Early Computers Used by the Military in World War II and Beyond

Several early computers were developed and used by the military during and after World War II, each playing a crucial role in military operations and research.

Colossus (1943-1945)

Developed by British codebreakers, Colossus was one of the first programmable digital computers used to decipher German military messages encrypted with the Lorenz cipher, codenamed Tunny. Colossus played a significant role in the Allied victory by helping to crack Enigma and other ciphers.

ENIAC (1945)

The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) was one of the first general-purpose computers. Developed under funding from the US Army, ENIAC was initially used to calculate artillery firing tables and later for various military applications. While ENIAC was a revolutionary machine, it was also the precursor to more advanced computers that followed.

EDVAC (1949)

The Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC) was designed for the US Army. It was one of the first computers to use the stored-program architecture, which became a fundamental concept in computing. EDVAC, like many early computers, had a significant impact on military strategy and the evolution of computing technology.

UNIVAC I (1951)

The Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC I) was initially developed for the US Census Bureau but was also used by the military for data processing tasks. UNIVAC I was a milestone in the development of early computers, marking a shift towards more flexible and versatile computing systems.

IBM 701 (1952)

As IBM's first commercial scientific computer, the IBM 701 was widely used by the military for various calculations and research purposes. It marked the beginning of IBM's involvement in military computing, influencing the future of both computing and military operations.

SAGE (1958)

The SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) was a system that integrated large computers with radar data to provide early warning of incoming aircraft. It served as a critical component of US air defense during the Cold War, significantly enhancing the nation's ability to respond to potential threats.

Whirlwind (1951)

Developed at MIT for the U.S. Air Force, Whirlwind was one of the first computers to use real-time processing. It was used for flight simulation and air defense, demonstrating the potential of computers in real-time applications.

Other Influential Early Computers

In addition to these significant early computers, there were other notable devices that paved the way for modern computing. For example, before ENIAC, there was Colossus, a programmable computer designed to help crack German ciphers. Before Colossus, there was the Bombe, developed by Polish mathematicians and refined by British codebreakers at Bletchley Park. The Bombe was a special-purpose machine that could be used to crack the Enigma cipher by determining the rotor and plug settings of Enigma operators each day.

Even further back, there were analogue mechanical computers like the Dreyer Fire Control Table, the Vickers Range Clock, the Argos Clock, and the Dumaresq, which were used to integrate multiple data sources for firing solutions.

These early computers not only played significant roles in military operations and research but also influenced the development of modern computing technology. The principles and advancements made during this period laid the groundwork for the sophisticated computers we use today.

Keywords: military computers, early computers, World War II