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Wars between great powers are won and lost on manufacturing base. The classic book on this topic is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_Grea
by rwmj 5mo ago
Wars between great powers are won and lost on manufacturing base. The classic book on this topic is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_Great_Powers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_Great...
- elnerd 5mo agoSame goes for logistics, which is an extension to your point: https://walton.uark.edu/clc/posts/when-supply-chain-is-the-battle.php https://walton.uark.edu/clc/posts/when-supply-chain-is-the-b...
- dgoldstein0 5mo agoyep... other factors do matter in determining the length of the war, whether the manufacturing base can be defended / get the raw materials it needs, etc. The enigma machine is estimated to have reduced WWII by a few years. but there's really no winning when the enemy can put more planes, tanks, guns, boats and troops than you by a large factor, if they are even somewhat competent at using them.
- don_esteban 5mo agoHm, is this still true in the age of nukes? Would Russia/China/US not use their nukes if in risk of being overrun by conventional forces of another superpower?
- rwmj 5mo agoIt's true my abiding thought after reading the book was what about nuclear weapons. The great powers would absolutely use their nukes if in danger of being overrun, and I think long before that, in a total war.