During World War I, the already existing weapon that was made significantly more effective with new technology was the machine gun. The development of more sophisticated and reliable machine guns, such as the Maxim and the Vickers, allowed for higher rates of fire and more efficient ammunition feeding. This made them deadly defensive weapons, capable of mowing down advancing soldiers and effectively holding positions. Machine guns played a critical role in shaping the tactics and strategies of the war, particularly in trench warfare.
