrapnel because of the sudden expansion of air as the explosive is consumed. But, the blast wave keeps going and can break apart other things, like the concrete or steel protecting you, or even your own body.

What did ww1 soldiers do for fun?

In their spare time, soldiers wrote letters and diaries, drew sketches, read books and magazines, pursued hobbies, played cards or gambled. There were also opportunities for more-organised social activities.

How much sleep did ww1 soldiers get?

Daily life. Most activity in front line trenches took place at night under cover of darkness. During daytime soldiers would try to get some rest, but were usually only able to sleep for a few hours at a time.

Is artillery still effective?

Can you defend against artillery?

Against an enemy who concentrates significant artillery weapons to neutralize an area of a defender’s position, there are three basic defenses. The first is to use protection, either by digging in, building field fortifications, or protecting with armor.