Overpowered Guns used to Cheat in Battle
Simple History・19 minutes read
American soldiers used Winchester shotguns in WWI, defended their use by citing Germany's cruel weapons, Israel's Uzi submachine gun became popular for its compact design, and the Gatling gun marked a shift towards industrial warfare. Thompson submachine gun and Dreyse needle gun also played significant roles in historical conflicts.
Insights
- American soldiers in World War I utilized Winchester model 1897 shotguns, known as trench brooms for their rapid clearing of enemy positions, despite German objections citing violations of the Hague Conventions, countered by American leadership highlighting Germany's use of cruel weapons like poison gas.
- The Gatling gun, invented in 1862, marked a shift towards industrial warfare during the American Civil War, adopted by Union forces and later various armies and law enforcement agencies, serving as a deterrent but also earning a reputation for colonialism and oppression.
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Recent questions
What was the Winchester model 1897 known for?
Slam firing in World War I
Who developed the Uzi submachine gun?
Uziel Gal
Why were crossbows controversial in the 12th century?
Banned by Pope Innocent II
What was the Gatling gun known for?
Multiple barrels and high rate of fire
Who designed the Thompson submachine gun?
Brigadier General John T Thompson
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Summary
00:00
Evolution of Weapons in Warfare History
- Shotguns, particularly the Winchester model 1897, were brought by American soldiers to World War I in 1917, capable of slam firing and nicknamed trench brooms for their effectiveness in clearing enemy positions quickly.
- Germany argued that the use of shotguns and buckshot violated the Hague Conventions, but American leadership defended their use by pointing out Germany's own use of cruel weapons like poison gas and flamethrowers.
- The Uzi submachine gun, developed in 1948 by Uziel Gal, became popular for its lightweight, compact design, and ease of use, serving in the Israeli Defense Force and over 90 countries for SWAT teams and VIP protection.
- The Uzi's simple design led to many licensed and unlicensed copies worldwide, making it popular among criminal organizations due to its compact size, ease of concealment, and devastating firepower at close quarters.
- Crossbows were controversial weapons in the 12th century, with Pope Innocent II banning their use against Christians, while their simplicity and power made them popular despite legal restrictions.
- The Gardoni air rifle, developed in the late 18th century, used compressed air for propulsion, offering a high rate of fire and accuracy but faced issues with complexity, delicate mechanisms, and time-consuming recharging.
- Serrated bayonets, particularly used by the German Army in World War I, were seen as needlessly cruel due to the suffering caused by the serrations, leading to protests and eventual withdrawal from service.
- The Gatling gun, invented in 1862, was an early machine gun with multiple barrels rotated by a crank, capable of firing around 200 rounds per minute, marking a transition towards industrial warfare during the American Civil War.
15:08
Revolutionary Firearms in History: Gatling to Dreyse
- The Gatling gun, invented by Gatling, was adopted by Union forces during the Civil War and later by various armies and law enforcement agencies. It was used as a deterrent in various situations, earning a reputation for colonialism and oppression.
- The Thompson submachine gun, known as the Tommy Gun, was designed by Brigadier General John T Thompson for close-quarter fighting in World War I. It had a rate of fire between 600 and 900 rounds per minute and became infamous during Prohibition and the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
- The Dreyse needle gun, a breech-loading firearm, revolutionized warfare in the early 1800s by allowing soldiers to fire over 10 rounds a minute while lying down, providing a significant advantage over muzzle-loading weapons.
- The Dreyse needle gun was instrumental in the Prussian Army's victories over Denmark and Austria, marking the end of the muzzle loader era and the rise of more efficient firearm designs in warfare.
