Introduction
When World War I and World War II broke out, communication played a vital role in the sequence and timing of everything that occurred on the battlefield. If communication problems arose, the results could be fatal. Front line units needed to know where their neighboring troops were and commanders could only control the troops if they had a reliable source of communication. Due to modern forms of communication being unreliable, the men who served during these wars used a method that dates back to ancient times. They deployed wartime messengers also known as “carrier pigeons”. Today, communications are more reliable and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) provide us with aerial surveillance.1
History
Since World War I and World War II the military technology with regards to communication has increasingly improved. Years ago, if a message was conveyed it was likely to be delivered on foot or horseback. Communications using modern equipment began once the US Army Signal Corps was established. World War I took place before the modern radio. When dispatch riders were not being used to deliver messages, morse code with the use of the telegraph was the more advanced form of communication during that time. The main problem with using the telegraph is that the system is wire based and if given the chance be compromised by the enemy forces tapping into it. During World War II, the advancement of the military radio allowed more reliable communications. The major drawback to using a radio or walkie-talkie was that radio direction finders could locate military troops. Radio transmissions intercepted by the enemy allowed them to hear classified information. With these types of communication being unreliable as well as un...
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...nology has given our leaders greater situational awareness on and off the battlefield.
While there have been major improvements to military communication since World War I and II, there are still missions taking place in which communication is lost. Even when soldiers utilize the best equipment available there are still lives being lost on the battlefield due to its failure or unreliability. Even UAVs can’t be everywhere to provide aerial surveillance. In areas of Afghanistan a network of pigeons located at most forward operating bases could provide soldiers on missions in the nearby provinces an opportunity to get a life saving message to their leaders if radio communications are lost. In situations like this there is still use for carrier pigeons in the United States Military. As of November 2012, France still maintains a loft with over 150 carrier pigeons.
For as long as most of the world can remember aviation has played a major factor in how wars are fought. Starting in World War I the worlds fighting forces began using aircraft to conduct surveillance missions over enemy territory. While these aircraft were not the masters of stealth that todays aircraft are there was no technology to take down these planes at the time. Air-to-air combat was an event that rarely happened and was almost never effective.
In today’s world, the use of airplanes in wars or in everyday life has become a part of how we live as human beings. Removing the air forces of the world is like taking a step back in time when wars were only fought on land or sea. WWI began only eleven short years after the Wright brothers achieved powered flight in 19031 and yet aircrafts were being used for surveillance and eventually combat purposes. It is understood that these aircrafts were primitive, but they laid down the foundation for what we know today as fighter jets. The Fokker Eindecker “revolutionized air combat by successfully employing a synchronized forward -firing machine gun mounted on the engine cowling”2. Because this airplane became the first to successfully use a synchronized machine gun, it allowed its pilots to become the first aerial combat tactitions3.
In this paper we will discuss the first documented use of helicopters for the primary purpose of Air Ambulances in World War II. During 1943, the United States, British Commonwealth and the Chinese faced the armies of Japan, Thailand and Indian National Army. The Burmese Independent Army started off on the Japanese side, but later switched sides fighting with the allied forces. Under the control of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the United States made a decision to support the Chinese during the war with aircraft.1 With Japan controlling much of the Chinese territory, the main supply route for the Chinese was thru the Burma Road. This supply route was essential to operations in the area shaped a restructure for the way supplies would be delivered to soldiers fighting and patients being able to get the urgent care they extremely needed. The only logical and expeditious way to do all of this would be through the use of aircraft flying a supply route known as “the Hump.”2
The urgency of communication was never much felt until the beginning and use of telegraphy. It was much easier to transmit and receive messages over long distances that no longer needed physical transport of letters.
World War II was one of the deadliest military conflicts in history. There were many different battles that took place within this war; some more important than others. World War II began once Germany’s new dictator, Adolf Hitler, decided that he wanted to gain power for Germany and for himself. One of Hitler’s first moves in power was invading Poland on September 1, 1939. Many other countries became involved in this war because of the alliance system. The two sides during this war were the Allies and Axis powers. German, Italy and Japan were on the Axis powers; France, Britain, and the United States were on the Allies. Germany first began with the Blitzkrieg tactic meaning “lightning war”. This tactic is based on speed, surprise and was the most popular tactic. It is set up with military forces based around tanks which are supported by planes and infantry. The Blitzkrieg tactic lead to air wars with airplanes between countries. All of the countries were allowed to participate in the air wars but the four main countries were United States, Japan, Britain, and Germany. During the 1920’s and 1930’s airplanes grew in size and structure giving them more power, and making planes more effective. Planes made it easier to drop bombs, or plan attacks. All of these countries fought over air superiority. Air superiority is the position in which the air force has control over all of the air warfare and air power of the opposing forces. Germany began with air superiority but they lost it when Britain defeated them at the Battle of Britain. Gaining control over the air is a very big advantage because it is easier to plan an attack on an opposing country. All of the countries relied on their aircrafts during this war. The issue about the use of...
Choctaw and Comanche Indians first used their native language in 1940 during World War I. This was the first time an attempt was made to encrypt messages in the native language. Unfortunately due to the limited vocabulary in the Comanche and Choctaw language, it was difficult for these Indians to translate English terminology to their language. Words like reconnaissance, right flank, and various other military terms had no expressions in their vocabulary. Toward the end of the war substitute words were implemented in order to pass coded messages that could not be broken by the German and Japanese soldiers. After Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1942, the need for coded messages for a second time is a main concern for the military. Messages in...
Before the Civil War, it could take leaders of a country days until they learned of an attack in a different part of the country. Telegraphs were being constructed during the Civil War. When they were done, they reached all the way to the west coast of the US. During the Civil War, Lincoln gave orders through the telegraph, asking questions to generals for more information, and sometimes, he’d speak to the generals in almost real time. After the war, telegraph lines stayed for both the use of the public, and for government and the military.
In 1968, the United States Army activated the 123rd Aviation Battalion, creating a remarkable unit that was comprised of several Army assets. The design of the battalion revolutionized how assets could be combined to complete many missions by mixing infantry, signal, aviation, and support units. The 123rd’s mission ranged from was to collect intelligence, deliver supplies, insert and extract infantrymen, and provide air support. In addition to their primary mission they also participated in medical evacuation, an invaluable asset on the battlefields of Vietnam.
In the war between countries, technology has played a huge part in the outcome; this is especially evident during the time of World War II. Technology in warfare consisted of weapons, vehicles, aircrafts, and chemical reactants. Technology during World War I was lacking and countries knew when World War II began that in order for them to be victorious they must have the most technologically advanced weapons and other devices or systems that would benefit the nation. The Allies were victorious in WW2 because they made better use of the available technologies than the Germans, advancing in communication/detection systems such as sonar and the radio, as well as, weapons including the atomic bomb, and bomber aircrafts.
The efficiency of the modern day soldier has improved because of the new technology in robotic warfare. Specifically, the development of drones and robots has changed the way wars are fought. For example, development of the Predator Drones has increased the safety of American fighter pilots. Fewer pilots now have to risk being killed while in battle. Drones a more cost effective alternative to manning the aircraft than risking the life of a pilot. Likewise, if a drone is shot down the craft can be immediately destroyed by a recovery team so that the planes technology is not compromised. Next, drones are also used for surveillance. The Ashima Devices Company has developed a helicopter that is small enough to clip onto a soldier’s standard field gear. These unmanned aircrafts allow for the US government to carry out certain tasks that would otherwise be lethal or harmful to a US solider will being thousands of miles away from the battle. These miniature helicopters can provide the soldiers with a real time 3D view of the battlefield which can help soldiers find their targets and take them out. These helicopters even have thermal imaging which allows them to locate targets hidden by smoke or other objects. Also, a new drone in development is called the Mosquitoes. This dron...
Another name for drones are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVS). These are “aircraft either controlled by ‘pilots’ from the ground or increasingly, autonomously following a pre-programmed mission” (Cole 4). Even though there are many unique types of drones, but they usually fall under two main categories: ones that are armed and equipped with missiles and bombs and others that are used for surveillance. In the past couple of years the use of drones has increased dramatically. The reason being because “unlike manned aircraft they can stay aloft for many hours and are flown remotely so there is no danger to the flight crew” (Cole 13). There are drones that can actually fly over more than fifty hours. In countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq, the Predator and U.S Reaper are physically there. Cause of the power of technology th...
The U.S. army has come up with a digital warfare system called Army Battle Command System. This system can scan digital street maps, monitor enemy positions, zoom in on individual buildings through satellite imagery and download instructions from commanders. The Army Battle Command System has been but in to a hand full of Humvees in Iraq. This technology was originally designed for battlefield combat which was tanks and helicopters, but now they have found that it is much more useful for hunting rebel leaders and trailing street fighters.
Tice, Brian P. (1991). Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – The Force Multiplier of the 1990s. Airpower Journal.
After reading this book, you will learn about the basics of the very old, yet an important mean of communication. This book focuses upon the techniques, which are used in order to learn the mode of communication i.e., the Morse code. Furthermore, after you have read this book, you will become a master in assembling your own Ham
The only means of communication was writing a letter or sending a telegram. The number of people one knew of was limited. At that time, one might not know the person living on the other side of the globe, but they did know who their neighbors were. They talked and interacted with each other and knew what others were going through. They communicated less, but communicated more.