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Revolutionary War Weapons Essay

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During the Revolutionary War we do not see much advancement in weaponry, but we do see a wide array of weapons such as Artillery, Rifles and Muskets, Pistols, Swords and Sabres, Ship classes, and even Submarines. Although there was not a huge technological leap in weaponry, the weapons were very interesting and effective at the time.
Artillery
At the time of the American Revolution, illiteracy was a common problem. Maybe that is why the men responsible for arming and firing Mortars, Howitzers and Guns (Cannon) were considered the cream of the crop. The troops tasked with firing the Artillery not only had to be able to operate the weapon, but also had to be able to do the calculations required to place their round on target. Mortars came in …show more content…

Each of these ships are defined by their size and number of masts, but each can serve a similar purpose. Usually that purpose is engaging in combat or transport.
The Submarine Not only did we have ships, but we had a device called the Turtle. Invented nearly 150 years before, it was not until the Revolutionary War that the submarine would be used in combat. A man named David Bushnell would develop the Turtle to deploy underwater mines. The Turtle would fail all of its missions and would be lost at the Battle of Fort Lee when the ship transporting it would be sunk. “Despite the failures of the Turtle, General George Washington gave Bushnell a commission as an Army engineer…After the war, he became commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.”(History 1). As one could see, many of the weapons used throughout the Revolution required some form of skill to operate. Artillery, Rifles and Muskets, Pistols, Swords and Sabres, Ship classes, and Submarines all had their roles to play in the war. Some could argue that without these weapons we could not have won. Although these weapons are not effective by today’s standards, they got the job done all those years ago, and without them we would not have the modern weapons we do

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