- When the United States entered the war in 1917, the condition, equipment, training, and discipline of the American field artillery were nothing short of chaotic
- Material used by the Americans was mostly French - only 100 American weapons saw action during the war. The French alone contributed 3,834 field pieces and mortars, as well as 10 million rounds of ammunition
- Approximately 3,010 guns of 26 calibers and 46 models poured 74 types of ammunition into the salient in the 4 hours and 45 minutes prior to the attack. Altogether, 838,019 rounds of ammunition were expended in a single battle, the ammunition used included high explosive, smoke, and non persistent gas type shells.
- Submarines and their armament had similarly improved, but few were in service. Germany had already increased production, and quickly built up its U-boat fleet, both for action against British warships and for a counterblockade of the British Isles. 360 were eventually built.
- The old 3-inch gun, of which the U.S. Army possessed only 600 at the beginning of the war, was replaced by the superior French 75-mm gun. The French 75-mm gun had a recoil system using glycerin and air, it was easy to aim, and it could be fired more rapidly than other artillery pieces.
- It was able to decimate infantry columns but was unfortunately unable to penetrate reinforced earthworks unlike the 105-mm and 155-mm howitzers, of which the Germans had approximately 3,500; while France had; at an estimate, a mere 300 105-mm and 155-mm howitzers