Essay on Weapons Used in World War II

World War II began in 1939 and ended in 1945. This war killed more people and destroyed more property than any other war with fifty-nine countries being involved in(2). Pearl Harbor, the first sneak attack by another country on US soil was a pivotal beginning to the war for the United States. There were many reasons for the United States to get involved into the war and help its allies, but it was Pearl Harbor which forced us into it. Because of Pearl Harbor, Hitler and the crimes against humanity that he committed it justified United States entry into the war.

There was a 17% difference in casualties from the Napoleonic Wars to World War I. This can be credited mainly to the new weapons. There were many different weapons in World War I, whether they were completely new or just variations and improvements of previous weapons. Some of the new weapons included machine guns, mustard gas, Zeppelins, and planes, while some of the improved weapons included the bolt-action rifle, the Howitzer, and pistols. The innovative new weapons that were introduced in World War I have forever changed the way wars were fought.

The United States used tanks very effectively throughout the war. “In 1943-4 the USA produced 47,000 tanks, almost all Shermans, while Germany produced 29,600 tanks and assault guns. Britain, in 1944, produced only 5000 tanks.”(Keegan 399). “Their rule was that five shermans were needed to knock out one German Panther.” By producing this many tanks they were able to send in loads of them into the battlefield and have the advantage over their enemies. This rule the army had was understandable, since the United States produced 47,000 tanks throughout the

The terrain of the Argonne forest presented a number of problems to the U.S. forces; Overgrown, bushy, and difficult to navigate. There were no roads in the forest for tanks to travel, also making troop movement difficult. The Americans also had a tactical disadvantage since the Germans had been in control of the area for the past four years, fortifying it. The Germans had zeroed in on the forest with artillery, emplaced fixed machine gun fighting positions along the ridgelines, and had the advantage of being the defenders. Another problem with the offensive was logistical. Trying to move a massive quantity of men

The United States’ role in World War II began primarily in the Pacific, between Japan and the West Coast. Here, we were instrumental in the Battle of the Coral Sea, where a Japanese fleet was turned back from attacking Australia. The Battle of Midway Island was another victory for America against the Japanese navy, and marked the turning point of the Pacific naval war.

During the Vietnam War the M42 (Duster) tracked self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) vehicle influenced the future versatility and capabilities of the Air Defense Artillery systems of today’s United States Army. This system put a lasting impression on the minds and confidence of the American Army Soldiers. These Soldiers actively participated in defending the South Vietnamese from the North Vietnamese and its southern allies, known as the Viet Cong (or Vietnamese Communist). Not only did the M42 Duster (SPAAG) raise the moral and boost confidence with the American Soldiers, it instilled fear and discouraged the enemy from attacking positions that were fortified with versatile air defense systems. This

The Union army, unlike the Confederates, had multiple companies that provided simple, yet devastating weapons. One of these weapons was the .52 caliber breech-loading Billinghurst-Requa battery; it was produced only 50 times. This weapon consisted of 25 rifled barrels side by side that, when primed, were set off by a lanyard to inflict massive damage over a small range of territory.7

The reason for this is ammunition. The ammunition for this weapon was so limited that the Southern forces would basically find it useless.4

The Union soldiers were more likely to carry the U.S. Model 1861 Springfield Rifle-Musket than any other weapon. These guns were not the easiest or most convenient weapons even if they were the most common. The Model 1861 was a .58 caliber gun, was 58.5 inches long, and weighed in at a heavy 9.25 pounds. This rifle was nicknamed "The Widow Maker." This nickname was made with great thanks to the minie` bullet which was an integral part of this rifle-musket. The combination of the rifle-musket and the minie` bullet forever changed the face of warfare; thus because for the first time ever, men could aim at a distant target, and have a decent chance of hitting it. This luxury allowed the gun-bearers to hide in a safe place, yet still be able to knock down their target. Colonel George Hanger, an American Revolution officer, wrote in 1814:

Another very powerful gun that was used in World War II was the Submarine guns. The submarine guns are much stronger and better than normal guns due to the fact that they have better firing distances (Military History 7). The submarine gun was built mainly for endurance and for accuracy. This gun had the accuracy to fire from 800 to at least 1,000 yards away and delivers a powerful blow to its victims. One problem which the gun had was the fact that it could dislocate a soldiers arm whenever it was fired. But finally the submarine gun was improved and is now less powerful which makes it easier for firing full automatic rounds along with pistol rounds (8).

While airborne the Soldiers in the basket could give guidance on walking in artillery to a target or have the ability to spot the enemy. On the defensive side, they could often spot enemy camps and artillery batteries not visible from the ground and hidden in the trees. Advances in weapons technology, specifically the rifled bore, significantly raised the numbers of casualties on the other side where old style tactics were

The use of artillery has provided military commanders the ability to disrupt, destroy, and defeat their enemy’s throughout history. It is important to realize maneuver commanders need reliable, fast, and accurate fire support. The use of integrated fire of artillery provides maneuver commanders flexibility and firepower and is the key to battle success in both the offense and defense. This paper will discuss how modern equipment and innovative techniques to employ that equipment shaped and controlled the entire battle space.

Infantry used the M-67 recoilless rifle to destroy bunkers. It was a breach-loaded single shot rifle (much like a bazooka and other

is not certain. However what is certain is that it was thought of as a

The army did not have air defense command organizations or components prior to WW1, however they did utilize France for its training and use of anti-aircraft artillery since many of the weapons were French made and the school was in the best location. The training that the French offered was spectacular and allowed U.S. artillery units to expend less ammunition while racking up more kills. Between 1919 and the 1930’s the M1917 three-inch guns entered service. This weapon relied on preset fuses to determine where it should accurately detonate when engaging a target. Additionally, the signal corps conducted radar experiments that did not produce practical results not to mention the Army ordinances idea of height estimators, fire directors and mechanical computers for ADA understood the mechanics and importance however, they did not have adequate funding due to the great