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Quiz about Key Military Innovations in History

Key Military Innovations in History Quiz

Some innovations in history (of military origin) either permanently changed warfare or provided the spark for significant change. These include technology, organization and doctrine. Test your knowledge of some of history's key military developments.

A multiple-choice quiz by McAngus. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
McAngus

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
347,430

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
2315

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 1 (9/10), Reamar42 (10/10), Guest 90 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. For 300 years, since the invention of firearms, the lead ball remained the only form of ammunition employed. This early design was limited in accuracy and range. Claude-Etienne Minie's invention of the Conical bullet or "Minie Ball" was a major leap in bullet design, overcoming the drawbacks of the lead ball.

What made this bullet design so much more effective than the lead ball? Hint

The bullet came with the gun powder already in the casing which was much more efficient

It was the first that used smokeless gunpowder which was cleaner and caused less clogging

The bullet would tumble as it left the barrel greatly improving its aerodynamic qualities

The bullet would expand inside the chamber to grip the rifle's grooves, spinning as it exited

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Question 2 of 10

2. Although mounted units have been employed since the earliest periods of human civilization, one item of equipment to optimize combat from atop a horse was developed relatively late. This innovation greatly improved a rider's stability, balance and ability to move the upper body while on horseback, leading to a significant improvement in the effectiveness of mounted archers and other cavalry troops.

What was this invention? Hint

The saddle

The stirrup

The horseshoe

The bridle

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Question 3 of 10

3. During his conquests in Europe, Napoleon Bonaparte developed the "Corps" as a new military structure for his army. The corps lent him great flexibility and the ability to quickly capitalize on opportunities. This structure has now become standard in modern militaries.

Which of these best describes a corps? Hint

A combined-arms group each commanding their own infantry, artillery and cavalry units and able to operate independently.

The unit directly above brigades, usually consisting of 10,000 to 20,000 troops

Self-sufficient field armies responsible for a particular geographic area

A smaller specialized force deployed to carry out the most difficult tasks

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Question 4 of 10

4. It is said that when these two ironclads met in combat on March 9th 1862 every other navy in the world became obsolete. These two American Civil War era ships marked the shift away from wooden warships and a period of significant change in naval warfare.

What were the names of these two ironclads (one Union ship and one Confederate ship)? Hint

The Merrimack and the Manassas

The Montauk and the Manassas

The Montauk and the Monitor

The Merrimack and the Monitor

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Question 5 of 10

5. The Roman Legions are often referenced as a prime example of a professional and highly effective military force. However, they were not always so. Only after the Marian reforms enacted in 107 BC did Rome's armies start to become the legions we are most familiar with in film and story today.

Which one of these was NOT among Marian's reforms? Hint

Standardized state provision of armor and weapons

First introduced the Gladius as the standard infantryman's weapon

Extended eligibility of military service to the landless population

Established a permanent standing army

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Question 6 of 10

6. During Germany's air raids of Britain in WWII, one innovation was instrumental in Britain's successful defense against a superior air force. This allowed the British to effectively counter Germany's numerical advantage with only a limited number of planes. The targeted deployment of squadrons saved precious resources and countless lives.

What was this innovation?
Hint

Anti-aircraft guns

Concrete bunkers

Tracer shells

Radar

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Question 7 of 10

7. The Janissary corps is often cited as being the first to adopt what are now standard military practices such as regular pay, soldiers quartered in barracks, uniforms and marching to music. These soldiers were counted among the most elite and organized forces of the day.

To which empire did the Janissary corps belong? Hint

The Persian Empire

The Byzantine Empire

The Ottoman Empire

The Mughal Empire

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Question 8 of 10

8. The quote "An army marches on its stomach" is as true today as it was centuries before. The limited ability of armies to provide a regular supply of adequate food meant that feeding an army on campaign was a major problem, especially so with larger armies traveling greater distances. Thus, the development of "canned" food was a significant step for all armies.

During which period was "canned" food first developed? (Canned food is not limited to metal-based containers)

Hint: The person who said the quote is from the same period. Hint

The Napoleonic Wars

The Crimean War

The American Civil War

The Franco-Prussian War

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Question 9 of 10

9. The wearing of helmets by the basic infantryman went into decline during the 18th century. Only during the First World War did helmets reappear as standard equipment, the first being the French M15 credited to August-Louis Adrian. Adrian was trying to protect soldiers from a specific injury which is what spurred the development of the M15. What kind of protection was he looking for? Hint

Protection during hand-to-hand combat

Protection from rifle fire

Protection from exploding shrapnel

Protection from machine gun fire

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Question 10 of 10

10. Archeological findings of Paleolithic humans have shown that the tools they employed had begun to evolve into more effective designs. One of these is called the Atlatl. Of very simple design, this tool greatly improved early man's hunting by taking advantage of some basic scientific principle. The strenghts of the Atlatl no doubt carried over to conflict between humans as well. Those armed with this tool certainly had a significant advantage over those who did not.

What best describes the Atlatl and what it did? Hint

An axe like tool that was able to exert great force at the point of impact

A sling that was able to hurl small rocks at great velocity

A tool that allowed a spear or dart to be thrown with much greater precision and force

A very durable spear tip fashioned out of razor sharp rock

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. For 300 years, since the invention of firearms, the lead ball remained the only form of ammunition employed. This early design was limited in accuracy and range. Claude-Etienne Minie's invention of the Conical bullet or "Minie Ball" was a major leap in bullet design, overcoming the drawbacks of the lead ball. What made this bullet design so much more effective than the lead ball?

Answer: The bullet would expand inside the chamber to grip the rifle's grooves, spinning as it exited

Introduced in 1847, the conical bullet was designed to expand and grip the rifles grooves when fired. This caused the bullet to spin as it left the barrel greatly improving accuracy. The same principle applies when a football (American football) is made to spiral when thrown. The American Civil War saw the first widespread use of this bullet.

Answer: The stirrup

Stirrups have become such an integral part of equestrianism that it is hard to imagine a horseman without them. The earliest stirrups developed may be dated to around 600 BC in India. Not until invasions by Central Asian people's from the 6th - 7th centuries did stirrups begin to appear in Europe.

With the stirrup a mounted archer is able to balance himself to optimize accuracy as well as shoot in multiple directions including backward. This also applied to cavalry units who needed to swing their weapons while maintaining stability.

Answer: A combined-arms group each commanding their own infantry, artillery and cavalry units and able to operate independently.

The corps is an administrative grouping of armed forces made up of several divisions that contained infantry, artillery and cavalry units. The command of different types of units under a single group allowed corps to operate independently without requiring support from other commands. Prior to this development, generals requiring artillery or cavalry would have to request the support from a separate command.

4. It is said that when these two ironclads met in combat on March 9th 1862 every other navy in the world became obsolete. These two American Civil War era ships marked the shift away from wooden warships and a period of significant change in naval warfare. What were the names of these two ironclads (one Union ship and one Confederate ship)?

Answer: The Merrimack and the Monitor

The battle between the Union's Monitor and the Confederate's Merrimack (or Virginia) was the first between ironclads. Both ships, being heavily armored, fired on each other for hours with neither gaining the advantage. The battle ended in stalemate as both ships pulled back still intact.

The engagement drew worldwide attention as navies saw the potential of armored ships. This would usher in a period of rapid naval development.

5. The Roman Legions are often referenced as a prime example of a professional and highly effective military force. However, they were not always so. Only after the Marian reforms enacted in 107 BC did Rome's armies start to become the legions we are most familiar with in film and story today. Which one of these was NOT among Marian's reforms?

Answer: First introduced the Gladius as the standard infantryman's weapon

Initiated by Gaius Marius, a Roman statesman and politician, these reforms had deep and wide-ranging impact on the Roman Empire and set the tone for what it would eventually become. The Marian reforms also organized the army into newly formed legions and even provided a sort of retirement plan for veteran soldiers. The presence of a standing army of seasoned soldiers was vital to an empire that had to fend off hostile neighbors (or conquer them) regularly.

One of the most consequential reforms was the change in compensation for retired legionaries. Veterans were now allowed to settle the land which they had conquered. Though this did help to curb unrest in the conquered territories and hastened "Romanization" it also shifted the balance of power within the empire. The troops now depended almost completely on their general for their wealth and thus loyalties moved away from the state and toward the one who brought the soldiers victory. Whoever had an army had power and this would characterize much of Roman history.

Answer: Radar

Radar allowed the RAF to detect enemy raids and their composition well before any planes reached Britain. Along with a highly efficient system of communication the RAF was able to intercept incoming planes with precise knowledge of the force needed to repel them. With this strategy Britain was able to get the most out of its limited resources.

Answer: The Ottoman Empire

The Janissary corps of the Ottoman Empire served as the sultan's personal bodyguards as well as wartime troops. They were exclusively recruited from Christian families at a young age and given some the best education and training of the time. The Janissaries participated in every major Ottoman campaign and was always led by the sultan himself.

8. The quote "An army marches on its stomach" is as true today as it was centuries before. The limited ability of armies to provide a regular supply of adequate food meant that feeding an army on campaign was a major problem, especially so with larger armies traveling greater distances. Thus, the development of "canned" food was a significant step for all armies. During which period was "canned" food first developed? (Canned food is not limited to metal-based containers) Hint: The person who said the quote is from the same period.

Answer: The Napoleonic Wars

During the Napoleonic Wars, the French offered a reward to anyone who could create a method for preserving food. Nicolas Appert did just that and developed a simple method for preserving food in jars. However, Napoleon's wars were over before they saw widespread use. It was during wars in the following decades when soldiers were introduced to canned food on a large scale.

Answer: Protection from exploding shrapnel

A common misconception, though a reasonable one, is that the helmet was created in response to gun fire. In actuality, the main reason was protection from shrapnel exploding above soldiers' heads. Shrapnel accounted for a significant portion of casualties in WWI as trenches offered no protection from above.

Answer: A tool that allowed a spear or dart to be thrown with much greater precision and force

The Atlatl was a simple tool consisting of a shaft with a cup at one end to hold a spear in place. Much more effective than a spear thrown by arm, a projectile thrown with a Atlatl could reach speeds of over 90 mph and with much greater accuracy. An illustration might be the difference between an arrow fired by a bow and a javelin thrown by hand.

Source: Author McAngus

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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