4.1.2
Composition
Composition c.1900-present
Composition c.1900-present
Changes in composition were driven by developments in weapons, as new, more sophisticated technology reduced the need for soldiers on the battlefield and carved out a need for more specialised roles.
1914
1914
- Infantry - main army force (65%).
- Cavalry - used for scouting and raiding (10%).
- Artillery - key firing force (20%).
- Specialist troops - medical, administrative etc. (5%).
2015
2015
- Infantry - reduced as warfare became more complex (25%).
- Cavalry - final role in battlefield seen in 1918 - replaced by tanks (10%).
- Artillery - bombardment is still key, but aircraft and tanks share with artillery, so artillery alone is reduced (10%).
2015 cont.
2015 cont.
- Specialist troops:
- Royal Engineers (10%) build roads/bridges.
- Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (10%) tend vehicles and equipment.
- Logistic corps (15%).
- Medical (3%).
- Overall, specialist troops make up 55% of the army.
Strategy and Tactics c.1900-present
Strategy and Tactics c.1900-present
Tactics changed considerably in the modern era.
WWI
WWI
- WWI was defined by trench warfare:
- Result of a stalemate (neither side could win).
- These were strong defensive positions but made attacking quite challenge.
- Warfare became a war of attrition - where the aim is to wear the opposition down through having more resources than your enemy.
Modern day
Modern day
- Combined arms:
- Use of aircraft, tanks and infantry, supported by digital technology.
- Guerrilla warfare (using non-conventional tactics):
- Became more common in asymmetric wars (wars that were very unequal, between well-armed and less-armed opponents).
Modern day cont.
Modern day cont.
- MAD (mutually assured destruction):
- The power of nuclear weapons mean that war between two well-armed states would be catastrophic.
- As such, since 1945, powerful countries have only sought war with less-powerful countries.
Logistics c.1900-present
Logistics c.1900-present
Communications became a crucial element of the logistical support - logistics developed as a branch of the army itself.
Cable telephones
Cable telephones
- Portable field telephones allowed speech and morse code messages to be sent during battle, allowing for better communication between officers and generals.
Wireless/Radio
Wireless/Radio
- Enabled communications between land troops and air support.
- This led to the development of combined arms tactics.
RADAR
RADAR
- RAdio Detection And Ranging.
- Uses radio waves to locate the position of a solid object.
High-tech digital technology
High-tech digital technology
- This enabled messages to be encrypted, making it harder for enemies to intercept.
- Also allowed far more technological communication developments e.g.:
- Mobile phones, GPD, UAVs and PGMs.
New Corps
New Corps
- Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) formally set up in 1918 and supported the Allied Landing in D-Day (1944).
- Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) set up in 1993, forming 15% of the formal army.
1Medieval Warfare c.1250-1500
2Early Modern Warfare c.1500-1700
3Industrial Warfare c.1700-1900
4Modern Warfare c.1900-present
5The Historic Environment
5.1London & the Second World War, 1939-45
Jump to other topics
1Medieval Warfare c.1250-1500
2Early Modern Warfare c.1500-1700
3Industrial Warfare c.1700-1900
4Modern Warfare c.1900-present
5The Historic Environment
5.1London & the Second World War, 1939-45
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