Figure 1.--

The motorcycle was important during World War I. There became extensively used for messengers because radio communications were just beginning to be developed. They served for dispatch riders and scouts and wuth a side car to transport individuals and particularly valuable supplies. But the primary use was communications. One of the greatest problems World War I commannders faced was how to communicate with units on the move, especailly advamcing units. By the time of World War I, the telegraph and telephine had improved military communicatiins. But they primarily required fixed land lines. Which advancing units did not have. Until these linges were established, advancing units wsere out of touch. Thus they had to fall back on the mounted mnessenger—in this case mounted on motor cycles. And they were also important for commuications with stationary units when documents and maps had to be delivered. There were wireless communication, but they required bulky sending and reciving stations beyond the means of advancing units. The U.S. Army began using motorcycles even before the War broke out in Europe. General John J. Pershing was ordered to arrest Pancho Villa who staged attacks across the border (1913). As part of that operation, American firces used Harley-Davidson motorcycles. One third of the company's production was solds to the military (1917). European armies also begun using the fast and agile motorcycles as reconnaissance, communication, and transport vehicles as well as ambulances. The European armies began the war with horse calvalry and transport, but this rapidly changed as the War progressed. Sidecars were developed which could be fitted on the cycles. These could carry individuals and could be used for weapons like machine guns. Thus when the United States finally entered the War (1917), the motorcycle was being widely used by the major combatant countries. The U.S. Army used an estimated 20,000 motorcycles during the War. The first American to enter Germany after the armistice is believed to have been motorcycle dispatch rider Cpl. Roy Holtz.

Development

Battlefield Communications

One of the greatest problems World War I commannders faced was how to communicate with units on the move, especailly advamcing units. By the time of World War I, the telegraph and telephine had improved military communications. But they primarily required fixed land lines. Which advancing units did not have. Until these linges were established, advancing units wsere out of touch.

Utility

The motorcycle was important during World War I. They were relibe and fast in contempory curfcumstances. They proved to be both agile and durable. And they were easier to maintain than horses. A rider could move over even dangerous terrain with relative ease. There became extensively used for messengers because radio communications were just beginning to be developed. They served for dispatch riders and scouts and wuth a side car to transport individuals and particularly valuable supplies. But the primary use was communications. Units in fixed communications could establish land lines for telephones. Rafio was not yet practical for unis beyond headwuaters. Thus unis on the move had to fall and often units preparing o move had to dall back on the mounted messenger—in this case for the first time mounted on motorcycles. And they were also important for commuications with stationary units when documents and maps had to be delivered. There were wireless communication, but they required bulky sending and reciving stations beyond the means of advancing units. Sidecars were developed which could be fitted on the cycles. These could carry individuals and could be used for weapons like machine guns. While messages were the primary use of motorcycles, they were klso used fior patrol and scouting.

Country Trends

The horse was an imprtant factior on battle fields since the second mellenium. This was for both fastb mobing calvalry as well as logistics, pulling supply wagins and in modern times artilery. World War I and the uinternal combusyion engine began a change that would revolutioize warfare. European armies began using the fast and agile motorcycles as reconnaissance, communication, and transport vehicles as well as ambulances. The European armies began the war with horse calvalry and transport, but this rapidly changed as the War progressed. For the Allies, America was an importasnt supplier of both motorcycles and trucks. The Indian Motor Cycle dominatred the Allies use of this vehicle.

America

At the time of World War, the motorcycle had developed as big business in the United States. It could have been larger, but Henry Ford's Model-T Tin Lizzie brought the price of a car so low, that most comsumers chose the car. The motircycle industry was dominated by Indian which introduced the Big Twin engine which doubled the power (1916). Smaller upstart Harly-Dabidson worked on its suspension. The U.S. Army began using motorcycles even before the War broke out in Europe. General John J. Pershing was ordered to arrest Pancho Villa who staged attacks across the border (1913). As part of that operation, American forces used Harley-Davidson motorcycles. One third of the company's production was solds to the military (1917). When the United States finally entered the War in Europe (1917), the motorcycle was being widely used by the major combatant countries. Indian which dominated the market at the timne, concentrated on producung for the U.S. Army when America entered the War (1917). The U.S. Army used an estimated 20,000 motorcycles during the War. Indian produced far more, a total of 50,000 to supply the Allies as well. The Indian Big Twin with rear suspension made it the best mororcycle at the time. The Harley Model 17 was powered by a 61-cubic-inch F-head engine (15 horsepower) cupled with a simple 3-speed transmission that was mounted to the gas tank. The American motorcycles proved highly versitile. They could be equipped with a ride range of accessories, including hospital stretchers, passenger sidecars, shields, and fully automatic machine guns. The first American to enter Germany after the Armistice (November 11, 1918) is believed to have been motorcycle dispatch rider Cpl. Roy Holtz. Harley produced a much smaller number, but continued to supply civilian orders as well. Harley's focus on its civilin customers and dealers proved very beneficil after the War. Indian found it difficult to reposition itself in the civilian production market after the War. Harley as a result would evenbtually surpass Indian in the inter-war period. .

Britain

Britain's defense focused on the Royal Navy. The British maintained colonial police firces, but the reguklar Army eas very small. The Kaiser called it that'contrmptuous little Army. Britain entered the War after Germny invaded Belgium, joining France. The Royal Naby could not defend Belgium abd France. So the British Army had to expanbded and uograde. Part of that pricess was mcanizationm which incvluded motorcycles. It was soon clear that they could no longer rely on horses to deliver messages to front line units. The British Ecpedituoiary Foirce had bicycles and few motorcycle. sRadio was not yet developed for smll front-line units. The first contact with the Germans was made Briutish scouts on bicycleds. The obvuius answeer was the motorcycle. The Ministry of Defence cibtracted William and Edward Douglas of Douglas Motorcycles to produce 300 bikes 300 bikes a month for the duration of the war. Douglas would produce over 70,000 motorcycles for military use. Norton was producung the WD16H, but did iot get a militaru=y ciontract until after the war. Instead the British Army after an ectended period of testing, settled on the Triumph Model H (1915). It only generted 4 horsepower so it was not fast, but it was rugged bnd rekablke and becamne knon as 'The Trusty' Triumph would produce 30,000. These were unheard of numbers at the time. Curiouly, Triumph Motorcycles had been launched in Britain by a German immigrant from Nuremberg -- Siegfried Bettmann (1913). He estabished his operation in Coventry and then later a German branch in Nuremberg. Just before before the outbreak of the War, the two companies had different names. In Britain the motorcycles were called Triumph whilst those made in Nuremberg were branded TWN (Triumph Werke Nürnberg).

France

French motoircyckles were made by Gnome

Germany

The German Army before the War experimented with motorcycles. Their primary idea was to us them as as a replacement for horses in massed calvary charges. But decuded gaunst it. Thus at the outbreak i=of the war did niot vhsve any motiorcycles. They qyiuckly realised tgat they need them anbd began comabdeering them until substantial milkitary oriductuin could begin. Two comanies priduced motorcycles. The Germams produced the TWN (the German versoon of the Triumpoh H) and the NSU. NSI was by far the most imprtant. NSU began as Mechanische Werkstätte zur Herstellung von Strickmaschinen", a knitting machine manufacturer (1873). It was founded by Christian Schmidt, a technically competent entrepreneur, The company proved succesfukand began to branch out. The company began to produce bicycles (1886). Bikes became the main business under the NSU brand. Their first motorcycle was a notorized bicycle wjich appeared (1901). It was followed by a car (1905). NSU priduced a popular 3 hp bike. They then came out with a large V-twin of nearkly 1000cc (1909). Along side the successful motorcycle production the manufacturing of automobiles slowly began. In addutiuin to cars, NSU priduced taxicabs abd trucks. The NSU motor cyckles prived popular. NSU poroduced iver 20noercent of Briyish motorcyckle sakes befire the war. They opened a factoiry with 1,500 employees in Engklabd--somewht bad timing (1914). NSU supplied both cars and motorcycles to the German Army. The first model for the Army was the NSU 7/9 HP Heeresmodell 996cc (1914) with twin V cyclinders. It was followed by mny more gradually improving models. We have been unable to find data on German proiductioin, but suspect it was a lot less than Allied production.

Other Countries

Belgian FN bikes were used not only by Belgium but also by some Australian units. Italy, which used some 6,400 motor cycles, put a heavy load on Bianchi and Fiat. Austro Hungary used bikes made by Austro Daimler, Austro Fiat, Graf und Stift, and Puch. Germany may have supplied NSU motorcycles to Bulgaria and Turkey.

Advances in Radio

Nikola Tesla was on the verge of inventing radio (radio telegraphy) when his lab burnedd down. Thus Italian experminenter Guglielmo Marconi got the first pantent (1903) and the honor of inventing radio--at first called wireless. It was the world's navies and commercial shipping that made the greatest use of of the new technogy at first. RMS Titantic was warned about icebergs but the captain intent on a record Atlantic crossing chose to ignore those messages. Rescue ships arrived because of messages sent by Titanic's wireless operator. Armies were a different matter. Ships had powerful engunes generated te elecrrity needed for radio. Armies were different. Headquaters units could be equipped with radio as well as substantial units in fixed positions. But small units, especially if they were moving could not opertate radio sets. Wires coild be strung for telephones, but they were still not always relaiable and again this was not possible with units on the move, especially during a major offensive. This meant that headquarters units lost contact with units and command and control broke down. War is, however a power engine for tecnological invention and advancement. World War I was the first major war that was able to utiizes the new developing radio technologies. Radio became an critical part of naval operation. Armies were less able to use the new technologies. And perhaps the most important was the transmission of voice rather than code. Thius was made possible by the electron tube, as oscillator. and amplifier. A major function for aircraft, invented in the same year as radio, during World War I was reconisance, but the minute a pilot took off off, he was out of touch and was not back in touch until he returned and landed. There were no radio system developed that could be installed in aircraft. The major issue was weight and electrical generating power. Early aircraft were flimisy contraptions. The first radion communication from a plsn was not achieved until near the end of the War (1917). We also see land based mobil units. By the end of the War, the world's armies were on the verrge of developing much more effective tactical comunications systems, including mobile radio units. We see some early units in 1919 (figure 1). Rafio was not the only electrical. Surely it was ther modt bimpotsabnt, but eklectricity resi=lted in a swude range of innovstioins, especilly at sea. One soyrce tivks them off, "... electric signaling lamps, an electric helm indicator, electric fire alarms, remote control—from the bridge—of bulkhead doors, electrically controlled whistles, and remote reading of water level in the boilers. Electric power turned guns and turrets and raised ammunition from the magazines up to the guns. Searchlights—both incandescent and carbon-arc—became vital for nighttime navigation, for long-range daytime signaling, and for illuminating enemy ships in night engagements." At this doies not even include the elctrical engines thst made submsrines possible.

German Motorcycle Industry

At the end of Workd War I, therecweretebs of thousands of motoircyclkes in France and Bekgium and no real need fir most of them either in France or Britain. The great majoritybwere lkeftvinb Franvce and sold off as military surplus. One of the Douglas bikes was ourcghased by the Works Foreman at BMW--Martin Stolle. He had purcgased the bike it for his persinal use. BMW’s Chief Engineer, Max Fritz, noticed Stolle and his Douglas. He had bveen considerung a new BMW motorcycle. Stolle agreed to let Fritz to reverse engineer his bike. Fritz was able acquire new idea for his new BMW motorcycle.

World War II

The motorcycle was important during World War I, but less so during World War II. They served for dispatch riders and scouts and wuth a side car to transport inddividuals and particularly valuable supplies. Most of the combatant countries prepared to use the motorcycle as they had in World War I. The French were knocked out of the War after the German victory in the West (1940). This left the British with active infantry operations only in the Western Desert. The Germand did use the motorcycle widely in its offensive campaigns, including the massive Barbarossa campaign. For the Wehrmascht, the motorcycle had the advantage that it was easier to build and required a smaller motor than cars and jeep-like vehicles. The United States planned to use motorcycles and some were deployed in North Africa. American commanders soon decided that the jeep was a much more useful light vehiche and American industry had the capacity to buld them in large numbers. The Americans did use some, particularly the military police, but they were not widely used. It found its greatest with the Germans, in part because they lacked the industrial capacity to build utilitarian four-wheeled vehicles as the United States did.

Created: 10:33 PM 8/30/2018
Last updated: 6:48 PM 6/6/2023