A Revolution in Military Affairs? | Prof Gary Sheffield

In this talk, which was delivered 'live' to an online audience, Professor Gary Sheffield argues that the First World War represented a turning point in the history of conflict.
The conduct of war underwent a profound, revolutionary change. He will examine the nature of that change, setting it in the context of theories about Revolutions in Military Affairs, looking at the consequences not only for the fighting in 1914-18 but also for future warfare.
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[@muskduh]

Thanks for the video!

[@MikeKanner1]

Very interesting. My own interest in the War came from my work at the US Army Infantry School in the 1980s when we were talking about the RMA that came from computers and directed energy weapons (classified at the time). After writing a position paper for the commandant, I came to the conclusion that World War 1 was one of the most transformative periods for military strategy. I was very happy to see you talk about warfare is evolutionary. As part of my research, I showed the existence of many of the technologies already and that it was the synchronization of the various technologies that really created the revolution. This supported my argument as a doctrine writer that the revolution won't come until we have a better understanding of how the systems worked together.

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

Sound ranging and flash spotting: it's still amazing to think that the BEF could put directed fire onto enemy artillery positions based entirely on passive sensors in 1918, albeit it would be nice to know the elapsed time between getting the firing data at the sound-ranging station and turning it into a firing solution.

[@anaryl]

Excellent analysis Prof Gary! However, you should also examine that impact of thermodynamics on this revolution/evolution. War is a thermodynamic phenomenon between super organisms!

[@TheGreatWhiteScout]

I understand your skepticism, but I would suggest an addition to the 'digitization' the change in acquisition by use of thermal imagery has revolutionized the battlefield as well. As a tanker who saw the change in real time in the 1980s, the improvement between passive sights and thermal imagery was monumental. You could say that was digitization, but not really - it was new technology, but not necessarily digitization. But I know I was patted on the back for a 1500m daylight shot as a gunner from a quick halt in 1983, and yet my gunner who hit a 5000m target going 40 mph in the pitch-black desert night (Fort Irwin 1985) didn't even get a comment from anyone. It was that commonplace by then.

[@timheywood7521]

My Grandfather was in the RGA at the outbreak in 1914 having been commissioned the year before. His first action after war was declared was to go and purchase a dozen, yard long brass slide rules. One for each of his gun captains - so they could calculate where they were firing rather than just guessing. I wonder just how much variation in the technical aspect of a battery was down to the officer commanding?

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

I don't know if it would count as a military revolution but I think you could make a case for modern medicine. The leading cause of death in war for all of human history was not the enemy but sickness and disease; but with the advent of germ theory, antibiotics, etc soldiers who in the past would either be sick and combat ineffective or would die of some disease on campaign were now either not getting sick in the first place or being treated quickly and effectively. That alone greatly increased the lethality of armies.

[@davidrodgersNJ]

Great lecture, but some of the 'revolutionary' technologies (eg rifled firearms, telegraph, railroads) came about and were used in war much earlier.

[@MmmGallicus]

Nuclear, not nucular!

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

Huge pet peeve of mine when people pronounce nuclear as "nuke-ular" or "new-q-ler". Using the term nuke has definitely had an impact on how nuclear is pronounced.