Part Seven VII › Division III III › Section 736 736

Military Technology

Subject Outline

AOffensive weaponry
- 1Early hand-powered weapons
  - aConstruction materials: wood, stone, precious metals, copper, bronze, iron
  - bShock weapons: e.g., mace, axe, sword, halberd
  - cMissile weapons: e.g., spear, javelin, sling, arrow
  - dMechanical weapons: e.g., ballista, catapult, ram, crossbow
- 2Gunpowder weapons
  - aConstruction materials: cast bronze, cast or wrought iron, forged or stamped steel
  - bLoading: muzzle-, breech-, automatic
  - cArtillery: e.g., cannon, howitzer, mortar
  - dSmall arms: e.g., musket, rifle, pistol, machine gun
  - eAmmunition
    - iPropellant: black powder, smokeless powder
    - iiProjectiles: e.g., cannonball, shrapnel, shell, bullet
- 3Explosives: e.g., grenades, mines, depth charges, bombs, missile warheads
- 4Self-propelled missiles
  - aBasing
    - iLand: e.g., barrage rocket, ballistic missile, surface-to-air missile
    - iiSea: e.g., torpedo, submarine-launched ballistic missile, antiship missile
    - iiiAir: e.g., air-to-air missile, cruise missile
  - bPropulsion: rocket, jet, propeller
  - cGuidance: free-flight, energy-sensing, command, inertial
  - dPayloads: e.g., single-warhead, cluster bomblet, multiple reentry vehicle
  - eWarheads: e.g., high-explosive, antipersonnel, nuclear
- 5Nuclear weapons
  - aEnergy sources: fission, fusion
  - bEffects: blast, heat, radioactive fallout
- 6Chemical and biological weapons
BDefensive weaponry
- 1Personal protection
  - aArmour against early hand-powered weapons
    - iMaterials: e.g., leather, bronze, iron
    - iiConstruction: e.g., mail, scale, brigandine, plate
    - iiiProtection: e.g., shield, helmet, cuirrass, greave
  - bArmour against gunpowder and explosive weapons
    - iMaterials: steel, plastic, Kevlar
    - iiProtection: e.g., helmet, flak jacket, bullet-proof vest
  - cProtection against nuclear and chemical weapons: e.g., gas mask, overgarments
- 2Fortification
  - aField fortification: e.g., log breastwork, wooden pallisade, trench, foxhole
  - bPermanent fortification before gunpowder: masonry citadel, motte-and-bailey castle
  - cPermanent fortification in the early gunpowder era: sunken profile, bastioned trace
  - dPermanent fortification in the modern gunpowder era: e.g., concrete bunkers, pillboxes, reinforced aircraft hangars
  - eAntinuclear fortification: e.g., hardened missile silos, bomb shelters
- 3Missile defense: surface-to-air missiles, rapid-fire guns
CWeapon platforms
- 1Land vehicles
  - aAnimal mounts: e.g., horses, elephants, camels
  - bMan- and animal-powered vehicles: e.g., chariots, siege towers
  - cSteam power: e.g., railroad cars, early tanks
  - dInternal combustion: e.g., tanks, armoured personnel carriers
- 2Surface ships and craft
  - aOar-powered: e.g., galleys, longboats
  - bSail-powered: e.g., galleons, ships of the line, frigates
  - cSteam-powered: e.g., battleships, cruisers, aircraft carriers
  - dInternal combustion: e.g., gunboats, landing craft
  - eNuclear-powered: e.g., aircraft carriers, cruisers
- 3Submarines
  - aPropulsion: steam turbine, diesel-electric, nuclear
  - bVessels: attack, strategic missile launching
- 4Aircraft
  - aFixed-wing airplanes
    - iPropulsion: internal combustion/propeller, jet
    - iiConfiguration: e.g., biplane, monowing, variable-geometry wing
    - iiiTypes: e.g., fighter, bomber, early warning
  - bHelicopters
    - iPropulsion: internal combustion, gas turbine
    - iiTypes: e.g., attack, naval antisubmarine, transport
DEngineering
- 1Tactical support: e.g., fortification
- 2Strategic support: e.g., roads, bridges, ports, airfields
- 3Ancillary support: e.g., maps, bomb disposal
ELogistics: supply, transport, lodging, services
FElectronics
- 1Electromagnetic sensors and transmitters: the use of radio, radar, infrared, ultraviolet, optical, and laser technology in communication, navigation, warning and detection, and weapon guidance