| Top 10 Weapons in History |
EasyNews, UseNet made Ea .. |
| ::darkshadows:: (blood@thirsty.net) |
2008/02/12 18:59 |
Top 10 Weapons in History
Power is a fragile thing, and a handful of technologies have tipped
the balance.
10 The Spear Thrower
Humans have been constructing spears since they realized that pointy
things hurt, but it was really the atlatl that shifted the balance of
power between man and his prehistoric prey. This long, hook-shaped
weapon allowed hunters to throw spears with great speed and accuracy
and could kill even the biggest animals around if used property.
09
The Vickers Gunbus
It sputtered to a start and could carry a whopping crew of two, but
Britain's Vickers FB5 Gunbus revolutionized warfare as the world's
first true fighter aircraft. The Gunbus first took off in the years
just before World War I and was in tough during that conflict against
Germany's DR1 Fokker, the plane flown by their famous ace, the Red
Baron. From that point on, however, the balance of power during
wartime would always tip in favor of those with the most airborne
might.
08
Gunpowder
Imagine their opponents' surprise when the Chinese created bursts of
flame out of thin air. Gunpowder, one of ancient China's greatest
inventions, was first developed there a thousand years ago, but was
really put to good against Mongol invaders at the Battle of Kai-Keng
in 1232. Well outmatched in number, the Chinese still handily defeated
the Mongols, physically and psychologically, with their amazing "fire
arrows."
07
Crossbow
Deathly accurate, the crossbow was a wartime favorite among Middle Age
armies. Soldiers could be taught to use a crossbow quickly and in
great numbers, making it an effective weapon for Crusaders invading
the Holy Land. Innovations to the crossbow by the 3rd and 4th crusades
(1190-1204) made it a major player in the victories won by the
European side, including the conquering of Constantinople.
06
Maxim Gun
Unveiled after the Gatling in 1885, the Maxim wasn't the first machine
gun but the first one to be really effective. The self-powered gun
could fire 500 rounds per minute and impressed the British Army so
much that they made it their weapon of choice during colonial
expansion in Africa. At one battle during the Matabele Wars of 1893,
50 British soldiers were able to overpower 5,000 Ndebele warriors, a
scene that would repeat itself across the continent.
05
U-Boats
Though Germany ended up on the losing end of World War II, their
feared fleet of submarines was a formidable opponent and, according to
historians, the only thing that really scared Winston Churchill. These
underwater predators stalked Allied convoys in the Atlantic so
successfully in the war's first few years that Germany was able to
engulf France in 1940. From 1939-1942, the U-boats ensured the balance
of power lay squarely with Germany.
04
Allied Radar
It might not have the firepower or excitement of a conventional
military weapon, but radar technology ultimately altered the course of
World War II and gave victory to the Allies. Working feverishly during
the war, British and American scientists devised a radar system that
outweighed German capabilities and was especially effective against
U-Boats during the hard-fought Battle of the Atlantic.
03
Nuclear Bomb
The impact of the atomic bomb landing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in
August of 1945 went beyond how it was able to end World War II cold in
its tracks. Historians also see the bombing a potent show force by the
United States to its (reluctant) ally, the Soviet Union, as tensions
between the two nations became strained near war's end. The nuclear
bomb assured the USSR that the United States was holding the cards as
the world's new superpower.
02
ICBMs
Nuclear proliferation neared a peak in the late 1950s when
intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of launching
nuclear bombs were developed by both the US and Soviet Union.
Ironically, furious stockpiling by both nations during the Cold War
actually kept the balance of power at an even keel, since the
deployment of a missile by either would mean certain nuclear
annihilation for both.
01
M1 Abrams Tank
The M1 is the U.S. military's main combat tank and has been the armed
forces' backbone since 1980. Renowned for its sturdiness and
superiority in battle, this high-tech machine played a huge role in
the swift victory of the 1991 Gulf War. Just nine tanks were lost to
permanent damage out of the nearly 1,900 deployed there.
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