Precision: A History of American Warfare

Precision warfare has been a significant feature of American strategic thought for more than a hundred years, dating back to the early years of powered flight in 1917. This quest to achieve precision in war has been a defining feature of US military thinking, shaping public and military perceptions of war today.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 05 December 2023
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Precision warfare, often linked to modern conflicts like the Gulf War, Kosovo Campaign, and drone technologies, has a much longer historical roots. As historian James Patton Rogers reveals, this pursuit of precision in warfare began in 1917, during the early years of powered flight in the United States. This means that precision has been a significant, if not always achievable, aspect of American strategic thinking for over a century.

Patton Rogers takes readers on a journey through the twentieth century, highlighting the innovative thinkers of World War I, the experimental technologies of World War II, and the surprising Cold War nuclear strategies that made precision the dominant feature it is today. From Russia's offensive war in Ukraine to Libya, Ethiopia, and Nagorno-Karabakh, conflicts in the twenty-first century are being fought with precision weapons.

Patton Rogers addresses two enduring questions: why has precision been such a defining feature of US military thinking? And how has this ambition shaped public and military perceptions of war today?

In conclusion, precision warfare is not a modern invention but a long-standing aspiration of American strategic thought. Through the exploration of its historical roots and its impact on contemporary conflicts, Patton Rogers provides a valuable insight into the enduring significance of precision in shaping the nature of warfare and the perceptions of war by both the public and the military.

Weight: 282g
Dimension: 138 x 216 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526125880