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Posts:
112
Registered:
7/8/03
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(1 of 2)
Dec 9, 2003 5:54 PM
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The introduction and development of the machine gun had the broadest influence of any other weapon in history.
Both strategists and tactitions were forced to re-think every aspect of combat situations upon the advent of the Maxim gun, or first machine gun.
Warfare had been completely revolutionized. One man with a rapid firing machine gun could hold out against a platoon of advancing enemy riflemen. Soon, the development of the hand carried, small caliber machine gun, such as the Browning BAR and Thompson .45 again emphasized the the importance of battlefield tactics.
Soon, combatants began to mount the machine gun on airplanes. This advancement changed the course of aircraft development entirely, from mere observation vehicles, to deadly platforms to dispense lead to air and ground opponents alike.
As rate of fire increased and larger calibers of amunition emerged, battleground tactics revolved around air defense systems mounted on ships, tanks, rail cars, bombers, and stationary ground installations.
Without the machine gun, airplanes would still be observation vehicles and bombers. The development of the aircraft carrier would never have been conceived without the dogfighting abilities of their aircraft or the defense of their 20mm and 40mm cannon.
The attack helicopter was designed solely as a platform for rapid firing machine guns.
McDonnel-Douglas developed the F-4 Phantom for air to air rocket attack, forsaking the machine gun as a thing of the past. American pilots complained loudly enough to have field modifications made to get 20mm gatling type cannons added to the nose of the Phantoms in Vietnam.
Every fighter jet developed since has had a machine gun of some type included in it's arsenal of offensive ordnance.
That in itself indicates the tremendous amount of influence that, as a weapon, the machine gun has played throughout the history of warfare.
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Posts:
3
Registered:
10/16/04
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(2 of 2)
Oct 16, 2004 8:56 AM
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I agree. The machine gun had the most influence. Rate of fire and field of fire...
Prior to Maxim and Browning, perhaps the long bow and arrows, Battles of Hastings and Agincourt.
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