War Machines: Transforming Technologies in the U.S. Military, 1920-1940 (Texas a and M University Military History... |
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War Machines: Transforming Technologies in the U.S. Military, 1920-1940 (Texas a and M University Military History...
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by Timothy Moy
Sales Rank: 408739
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List Price: $39.95
$32.50
At Amazon
on 6-19-2008.
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Features
Cover Type: Hard Cover with 218 pages
Published by: Texas A&M University Press February 2001
Written in: English
ISBN 10 Number: 158544104X
ISBN 13 Number: 978-1585441044
Book Dimensions:
9.7 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
Weighs: 14.4 ounces
Reader Reviews
War Machines: Transforming Technologies in the U.S. Military, 1920-1940 examines the U.S. Army Air Corps and the U.S. Marine Corps' uniquely different relationships with technological developments during the interwar period. The Army Air Corps, which owed its very existence to technological developments, emphasized high-tech strategic bombing in order to support and expand the role of the Air Corps in the military structure. The end result for the Air Corps was that it left the Army and became the independent U.S. Air Force. The Marine Corps, which owed its very existence to the rather low-tech concept of a man with a rifle, focused on producing rugged and dependable landing craft whose sole purpose was to safely and efficiently transport riflemen and equipment to a hostile shore. The result for the Marine Corps was that it was not annexed by the U.S. Army, which believed it was essentially a redundant force. The author, Timothy Moy, who is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico, received his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, and this book is an outgrowth of his doctoral dissertation. After an introductory chapter, Moy, a historian of science and technology, devotes four chapters of his ten-chapter book to a roughly chronological examination of the Army Air Corps' development of strategic bombing. He then devotes four chapters to a likewise roughly chronological examination of the Marine Corps' development of amphibious landing craft. Moy concludes with a chapter concerning what he perceives as the military, bureaucratic, and cultural victories won by the Army Air Corps and Marine Corps, and how these victories were manifested in the roles of each service during World War II and in the creation of the independent U.S. Air Force in 1947. Moy has produced a book that is both well written and researched. He tells his story not from a strictly military history point of view, but also includes the bureaucratic and cultural issues which played such an important role in the process of technological developments. Moy's conclusions certainly appear to be supported by the roles and successes of the Army Air Corps and the Marine Corps during World War II. Despite these positive points, I do believe that this work has some weaknesses. In both cases, Moy has chosen technological developments which he knows, in advance, were perceived as successful during World War II. I find myself wondering, therefore, if his use of only successful outcomes somewhat biases his analysis of the relationship between these services and technology. From my point of view, he would need to demonstrate examples of failed as well as successful technology to truly make his case. In fact, I believe that examining the failures might be just as useful (if not more useful) than examining the successes. Though some of the text can be confusing when dealing with the discussion of technological detail and despite my questions regarding Moy's methodology, I do recommend this volume for historians interested in the military, bureaucracy, and science and technology.
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War Machines: Transforming Technologies in the U.S. Military, 1920-1940 (Texas a and M University Military History...
Available from Amazon
Price: $32.50
Updated on 6-19-2008.
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