Advancements in Technology between the World Wars
Technologies used during World War I were the most advanced of thetime, and reflected the Industrial Revolution still taking place around theworld. Mechanized factories were just coming into being, and thesefactories could mass produce more goods needed in war, from rifles to tanksand even barbed wire for the trenches. There were many technologicaladvances used during the war, from aircraft, which had never been used asfighting machines, to large tanks and chemical warfare. All of thesedevelopments came from the innovation and creativity of inventors around World War I, despite all of its technological advances, was still awar fought mainly on the ground in trenches. Amazingly enough, the groundwar in World War I was still fought with horses that carried cavalryfighters, and even towed cannon and other artillery through thebattlefields. However, technological advances brought the war theater tothe air and sea, too, which was the first time all three theaters had beenused to fight a major war, as one historian notes: World War I was "a warthat was fought on land, in the air, and on and in the sea. [...] President
Soldiers still fought with guns, but they were bigger guns that could domore damage, shoot faster and further, and could also combat against airattacks. Chemical warfare didnot appear in World War II, but has continued to rear its ugly head inmodern warfare. Convoys used new scientific instruments, such as sonarand radar, to find their way across the oceans while avoiding enemysubmarines. By the end of the war, planes were outfitted withmachine guns which were synchronized with the propellers, the first bombsights were developed, radios were installed, more was understood abouthigh-altitude flying - including how to outfit pilots for the coldencountered at high altitudes, and balloons were used for reconnaissanceand photography missions. Other Technologies There were hundreds, even thousands of other new technologiesdeveloped during World War I and World War II, from better fertilizers togrow crops to feed the fighting men and the people at home, to incredibleadvances in mass production, metallurgy, and even fabrics and clothing,such as nylon and rayon. All ofthese technologies evolved out of war, and some of them continue toperpetuate war. Rockets, lacking recoil, could be launched from lightweight devices that could be easily transported, and when massed large numbers could be fired in a short time (Oliver 619). Today, we jet acrosscountry quickly and easily, watch rockets launch Space Shuttles andsatellites, and worry about countries creating nuclear weapons. World War II Technologies During World War II, technology changed the face of war. Much larger guns were also developed, which could pierce armor with theirbullets, or hit a target with 1,250 pounds of explosives (Oliver 619). The atomic bomb createdmistrust, the Cold War, and a general feeling of uneasiness that remainstoday. Faster tanks and aircraft, bigger and better ships that could carry moremen and machines, advances such as sonar, radar, rocketry, and jetpropulsion all created weapons and fighting machines that were more deadly. It was difficult for a submarine to observe these provisions without unduly endangering itself. This is still the case today, as theIraqi war clearly shows. Chemical Warfare Thankfully, chemical warfare was not an issue in World War II on thefighting lines.
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