Chapter 5 Multipurpose Technology 
Seapower, defined by Admiral Mahan many 
years ago, encompasses all elements contributing 
to national strength—natural resources, industrial 
capacity, manpower, economic power, geographic 
situation, and cultural status. These many dimen- 
sions serve a nation in both peace and war. 
The United States stands on the threshold of a 
rekindled interest in the oceans. A new age of 
seapower, important to the United States and the 
world, can be achieved by technological readiness 
to utilize the sea. 
—Cultural status. National prestige is an image of 
strength or lack of it in the eyes of other nations. 
This is of major concern, because (1) no nation 
wants to be a loser, (2) as a nation’s prestige falls, 
other nations begin to suspect it of weakness, (3) 
other nations do not want to be associated with a 
loser, and (4) as other nations progressively with- 
draw their adherence and support, the trend 
toward becoming a loser accelerates. This is a 
vicious circle—strength begets strength and weak- 
ness, weakness. 
A nation’s prestige or cultural status adheres 
closely to the vigor of its research and technologi- 
cal activities. The world community is well aware 
that today’s scientific and technological strength is 
the direct source of tomorrow’s economic and 
military strength. Space activities have illustrated 
this truth. However, activities in the marine 
environment inherently promise far greater eco- 
nomic, military, and prestige rewards than in 
space. A great nation ignoring this runs the grave 
risk of falling into weakness. 
—The geographic situation. Over 70 per cent of the 
earth is covered by water. The last major dry land 
frontier was discovered in 1492, when the world 
population was 350 million. Today with 10 times 
the population, the world is forced to turn again 
to the sea for new sources of food, minerals, and 
energy. 
In the undersea frontier, many nations with 
widely divergent geographies, needs, and techno- 
logical capabilities are involved. Achieving the 
technology to occupy new territory and modify 
world geography would give a nation the potential 
to make valid and defensible claims with an 
excellent position to counter claims by those not 
having the technology. A technology base must be 
established for the United States to enter the 
undersea frontier. 
—Economic power. New technology determines 
which country will be the world source of various 
products. U.S. domination of the world aircraft 
and computer markets is an excellent example; 
Japanese strength in fishing and shipbuilding is 
another. New industries have been created in a 
short time by such technological breakthroughs as 
xerography, polaroid photography, solid state elec- 
tronics, offshore drilling, and desalination. Tech- 
nology and the economics of production and 
exploration are inseparably linked. A strong tech- 
nology base will likely lead to new marine 
industries. 
—Manpower. An improved technology requires the 
continual upgrading of the manpower necessary to 
fabricate, operate, and maintain the systems utiliz- 
ing the undersea frontier. Manpower of various 
skills and interests will be required. Some will find 
employment in the actual marine environment, 
while many more will provide critically needed 
support functions that can be accomplished only 
on the land. The requisite manpower with the 
tools and equipment provided by technology will 
rapidly alter the ocean from an area of dreams to a 
site of action. 
—Industrial capacity. Volume production can work 
wonders in reducing costs. American industrial 
capacity has met great challenges. A highly refined 
automobile can be bought for less than $2,500. 
Should it not be possible to build a class of ex- 
ploration vehicles with 20 horsepower propulsion 
systems, life support, and unsophisticated com- 
munication electronics for $50,000 each? 
—Natural Resources. Low-cost underwater vehicles 
could open a prospecting era eclipsing the 
California gold rush. Exploring and mapping the 
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