Figure 1.-- These unidentified British boys look to be partiipating in a school cadet summer camp. The boys are holding the iconic Lee-Enfield rifle used by the British Army in both World War I and II.

The main weapon used by the World War I soldier as all soldiers since the 17th century was the musket or rifle. Major new infantry weaons were introduced in World War I, especially machine guns and mortars. These weapons were, however, heavy and unwiedly. If an infantryman was to advance in world War I action, the wepon he could carry was his rifle. Fighting on defensive positions was different, but to advance, especially any kind of rapid advance, an infantryman needed a weapon he could carry. All of the World war I armies had bolt-action rifles. Major advances in infantry rifles were made as Europeans began an arms race (late-19th century). The single-shot, large-bore rifle was the object of wide-spread research and development in several countries. As a result the major powers introduced new rifles that were small-bore, bolt-action weapons capable of rapidly firing multiple rounds from pre-loaded spring-loaded clips that were into a rifle magazine. The various armies had iconic rifles. The standard German infantry rile was the Gewehr 98 Mauser (variously abbreviated as G98, Gew 98, and M98). It was introcuded in 1888. Its main features were rapidly adopted by other armies. The British had the Lee-Enfield rifle. It was a bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle adopted in 1895. Commonwealth forces also used the Lee Enfield. It held 15 rounds and could be fired in a minute. A competent soldier could kill an ememy 1,400 meters distant. It would also be used in World War II. The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) used a lot of Allied weaponry, especially French weapons, some of which were awful. The AEF did use an American-built rile--the Springfield. The Springfield was the standard wartime rifle of the U.S. Army. It was reliable and produced in a short-barrelled version which was issued to the AEF. The performance of the U.S. rifle was comparable to the British Lee-Enfield, and was also produced in a Mk1 automatic version. The Springfield utilised a licensed Mauser action. There were, however, not enough Springfields for the AEF. About half of the AEF was issued the M1917 'American Enfield'. Unlike the other World War I beligerants, the United States would have a brand new rifle for World War II, the best rifle of the War. There were huge advances in weaponry during the inter-War period. Most World War II beligereants, however, would fight the War with World War I rifles. Only the United States would issue an innovative new rifle to its infantrymen. The French began the war with the Lebel 8 mm rifel (Fuil modelle) introduced in 1886. Despite being used for nearlt three decades, the Lebel had serious flaws and was replaced with the Berthier durung the War. The Autro-Hungariam Armyused the Steyr-Mannlicher. The Russians developed the Mosin–Nagant, a 5 shot, bolt-action, internal magazine-fed rifle It was developed by the Imperial Russian Army (1882–91). It is one of the most mass-produced military bolt-action rifles in history. The Russians could not produce it in the number needed for World War I combat, this many Russian soldiers went into combar without a rifle. They were expected to pick up the weapons of comrads struck down. In addition, Russian units used many imported foreign weapons.

Importance

The main weapon used by the World War I soldier as all soldiers since the 17th century was the musket or rifle. Major new infantry weaons were introduced in World War I, especially machine guns and mortars. These weapons were, however, heavy and unwiedly. If an infantryman was to advance in world War I action, the wepon he could carry was his rifle. Fiuhing in defensive positions was different. Heavy weapons could be pre-positioned along with amunition stocks. To advance, especially any kind of rapid advance, an infantryman needed a weapon he could carry. And here we have to consider not only the weight of the weapon, but of the amunition as well. Any combat supply trains still relied largely on horses, although the Americans intriduced trucks for the first time in important numbers.

Technological Advances

As late as the American Civil War (1861-65), armies were still using smoothbore muskets that had to be loaded by ramming ball and powder down the barrel. This severely limited firepower asit was so time consuming. Positions could be overun because the defenders could only get off a few vollies. All of the World War I armies had made the transition to bolt-action rifles. Major advances in infantry rifles had been made as Europeans began an arms race (late-19th century). The single-shot, large-bore rifle was the object of wide-spread research and development in several countries. As a result the major powers introduced new rifles that were small-bore, bolt-action weapons capable of rapidly firing multiple rounds from pre-loaded spring-loaded clips that were into a rifle magazine. The change in fire power was enormous.

National Rifles

The various armies had iconic rifles. The standard German infantry rile was the Gewehr 98 Mauser (variously abbreviated as G98, Gew 98, and M98). It was introduced in 1888. Its main features were rapidly adopted by other armies. The British had the Lee-Enfield rifle. It was a bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle adopted in 1895. Commonwealth forces also used the Lee Enfield. It held 15 rounds and could be fired in a minute. A competent soldier could kill an ememy 1,400 meters distant. It would also be used in World War II. A Canadian reader writes, "When I was in my teens I had a 1918 Lee Enfield rifle. 303 cal. It had a kick like a mule. The range of the rifle was 2,000 yards but with iron sights not very accurate at that distance. Best under 300 yards." The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) used a lot of Allied weaponry, especially French weapons, some of which were awful. The AEF did use an American-built rile--the Springfield. The Springfield was the standard wartime rifle of the U.S. Army. It was reliable and produced in a short-barrelled version which was issued to the AEF. The performance of the U.S. rifle was comparable to the British Lee-Enfield, and was also produced in a Mk1 automatic version. The Springfield utilised a licensed Mauser action. There were, however, not enough Springfields for the AEF. About half of the AEF was issued the M1917 'American Enfield'. Unlike the other World War I beligerants, the United States would have a brand new rifle for World War II, the best rifle of the War. There were huge advances in weaponry during the inter-War period. Most World War II beligereants, however, would fight the War with World War I rifles. Only the United States would issue an innovative new rifle to its infantrymen. The French began the war with the Lebel 8 mm rifel (Fuil modelle) introduced in 1886. Despite being used for nearlt three decades, the Lebel had serious flaws and was replaced with the Berthier durung the War. The Autro-Hungariam Armyused the Steyr-Mannlicher. The Russians developed the Mosin–Nagant, a 5 shot, bolt-action, internal magazine-fed rifle It was developed by the Imperial Russian Army (1882–91). It is one of the most mass-produced military bolt-action rifles in history. The Russians could not produce it in the number needed for World War I combat, this many Russian soldiers went into combar without a rifle. They were expected to pick up the weapons of comrads struck down. In addition, Russian units used many imported foreign weapons.

Created: 3:44 AM 7/26/2015
Last updated: 10:31 PM 7/26/2015