Lee Enfield Rifle
In the 1890s, the Europeans started using small-bore, bolt-action rifles that fired multiple rounds from a spring-loaded clip inserted into the magazine. The Lee Enfield was introduced in 1907and by the outbreak of the First World War, was the British Army's main infantry weapon. It was estimated that highly trained British Expeditionary Forces were able to fire 15 rounds per minute.
Gardner Machine Gun
In 1861 Richard Jordan Gatling produced an effective machine gun that had six barrels mounted in a revolving frame. The US Army purchased these guns in 1865 and over the next few years most of the major armies in Europe also used the gun. Gatling’s success encouraged others as well. In 1879 the Gardner Machine Gun was demonstrated for the first time. It was a two-barreled weapon operated by crank which loaded and fired each barrel.
The Whippet
The mark A tank, which was nicknamed the Whippet, was introduced in 1917. The Whippet was faster than the original tanks, and was meant to be a cavalry weapon. These tanks were effective at the offensive at Cambrai in November 1917. Nearly 400 tanks were a damaging force that plunged straight through the German lines.
Armored Cars
Armored cars were first used by the British for policing distant colonial outposts. By the outbreak of the war, the Allies in Europe were using amour-plated, open-topped vehicles with machine guns, other light guns, or artillery pieces. The most popular British car was the Napier that was first produced in 1912. It could be adapted quickly for different roles.