Warfare During World War I - 1472 Words

There are forty-nine years between the end of the Civil War and the start of World War I. Within those years numerous technological advancements took place. Many of those advancements directly impacted the warfare in the First World War. The Civil War, also referred to as the first modern war, gave way to an even more modernized style of warfare used during World War I. Much of this modernized technology of warfare had a great impact on how tactics and strategies were used throughout the First World War. Toward the beginning of the Civil War most infantry soldiers still carried muskets that had little accuracy, forcing battles to be fought at close range. Rifles gained popularity due to their better accuracy, but just like the musket,†¦show more content†¦The first successfully sinking of a target by submarine was during the Civil War. The forty foot long Hunley submarine, which was operated by eight men hand cranking a propeller shaft, was able to successfully sink the USS Housatonic on February 16, 1864. Although soon after the attack, the Hunley also sank (3). During the Civil War â€Å"significant naval warfare occurred on the great inland rivers, especially the Mississippi, but also notably the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Red Rivers† (4). To improve vulnerable wooden ships and save them from destruction, architects dramatically improved the defenses of ships by plating their sides with iron or steel. These new and improved ships soon became known as ironclads, whi ch were able to withstand heavy artillery rounds and vastly change the Civil War (5). Naval warfare became more advanced as the years went on and the world entered its First World War. Submarines made a significant impact for the first time in World War I. For the time the most daunting naval weapon was the U-boat that was introduced by the Germans. This submarine was far more sophisticated than the submarine used in the Civil War. These U-boats usually carried thirty-five men and twelve torpedoes, and could travel underwater for two hours (6). Along with the