Trying to choose five of a plethora of top military inventions is like asking a kid in a candy store what his top favorite candies are. Throughout history the military has had a superfluity of inventions that have forever changed the dynamics of combat and the politics governing conflicts and wars. The top 5 inventions are:
1. The Atomic Bomb – ranks as the number one military invention of all time due to its profound influence over warfare and politics. The United States is the only country in the world to have used an Atomic Bomb in combat. The U.S. dropped two Atomic Bombs during World War II over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These bombs killed 100’s of thousands of people in a blink of the eye, ending the war. Since that date countries around the world scrambled to acquire this technology due to its enormous ability to deter attacks from foreign governments.
2. Submarines – have given countries around the world the ability to control the sea and defend their respected coastlines. submarines allow the military to travel undetected in foreign waters carrying everything from people to nuclear armaments. Many countries strategically place their submarines in critical positions around the globe to gather intelligence and carry out an attack if needed. For example, the United States nuclear submarines carry the Trident D5 missiles which can be launched from anywhere around the world.
3. Machine gun – have revolutionized how ground warfare is fought. The inception of the machine gun began in 1881 with the Maxim gun which utilized the recoil of the previous shot fired to chamber the next round allows for an increase in the rate of fire. Over a hundred years later, machine guns as we currently know them have ultrahigh rates of fire including 1000’s of rounds per minute (RPM). Machine guns have morphed into lightweight weapons that are not only hand carried by infantrymen but also mounted on ships and vehicles. Some of these machine guns are even remotely controlled and can be found on tanks, aircraft and ships.
4. Camouflage – in its most rudimentary form has existed since the dawn of time. Today, military members wear camouflage uniforms which allow them to blend in with their surrounds making them harder to detect. The United States Armed Forces have developed digital pattern uniforms make it extremely difficult for the enemy to see. Advances in camouflage allow military members to remain hidden from enemy view allowing for a increased life span in combat.
5. Exoskeleton – many United States government contractors have recently developed exoskeleton prototypes which would allow U.S. military members to run faster and carry three times their combat loads. It wasn’t too long ago this seemed like total science fiction but now it has become a reality. If exoskeletons are accepted by policy makers, infantrymen will soon be sporting terminator like exoskeletons. Military members won’t have to worry about carrying a 120lbs pack no more. The exoskeleton will make it seem like feather weight. Military members will be able to bring more equipment and supplies in enemy territory increasing their success rates.
The aforementioned information was based 100% on my training and experience as an active member of the United States Armed Forces.
