Gildwiller1918 Posted February 6, 2020 Author Share Posted February 6, 2020 Classic example of the machine gun. This is the MG 08 or Maschinengewehr 08. This was a water cooled machine gun capable of firing around 500 rounds per minute. Note the mounting sled the gun is on. Soldiers would have leather slings with hooks to attach to these sleds to aid in moving them, as they were quite heavy at 40 kilos. The gun itself weighed 70 kilos, which is why these were mainly stationary weapons. The MG 08/15 was an attempt to make them more mobile and lighter. The ammo crates had cloth belts that held 250 rounds, which got used up very quickly. Some of these guns had up armor kits such as shields that could be added as well. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 8, 2020 Author Share Posted February 8, 2020 Interesting view of the MG08 used for anti-aircraft purposes. Its effectiveness in this role was probably not good as it could only elevate and traverse a small amount. Note how they are not wearing any field gear as well. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 Some cringe worthy images below. After the war, a lot of captured equipment was sold off or given away as reparations, however a great deal of it was destroyed. If only I could go back and grab some bags full... In the second photo (52 Guns Captured) you can see a French Chauchat on the left side, just at the bottom left side of the sign. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 Here is a 24 cm Ladungswerfer Erhardt trench mortar, which was used early in the war but considered obsolete after 1916 when it was replaced by the 25 cm schwerer Minenwerfer. Note the firing lanyard in the foreground. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 A German communications team on the Western front, note the two on the right using a tandem bicycle power generator to power a radio station in September of 1917. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 Here is a detailed photo of the 38 cm SK L/45, or "Langer Max" rapid firing railroad gun, in 1918. This gun was originally made for use on battleships, but converted for land use, such as the one below which was mounted on a railway car. The Langer Max could fire a 750 kg (1,650 lb) high explosive projectile up to 34,200 m (37,400 yd). Note the size of the shell on the left by the soldier, as well as the brass shell casings in the foreground. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 Splendid image of German troops from the Infanterie-Regiment Vogel von Falkenstein Nr.56. They are wearing the stirnpanzer brow plate attached to their helmets. This was a plate added to the brow of the helmet to help diminish the impact of sniper rounds. They also have the M15 gas masks, and their bayonet troddel, e-tool and cartridge pouches are clearly visible. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 Turkish troops use a heliograph at Huj, near aza City, in 1917. A heliograph is a wireless solar telegraph that signals by flashes of sunlight usually using Morse code, reflected by a mirror. The US forces had a similar device which was made from brass, however these were not used in France as radio and phone communications were more reliable. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 German communications detachment laying field phone lines. Nice early war gear and weapons. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 German A7V tank, the Germans only had a small amount of these monster tanks, 20 in total were made. They however used a great many captured British tanks instead. This beast had a crew of 18 men, and had a top speed of 4 mph cross country. It had 5 to 30 mm of armor plating and weighed 33 tons. It carried a 57mm gun and 6 machine guns. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 A Turkish artillery team at Harcira, in 1917. These Turkish troops are armed with a German 105 mm light field howitzer M98/09. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 German soldiers prepping gas projectors for use. These fixed weapons had to rely on the right weather and wind conditions to blow the gas towards the enemy. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 Here are wounded military service dogs being treated at an aid station. Dogs were used in variety of roles, from delivering messages and supplies to detection and sentry use. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 21, 2020 Author Share Posted February 21, 2020 Captured British weapons and gear, lots of rifles, lewis guns, a vickers, looks like a armor vest and assorted field gear. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 28, 2020 Author Share Posted February 28, 2020 Here is a colorized photo, followed by the B&W version. The gun appears to be the 25 CM Schwerer Minenwerfer which was developed during the Russian-Japenese War. This model was used until 1916 when a longer barreled model was put into service. This gun had an elevation of 45 -75 degrees and could traverse 12 degrees. Effective range was 540 meters with a firing rate of about 20 rounds per minute (under ideal circumstances). The propellent used for these guns became substandard as low grade chemicals were used to shoot the low velocity projectiles out, as a result, these guns were also a danger to the crew manning them as premature detonations were not uncommon. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 2, 2020 Author Share Posted March 2, 2020 Nice view of German field gear, to include the cloth bandolier, which typically were disposable. Each pocket usually had 2 clips of 5 rounds on stripper clips. All sides used similar bandoliers as well. Note the lack of shoulder boards 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 2, 2020 Author Share Posted March 2, 2020 Nice view of the Granatenwerfer M16 trench mortar, note the soldier is holding the firing lanyard, indicating the projectile is ready. Interesting construction of the trench as well. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 4, 2020 Author Share Posted March 4, 2020 Another nice view of the assault troops, I can see a number 40 on the shoulder straps. The soldiers have ribbons indicating they are decorated veterans. They also have the cloth grenade bags and wire cutters. The grenades they are equipped with have holes which are either for training or smoke grenades. The rifles are the Kar 98A, which are shorter and easier to use in the trench environment. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 4, 2020 Author Share Posted March 4, 2020 Another image that was often seen on both sides, rat catching. Rats were the scourge of the troops in the trenches, these pests would fest on the corpses as well as trying to eat anything they could, not to mention spread disease. I have read accounts of british soldiers early in the war with the leather field gear saying the rats would try to eat their leather, and when they replaced the leather with the cotton duct material, the rats did not like the taste as much. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 In the assault troops photo, 4 soldiers are wearing tunics with the Saxon cuff, see examples below on peactime tunics. Can't see the shoulder numbers clearly, the number could look like a 40, but there was no Saxon Infantry Regt.40 The Saxon regiments were numbered: 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 and 108, Jäger-Btl.12 u. 13, etc. They have reduced equipment with extra large bags for handgrenades, these were often made of two sandbags roped together behind the neck and at the waist. The other two are wearing the modified piped tunic with the roll up cuffs. The Kar 98 (a) was said to have a very powerfull flash compared to the Gew.98. Not sure if the range would have been less, as the barrel is shorter. it also had a different rear sight, similar to that of the later K.98k. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 A well known photo from French archives, Verdun 1916, "un poilu tombe..." originally a German photo, which landed in a French archive (Paris Match) A pionier, Verdun 1916 August 1914, Ausrüstung fassen! Aufstellung! Fertig machen zum Appell! Butte de Warlencourt, near Sars, piles of German handgrenades 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 6, 2020 Author Share Posted March 6, 2020 Wow, would love to get some of those grenades for my collection! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 Husaren, unit not identified - Einbringen von Gefangenen. Belgian Franctireurs are led into captivity. Normally they would be shot. The photo has been later captioned in English. This photo is probably from August-September 1914. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 14, 2020 Author Share Posted March 14, 2020 Interesting photo of dogs and troops marked with the red cross, photos of WW1 medics and medical personnel are not a common as the average soldiers. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 14, 2020 Author Share Posted March 14, 2020 Nice view of "Mobile" machine guns. Quite a few horses were used in WW1, they even had gas masks made for them. Note the gun and all related gear strapped to the horse. The soldier on the right has collar tabs on his coat. I have seen this before, especially on some Bavarian units. I am still trying to identify it. So far the only thing that comes close to this is the Model 1894 and 1908 Mantel which had red collar tabs. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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