Weapons and Artillery of World War II The result of World War II was affected by many different factors. One major factor which affected the war was the weapons and artillery used during the war. Since the beginnings of time, weapons have always been around. From swords and knives to nuclear weapons and missiles, weapons have evolved greatly throughout the years.
The weapons and artillery used in World War II basically were evolved types of weaponry that were used during World War I (Military History 1).
World War II began in 1939 when the German armies decided to invade parts of Europe, therefore causing Europeans to retaliate against the Germans (World War 1).
World War II began because those countries which were defeated in World War I (Germany, Italy, and Japan) were greatly devastated by the loss. Their countries were suffering from economical problems and were also left in bad conditions after World War I. They had lost much territory and now were practically in debt for the damages which they had done during the war (1).
These countries figured that the only way for them to get out of economic depression and revive their country was to take land from other countries, which was one of the reasons why the war began.
The main countries which were involved in World War II were Germany, Japan, and Italy, which were known as the Axis Coalition, against the United States, the Soviet Union, and many other countries. Overall World War II was seen as the most devastating war in human history. Each country had different types of weaponry and artillery which proved to be vital in the result of the war (World War 1).
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Many new and improved weapons and artillery were brought out during the war.
One example of this introduction of new weapons was the long-range rocket. Also during this time the atomic bomb proved to have a big impact on the war. Along with these new and improved weapons, falls the infamous tanks of World War II (Military History 1).
Although some weapons proved to be more important than others, every weapon played an important role in fighting this war.
Some of these smaller weapons include pistols and rifles. A majority of weapons used in World War II were improved weapons from World War II. Most guns increased in power and abilities. In World War II people thought that pistols were useless but this was proved wrong due to the fact that the U. S. Military spent a lot of time into making a better sidearm.
Pistols were mainly used in emergencies or whenever a soldier ran out of ammunition. A pistol, at times, could have decided whether a soldier would live or die in combat depending on the situation. Another factor which made the pistol a very important weapon was the fact that the pistol could be reloaded much faster than a rifle (Slayton 12).
Another very powerful gun that was used in World War II was the Submarine guns.
The submarine guns are much stronger and better than normal guns due to the fact that they have better firing distances (Military History 7).
The submarine gun was built mainly for endurance and for accuracy. This gun had the accuracy to fire from 800 to at least 1, 000 yards away and delivers a powerful blow to its victims. One problem which the gun had was the fact that it could dislocate a soldiers arm whenever it was fired. But finally the submarine gun was improved and is now less powerful which makes it easier for firing full automatic rounds along with pistol rounds (8).
Another very important weapon used in World War II was the rifle.
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Most infantrymen were defined by their rifles (Slayton 34).
To most men, this gun was the most important, due to the fact that it was their main protection against the enemy. Also, they were around their rifle more than any other weapon which gives the soldiers a more comfortable feeling around their rifles. Another gun which branches from the rifle is the machine gun. The Germans were mainly the ones who would take the credit for the invention of the machine gun (50).
There were two main types of machine guns, light machine guns and heavy machine guns.
The main differences between the two were the weight and the fire power. For the Americans the M 2 HB was considered the war winner for them because of its power. The Germans had no gun comparable to the fire power of the M 2 HB. You can call the M 2 HB the closest weapon to be called a universal weapon (61).
The mortars were also an important weapon in World War II. They were small, light and lobbed shells at high angles.
It was a smoothbore tube, sealed at the bottom, and had some kind of elevating feature. The main use for the mortar was when a soldier would drop down from a chute and release them into the enemies. It would then fling projectile toward the enemy’s way (Slayton 63).
As early as 1918, a small rocket launcher was invented by Robert Goddard, an American scientist (Military History 7).
The main purpose of this rocket launcher was to destroy large vehicles such as tanks. In World War II there were anti-tank rifles which could shoot a bullet through a tank.
These rifles were usually very heavy and needed about two soldiers to maneuver it (Slayton 72).
The German anti-tank weapons were considered the worst due to the poor performances of the weapons. The best anti-tank weapon was the bazooka. It was considered the best because it was very easy to use and had no special instruction. They were usually used by two soldiers and were considered fool proof.
Also the bazooka was very cheap which was why there was an abundance of them throughout World War II (70).
The use of tanks throughout World War II played an important role in determining victory in combats. Tanks were among one of the most modern artillery used during World War II. There were many different sizes and types of tanks.
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Tanks were mainly classified through their size such as small tanks, medium tanks, and large tanks. Throughout the years more and more improvements are made to all these different types of tanks which play a major factor when the time for war comes. Different countries advanced at different paces and also had different technology. The Germans had many strong and powerful tanks which brought them many victories. One example of a tank was the Panzer Mk IV which was an improved form of the tank Panzer Mk I. The Panzer Mk IV was equipped with a 75 mm L/gun that could blast a much larger explosive shell and also had more space for soldiers unlike the Panzer Mk I (World War 3).
The Russian tanks were built three years before the Germans began to build the Panzer. The T-34 made the biggest contribution towards the Russians. It was so easy to use and they thought it was hard to believe that no one has ever operated one. It was built with thick armor so the possibilities of the tanks being penetrated were slim. Also there was an addition of an anti-craft gun which made it even more powerful and unstoppable (Slayton 103).
The result of World War II had tragic results for Japan, Germany, and also Italy.
The United States and the Allies came out victorious once again but the cost of war greatly affected all the countries. Germany, Japan, and Italy now have more debts to pay and also lost much of their territory once again. The war took many lives and also ended up destroying many beautiful cities. World War II showed how not just the soldiers were affected in the war, but everyone in all the different countries were affected by the war. The fact that the result of World War II was affected by the weapons and artillery used throughout shows the importance of weapons and artillery. Without weapons or artillery there is no war.
Without money there are no weapons or artillery. Without money there is no need for war because countries have no reason to go to war. Works Cited Anderson, Rich. “The United States Army in World War II.” Google. com. 20 January 2005 Slayton, Robert A.
Arms of Destruction. New York: Citadel Press, 2004.
