The first machine gun was invented in Great Britain by Hiram Maxim in the mid 1800’s. At first machine guns were heavy weapons that had to be mounted, and could not be carried around, they also over-heated very quickly. It took many people to control, and because of the mobility impediment it was mainly used in trenches and as anti-aircraft weapons. As World War One progressed however, machine guns became more advanced, adding more fire power, and water cooling systems to prevent over-heating. Machine guns added a whole new element to the war aspect.
Impact and Consequences of Machine Guns
Machine guns were fearsome weapons. When placed in strategic positions along enemy routes, a single machine gun could do some serious damage. Regular infantry was no match for a machine gun and many of the soldiers in World War One died at the hand of a machine gun operator. Machine guns were the main reason that 'no man's land' was so dangerous, and lead to the development of tanks. Machine guns made 'no man's land' so dangerous that vehicles were specifically developed to withstand the massive damage that machine guns could deal out. Machine guns were later mounted on top of airplanes, allowing them to engage in dog fights. Machine guns caused war generals to act more strategically, trying to figure out how to flank stationed machine guns. Machine guns had the biggest impact on World War One because it caused mass deaths, and it pushed inventors create new technology to combat the extreme power of the machine guns.
Machine Guns- Connections to today
Machine guns have advanced a tremendous amount since World War One. Machine guns have been modified to not over-heat as quickly, and fire at an even faster rate. They have been modified to fit on planes, ships, and armored vehicles, that can be used by military personnel during battle. Different ‘offspring’ of the machine gun have born throughout the past century, such as the light machine gun (LMG) and the submachine gun (SMG). Each of these new models with their own strengths and weakness. The development of machine guns have has changed the modern battlefield. Troops can take different variations of weapons depending on what their goal is.