Did you know that, during the first World War, yeast was used in the manufacture of explosives? If you are interested in the mechanisms and hidden details of war, you are not alone. Many people know a lot about the people behind armies, but less about the devices and manufacturing goods that work forgotten in the background. Here are three objects that make life easier for armies around the world in a number of ways.

1. Anti Vibration Assistance

If you’re heard of vibration pads before, it’s probably in the context of industrial machinery. Anti vibration technology is used to prevent machines from wearing holes in the ground or moving forward as a result of their constant vibration. Another application of this technology, though, is for military helicopters. The Dhruv ALH helicopter, for example, used by the Indian army, uses vibration control technologies to monitor ongoing conditions and for canceling out fuselage door vibrations.

2. Clamps

A clamp, such as an industrial Destaco clamp, holds objects tightly together using inward pressure to prevent separation or movement. There are a number of clamp types, both for permanent and temporary holds, including the hose, pneumatic, and mitre clamps. One important type of clamp on the battle field is the medical combat clamp, which helps prevent hemorrhaging, a leading cause of battlefield preventable death, from killing soldiers. The clamp stops flow and controls blood loss by applying pressure exactly where it is needed, for an extended length of time.

3. Compression Springs

Did you know that coiled springs first appeared in the 15th century, as a part of door locks? Most of us might think of beds or sofas when we think about springs, but in reality, they have many applications. How have compression springs been used in war? The former USSR had one famous type of booby trap firing device that made use of a spring loaded firing pin. If you disturbed the trip wire, usually by stepping on it, the compressed spring would be released and hit the detonator.

Have you used springs, Destaco clamps, or vibration control systems? Let us know in the comments!