Glenn Posted 11 August , 2003 Share Posted 11 August , 2003 It is widely acknowledged that mining under trenches was a way to break the deadlock, but which army actually started to mine first? Regards, Glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 11 August , 2003 Share Posted 11 August , 2003 Have a look at this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gem22 Posted 11 August , 2003 Share Posted 11 August , 2003 Glenn You might like to look at two books on the subject. The war underground , and The tunnellers. Both are extremely good books and very enlightening Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 11 August , 2003 Share Posted 11 August , 2003 Hello, The French and Germans were mining earlier than 20 December 1914 IIRC. I have read stories about mining operations near Ypres in December 1914, I don't know at what date they started mining in other sectors... Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Parker Posted 11 August , 2003 Share Posted 11 August , 2003 Wasn't the the first mine blown under Indian troops (forget which regiment but they had just arrived at the front winter 14/15). Or is this just the first instance that British troops encountered enemy mining. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph J. Whitehead Posted 11 August , 2003 Share Posted 11 August , 2003 I know the French were mining near La Boisselle in November 1914 according to the men of the 120th Reserve. Ralph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hussar Posted 17 August , 2003 Share Posted 17 August , 2003 The Assyrian Army organized the first known "corps of engineers" during the time of Ashurnasirpal II (about 850 B.C.). These elite specialists operated siege and bridge trains and provided mobility support for chariots. They were the first soldiers equipped with advanced iron pioneer tools and are credited with the first known use of offensive mine warfare. This occurred about 880 B.C. when engineer soldiers drove tunnels (mines) under or through walls and fortifications6 to gain access to fortified areas or to create a breach large enough for a full-scale attack. These engineers excavated a chamber under the wall and braced the ceiling with timber supports. The supports were then burned, causing the chamber and the structure above it to collapse. Attacking soldiers then assaulted through the breach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
182 CEF Posted 18 August , 2003 Share Posted 18 August , 2003 Last month I picked up a 1915 British manual on Mining and demolition, great photos and info. I had never seen this manual before. It seems that by 1915 they had things pretty well figured out. Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 18 August , 2003 Share Posted 18 August , 2003 Mining is a subject that interests me greatly. My copy of Mil. Eng. Part IV Mining and Demolitions is subtitled ,Reprinted 1915, with amendments to 1912. If this is the book referred to, all the content pre-dates the war. The RE had mining theory completely understood even before the Boer War. As an example from my collection, Mining and Demolitions fifth edition 1900. Experiments before the end of the 19th century had given a scientific basis for the equations which one needs to calculate how much explosive. The variables are: quality of soil, quality of explosive, how deep is the explosive, and what sort of a hole do you want. More if anyone wants more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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