1. Steel:
- Structural components of firearms: Used in the manufacturing of gun barrels, receivers, and other structural parts of rifles, machine guns, and artillery.
- Armor plating: Applied to tanks, armored vehicles, and ships for protection against enemy gunfire.
2. Brass:
- Ammunition casings: Brass was widely used for producing cartridge casings due to its ductility, malleability, and resistance to corrosion.
- Trench art: Soldiers often fashioned souvenirs and artwork from spent shell casings and other brass items.
3. Aluminum:
- Airship construction: Aluminum's lightweight properties made it ideal for building aircraft frames and structures, including airships and early airplanes.
4. Copper:
- Electrical components: Copper was essential in electrical systems for communication, lighting, and other applications.
- Trench warfare equipment: Copper was used in manufacturing trench warfare tools, such as entrenching shovels and other implements.
5. Iron:
- Barbed wire: Iron was utilized in the production of barbed wire, which played a significant role in trench warfare and fortifications.
- Artillery shells: Iron was commonly employed in manufacturing artillery shells and shrapnel.
6. Tungsten:
- Gun barrels: Tungsten alloys found use in the production of gun barrels due to their high melting point and resistance to wear and tear.
7. Manganese:
- Steel alloying: Manganese was used as an alloying element in steel to enhance its hardness and toughness, making it suitable for various military applications.
8. Nickel:
- Gun barrels, armor: Nickel was sometimes added to steel alloys for improved strength and resistance to corrosion in gun barrels and armor.