It may be hard to believe, but there was a time in our country (and the world) that petroleum wasn’t really a big deal. It wasn’t something we depended on, fought for or spent too much money on. That really changed in World War II. This was the start of the great shift in the way we view oil and gas today. Keep reading to learn more about the history of oil and gas in the military
The Difference a War Makes
In the beginning of World War II, the main mode of transportation used in military planning was the horse. That’s right, those four-legged creatures that eat hay and alfalfa. Since they consumed much more food and other resources than soldiers, the logistics of using them in war became too complicated.
For perspective, when Britain entered the war, they had only 800 motorized vehicles for military use. At the end of the war, Britain had 36,000 cars. The U.S. alone shipped 50,000 vehicles to Europe during the course of the war. With the development of airplanes and tanks, and the increased use of motorized vehicles, the nature of war was drastically changing. What was once viewed as a commercial commodity became a critical resource.
Why the Value Increase?
Countries found that making their ships oil powered made them faster and enhanced mobility. Up until the 40’s, the U.S. was the main supplier of oil. The increase of value for the resource gave American companies larger roles in the conflict and usage of oil. With this upsurge in oil usage, research on oil uses increased, and advancements like TNT and artificial rubber improved this importance. Oil simply became indispensable in the Allies’ efforts to win World War II. In various processed forms, it was used for laying runways, making tires and bombs as well as using it to move military vehicles. Oil was also used to lubricate guns and other machinery, and, of course, in gasoline.
American oil companies became even more important, garnering invitations to government agencies to help with the war efforts. Indeed, oil and oil companies helped to win the war. At the time, the Japanese had controlled approximately 90% of the world’s naturally-produced rubber–cutting the US off from it nearly entirely. Oil put the country back in the game with the production of synthetic rubber.
The History of Oil and Gas is the History of America
Of the 7 billion total barrels of oil consumed by the Allies during the war, 6 billion of them came from American supplies. Oil use is just one of the ways that America helped to win an Allied victory. It’s also one of the many reasons that we at Tiger General are proud to keep American oil moving. We understand the importance of the resource and its value. We want to ensure that you get the best value possible; that’s why we sell the best oil field trucks available.
Our swab master rigs, dump trucks, winch masters and more are designed to help you increase profits and get the job done right. Our trucks work hard days, just like you, and remain productive for years. Put your trust in our 85 years of field-tested designs.
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