Maritime defence has a long and rich history that you can’t help but marvel at how far we have come in terms of naval technology. The first historical account of boats big enough to ferry goods for trade was around 3500 B.C. This marked the dawn of the art of navigation. Mariners realized maps would be helpful and started keeping a record of their voyages. These first nautical charts were called Portolan Charts. The chart is just one of the many important inventions and advancements, that without them the current state of the maritime defence industry would not be what we see today. Here are a few firsts and milestones of this industry:
- The French Gloire and British HMS Warrior were the first armored vessels - made wooden vessels obsolete. Naval warfare in ancient times primarily involved ramming and boarding actions. The next stage in its evolution came with the introduction of metal plating along the hull sides with the increased mass requiring steam-powered engines.
- Turtle in 1776 is the first military submarine - a hand-powered egg-shaped device designed by the American David Bushnell. It was the first verified submarine capable of independent underwater operation and movement, and the first to use screws for propulsion.
- The first self-propelled torpedo - the Whitehead Torpedo - the submarine became a viable weapon of war with the development of torpedoes. Designed in 1866 by British engineer Robert Whitehead, the Whitehead Torpedo was 11-foot long and 14-inch in diameter propelled by compressed air and carried an explosive warhead.
- The nuclear-powered submarine - the USN Nautilus in 1955 was the first of its kind with equipment developed to extract oxygen from sea water. These two technological innovations gave submarines the ability to remain underwater for months.
- The first aircraft carriers introduced in Taranto in 1940 and then at Pearl Harbor in 1941 – became a major paradigm shift in naval warfare. These aircraft carriers have the ability to strike decisively at enemy ships out of sight and range of surface vessels.
- Between 1918 and early 1920s, the Vikers Viking and Supermarine Seagull were one of the famous amphibious aircrafts in history. They were used primarily for exploration and military support during the wars. The company Sikorsky then introduced the first stable three bladed helicopter which then went on as the first helicopter used by the US and UK army and navy departments.
We still live in a world of uncertain times and wars still rage on in various parts of the world. Countries are spending a lot of their budget for military and navy power to ensure protection of its land and a symbol of power and leadership. It is no wonder why many from the military, government and private sectors look forward to every maritime exhibition so they can be at the forefront of new naval defense-offense technologies to protect their nations and business interests.
For businesses that have services and products targeting the maritime defence industry, a naval show is a platform they used to build a network of contacts and connections, increase one’s client base and for naval enthusiasts, marvel at the navy’s rich history and formidable future.
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Author : Be mads |
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