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What if-The Five Technologies

Discussion in 'What If - Other' started by Ashley Brenton Carrier, Aug 29, 2021.

  1. Ashley Brenton Carrier

    Ashley Brenton Carrier New Member

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    You have stumbled across a wormhole that will transport you back to six months before the Pearl Harbor attack. But you must hurry. You have only enough time to gather the complete design schematics and manufacturing processes of just five things. And you will disclose these to FDR's staff on a Powerpoint after predicting the outcome of every MLB game to the Secretary of War just shortly before.

    So...what five things do you take back...in addition to whatever is already floating around in your head? Keep in mind, these should be leaps ahead in tech that 1940 American industry should be able to make. Mine...

    1. Your Mk13 torpedoes don't work. Here's how you fix them.

    2. The C-130 Hercules. A 1950s design. Just make thousands of these babies. And find other uses for its turbo prop engines.

    3. The SAGGER ATGM. Soviet tech we could probably manage in 1940 or so. Imagine a pair of these on rail launchers attached to the turret of every Sherman crossing France.

    4. Galil rifle in 5.56mm.

    5. Roll on/Roll off cargo ships.
     
  2. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    That is a what if . America was not thinking about war even less co-operating with Germany s alĺy the USSR.
     
  3. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    1. High yield nuclear weapon.
    2. Modern Jet engine.
    3. Mini nuclear power plants.
    4. Modern rocket tech.
    5. A book on the history of WW2.
     
  4. Ashley Brenton Carrier

    Ashley Brenton Carrier New Member

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    History turned out pretty good, I'd say. All things considered. The Soviets lost. We won. And good times were had by all.
     
  5. T. A. Gardner

    T. A. Gardner Genuine Chief

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    1. Plans and samples of the early AIM 9 Sidewinder missile and launch system

    2. Aerial refueling technology

    3. How to make transistors and other basic solid-state components like a diode.

    4. Plans and a sample early scientific calculator like a TI SR-50

    5. Tri-laminate retort pouch tech + vacuum packing and irradiation of food.

    Item 1 is going to win you the air war. One shot, one kill from beyond classic dogfight range on anything in the air.
    Item 2 lets you extend the range of aircraft to absurdly greater distances.
    Item 3 Means more reliable and smaller electronics.
    Item 4 Is a quantum / exponential leap in computing power
    Item 5 Gives you a means to make lightweight, portable, foods of all sorts that won't go bad in hot weather, poor conditions, humidity, etc. You can turn C-Rations and the like into MRE's that are streets ahead of them.
     
  6. Ricky

    Ricky Well-Known Member

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    Interesting idea. IMO the USA was pretty hot on logistics in WW2, so other than increasing efficiency it seems unnecessary. Weaponry could be improved though. My first thought was something exciting in ASW but in reality the RN cornered that market, and the Japanese subs were never the threat that yhr U-boats were.

    1) Bearcat. Excellent long range fighter, ideal for the Pacific and potentially useful in Europe too.

    2) B-29. Imagine the 'aluminum overcast' being composed of Superfortresses escorted by Bearcats.

    3) Patton tank. M-60 would be lovely but for 1940 manufacturing the M-47/8 seems more likely

    4) LAW. Give the infantry a real anti-armour / anti-bunker punch

    5) AK-47. Controversial choice for the US army, but it was a generation ahead of anything in service in 1940
     
  7. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    In order to not overwhelm the technology of the era I'd choose these:

    : Convair B-36 Peacemaker
    : P-80 Shooting Star
    : Patton M48 Main battle tank
    : M16 rifle
    : And lastly
    : F-4 Phantom II

    All these platforms were no more than 10 to 15 years ahead but would have been achievable in the 1940's with advanced design and performance characteristics already proven.
     

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