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THE END

Small Explosives Innovations

What They Lead To....

Small Explosives Innovations

Plastic Explosives

Modern Grenades and Plastic Explosives

Modern Bombs

WWII saw the first widespread use of plastic explosives. One of the earliest forms of the plastic explosive was Noble's explosive 808, more commonly known as simply Nobel 808. It was extensively used by the British Armed Forces and the British Special Operations Executive in sabotage missions. Nobel 808 was also the explosive used in HESH rounds.

Today Grenades have improved immensely as a result of the innovations during WWII. Modern frag grenades are more lethal and have larger blast radii then those of the past. Modern smoke grenade can blast more smoke over a larger area than those of WWII. Other forms of grenades have also developed following WWII, including chemical grenades, flash-bangs, and concussion grenades. Plastic explosives have also greatly improved since WWII. Modern C-4 and semtex are cheaper to make and more versatile then Nobel 808. It also produces a larger blast.

While it was developed during WWII, napalm saw its greatest use during the Korean War and the War in Vietnam. It was used to burn down immense portions of the jungle in each country at a time. It was also used for the devastating psychological effect. Modern bombs, missiles, and rockets have also developed largely around WWII technology. Modern smart bombs are able to deliver multiple HEAT or HESH warhead to an extremely precise location.

Nobel 808

Grenades

Semtex Explosive

WWII saw the develop meant and evolution of several types grenades including the invention of the smoke grenade and the improvement of the fragmentation grenade. First developed in WWII the smoke grenade was widely use in the pacific theater. It was able to spread a cloud of phosphorous over a 25 yard circle, and it was widely used as an anti-personnel grenade. The frag grenade, although used in previous wars, was greatly improved during WWII. Rather than being filled with TNT as previous with previous grenades, the Mark 11A1 was filled with black powder. Where the TNT over-fragmented the casing, the black powder allowed for the formation of larger, more lethal fragment.

http://weaponinnovationsofww2.weebly.com/fragmentation-frag-grenade-mark-11a1.html

Modern Napalm Strike

Frag Grenade

Smoke Grenade

Fire Bombs

WWII Era Explosive Innovations

Anti- Tank Weapons

World War I saw the development of carpet bombing as a new technique for installing fear within an opposing city and country. Carpet bombing called for several planes to drop a massive payload over a city, effectively carpeting the city with bombs. World War II saw the evolution of carpet bombing with the invention of incendiary bombs. Where traditional bombs destroyed a city incendiary bombs were used as psychological warfare by installing fear within the people. Although it was not widely used until the Korean War, Napalm was invented during World War II.

HEAT Warhead Schematic

WWII saw the development of the of several anti-tank explosives including the M1 rocket launcher, better known as the Bazooka, as well as the HEAT and HESH war heads. The M1 bazooka was the first in a generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons. The Bazooka served as a way to deliver the HEAT and HESH warheads to opposing tanks. The High Explosive Anti-Tank warhead, or HEAT, is a conical shaped warhead that relies on immense pressure to force a whole through the tank armor. The High Explosive Squash Head, or HESH round, was the primary round used in tanks shells, it was particularly effective against buildings.

Firebombing a Japanese city WWII

Bazooka Rocket launcher

Modern Machine Guns

Modern automatic weapons have evolved immensely from those used during WWII. Modern machine guns have developed in many ways, including optimal reliability as with the AK-47, and optimal versatility. The Modern M-16 machine gun can be equipped with multiple auxiliary attachments, including a flashlight, a grenade launcher, or various improved weapons sights. The M-16 can also range in firing rate from full-auto, to burst, to single shot.

Rifles pre WWI were either bolt action or single shot rifle, severely decreasing the effectiveness of these soldiers on the battlefield. The need for a semi auto or fully automatic became a necessity and the need some became fulfilled with the full auto Browning automatic rifle or BAR.

The Germans also had a need for a full auto and semi auto rifles and the MP40 and Gewher 41 filled these purposes. They both could be carried by a single soldier and helped to establish the idea of an assault rifle.

Rifle Innovations

These semi auto and full auto weapons used in the second World War have lead to the designs of assault rifles and sub machine guns of today. Some of the ideas however were not so influential. The Germans had attempted to make a STG 44 with a curved barrel with the ability to shoot around corners.

The Germans also tried to create a crude night vision scope during the war so that snipers would be effective at night.

WWII Small Arms Advances

By Luke Nealley and Alex Huber

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