The Amazing World Of War Machines

The history of armed conflict is intrinsically tied to the history of civilization and Man's quest for the basic things in life. Over the centuries those weapons ranged from bow and arrows to armor, swords and chain mail. But one technological development left them all behind - the invention of gunpowder. Since then, the advances in weaponry have been both awe-inspiring, and frightening.

One of the fundamental pieces of military equipment is the rifle. Originally the soldier's musket was the crucial piece of hardware in gaining ground and holding it. New, more efficient firearms included the first shotgun and the bolt-action rifle. Walter Hunt, a prolific inventor, would be the man to come up with the idea of a "magazine" for easier loading of semi-automatic and automatic weapons.

The United State's 280mm Howitzer, Atomic Annie, was first tested in 1953. It fired a 365kg fission warhead 10,000 meters, and it detonated 160 meters above the ground. Both the US and the Soviet Union have since decommissioned these tactical weapons systems. Artillery itself has a long and distinguished history going back through time to the dawn of gunpowder.

Once man moved from hunter-gatherer to crop grower and farmer, he needed somewhere permanent to live, and to protect his property. From earliest civilization, forts, barricades and battlements were an intrinsic part of the world. Some of the oldest defensive structures still exist, and date back to the days of Assyria, Egypt and Greece.

The idea of tanks began as an extension of armory, with technicians seeing the need for soldiers to traverse the battlefield while being fully protected from enemy fire. As the type of weaponry used in warfare increased in size and caliber, the type of armor required became too heavy and cumbersome, and so the advent of the tank was welcomed by armies worldwide.

Another basic building block of civilization and warfare is the ship. From the Second Millennia BC, ships were used to transport troops to battle. The Egyptians and Syrians crossed the sea to do battle, and when they weren't fighting each other, they would use their vessels for trade, exploration and probably a little piracy! From the 7th and 6th centuries B.C, formal navies appeared.