13 episodes 94%4KCC

From flintlocks to drones, the machinery of war takes shape.

Trace how warfare evolved on land, at sea, and in the air through the machines built to fight it. This series examines everything from rifles, castles, submarines, and missiles to chemical weapons and unmanned systems, revealing the technology behind conflict across centuries. Sign up to see how each innovation changed the battlefield.

Episode guide

13 episodes

1Flint & Steel

Through centuries of armed conflict, weapons have evolved from arrows to swords to the technological development that left them all behind: gunpowder. Since then, advances in weaponry have been both awe-inspiring and frightening.

52 min

2Rifles & Machine Guns

After firearms evolved from a rifle to a shotgun and bolt-action rifle, inventor Walter Hunt developed the concept of a "magazine" for easier loading of semi-automatic and automatic weapons.

52 min

3Artillery: Bombard to the Howitzer

The United States' 280mm Howitzer, Atomic Annie, was first tested in 1953, firing a 365kg fission warhead 10,000 meters high. Artillery itself has a long and distinguished history going back through time to the dawn of gunpowder.

52 min

4Fortification: Bollards to Bunkers

Since the earliest civilizations in Assyria, Egypt and Greece, man has erected forts, barricades and battlements to protect his personal property. Some of the oldest defensive structures still exist today.

52 min

5Tanks & Armored Vehicles

Tanks were originally invented as an extension of armory to protect soldiers from enemy fire, but as personal armor became too heavy, tanks became globally accepted in warfare.

52 min

6Battleships & Flotillas

Since the 2nd millennium BC, ships have been used for trade, exploration, piracy, and transporting troops to battle, with formal navies appearing from the 6th and 7th centuries.

52 min

7Submarines

While the earliest submarines can be traced back to the time of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, the first military submarine was designed and constructed by American inventor David Bushnell in 1776. Today, subs play a key role in defending many countries.

52 min

8Fighter Aircraft

Times have changed since the first fighter aircraft, which were flimsy contraptions made of wood and fabric. Today, fighter pilots control multimillion-dollar machines.

52 min

9Airborne Artillery

Although the U.S. launched the world's first air bombing tests in 1910, the first plane used in combat was the German Rumpler Taube in 1911. Zeppelins were also popular for their bomb-carrying capacity and ability to fly over long distances.

52 min

10Rockets & Missiles

Unguided rockets and guided missiles are essential components of any military arsenal. Different types of remotely or internally guided missiles include anti-tank or anti-aircraft missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and ballistic missiles.

52 min

11Air Defense & Surveillance Helicopters

In the early 1480s, Leonardo Da Vinci's "aerial screw" design served as inspiration for the helicopter, which has since developed into a versatile war machine used for combat, troop transport and airlifting the wounded.

52 min

12Nuclear Weapons

Since the end of World War II and the advent of the Cold War, nuclear destruction has been a constant threat. Despite recent attempts to slow or stop nuclear proliferation, countries such as North Korea, China and Pakistan have continued to develop their own nuclear missiles.

52 min

13NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) Weapons & Future War

NBC—Nuclear, Biological and Chemical—are the three weapons of mass destruction. Biological and chemical weapons have been used extensively in warfare throughout history. Technology has advanced to manufacture—and defend against—these and other brutal weapons.

53 min

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