The Effect of New Technology on the Operational and Strategic Levels of War

This book uses the development of steam propulsion in the United States Navy as a case study for how new technology affects the strategy of the United States at the operational and strategic levels. Using the modern paradigms of operational and strategic levels of war as delineated in current joint publications, this study shows that the link between technology and strategic and operations design is critical to the application of new technology. Though the period of the study is before the Civil War, significant use of steam propulsion in the United States allows detailed analysis of the application of technology without the influence of other nations. This book shows that, during this period, there is a significant strategic effect of steam technology, whereas steam technology's effect on the operational level of war is difficult to conceptualize. The study shows that certain patterns that relate to steam's application can be applied to modern technological advancement.