• AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Why would he not realize that countries, generals, kings, and those in power would simply send more men to die? They will not send 2 guys with a machine gun and then simply accept that the battle was lost if their guy loses. No, they will send a million men, as many as are needed to take another foot of ground.

    • BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Colonialism was super popular, so a couple of dudes with machine guns could mow down a field of natives with much less risk.

      Plus a machine gun is much more impressive than some dudes with single fire guns. A platoon (or whatever fits on a boat or three) can be overrun. Throw a couple of machine guns in with a couple of brutal shows of force and you got yourself a colony.

      WW1 was still a ways off and it wasn’t really the target market for your Gatlings and Maxims.