Mechanized warfare
From Open Encyclopedia
Armies have been using machinery in combat for thousands of years. Simple war machines such as battering rams and other siege engines date back to the ancient Greeks. The first steam warship was commissioned in 1815; Richard Gatling patented his early machine gun in 1861; and 1866 saw demonstrations of an early self-propelled torpedo. But mechanized warfare usually refers to 20th-century land battles in which the mobility and power of motor vehicles and aircraft was paramount, especially in the two World Wars.
The "armored fist" tank assault has become the symbol of these tactics, but doctrine calls for coordination of mechanized infantry, air support, and several classes of lighter armored vehicle besides the main battle tank. A fully mechanized frontline force needs a fully mechanized supply train to fulfill its heavy requirements for fuel, ammunition, replacement parts, and other supplies. It also needs combat engineering assets to fortify positions, demolish obstacles, build and repair airstrips, salvage disabled vehicles, and so forth.
In the present day, mobility and air power have become so important that no major country would field a non-mechanized frontline force of any size; however, pre- and lightly-mechanized forces are still dangerous in asymmetric and guerrilla warfare, such as counter-insurgency.
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History
Early Military Trucks and Tractors
American automobile makers such as Winton, FWD, Cadillac, General Motors and Ford helped motorize the Allies with dual-use technology, such as civilian trucks outfitted as four-stretcher ambulances.
The first armored fighting vehicles were based on the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Developed in 1914 and crewed by three men, they added double rear tires, armor plate, and a turreted Maxim machine gun or .303 Vickers. Although it was difficult for them to negotiate the obstacles, mud, and trenches of the Western Front, they were well suited for the Near East; even Lawrence of Arabia used one.
