When US troops started receiving MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) in the 1980s, the small can opener was no longer necessary. As it transpired, the P-38 met its demise not through innovation but through obsolescence. Had the US Army tried to replace the P-38 can opener with something larger and more complex, it would have met stolid resistance from the troops. This simple device worked and was small enough that a GI could wear it on the chain with his dog tags. A simple example might be the US P-38 can opener, which was issued to GIs from World War II through the 1980s. Ironically, however, it is often easier to adopt new multimillion-dollar weapons systems than it is to replace personal weapons or equipment. ![]() 4 INTRODUCTION 4 Innovation in military weapons and equipment is generally viewed as a positive factor that allows the soldier a higher probability of fighting, surviving, and winning.
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