Impact of Technology in War - Term Paper Example

The Impact of Technology in War Introduction Human societies often differ in beliefs and customs since presumptions of ethics among them differ accordingly. Whenever these societies differ, possibilities are that they will endure in enmity and eventually engage in warfare according to the extent of the strenuous relationships prevailing among them. The modern human societies differ from ancient societies in handling situations as aggression plays a major role in coercing them to engage on war. Arguments are that countries engage in warfare as a way of securing their territories from invasion (Thompson 45). Further, war may emanate from the scramble of resources that are intrinsic to economic competence and improvement of their citizens’ status at large. Findings establish that the art of war has continuously being changing because of technological knowhow and the desire for countries to reign as superpowers over others (Tibballs 49). The notion is that nations engage on armament as a mode to ensure security from unexpected enemies in the global platform. The following discussion seeks to implement the effects of technology in war, the notion of “miracle weapons” and their uses, and the practices of Kamikaze pilots. Technological influences on war The use and application of technology in war is instrumental to the design and production of sophisticated weapons for massive destruction. Different researchers establish that the history of war in the human society dates back to over 4,000 years ago. The continuity of differences among the human society reflects to the individual indulgence to develop new tactics to combat enemies, and ensure sovereignty over their aggressors on an undisclosed future date. Arguably, the art of technology in warfare reflects to advanced approaches to militarization in nations as a concrete step to upholding defense mechanisms of nations against their enemies (Georg 56). Further, technology implements integral and designated approaches in promoting weaponry production as world economies engage on industrialization of artillery and ammunition factories. People perceive military involvement as a threat to peace since the rate of armament in one nation stimulates indulgence and production of weaponry in another one that might have perceived aggression from the latter. Historical findings denoted that ancient mechanisms of handling war and the materials derived complications deterred the desired prompt confrontation, aggression, and combating of enemies in the battlefields. However, the advancement in technology led to the development of machineries that eased transportation of military equipment and personnel with increased convenience and accessibility to the war fields. The development of the wheel marked the advent ease in logistics. Since then, human societies developed engines and which further symbolized their application in locomotives to the currently used trucks, jetfighters, and military helicopters among others. Through the development of the engine, militarization advanced accordingly as nations converted the technology to power sophisticated weapons such as long-range missiles, atomic bombs, and rockets launchers in warships (Thompson 48). Similarly, technology poses as the origin of increased rate intelligence among nations, and communication among allied and enemy nations in their militaries. The history of plane carriers and airships dates back to the 1880s. However, research establishes that the First World War implemented a new outlook on improvisation of war machineries to confront enemies at a large scale as global powers engaged into war. The 1914-1918 war involved European nations, which varied and disagreed on policies and their overseas interests. These factors resulted to increased tensions among the nations, and experts subsequently engaged in innovation and development of weapons to ensure defensive against their unprecedented enemies who also indulged in production of weapons. Eventually, the nations entered into battles new weapons were recognized (Gannon 58). During the war, opponents used different weapons in accordance to their technological advancements. The most realistic artillery developed for the war was the tank, which was capable of bombing and firing enemy lines at a considerable distance with adverse effects. The long-range gun, machine gun, and rifles reflected on the technological advancements that countries had devolved their efforts in, to ensure that they developed defensive and competitive weapons for use in the war. After the First World War, the advent of industrialization ushered countries to a new approach of winning economic competence. The civilized European powers and United States of America engaged on economic propulsion and scientific discoveries, which led to development of mass destruction weapons and fast warships as each country funded weaponry manufacturers and scientists. In the year 1940, the global powers were dawning to a second battle as divisions prevailed among dictatorial regimes, and democratic nations on trade practices and the different policies, for example, fascism, capitalism, and communism (Tibballs 52). Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, and Stalin engaged on continued aggressions to independent nations thus stirring conflicts and eventual war. Consequently, Japan bombed the Pearl Harbor and entered into war with U.S.A. During the war, countries unleashed massive range of sophisticated weapons and as the battle continued, new developments were made in case a given weapon failed to accrue the desired effects in the battlefields. United States of America unleashed sophisticated handguns, rifles, submachine guns, and machine guns with each weapon occurring in at least five models. US further revealed anti-tank weapons which included rocket launchers, the M1/A1 “Bazooka,” and the M18 recoilless rifle. Grenades, mortars, and flamethrowers of various models were among the country’s weaponry. Since America allied with UK and other European nations in fighting the well organized fascists and communists, it engaged on fast and intelligent development of artillery (Georg 58). The Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombings in Japan marked the United States weaponry development and the application of technology. After the Second World War, global nations entered into agreements to ensure that large scale battles were completely a phenomenon. However, the countries entered into a system of cold war rather the stipulated total disarmament. The development of faster airships, nuclear weapons, spaceships, rockets, and submarines followed as the countries realized the importance of military competence through technological input after the Second World War (Thompson 49). Currently, different countries in south East Asia, Middle East, Europe, and America among others hold massive destruction weapons developed chemically to destroy an incredible range of the flora and fauna. The Miracle weapon Adolf Hitler, one of the world’s ruthless dictators from Germany devised a technological aircraft with the ideology that he could suppress the advancing eastern allies. This was in the 1944 during the Second World War when the European allied nations of capitalists strategized and engaged on a retaliatory battle the drive the German soldiers out of their territories and possibly disintegrate the country’s power to a nutshell. For a long period of time, German engaged on unprecedented aggression in the European nations and had won incredibly over the unpreparedness of the preys thus weakening confrontation and broadening its boundaries (Mahnken 40). The battle advanced to France, Belgium, and Spain and with such success, Hitler perceived that he could possibly suppress and bring the United Kingdom under his dictatorial regime. Subsequently, the desired plans hit an end after the toppled powers reorganized their armies and allied with the UK and U.S.A to attack the German side with the aim of suppressing the battle and the German leader to an eventual halt. The allied troops of the capitalist European nations managed to engage in a successful battle that suppressed the German troops to Rome, the city of Italy. During this time, Hitler engaged on an alternative approach to tackle the aggressing allied troops who fought on land and simultaneously conducted air strikes to diminish the power of the Germany completely. Mainly, the airstrikes conducted by the eastern frontier targeted weaponry manufacturing industries in German as it was the only way the countries could diminish the level at which the Nazis could retaliate during the rebellious retreat. Despite the heightened animosity, Hitler defied any chances to surrender thus; he engaged his scientists into the production of a jet that would comprise of more improvised technologies compared to those of German enemies. Messerschmitt was the name given to the jet that Hitler perceived as the remedy to fight back against the aggressive European allies. The “Me 262” jet fighter would comprise of sophisticated engine technology to ensure that the flight speed exceeded that of the other aircrafts. German scientists successfully tested the “Vergeltung” weapons in their V-1 and V-2 categories and perceived that the respective flying bomb and long-range rocket were a success and would play an integral role in retaliating against the allied enemies. However, their implementation did not coincide with desired course as mechanical problems occurred and hindered the expected deployment to hit the allied nations’ stronghold, the UK (Mahnken 42). These “Miracle Weapons” encouraged Hitler to perceive that he would cause extensive destruction to UK such that the approaching allied nations would retreat accordingly. Their failure occurred despite the ten-year long scientific involvement to ensure success (Gannon 68). The initial failure did not deter Hitler from emphasizing and coercing the scientists to ensure a success for the weapons, and in the year 1944, the first miracle weapon flew successfully and in accordance to the prescribed technology. The technologically developed aircraft was the first airship globally to take flight without a pilot. The inbuilt technology of the V-1 enabled it to fly at a range of 200 miles despite the one-ton warhead load. The V-1 included a jet propeller that would enable it to fly to the designated region and halt propulsion upon reach, and subsequently drop to the ground and cause harm to the unaware citizens of the enemy nations. The miracle weapon, V-1 was capable of taking off from the ground and on the larger warplanes, the Heinkel-111. On the first landing, the V-1 claimed over 121 deaths in London and the invasions continued subsequently, claiming lives of over 6,000 Londoners. The launching process of the V-1 weapons was tremendous such that UK citizens referred to the process as the ‘doodlebugs’ as they struck unexpectedly and at a massive range causing deaths, injuries, and property destruction to the cities of United Kingdom (Wells 24). According to studies on the war history, the Nazi Germany suppressed UK in accordance to Hitler’s stipulated plans, and the UK authorities were unable to contemplate of a precise approach to combat the situation. The Von Braun V-2 rocket marked Hitler’s most awaited atrocity to the UK as it comprised of a one-ton sophisticated warhead that could hit the target destination from as far as Netherlands. Von Braun’s technology was effective as anticipated and the first two launches of the V-2 rockets struck United Kingdom and caused a death toll of over 2,000 UK citizens. As Hitler anticipated that the allied troops would retreat after learning of the ongoing destruction by the rockets and fly bombs, the vice versa occurred and the Red Army of Britain entered and captured key production firms of the V-1 and V-2 miracle weapons (Andersen 67). Further, failures occurred from the slow rate of weapon production while some of the miracle weapons blast before the set destinations. However, credits are held to the miracle weapons as the foundation for the modern rockets as Braun moved to America as a citizen, with his main role being production of advanced weapons. The reasons as to why Kamikaze pilots wore helmets Kamikazes were Japanese pilots that flew aircrafts during the Second World War and their main mission was to crash into and sink enemy warships on sail to attack Japan. According to the Japanese traditions, Kamikaze denoted on divine inspiration to die for the entire country as every crash would lead to the sinking of an enemy ship (Mahnken 46). Arguably, the Kamikazes were untrained pilots whose major purpose was to deliver Japan by causing harm and destruction to the American troops on sail in the Pacific Ocean to attack their Japanese nation. The pilots, mainly university students showed devotion by their sacrificial acknowledgement that they would die on killing the enemy, but rest assured that their country was free from invasions by the enemy troops (Wells 28). They dressed in leather gears and garments sewn with stitches from a thousand Japanese women as a symbol of unity during the dreadful expeditions. Japan perceived that Kamikazes would serve to suppress American aggression as through the untimed bombings of the warships, which resulted to ultimate sinking. The fighter planes used by the Kamikazes lacked top covers to protect them from adverse cold during the flight despite of the harsh climatic conditions and the speed of travel. With the presumptions that the pilots’ mission was crashing and sinking with the American ships, the fact is that the authorities deviated from expensive investment on the aircrafts as they were made purposely to crash on their first expeditions. However, the pilots wore leather helmets to protect them from the adverse weather conditions. Arguably, the leather helmets served to the importance that the pilots would persevere rains and strong winds during the flights. Aviation rules further stipulate that helmets and headgears serve as important in resistance to shock whenever the pilots meet obstacles during takeoff or on landing. Arguably, Kamikazes wore the leather helmets as a mode of protection against injuries, given that they did not engage on proper training prior to the expedition (Andersen 69). Despite the fact that their flight expeditions were suicidal, protection from injuries remained a key factor to success and the authorities ensured that all Kamikazes wore the leather helmets prior to the expedition. Perceptions were that the pilots would maintain focus and hit their targets as stipulated by the authorities if hindrances did not occur to them while on the mission. Historical findings establish that the Japanese pilots might have worn helmets to establish the proper mode of communication from the control towers on the directions to take so as to eventually reach the target ships belonging to the enemies. Lastly, the Japanese pilots on the suicidal mission used head wrappers which served as signs of unity and devotion to liberate their country from the enemies. Since the Second World War was fought on a large scale and Japan lacked sophisticated weapons compared to their enemies, they engaged on suicidal flights as mode of ensuring that single pilots would die with considerable numbers of enemy troops. Therefore, a leather helmet was worn over the head wrapper to ensure that the pilots perceived a sense of belongingness and showed loyalty since the head wrappers bore the country’s flag (Mahnken 46). Therefore, such measures denoted on the essence of wearing the leather helmets while on their fateful missions that would result to death. Conclusions Throughout the discussion, technological advancements in weaponry production seem to emanate from animosity among different nations. Mainly, technology implements integral and designated approaches in promoting weaponry production as world economies engage on industrialization of artillery and ammunition factories (Boog 46). Similarly, the global society perceives military involvement as a threat to peace since the rate of armament in one nation stimulates indulgence and production of weaponry in another one that might have perceived aggression from the latter. The study establishes the history of the modern technological weapons as emanating from improvements of war materials used in past battles. Work cited Thompson, Andrew. Why Do Kamikaze Pilots Wear Helmets?: Answers to the Questions You've Always Wanted to Ask. London: John Blake, 2006. Print. Tibballs, Geoff. The Mammoth Book of One-Liners. New York: Constable & Robinson, 2012. Internet resource. Georg, Friedrich. Hitler's Miracle Weapons: The Secret History of the Rockets and Flying Craft of the Third Reich. Solihull: Helion, 2003. Print. Boog, Horst. Germany and the Second World War: Vol. 7. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2006. Print. Georg, Friedrich. Hitler's Miracle Weapons: The Secret History of the Rockets and Flying Craft of the Third Reich. Solihull: Helion, 2009. Print. Wells, H G. The War of the Worlds. Rockville, MD: Arc Manor, 2008. Print. Andersen, Soren. Has Technological Progress Made War More Humane?: Precision Guided Munitions and the Monopoly of Discrimination. München: GRIN Verlag GmbH, 2010. Internet resource. Chapman, Bert. Military Doctrine: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 2009. Print. Mahnken, Thomas G. Technology and the American Way of War. New York: Columbia University Press, 2008. Print. Gannon, Charles E. Rumors of War and Infernal Machines: Technomilitary Agenda-Setting in American and British Speculative Fiction. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littefield Publishers, 2005. Print. Read More