Trench Warfare is a type of land warfare using occupied fighting lines largely comprising military trenches, in which troops are well-protected from the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery. Trench warfare lasting for several years took place on the Western Front in World War I. Following that war, "trench warfare" became a byword for stalemate, attrition, sieges, and futility in conflict.
Overview[]
On Earth, trench warfare actually had its beginnings before the start of World War I. In ancient times, Roman legions would dig field works and whatnot in order to bolster the defense of their positions. During Siege of Medinah or known Battle of Trench, it was most likely where the name of Trench was used, credited for Salman Al-Farisi who utilize the Trench Warfare to prevent Quraisy's cavalry from crossing. While during the Second Siege of Vienna in 1683, trenches were dug toward the city wall in order to undermine them with explosives. During the Sieges of Vicksburg and Petersburg in the American Civil War, an elaborate network of trenches and tunnels would be built.
It wasn't until the invention of the machine gun and the start of World War I that trench warfare would hit its highest point and be known as the stalemate form of combat. With the rapid-fire machine gun and artillery, the armed horse cavalry and infantry charge became useless. Hundreds to thousands of men would be mowed down in shockingly short time periods. Casualties would skyrocket at an alarming rate and the armies would be forced into protective trenches. The space between the opposing armies would be known as No Man's Land.
As the war bogged down to a stalemate, both sides tried to invent ways to overcome the dangers of No Man's Land and take the enemy's position. The newly developed airplane could fly over the trenches but were mostly used for observation and scouting. Eventually, the invention of the tank allowed the foot soldier to move out of the trench and cross No Man's Land. The tank further advanced the theory of mechanized warfare and mobility, thereby making trench warfare obsolete. The aircraft would also develop past its scouting role into fighters and bombers. The last gasp of trench warfare would be in World War II when the French would construct the Maginot Line. However, the invention of blitzkrieg would end that way of thinking.
Trench Warfare in the New World[]
Second Civilization Area and the Gra Valkas Empire[]
During the New World War, trench warfare would briefly make its appearance as the nation of Mu would resort to this kind of combat by digging defensive lines near the city of Arou. Unfortunately for them, the Gra Valkas Empire already had the solution to trenches, namely the Hound Medium Tank. As a result, Mu's fortifications and trenches were quickly overrun.