"What are the ten greatest feats of Military Engineering in the 20th Century?."

Mush Martin · 08-30-14, 06:37 PM

Hi all, I know I don't show up too often, but I was having a personal debate
thinking about a book, and asked myself,
"What are the ten greatest feats of Military Engineering of all time ?."
upon considering the question in depth, I asked myself along the line of
a narrower field.

"What are the ten greatest feats of Military Engineering in the 20th Century?."

This is an open debate and is not meant to be a flame forum.
everybody be nice.

Before we begin, I feel that a certain few must be automatically
included.

#1
The Mulberry harbors.

#2
P.L.U.T.O

#3
The Essex class carrier project.

The other seven slots are open and the order is too!

Enjoy the open debate Gents, I know I will

Regards to all

Mush

Platapus · 08-30-14, 07:07 PM

Batteries
Satellites

One thing that ain't on the list would be Powerpoint.

Stealhead · 08-30-14, 07:18 PM

1) Military medicine easily the best hidden benefit of warfare it vastly improves medicine for all

2) Military aviation another example of a hidden benefit for example the helicopter a weapon of war that has saved countless lives

3) Submarine development in particular from the end of WWII to modern times

4) Guided weapons technology makes war a lot more efficient get more done with less manpower (usually)

5) Military communications you cant do much without a way to give orders side benefit you can also snoop on your foe to gather intel and even
hack him. An ironic effect of this is that a very small nation can have a lot of power without ever firing a shot.What happens if a hacker shuts down your nations finical institutions? You could be broken or severally weakened it is the ultimate homage to Snu Tzu The supreme art of war is to subdue your enemy without fighting.

6) Artillery development the biggest leaps here where during WWI but at the end of the day artillery is still the king of battle even more so now. Just think how many more would die if we fought trench style with our modern artillery and air burst (that works every time) and flechette.

7) Food a more recent development MREs(now used in some form by many nations) are a huge improvement on the type of field rations available in the past.

Not sure you can have a top 10 really all the things I listed I feel have equal importance/effect.

ReallyDedPoet · 08-30-14, 07:34 PM

Definitely one would be the submarine, and agreeing with SH above, towards the end of WWII. Advances in technology certainly influenced future designs.

Stealhead · 08-30-14, 07:39 PM

Wait is the question greatest of all time or greatest of the 20th century? You use both terms in the OP.

That kinda changes the perspective a bit.

All Time

1) the atlatl first true long range weapon also pretty darn useful for hunting but if a human enemy has no missile weapon and you do
well you win.

2) Cavalry using animals more mobility and as a battering ram pure genius. Mobility is key you can run down retreating enemies that thins out the numbers. Even take land before your enemy can really muster a defense.

Mush Martin · 08-30-14, 08:09 PM

Ok to close up parameters it is intended to be the 20th century,

the criterion is Military engineering this would include submarines
but would exclude aircraft for example.
(edit: though individual engineering efforts by the military eg. B-29 or SR-71 would count).

Buddahaid · 08-30-14, 08:12 PM

I don't understand. Aircraft are products of engineering.

Mush Martin · 08-30-14, 08:12 PM

@ steelhead, I agree in a lot of ways, the mass production of penicillin makes
my top ten list of secret weapons of WWII

Mush Martin · 08-30-14, 08:13 PM

Sorry Budda I made a late edit there.

Mush Martin · 08-30-14, 08:16 PM

@ budda aircraft had to be sold to the military at first the submarine was
developed by private enterprise for war.

its subtle but a difference.

MM

Mush Martin · 08-30-14, 08:18 PM

The theoretical elements of modern artillery were worked out by Napolean.
Modern Hardware refined capitalizing on it.

Mush Martin · 08-30-14, 08:20 PM

Satellite per se were invented by Arthur C. Clarke not the military.
they were developed by two military's agreed, and this one is up for debate.

Mush Martin · 08-30-14, 08:22 PM

4) Guided weapons technology makes war a lot more efficient get more done with less manpower (usually)

" Where does the V-2 end and the tomohawk begin ?

Buddahaid · 08-30-14, 08:25 PM

Not so. The military had there own aircraft factories for a time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Aircraft_Factory

Mush Martin · 08-30-14, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

Not so. The military had there own aircraft factories for a time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Aircraft_Factory

So the wright brothers offered their stuff to the military and sold it to the
french prior to there own country. The US military was late to jump in
and no one can claim the military invented the airplane I dont think.

08-30-14, 07:34 PM	#4
ReallyDedPoet Canadian Wolf Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada. The one and only, East Coast Posts: 10,885 Downloads: 946 Uploads: 5	Definitely one would be the submarine, and agreeing with SH above, towards the end of WWII. Advances in technology certainly influenced future designs. __________________ Back in the Day

08-30-14, 08:09 PM	#6
Mush Martin Eternal Patrol Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,398 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Ok to close up parameters it is intended to be the 20th century, the criterion is Military engineering this would include submarines but would exclude aircraft for example. (edit: though individual engineering efforts by the military eg. B-29 or SR-71 would count). __________________ RIP Mush Tutorial

08-30-14, 08:12 PM	#7
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,319 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	I don't understand. Aircraft are products of engineering. __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie

08-30-14, 08:12 PM	#8
Mush Martin Eternal Patrol Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,398 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	@ steelhead, I agree in a lot of ways, the mass production of penicillin makes my top ten list of secret weapons of WWII __________________ RIP Mush Tutorial

08-30-14, 08:13 PM	#9
Mush Martin Eternal Patrol Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,398 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Sorry Budda I made a late edit there. __________________ RIP Mush Tutorial

08-30-14, 06:37 PM	#1
Mush Martin Eternal Patrol Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,398 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	"What are the ten greatest feats of Military Engineering in the 20th Century?." Hi all, I know I don't show up too often, but I was having a personal debate thinking about a book, and asked myself, "What are the ten greatest feats of Military Engineering of all time ?." upon considering the question in depth, I asked myself along the line of a narrower field. "What are the ten greatest feats of Military Engineering in the 20th Century?." This is an open debate and is not meant to be a flame forum. everybody be nice. Before we begin, I feel that a certain few must be automatically included. #1 The Mulberry harbors. #2 P.L.U.T.O #3 The Essex class carrier project. The other seven slots are open and the order is too! Enjoy the open debate Gents, I know I will Regards to all Mush __________________ RIP Mush Tutorial

08-30-14, 07:07 PM	#2
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,362 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Batteries Satellites One thing that ain't on the list would be Powerpoint. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

08-30-14, 07:18 PM	#3
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	1) Military medicine easily the best hidden benefit of warfare it vastly improves medicine for all 2) Military aviation another example of a hidden benefit for example the helicopter a weapon of war that has saved countless lives 3) Submarine development in particular from the end of WWII to modern times 4) Guided weapons technology makes war a lot more efficient get more done with less manpower (usually) 5) Military communications you cant do much without a way to give orders side benefit you can also snoop on your foe to gather intel and even hack him. An ironic effect of this is that a very small nation can have a lot of power without ever firing a shot.What happens if a hacker shuts down your nations finical institutions? You could be broken or severally weakened it is the ultimate homage to Snu Tzu The supreme art of war is to subdue your enemy without fighting. 6) Artillery development the biggest leaps here where during WWI but at the end of the day artillery is still the king of battle even more so now. Just think how many more would die if we fought trench style with our modern artillery and air burst (that works every time) and flechette. 7) Food a more recent development MREs(now used in some form by many nations) are a huge improvement on the type of field rations available in the past. Not sure you can have a top 10 really all the things I listed I feel have equal importance/effect. Last edited by Stealhead; 08-30-14 at 07:34 PM.

08-30-14, 07:39 PM	#5
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Wait is the question greatest of all time or greatest of the 20th century? You use both terms in the OP. That kinda changes the perspective a bit. All Time 1) the atlatl first true long range weapon also pretty darn useful for hunting but if a human enemy has no missile weapon and you do well you win. 2) Cavalry using animals more mobility and as a battering ram pure genius. Mobility is key you can run down retreating enemies that thins out the numbers. Even take land before your enemy can really muster a defense.

08-30-14, 08:16 PM	#10
Mush Martin Eternal Patrol Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,398 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	@ budda aircraft had to be sold to the military at first the submarine was developed by private enterprise for war. its subtle but a difference. MM __________________ RIP Mush Tutorial

08-30-14, 08:18 PM	#11
Mush Martin Eternal Patrol Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,398 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	The theoretical elements of modern artillery were worked out by Napolean. Modern Hardware refined capitalizing on it. __________________ RIP Mush Tutorial

08-30-14, 08:20 PM	#12
Mush Martin Eternal Patrol Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,398 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Satellite per se were invented by Arthur C. Clarke not the military. they were developed by two military's agreed, and this one is up for debate. __________________ RIP Mush Tutorial

08-30-14, 08:22 PM	#13
Mush Martin Eternal Patrol Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,398 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	4) Guided weapons technology makes war a lot more efficient get more done with less manpower (usually) " Where does the V-2 end and the tomohawk begin ? __________________ RIP Mush Tutorial

08-30-14, 08:25 PM	#14
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,319 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	Not so. The military had there own aircraft factories for a time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Aircraft_Factory __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie