What is the most influential Convential Weapon since 1900?

[daisrael]

Is it the AK-47, which was designed in 47 thus the name, which is a symbol for revolution the world over and is a damn great design.

The Aircraft Carrier which replaced the battleship as the navy's most powerful vessel?

The Tank?

Discuss and bring up other weapons.

[Dirt McGirt]

The tank changed modern war fare but I would have to say the aircraft hands down.

[JBigjake]

It all depends on the context. In 1900, steel battleships were a recent development. Within the century, they appear to have become obsolete. Firearms advanced from repeating rifles to automatic weapons. Mortars advanced to missiles. Dynamite to nuclear bombs. Arrows to aircraft. Suicide missions to suicide bombings.
Nuclear weapons may keep nations in check, but are defied by low-grade insurgencies. Guerilla warfare has always proved difficult for conventional armies to combat. Technology is helping both sides, both in tactics & propaganda.

[daisrael]

It all depends on the context. In 1900, steel battleships were a recent development. Within the century, they appear to have become obsolete. Firearms advanced from repeating rifles to automatic weapons. Mortars advanced to missiles. Dynamite to nuclear bombs. Arrows to aircraft. Suicide missions to suicide bombings.
Nuclear weapons may keep nations in check, but are defied by low-grade insurgencies. Guerilla warfare has always proved difficult for conventional armies to combat. Technology is helping both sides, both in tactics & propaganda.

I would put it in different ways, the AK-47 is seen not only as a weapon, but a tool and a symbol for revolution. So much so that it can even be found on flags.

So in that respect it has been a very influential weapon.
The Aircraft Carrier though has become a tool to not only wage war, but to project force and power throughout the world. And a Carrier Battle Fleet is a major force all centered around the Aircraft Carrier and its wings of aircraft.

[Dirt McGirt]

In Iraq we discovered a couple of bunkers that had crates upon crates of brand new unopened AK-47's still in the plastic from Jordan. Amazing weapons that need very little maintenance unlike our M-16's. Hands down the best assault rifle made to date.

[odessit19]

Is it the AK-47, which was designed in 47 thus the name, which is a symbol for revolution the world over and is a damn great design.

The Aircraft Carrier which replaced the battleship as the navy's most powerful vessel?

The Tank?

Discuss and bring up other weapons.

Actually it was made in 43, but Kalashnikov, because of his lower rank than Tokarev, lost out to SVT or as we call Self-loading rifle of Tokarev, or samozaryaznaya vintovka tokareva.
Kalashnikov,'s AK-47 was first introduced to Soviet Army in 47, thus the number. It is still made in Izhevsk, Russia.

[Ali_reza]

The swiss knife.

[yasik19]

http://www.yankees2000.com/y2k/uploaded_images/rpg-762502.jpg

[daisrael]

One that I thought would get mentioned by now is the German U-Boat from WWI and WWII. Brought about a whole new means of fighting wars. Even now the Sub is a weapon of force that even after a full scale nuclear exchange, can surface and fire off its nukes.

[Dirt McGirt]

Actually it was made in 43, but Kalashnikov, because of his lower rank than Tokarev, lost out to SVT or as we call Self-loading rifle of Tokarev, or samozaryaznaya vintovka tokareva.
Kalashnikov,'s AK-47 was first introduced to Soviet Army in 47, thus the number. It is still made in Izhevsk, Russia.I found a Chinese version of the AK in a destroyed T-72 it had a folding stock which was pretty cool.

[odessit19]

I found a Chinese version of the AK in a destroyed T-72 it had a folding stock which was pretty cool.

There are so many of them - Egyption, Yugoslavian, Chinese made - all of course replicas of the original. Then there are M-76, SVD, AKM, AK-74, AK_74U, AK-102, 103, 105, 107, 108, AKS-47, AEK, PPK, AN-94 (Nikonov) which are all based on that design.
There was a greate piece on history channel on it and Mr. Mikhail Vladimirovich Kalshnikov and he said one great quote, "The simpler things are the greater they are."
That says it all.

[CrewDust]

The airplane, invented in 1903.

[Scarecrow]

The airplane is at the top as is the AK-47. But the aircraft carrier to me is the top weapon. It combines sea power with air power in a meaningful way. A mobile airport.

[CrewDust]

The airplane is at the top as is the AK-47. But the aircraft carrier to me is the top weapon. It combines sea power with air power in a meaningful way. A mobile airport.

The Aircraft Carrier was built to carry the aircraft into battle to strike the enemy. W/o the aircraft it is fairly useless. Just like a Boomer w/o the nukes. The AK is a very important weapon but its not the first of its class.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturmgewehr_44

Saying that, the AK 47 will always be known as the "rifle of revolution".

[Scarecrow]

The Aircraft Carrier was built to carry the aircraft into battle to strike the enemy. W/o the aircraft it is fairly useless. Just like a Boomer w/o the nukes. The AK is a very important weapon but its not the first of its class.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturmgewehr_44

Saying that, the AK 47 will always be known as the "rifle of revolution".

Of course you can make the argument that the planes can't get to their targets without the carriers to bring them within range. You can make a chicken and the egg argument.

[odessit19]

The Aircraft Carrier was built to carry the aircraft into battle to strike the enemy. W/o the aircraft it is fairly useless. Just like a Boomer w/o the nukes. The AK is a very important weapon but its not the first of its class.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturmgewehr_44

Saying that, the AK 47 will always be known as the "rifle of revolution".

I would then argue that MP-44 was the first in its class, or what about 1911 or Luger or of course Mauser with its first magazine clip for a "handgun?"

[dreamer]

Forgive the naive question, but is laser considered a conventional weapon?

[Scarecrow]

Forgive the naive question, but is laser considered a conventional weapon?

I would say so, however they aren't out en masse and really haven't made an impact yet.

[Sagy]

I think that the AK-47 is number one on this list.

As far as aircrafts are concerned I'd put the P-51 mustang number one (arguably was the decisive factor in the European theater during WWII)

Others that should be mentioned are SAM and TOW missiles as well as the strategic bombers .

[spejic]

Another vote for the RPG. This is just an incredible weapon that has shaped the modern face of war all over the world. In bush wars, it is man-portable artillery. In wars of oppression, it is the equalizer against expensive tanks and APCs. AK-47s are important in policing, but in war people with AKs only exist to protect the people with RPGs, who do the actual work.