Aircraft Carriers
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Although 22 US aircraft carriers were used during battle, the USS Enterprise, probably had the largest impact. She was home to a maximum of 2,217 soldiers and over 90 aircrafts, including fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers. She took 120,000 horsepower to travel and she had a range of about 13,300 miles. The Enterprise was critical in supplying dive bombers in the Battle of Midway, and for her performance in World War II, she earned 22 battle stars. Overall, aircraft carriers overtook battleships as the most important technology in naval warfare, as they supplied for both sea and air combat. If you would like to see an aircraft carrier in person, the USS Midway (it did not fight in WW2) is stationed as a museum in San Diego.
Watch 0:00-2:00 of this video.
Although 22 US aircraft carriers were used during battle, the USS Enterprise, probably had the largest impact. She was home to a maximum of 2,217 soldiers and over 90 aircrafts, including fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers. She took 120,000 horsepower to travel and she had a range of about 13,300 miles. The Enterprise was critical in supplying dive bombers in the Battle of Midway, and for her performance in World War II, she earned 22 battle stars. Overall, aircraft carriers overtook battleships as the most important technology in naval warfare, as they supplied for both sea and air combat. If you would like to see an aircraft carrier in person, the USS Midway (it did not fight in WW2) is stationed as a museum in San Diego.
B-29 Planes
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress plane was revolutionary for military technology, as it could drop heavy bombs from high altitude. It operated at speeds of up to 400 miles per hour. After Pearl Harbor, the B-29s became a major priority to build. A B-29 required ten soldiers to operate, including pilots, bombardiers, navigators, specialists, and gunners. Nighttime air raids became increasingly common because of their efficiency. Its artillery consisted of four heavy machine guns and other lighter guns scattered around the plane. However, its real asset was that it had the ability to hold up to 20,000 pounds. Production of this plane totaled at around 4,000 units by the end of the war. Its largest and most devastating mission was the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Overall, the B-29s were versatile planes that played a massive role in the US's victory.
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress plane was revolutionary for military technology, as it could drop heavy bombs from high altitude. It operated at speeds of up to 400 miles per hour. After Pearl Harbor, the B-29s became a major priority to build. A B-29 required ten soldiers to operate, including pilots, bombardiers, navigators, specialists, and gunners. Nighttime air raids became increasingly common because of their efficiency. Its artillery consisted of four heavy machine guns and other lighter guns scattered around the plane. However, its real asset was that it had the ability to hold up to 20,000 pounds. Production of this plane totaled at around 4,000 units by the end of the war. Its largest and most devastating mission was the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Overall, the B-29s were versatile planes that played a massive role in the US's victory.
M1A1 Flamethrower
The US began creating flamethrowers in 1940, with the E1R1. It consisted of two large fuel tanks and one smaller propellant tank resting on top. It was worn as a backpack with a handheld pipe that spit fire. There was also a hydrogen pack (to supply ignition) and a battery pack (to spark the ignition). With this invention, an operator could spray liquid fire much like one could spray a hose. The E1R1 was vulnerable to breakdowns in harsh environments, and so began its refinement. The M1 was then built and it was accepted into service. However, during battle the M1 would suffer from breakdowns regarding its electrical power and holes from metal corrosion. Then came the M1A1. The M1A1 was a major improvement over previous models, and its range increased from 30 to 50 yards. Its weight was reduced to 65 pounds, and its effectiveness soared. Over 14,000 units were produced. Its most important use occurred in Iwo Jima. It was effective in burning out fox holes and trenches, and most Japanese soldiers were hidden inside them. Although the M1A1 Flamethrower had severe limitations, it had a key influence on the outcome of the war.
The US began creating flamethrowers in 1940, with the E1R1. It consisted of two large fuel tanks and one smaller propellant tank resting on top. It was worn as a backpack with a handheld pipe that spit fire. There was also a hydrogen pack (to supply ignition) and a battery pack (to spark the ignition). With this invention, an operator could spray liquid fire much like one could spray a hose. The E1R1 was vulnerable to breakdowns in harsh environments, and so began its refinement. The M1 was then built and it was accepted into service. However, during battle the M1 would suffer from breakdowns regarding its electrical power and holes from metal corrosion. Then came the M1A1. The M1A1 was a major improvement over previous models, and its range increased from 30 to 50 yards. Its weight was reduced to 65 pounds, and its effectiveness soared. Over 14,000 units were produced. Its most important use occurred in Iwo Jima. It was effective in burning out fox holes and trenches, and most Japanese soldiers were hidden inside them. Although the M1A1 Flamethrower had severe limitations, it had a key influence on the outcome of the war.
Atomic Bombs
Both atomic bombs were built under a program called the Manhattan Project, headed by physicist Julius Robert Oppenheimer. The test site for the bombs was in Los Alamos, New Mexico. They first used uranium for Hiroshima, but later used plutonium for Nagasaki. The explosion had a force of over 15,000 tons of TNT, and it wiped out 4.4 square miles of Hiroshima. It instantly killed 70,000 and its total toll reached over 100,000. This caused immediate surrender negotiations by the Japanese. The first atomic bomb "Little Boy" was composed of enriched uranium. This required 1,000s of pounds of uranium, as the necessary type only made up 1/140 of the natural uranium. "Little Boy" was dropped out of a B-29 Superfortress over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Next came "Fat Man."Instead of using uranium, the Manhattan Project decided to use plutonium. However, because of how plutonium reacts in large masses, they had to use limited stores. Likewise, they made "Fat Man" an implosion type nuclear weapon. This means the outer shell of the bomb caused plutonium core's density to be increased when the bomb dropped. This caused a massive explosion through fission, or when a nuclear atom splits into smaller parts. "Fat Man" killed 35,000-40,000 immediately and killed thousands more after. However, these bombs might have saved lives. Despite the death toll, it caused the Japanese to surrender immediately. It is estimated that millions more Americans and Japanese would have died if the bombings had not occurred. The US would have been forced to invade Japan, this was have made the death toll many times greater. The bombings were a devastating yet necessary action made by the United States.
Both atomic bombs were built under a program called the Manhattan Project, headed by physicist Julius Robert Oppenheimer. The test site for the bombs was in Los Alamos, New Mexico. They first used uranium for Hiroshima, but later used plutonium for Nagasaki. The explosion had a force of over 15,000 tons of TNT, and it wiped out 4.4 square miles of Hiroshima. It instantly killed 70,000 and its total toll reached over 100,000. This caused immediate surrender negotiations by the Japanese. The first atomic bomb "Little Boy" was composed of enriched uranium. This required 1,000s of pounds of uranium, as the necessary type only made up 1/140 of the natural uranium. "Little Boy" was dropped out of a B-29 Superfortress over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Next came "Fat Man."Instead of using uranium, the Manhattan Project decided to use plutonium. However, because of how plutonium reacts in large masses, they had to use limited stores. Likewise, they made "Fat Man" an implosion type nuclear weapon. This means the outer shell of the bomb caused plutonium core's density to be increased when the bomb dropped. This caused a massive explosion through fission, or when a nuclear atom splits into smaller parts. "Fat Man" killed 35,000-40,000 immediately and killed thousands more after. However, these bombs might have saved lives. Despite the death toll, it caused the Japanese to surrender immediately. It is estimated that millions more Americans and Japanese would have died if the bombings had not occurred. The US would have been forced to invade Japan, this was have made the death toll many times greater. The bombings were a devastating yet necessary action made by the United States.