Change in Industrial Period Warfare

Science, Technology and Communications

While it is obvious that science, technology and communications saw significant developments, it is important to explore the role of government, individuals and attitudes in society in bringing about change.

Cameras/telegraph

Cameras/telegraph – led to increased awareness of what was happening and as such became a catalyst for change in recruitment and training.

Weapons

Weapons - the developments in weapons (BRASS) were driven by technological advances.

Mass-production

Mass-production techniques allowed the army to use increasingly standardised weapons.
In 1855, Henry Bessemer patented a method of mass-producing cheap steel, reducing the cost significantly (from £60 to £7 per ton).

Nitroglycerine

Alfred Nobel invented nitroglycerine which allows smokeless powder.

Governments and Individuals

Royal Commission

In 1858 a Royal Commission was set up to investigate the failures of the Crimean War.
It concluded that the recruitment and training of soldiers needed to be reformed.

Prussia

Nothing came of it, as the military and parliament were unwilling to make any significant changes.
The government were also anxious about Prussia’s growing strength in the period.

George Armstrong

Some key individuals really pushed inventions out of the workshop and into the mainstream.
- George Armstrong:
  - Pioneered breech-loading rifled cannon (Armstrong Gun).

Hiram Maxim

Hiram Maxim:
- Developed a way to use the recoil of a fired bullet to load the next bullet into the firing chamber.
- Developed the Maxim gun that could fire 500 bullets before need for reload in 1884.

Attitudes in Society

Literacy

Literacy increased massively in this period, from 53% in 1700 to 98% in 1900.
As a result, the general public were far more engaged with reports of warfare.

Public pressure

Public pressure, but of limited impact (only 5% of the population could vote in 1860s).

Peacetime army

Reservations about the existence of a large peacetime army and fears that rapid changes could bring similar disorder to that seen during France in the Revolution (1789) slowed change by keeping the army small.

1Medieval Warfare c.1250-1500

1.1Medieval Warfare & Society

1.1.1Weapons

1.1.2Composition

1.1.3Recruitment & Training

1.1.4Experience of Civilians

1.1.5Case Studies

1.1.6Change in Medieval Warfare

2Early Modern Warfare c.1500-1700

2.1Early Modern Warfare & Society

2.1.1Weapons

2.1.2Composition

2.1.3Recruitment & Training

2.1.4Experience of Civilians

2.1.5Case Studies

2.1.6Change in Early Modern Warfare

3Industrial Warfare c.1700-1900

3.1The Industrial Period & Warfare

3.1.1Weapons

3.1.2Composition

3.1.3Recruitment & Training

3.1.4Experience of Civilians

3.1.5Case Studies

3.1.6Change in Industrial Period Warfare

4Modern Warfare c.1900-present

4.1Modern Warfare & Society

4.1.1Weapons

4.1.2Composition

4.1.3Recruitment & Training

4.1.4Experience of Civilians

4.1.5Case Studies

4.1.6Change in Modern Warfare

5The Historic Environment

5.1London & the Second World War, 1939-45

5.1.1London: A Target

5.1.2Preparations for War

5.1.3The Blitz

5.1.4V1 & V2 Attacks

5.1.5Impact of the Blitz

5.1.6The War Effort

5.1.7The Government

5.1.8The Royal Family

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