Margaret Vining

The growth of American engineering and science has affected military technology, organization, and practice from the colonial era to the present day-even as military concerns have influenced, and often funded, domestic engineering programs and scientific development. American Military Technology traces the interplay of technology and science with the armed forces of the United States in terms of what Hacker and Vining view as epochs: 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, guided missiles, and smart bombs. The book is an excellent springboard for understanding the complex relationship of science, technology, and war in American history.

War is part of American history. This book examines how military technology both molded and reflected interactions between American military institutions and other American institutions. The growth of engineering and science has reshaped military technology, organization, and practice from the Colonial era to the present day. At the same time, military concerns influenced, and and sometimes channeled, American engineering and scientific development. American Military Technology chronicles the interactions of technology and science with America's armed forces from colonial times to the end of the 20th century. Each period of the nation's history brought new and influential changes to the interaction of the military and technology. The book is an excellent springboard for understanding the complex relationship of science, technology, and war in American history.