United States Rocketry in World War II

With the onset of World War II came a surge in the development of new, stronger technology, including rockets. Germany was quick to develop their rockets, which spurred the United States to maintain its military strength. With the help of Robert H. Goddard’s research, the United States military worked on several rocket projects throughout the war. But by far, the most useful and easy-to-use weapon for the United States was the bazooka. Rocketry, however, was still a new phenomenon and the United States was also doing much research. Nevertheless, the United States’ development of rocketry in World War II changed the face of warfare and became important for modern technology.

In order to keep up with the Germans, the United States worked on many different rocket designs and models of rocket-propelled weapons. First of all, barrage rockets were widely used on land and sea by many of the branches of the military. These rockets effectively bombarded and assaulted the enemy. Secondly, the military constructed guided bombs, which were propelled by rockets. The rockets allowed the bomb, dropped from an airplane, to fall nearly vertical towards the target. Finally, Robert Goddard researched jet-assisted take-off. With jet-assisted take-off, planes, laden with weapons and supplies, were helped into the air by rockets. This powerful new technology helped every aspect of the military, making war faster and less grueling.

Out of these developing weapons came the bazooka, the United States’ most useful weapon throughout the war. During World War I, Goddard was the first to create this tube used to launch rockets. Goddard among others continued to perfect this weapon until it was introduced to World War II in 1942. Bazookas were small enough to be carried with ease: the first bazooka to be used in the war was 2.36 inches in diameter and around seven feet long. These weapons could be launched from the shoulder and taken anywhere. Though small, bazookas made the American soldiers powerful. In fact, the bazooka was about as potent as a tank, therefore inflicting damage quicker and easier. Clearly, the bazooka was a major change in the way American soldiers fought.

Because rockets were a new trend in war technology, the United States was also doing considerable research. The United States captured many German V-2 rockets and brought them back for study, inspiring several new rocket designs. Since the Germans had been so quick to construct their rockets, the United States wanted German assistance. Besides, many of the German scientists wished to escape the atrocities of war in Germany. In 1945, the United States began the undisclosed Operation Paperclip, which recruited around 150 German scientists like Wernher von Braun. Von Braun and the other scientists helped the United States learn more about rockets and how to use them to launch objects into space, leading to the United States’ first space program. Even though Germany was the enemy, between their aid and our own research, the United States expanded its military capabilities.

The United States’ rockets changed warfare and encouraged the development of modern technology. The barrage rockets and guided bombs, plus jet-assisted take-off, were all good contributions to the military which helped to repel Germany. Yet, it was the bazooka that made the American soldiers as powerful as a tank, changing the way the soldiers fought. As these new weapons were being created, much research continued to progress the United States’ technology and enabled the creation of a space program. Thus, rocketry not only changed how World War II was fought, but our military’s future as well.