Construction and Design of Trenches
- Sapping: The trench was started by digging a short trench, which then be extended at either end of the trench. As the digging went on, reinforcements were made to keep it stable. ...
- Tunneling: This method was very similar to sapping. ...
- Sand-bagging: This was done in areas such as the Flanders area where there were very high water tables or low levels of dirt and clay. ...
How deep ocean trenches are formed?
How are deep ocean trenches formed? Trenches are formed by subduction, a geophysical process in which two or more of Earth's tectonic plates converge and the older, denser plate is pushed beneath the lighter plate and deep into the mantle, causing the seafloor and outermost crust (the lithosphere) to bend and form a steep, V-shaped depression.
How are deep sea trenches formed?
Trenches are formed through subduction, which occurs when tectonic plates collide and push one plate beneath the other. Trenches can be found all over the surface floor of the ocean at subduction zones. The Mariana trench is the deepest known point in the ocean at over 35,000 feet deep.
How to describe World War 1 trenches?
What items did soldiers keep in the trenches?
- Families sent parcels of food to their relatives at war. They sent items such as chocolate, tobacco and tinned food. ...
- Many soldiers ate 'Maconchie's meat stew' and hard biscuits. Sadly the meat was mostly fat. ...
- Homesickness was a big problem. Soldiers were allowed to write letters home and were given free postcards or headed paper. ...
Where were WW1 trenches built?
Where were ww1 trenches built? The trench system on the Western Front in World War I—fixed from the winter of 1914 to the spring of 1918—eventually stretched from the North Sea coast of Belgium southward through France, with a bulge outwards to contain the much-contested Ypres salient.
Why were the trenches built?
Trenches provided relative protection against increasingly lethal weaponry. Soldiers dug in to defend themselves against shrapnel and bullets. On the Western Front, trenches began as simple ditches and evolved into complex networks stretching over 250 miles (402 kilometres) through France and Belgium.
How and where were the trenches built in ww1?
Trenches weren't dug in straight lines. The WWI trenches were built as a system, in a zigzag pattern with many different levels along the lines. They had paths dug so that soldiers could move between the levels. Trenches typically had an embankment at the top and a barbed wire fence.
How long did it take to build the trenches in ww1?
The guidelines for British trench construction stated that it would take 450 men 6 hours at night to complete 250 m (270 yd) of front-line trench system.
How were German trenches built?
' The German army typically built permanent trenches made from bricks and concrete. Their fighting trenches were zigzagged, allowing soldiers to take cover around a corner if a shell or grenade landed nearby. Other trenches were built for support and backup.
Who built better trenches in ww1?
Differences Between German and British Trenches: Main difference between the two trenches was that the Germans dug their trenches first, which meant they got the better soil conditions because they dug their trenches on higher ground compared to the British trenches.
Do any ww1 trenches still exist?
A few of these places are private or public sites with original or reconstructed trenches preserved as a museum or memorial. Nevertheless, there are still remains of trenches to be found in remote parts of the battlefields such as the woods of the Argonne, Verdun and the mountains of the Vosges.
What did they eat in the trenches?
The 'trench ration' was designed to feed a certain number of soldiers. It was used when the food prepared in the field kitchens could be delivered. It included corned beef, sardines, salmon, coffee, salt, sugar and even cigarettes. The 'emergency ration' included highly caloric aliments, such as chocolate.
Who invented trenches?
Sébastien Le Prestre de VaubanThe tactical ancestor of modern trench warfare was the system of progressively extended trenches developed by the French military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban for the attack of fortresses in the 17th century.
Why weren't trenches dug in straight lines?
All the trenches were dug in a zig-zag pattern so the enemy couldn't shoot straight down the line and kill many soldiers. If a mortar, grenade or artillery shell would land in the trench, it would only get the soldiers in that section, not further down the line.
How did soldiers make trenches?
Trenches in WWI were constructed with sandbags, wooden planks, woven sticks, tangled barbed wire or even just stinking mud. British soldiers standing in water in a trench.
How long did the trenches take to build?
Interesting Facts about Trench Warfare The British said it took 450 men 6 hours to build about 250 meters of a trench system. Most of the raids took place at night when soldiers could sneak across the "No Mans Land" in the dark.
Why did ww2 not have trenches?
In summary: The ability of radio-coordinated mechanized forces to maneuver in concert was what made trench-warfare untenable for most World War II fronts. These mechanized forces existed at the end of a long supply line, capable of operating at far greater distances and far greater speeds than previously possible.
Where were the first trenches built?
The first trenches of the Western Front were dug along the Chemin des Dames and from there they would eventually stretch across Europe from the Swiss border to the North Sea.
Where are the ww1 trenches?
Trenches were really the defining concept of the First World War. They were literally on every front. The Western Front most famously in France and Belgium, they were in Gallipoli, they were in the mountains of Northern Italy, they were in the Middle East, even in Africa.
How were ww1 tunnels built?
“Typically the tunnels were dug by hand in clay using a technique called 'clay kicking'. The tunnellers lay on a plank at 45 degrees, angled away from the working face, and inserted the digging tool, which had a cuplike rounded end, between their legs with their feet.
What were the trenches built in?
The trenches were built in a zig-zag pattern, allowing for less damage and casualties if the trenches were ever bombarded. The trench construction encompassed reinforcing the walls by using materials such as wood, tree posts, and sand bags (filled with clay).
How did trenches appear underground?
These trenches were devised to "appear" underground by raising the levels of sandbags and covering them with dirt and camouflage. This form was very sanitary compared to the others because it reduced the chance of flooding and the related illnesses such as trench foot, lice and rats.
How was trench sapping used?
Sapping: The trench was started by digging a short trench, which then be extended at either end of the trench. As the digging went on , reinforcements were made to keep it stable. This method was very effective because it was the safest method for extending trenches, and making shorter, "rescue" and "retreat" trenched.
How many trenches did the Allies use?
The Allies used four "types" of trenches. The first was the front-line trench (the firing trench) which was located 50 yards to 1 mile away from the German front line. Behind the front line, several hundred yards away was the support trench which would help assist the front line with men and supplies. After the support trench lay the reserve trench which was an emergency for the soldiers if they were ever overrun. Connecting these trenches were the communication trenches which allowed the soldiers to send messages, men and supplies between the trenches.
What was the purpose of the trenches after the support trench?
Connecting these trenches were the communication trenches which allowed the soldiers to send messages, men and supplies between the trenches.
Why did only one or two men dig?
The only problem with this method was that only one or two men could dig because it was only meant for two people to pass through. Tunneling: This method was very similar to sapping. The tunnels were often used for retrieving injured soldiers and making night raids on the enemies.
How did trench work start?
The trench works started by establishing the First Parallel. The First Parallel was the most outer-line of the entire trench system. It is mostly built outside of the enemy’s artillery range during the age of smoothbore blackpowder firearms, but the job was nearly impossible after the wide adoption of rifled artillery. But still, the distance was long enough to minimize the casualties while digging in.
How many lines are there in a trench?
Birds eye view. Trenches weaved so if a shell landed directly in one spot casualties would be less because it would land in a isolated spot.Trenches had about 3 lines. The front line,Front support line and the trench support line. If you don’t get what I said here is a simple drawing.
How far away should trenches be from enemy fire?
So, the most basic method of building trenches isn’t by approaching the enemy 300 meters or even 100 meters close , dig in and fight, it is to build the trenches from a longer distance where enemy rifle fire is the minimum threat. Let’s say about a kilometer to 700 meters.
How far would a pioneer dig towards the enemy?
To avoid a massacre of pioneers and sappers, during an obscure time (night, foggy day) or if imminent, during a normal day, pioneers would start building from the most safest outer-line and would dig towards the enemy sequentially until they were 100–300 meters close to the enemy where the fire trench was built.
Why were German defenses so impressive?
Another reason why German defenses were impressive and exceptional is that the German imperial army attacked France from Belgium which means Kaiser’s army was on higher ground and up on the ridges, while the British and French army were in lowlands and valleys where the water level was as little as 20 inches below ground which meant that the British and French soldiers (British in particular) had mud up to their knees.
Did the Allies have any experience with amphibious landings on an industrial scale?
As already mentioned: no one had experience with amphibious landings on an industrial scale. The Allies tried exactly this at Gallipoli, had a massive advantage in terms of manpower and material, and still failed (though, little known fact, they came agonizingly close to success on one particular occasion)
Did the Germans build trenches?
That did happen. The Germans did build the initial trenches along the River Aisne before the French started a major (later unsuccessful) assault.
Why were trenches not built in straight lines?
This was so that if the enemy managed to get into the front line trench they would not have a straight firing line along the trench. Trenches were therefore built with alternating straight and angled lines. The traverse was the name given to the angled parts of the trench.
What was trench warfare?
Trench warfare characterized much of the fighting during World War One, particularly along the Western Front. Trench systems were complicated with many interlinking lines of trenches.
Why were sandbags used in the trenches?
Sandbags were used to protect the soldiers from enemy rifle fire. They were, however, less effective in the event of shell fire. Sandbags were also sometimes placed in the bottom of the trench to soak up water.
Why were support trenches important?
The support trenches provided a second line of defense in case the front line trench was taken by the enemy. They also contained first aid stations and kitchens to ensure men in the front line had medical treatment and hot food.
How deep were the front line trenches?
The front line trenches were generally about 8 feet deep and between 4 and 6 feet wide. Soldiers would spend around a week in the front line trench then would spend a week in the rear trenches or a rest camp. Life at the front line was not pleasant; soldiers were liable to be hit by enemy fire or sometimes by their own artillery.
What is the name of the wall that protects the head of the men standing on the fire step?
Parapet. The parapet was the name given to the front wall of the trench – that is, the wall nearest to the enemy. It would often be strengthened with wood and then covered with sandbags. The sandbags protected the heads of the men standing on the fire step from rifle fire.
What is the name of the water drain at the bottom of a trench?
To prevent the trenches from becoming waterlogged, a narrow drainage channel known as a sump would be built at the bottom of the trench. This would then be covered with wooden trench boards known as duck boards.
Why were trenches used in warfare?
Although trenches were hardly new to combat: Prior to the advent of firearms and artillery, they were used as defenses against attack, such as moats surrounding castles. But they became a fundamental part of strategy with the influx of modern weapons of war.
How did trenches protect soldiers?
Thus, trenches may have afforded some protection by allowing soldiers more time to take other defensive steps, such as putting on gas masks.
What was life in trenches?
Life in the Trenches of World War I. Trenches—long, deep ditches dug as protective defenses—are most often associated with World War I, and the results of trench warfare in that conflict were hellish indeed. When Union Army general William Tecumseh Sherman famously said “War is hell,” he was referring to war in general, ...
What wars were trench warfare used in?
Trench warfare was also employed in World War II and in the Korean War to some degree, but it has not been used regularly during conflicts in the ensuing decades. pinterest-pin-it.
How did trench warfare affect World War I?
At least initially in World War I, forces mounted attacks from the trenches, with bayonets fixed to their rifles, by climbing over the top edge into what was known as “no man’s land,” the area between opposing forces, usually in a single, straight line and under a barrage of gunfire.
What is trench foot?
Constant exposure to wetness caused trench foot, a painful condition in which dead tissue spread across one or both feet, sometimes requiring amputation. Trench mouth, a type of gum infection, was also problematic and is thought to be associated with the stress of nonstop bombardment.
How many casualties did the British suffer in the trenches?
The brutality of trench warfare is perhaps best typified by the 1916 Battle of the Somme in France. British troops suffered 60,000 casualties on the first day of fighting alone
