American Military Technology

The growth of engineering and science has affected military technology, organization, and practice from the colonial era to the present day. At the same time, military concerns have influenced, and often funded, American engineering and scientific development. American Military Technology chronicles the interactions of technology and science with the armed forces of the United States in terms of what Hacker and Vining view as epochs—including 1840–1865: the introduction of modern small arms, steam power, and technology, science, and medicine; 1900–1914: the naval arms race, torpedoes and submarines, and the signal corps and the airplane; and 1965–1971: McNamara's Pentagon, technology in Vietnam, smart bombs and guided missiles. The book is an excellent springboard for understanding the complex relationship of science, technology, and war in American history.